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Sucre à la crème
Brown sugar fudge
Sucre à la crème: creamy Quebec brown-sugar fudge for Christmas
In Quebec, sucre à la crème is the sweet that comes out at Christmas: a soft, melting brown-sugar fudge made from brown sugar, cream and butter, cut into squares and shared at the réveillon after midnight Mass and through the Fêtes. Every grandmother's recipe differs a little; this one is the classic stovetop method, gluten free and ready in under an hour. Chef's tip: beat the cooled mixture until it loses its gloss and starts to thicken, then pour it at once; that beating is what makes it creamy rather than toffee-like.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 24
Ingredients
- 14 oz soft light brown sugar
- 1 cup whipping cream (35%)
- 1 ¾ oz butter
- 2 tbsp maple syrup (optional)optional
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Line a 20 cm square tin with baking paper.
Step 2: Put 14 oz soft light brown sugar, 1 cup whipping cream (35%), 1 ¾ oz butter, 2 tbsp maple syrup (if using) and 1 pinch salt in a heavy pan and stir over a medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
5 minStep 3: Bring to the boil and cook, stirring only now and then, until it reaches 225°F on a sugar thermometer (soft ball: a drop in cold water forms a soft ball), about 10–12 minutes.
12 minStep 4: Take off the heat, add 1 tsp vanilla extract without stirring and leave to cool for 10 minutes.
10 minStep 5: Beat with a wooden spoon or electric whisk for 3–5 minutes, until it thickens, turns paler and loses its shine. A common mistake is not beating enough: it never sets. Too much, and it sets in the pan, so pour as soon as it starts to look matt.
4 minStep 6: Pour into the tin, smooth and leave to set for 2 hours before cutting into squares.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sucre à la crème take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 24 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of soft light brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tsp honey or golden syrup per 100g.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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