Fudge of the Irish

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Directions

Grease an 8-inch square baking pan and line with 2 pieces of parchment paper about 14 inches long; allow the ends of the paper to hang over the sides of the pan by several inches.

Stir evaporated milk, light brown sugar, white sugar, unsalted butter, and salt in a heavy saucepan over medium heat until the mixture forms a thick, smooth syrup.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until a candy thermometer inserted into the center of the boiling syrup without touching the bottom of the pan reads 238 degrees F (112 degrees C), 20 to 30 minutes. Stir often. Candy temperature will rise slowly at first, then more quickly as temperature increases; watch carefully.

Remove saucepan from heat and stir in the Irish cream liqueur and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.

Scrape the mixture into the work bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with beaters; set the machine on low speed and mix in confectioners' sugar in 3 additions, allowing the sugar to blend in completely before adding the next addition. Scrape down the bowl frequently and mix fudge until completely smooth, about 2 minutes.

Scrape fudge into the prepared baking pan and place on a level surface to cool and set up, 3 to 5 hours.

Use the parchment paper ends as handles to lift the fudge out of the baking pan before slicing into cubes for serving.