Frozen Chocolate Pistachio Fudge

Asked by Amyisla. Answered on 25th February 2014

Full question

I want to make the Chocolate Pistachio Fudge and freeze it to give as a gift at a later date. I know the recipe says it an be frozen, can it be defrosted though to be given, will it be OK? Thanks for your help.

Our answer

Nigella's Chocolate Pistachio Fudge (from Nigella Express and on the Nigella website) is a short-cut fudge made with condensed milk and melted chocolate. It can be cut into pieces and frozen, and this gives it a very nice, grainy texture. Nigella likes to eat it direct from the freezer.

Most fudges can be frozen and then thawed, but this works best with a very dense fudge - where the sugar has been cooked to doft ball stage. Nigella's fudge is a lighter form which tends to be slightly softer, even when chilled. Although this fudge can be frozen and thawed (in the fridge) there is always a risk that the fudge tirns a litte sticky when the fudge defrosts. So if it is for a gift then we would tend to err on the side of either making the fudge and keeping it refrigerated until you give it (it should last for about 2 weeks inn the fridge) or making a more traditional fudge that will freeze and thaw more reliably. You could try Nigella's Fudge recipe in Domestic Goddess (p228).