Foolproof Chocolate Fudge

This fudge is  a real crowd-pleaser. I make it every year at Christmas time. The title says it all. It always turns out perfectly, and it's gobbled up in no time!

I guarantee your family will beg for more. ;)

Ingredients:

3 cups (18 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
Dash of salt
½ to 1 cup chopped nuts (optional) - (I use walnuts)
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

Line 8-inch or 9-inch square pan with foil extending foil over edges of pan.

Melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and salt in heavy saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in nuts and vanilla. (You don't want to over stir the mixture. Just stir until the chocolate, salt and vanilla are well blended). Spread evenly into prepared pan.

Chill 2 hours or until firm. Remove from pan by lifting edges of foil. Cut into squares.

MICROWAVE METHOD: Combine chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and salt in 1-quart glass measure. Cook on high (100% power) 3 minutes or until chips are melted, stirring after 1 ½ minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Proceed as above.

VARIATIONS:

CREAMY DARK CHOCOLATE FUDGE MELT: Melt 2 cups miniature marshmallows with chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Proceed as above.

MILK CHOCOLATE FUDGE: OMIT 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips. Add 1 cup milk chocolate chips. Proceed as above.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CHIP GLAZED FUDGE: Follow above recipe using ¾ cup peanut butter chips instead of nuts. For glaze, melt ½ cup peanut butter chips with ½ cup heavy cream. Stir until thick and smooth. Spread over chilled fudge.

Yield: About 2 pounds

Recipe: Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk