Cookie Dough Fudge

Original Recipe: http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2012/06/28/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-fudge/#ixzz2alcsHRcf

Makes 36 squares. Fudge will keep for 1 week stored in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

For Cookie Dough
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, soften to room temperature
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp half-and-half (or milk or cream)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 
  
For Fudge
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter
• pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup half-and-half (or milk or cream)
• 4-5 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Line 8x8 square baking pan with aluminom foil or parchment paper. Set aside.
2. For the Cookie Dough, combine butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand or handheld mixer. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla, salt, and half-and-half. Add flour and mix until just combined. Do NOT overmix.
3. To prepare the fudge base, combine brown sugar, butter, salt, and half-and-half in a medium saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until butter is melted and brown sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Slowly stir in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until mixture is smooth and sugar is incorporated throughout. Stir in vanilla. Add more confectioners' sugar if desired. The more powdered sugar you add, the thicker, firmer, and sweeter the fudge will be. I used 5 cups.
4. Add cookie dough to the fudge base and stir to combine. At this point, the mixture should have cooled to room temperature. If not, continue to stir until it is no longer warm to the touch. Fold in mini chocolate chips and spread fudge into prepared baking pan. Chill until set, about 3-4 hours. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Hot Mama Notes: I used heavy whipping cream instead of half and half for both the dough and fudge parts.  This recipe is a bit labor intensive for fudge, I thought, but then I am no candy expert.  It could also be that it was my fourth recipe of the day, and I was already tired! ;O  Also, it is imperative to wait until the fudge is very cool before adding the chocolate chips, or (of course!!) they melt.  :(  I knew this would happen, and I thought the fudge was cool enough, but I guess it wasn't.  So my fudge isn't as pretty as pictured in the original recipe since some of the chips melted.  In an attempt to make the melted chip fudge look prettier, I added more mini chips on top.  

Update: Grade: B+.  Everyone seemed to really like this fudge, but I think it is really sweet.  I suppose fudge is supposed to be that way, but it is very, very rich.   The fudge is good, and I got a lot of rave reviews, but I am not sure it will be a go-to recipe for me.