Cookies and Cream Fudge

Fudge is one of those foods I associate with theme parks and fairs. I recall walking by the bake shops to see a trays of fudges,varying from peanut butter chocolate to pecan. They're all a delight, but did you ever have the one with cookie bits? 

The cookie dough ones or the ones filled with Oreo pieces got me every time. Kind of like funnel cake. It's not something I eat often, but if I'm at a fair? You bet your ass I'm getting a funnel cake. Red velvet version? Comin' right atcha. Cookies and cream fudge? Give it to me.

So when it came time to make a special treat for my lovely sister's baby shower, I looked high and low for unique recipes. Now, due to the fact I was the host and was juggling 77 different things in anticipation of said event, I did not photograph version number 1, which happened to be a lovely blue color (It was, after all, a Cookie Monster themed shower!).

This recipe came from a friend who said she typically uses it with crushed up Butterfingers, so really this fudge could be a base of anything. Since it was her go to for a white fudge, I had faith this would work.

It's very simple and frankly, isn't composed of the things I'd expect fudge to be made of. In a mixing bowl, I beat together some softened butter and sour cream to get the fudge started. Then, I added nonfat dry milk. Initially, the mixture will be a little grainy in appearance, and that is okay.

Next, I beat in some powdered sugar. Once the powdered sugar and extracts (I added almond because that's just my dessert M.O.) were added, the mixture became much creamier and resembled a thick buttercream. That's when I dumped in some crushed cookies. I only ate like two, I swear!

I then scooped the mixture into a parchment lined cake pan, topped it with some more crushed cookies, and stuck it in the fridge to set.

I let the mix set for about 2 hours and then it was firm enough to slice up.

So many unique ingredients produce such a good result. This stuff is *dangerously* good. I mean it, folks...watch out for this one.

For the shower version, I put crushed up chocolate chip cookies and Oreos and it was a smash success. This one I brought into work was the cookies and cream version above and I shared with a few of the teams I work with. Now, I warned them that this was probably more addictive than crack before setting the box down, but that didn't slow things down. I got a few very excited visitors by my desk, which of course anyone that loves to put food together loves to hear. I don't devote hours in the kitchen to have people just steal a snack and wander off without giving me reviews (okay, yes, in this case it was minutes, but still!). It's a trade; get a cookie, give a critique.

Want to solidify yourself as the office sweet snack representative? This is the recipe to do it.

Oreo Fudge Recipe

Ingredients:

1 package cream cheese, softened (8 ounces)
1 cup butter, softened
2 1/2 cups dry milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
5 cups powdered sugar
10 or more chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed

Instructions:

Add cream cheese and butter to a large mixing bowl. Mix until smooth and fully combined. Stir in dry milk and mix well. Add vanilla and almond extracts, then slowly stir in powdered sugar. The mixture will become very thick. Crush 8 of the sandwich cookies and stir into the mixture. Spread the fudge into a parchment lined 9x13 pan, then crush remaining two cookies and sprinkle on top. Refrigerate for at least two hours, until set, then slice into squares. Keep refrigerated.