This Sweet Circus Animal Fudge is made with layers of swirled strawberry and white chocolate fudge and crushed Circus Animal Cookies.
Then this past Wednesday I took off for Colorado for a snowsports tradeshow in Denver for work. I arrive very late Wednesday night and spent all day Thursday at the show. My boyfriend arrived in Denver Thursday evening and I was so excited to see him! Beginning Wednesday night, a major storm system had moved into the Colorado Mountains and by Friday morning, nearly 3 feet of snow had fallen. We got up in the wee hours of the morning on Friday to take of for Breckenridge with my brother.
Friday was pretty insane. It took us hours to get up the hill, but it was totally worth it. Waist deep powder lines left me exhausted and run down from no sleep. Day like that (with 3 feet of fresh snow) just don’t come around often. Friday night, we slept for 14 hours!
We awoke Saturday morning and all the travel and exhaustion finally caught up with my boyfriend. He was bedridden all day with a nasty cold. I was so bummed to leave him in bed, but the sun was finally out and plenty of fresh snow was left for the taking.
I met with a friend from home and we took more powder laps at Keystone. It was an amazing day, we even took a snowcat ridge out to some open bowls and got some amazing runs in. I had never done anything like this before! I think I will write more about that later but here are a few photos; It was amazing!
I am not going to come out and say that Circus Animal Fudge is a Valentine’s Day recipe, because those dang cookies are good 365 days a year. However, the added addition of the strawberry pudding mix to this fudge not only gives it a light tint of pink color, but strawberries are totally Valentine’s appropriate. I swirled together a strawberry and white chocolate fudge to make this recipe!
Now for me, this fudge was actually a little TOO sweet from the strawberry pudding mix, but it got rave reviews at my office. If you are unable to find the strawberry pudding mix, I would just omit it from the recipe and make it a white chocolate fudge!
If you are going to do this, you can cook all the ingredients together (white chocolate, butter and milk) and just add the marshmallow at the end. I think the circus animal cookies are a perfect addition to this fudge. Make sure you crush plenty of them for the middle layer and then drop a few pieces on top for looks!
Whenever I make fudge, I always coat the pan with Crisco and then line it with parchment paper. This helps the fudge release from the pan once it has set. I also allow it to sit out for at least 30 minutes before cutting. Use a sharp or serrated knife to cut the fudge. Enjoy!
Circus Animal Fudge
- Yield: 12-16 pieces
Description
A rich white chocolate and strawberry fudge with a layer of crunchy crushed Circus Animal Cookies.
Ingredients
- 2 C Circus crackers
For the strawberry fudge
- 1 pk (11oz) White chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2/3 C Sweetened condensed milk
- 1 C Marshmallow cream
- 1 pk Instant Strawberries and Cream pudding mix
For the white chocolate fudge
- 1 pk (11oz) White chocolate chips
- 1/2 tbsp butter
- 1/3 C Sweetened condensed milk
- Sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
- Grease a 9×9 glass pan with Crisco and/or line with parchment paper (I do both- it makes it easier to remove the fudge once it is set). Set pan aside.
- Use a Ziploc bag and rolling pin or wooden spoon to crush circus animal crackers into smaller pieces. Set aside
- To prepare the strawberry fudge, combine white chocolate chips, butter and sweetened condensed milk in a pot. Heat on medium low heat and stir until completely mixed. White chocolate can burn easily, so watch carefully.
- Once fully melted, add marshmallow cream and instant strawberry fudge and whisk until smooth. Pour 2/3 of mix into bottom of glass pan. Set remaining 1/3 aside.
- Press 2/3 of the circus animal crackers into the strawberry fudge base.
- Prepare the white chocolate fudge by combining the white chocolate chips, butter and sweetened condensed milk in a pot. Heat on medium low heat and stir until completely mixed. White chocolate can burn easily, so watch carefully. Pour mixture over top of strawberry fudge. Poor remaining 1/3 of strawberry fudge on top and swirl with a knife.
- Press remaining circus animal crackers into the top of the fudge and add additional sprinkles.
- Allow fudge to set in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before cutting to allow chocolate to soften slightly. I suggest removing fudge from pan before cutting.
Are there any substitutes for the strawberries and creme pudding mix? I can’t find any in stores (and can’t find regular strawberry pudding mix either). The ones online are out of stock or ludicrously priced. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Can’t wait to try this, thank you!
Hi there, do you have strawberry jello mix? Or any other fruity jello mix? That should work I think.
I experimented with several fudge recipes last Christmas season. My personal fave was this! I couldn’t find strawberry pudding either. I used about 4 tbsp of Strawberry Quik drink mix mixed into alittle heavy cream- it was perfect.
Thanks for sharing Annie!
This fudge is so cute! Is that weird for a food to be cute, haha? I bet the cookies add the perfect crunch to this fudge. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Sarah! I hope you are well!
What an awesome break…you must have felt like an Olympian up there! 😀 Haha I know I would have…I feel like an Olympian just doing yoga lol.
I love this fudge. I love the name, the colors, the white chocolate and the strawberry. I have such a sweet tooth so I know I would have no problem with these.
Found you through Best of the Weekend!
Toodles,
Tammy<3
HAHA! It was awesome to get some good turns in! Thanks Tammy.
WAY cute 🙂
Thanks so much Lori!
Have you ever had that circus animal ice cream? It is my daughter’s favorite. I have to make this fudge for her for valentine’s day. She is sure to love it. I hope I can find the strawberry pudding. I haven’t seen it in the store before.
Oh I have not tried that, but it sounds amazing!
Found Sonic strawberry milkshake pudding here in North Carolina going to try it. So excited to make this for my kits for the holidays.
I hope this worked out!
Oh…my…yum! This recipe sounds great!
You ROCK for linking up this week to Tip Me Tuesday. {high fives}
Just a heads up, Tip Junkie can help you index your blog more effectively if you upload at least 2 images, 2 steps, and blog post URL into your Tip Junkie craft room!
Simply login and click “add a project” on your profile page to get started. {yep I’ve got your back!}
~ Laurie {a.k.a. the Tip Junkie}
Link ~ http://www.tipjunkie.com/how-to-add-a-craft-room-project-on-tip-junkie
Thanks Laurie!
This looks so pretty and I’m sure would taste great because I love this circus animals! Thanks for sharing on the weekend re-Treat Link Party!
Britni @ Play. Party. Pin.
Thanks Britni!
Great project !!
I would love you to come and share @ Craft, Create & Inspire linky party !!!
Look forward to seeing you there 🙂
http://livel0vecreate.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/craft-create-inspire-linky-party-heart_8.html
Claire x
I would love to say I’ll try this fudge and I will…but probably minus the animal cookies because they will be all gone before they make it into the recipe. 🙂
The fudge looks amazing! Thanks for sharing this with us at our Marvelous Monday Party! Pinning!
Woohoo- I love this fudge too! Thanks Deb!