White chocolate and cranberry fudge is perfect for the Christmas holidays. The colours are very festive! I love the red and white. You can add crushed pistachio nuts or pumpkin seeds to add crunch and a green colour if you like. I personally prefer just the white chocolate and cranberries because I love cranberries.

Above are the ingredients for the fudge. I like using Eagle Brand condensed milk. It has a wonderful flavour and is nice and thick.

Hershey's chipets are gltuen-free. Their white chocolate chips work well in this recipe. You don't need to add vanilla extract if you don't like vanilla, but it does give the fudge a nice flavour. I used 2 1/2 cups of chips in this recipe, because I like this fudge to be a little soft, if you like a harder fudge use 3 cups of white chocolate chips.

This time I used Patience Fruit and Company naturally gluten-free dried cranberries. I found them at Save-on-Foods. They taste great on their own too. You can also use dried cherries if you don't like cranberries.

Put the white chocolate chips and condensed milk in a large microwaveable bowl and microwave for about a minute and let it stand for a few seconds and stir. If not completely melted, put back in the microwave for another 30 seconds and stir. Repeat this process until the mixture is melted and well combined.

Add the vanilla and stir until well combined.

Add your cranberries. If using nuts add them now too. Stir until well mixed.

This is how it should look.

Here is how I prepare my pan. I spray the pan with a little oil and then line with parchment paper and give it a light spray.

Pour your fudge into your pan and add the extra cranberries on top and gently push into the fudge and then put the pan in the fridge for 2 hours to harden.

When hardened take out and remove from the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into small bite-size pieces and store in an airtight container.

• What is condensed milk?
• Are condensed milk and evaporated milk the same?
• Gluten-Free White Chocolate and Cranberry Fudge Recipe
• What is a craison? Is it the same as a dried cranberry? Are they gluten-free?

What is condensed milk?

Condensed milk also called sweetened condensed milk, is pasturized milk with about 60% of the water removed and sugar added. It is heated in an evaporator and becomes lovely and thick.

The sweetness of condensed milk makes it perfect for desserts. It also has a shelf life of 2 years, so buy it when its on sale and keep in your pantry for when you need to make a quick dessert or have a craving for a Vietnamese Iced Coffee.

From what I have read on many different sites on the internet, looks like condensed milk was first invented in the early 1800's by a French chef Nicolas Appert, but supposedly it didn't taste very good, then an English fellow, William Newton found that adding sugar to it extended its shelf life, finally in the mid 1800's, an American Gail Borden invented the industrial canned condensed milk that we have today.

Are condensed milk and evaporated milk the same?

No they are not the same.

They are very close in that the process for making them is the same. They are heated and both have had about the same amount of water removed, but evaporated milk doesn't have added sugar whereas condensed milk has had sugar added. Condensed milk about 45% to 55% of its content is sugar, because of this it is thick and sweet.

Evaporated milk is similar to half and half or coffee cream. I like using it in my coffee and hot chocolate. It is great in savory dishes like macaroni and cheese and cream soups.

Condensed milk is used in sweet recipes. I also like it as is. Am I the only one that takes a spoon and eat the lovely sweet stuff that is on the lid when you open it? ^-^

Both are shelf stable to about 2 years.

Gluten-Free White Chocolate and Cranberry Fudge Recipe

Gluten-Free White Chocolate and Cranberry Fudge

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups gluten-free white chocolate chips
• 1 (300mL) tin of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup gluten-free dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup of gluten-free dried cranberries (to sprinkle on top of the fudge).
• Optional 1/2 cup of crushed pistachios or pumpkin seeds

Directions

1. Prepare your pan. I use an 8" x 8" pan. Spray with oil or rub with butter and line with parchment paper up the sides of the pan, this lets you remove the finished fudge, so that it is easier to cut.
2. Put the white chocolate chips and condensed milk in a large microwave safe bowl.
3. In the microwave, heat for 1 minute, and then give the mixture a stir. Stir with a spatula to get the sides for about a minute. The residual heat will continue melting the white chocolate chips. If needed put the bowl back in the microwave for another 30 seconds and then stir again, until the white chocolate is melted and the mixture smooth.
4. Once melted and combined remove from microwave and add the vanilla extract and stir.
5. Add the cranberries and nuts if using, then mix until combined.
6. Pour mixture into your prepared pan and sprinkle the extra dried cranberries on top and push in slightly, then put in fridge to cool until it hardens. Takes about 2 hours.
7. Remove from fridge when hardened and cut into small squares or festive shapes. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. It can be frozen too. Wrap well with plastic wrap and put in a ziplock bag or airtight container. When ready to use remove from freezer and let thaw overnight in the fridge. Keeps about 2 months in the freezer.

Note:

8. If using the stovetop method, bring water in the pot to a boil and then lower the heat, put your double boiler or bowl over the boiling pot and add the white chocolate chips and condensed milk, stir until melted and combined. Then follow the above directions.

What is a craison? Is it the same as a dried cranberry? Are they gluten-free?

A craison and dried cranberries are the same dried fruit. Craison is a trademark name invented by Ocean Spray to market their dried cranberries, because they look similare to raisons.

Gluten-free dried cranberries available in my area of Canada are Ocean Spray, Elan, Eden, Walmart Great Value and Patience Fruit & Co. I usually buy what is available and what is on sale.

Most dried fruit is gluten-free, but as always read the ingredients labels.

I love making fudge for Christmas. This condensed milk fudge is so easy to make. Do you have a favourite fudge?

Want to make a chocolate fudge? Here is my Milk Chocolate Fudge Recipe.

Note: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Always seek out a medical opinion for medical concerns. Not sponsored. If sponsored I will always say so at the top of the post.