Love fudge? Make it Mexican with a mezcal, tequila and Kahlua combo

Jamoncillo is accepted Mexican fudge, but if you cognize immoderate Spanish, you besides admit that the literal translation is “little ham.” 

So, however does fudge get named aft a piglet? It seems that archetypal versions of this Mexican fudge look tinted the fudgy delicacies pinkish oregon reddish and shaped them into ham-like pieces. 

Many of Mexico’s accepted saccharine treats, particularly those made with dairy products, were frst whipped up by nuns, known for creating different classical foods and beverages successful Mexico, specified arsenic Rompope and chiles en nogada. (Cafe Tacuba)

But wherever did this saccharine concoction originate? Leave it to those ingenious Maya and Mexica, who loved making akin desserts from maize, chromatic and fruits. Naturally, the Spanish conquest successful the 16th period kicked up the cuisine, adding beverage and sweetener to the mix, which paved the mode for milk-based Mexican sweets similar fudgy jamoncillo. 

During the 300 years of the assemblage period, oregon the Spanish conquest of Mexico, Catholicism was ignited by the 12 Apostles of Mexico — a radical of Franciscan friars who arrived present successful 1524. Along with them came different orders: Dominicans, Augustinians and, later, Jesuits. And past came the nuns, who changed the people of saccharine culinary cuisine successful Mexico forever. 

These Spanish nuns successful convents crossed Mexico, particularly successful Mexico City, Guanajuato and Puebla, were passionate astir cooking, and they are credited with the improvement and refinement of milk-based sweets successful the country. 

Their Old World techniques and ingredients (like sweetener and milk) were blended with Indigenous traditions to travel up with a wide assortment of divers Mexican candies similar jamoncillo, marzipan and camotes (sweet-potato candies), to sanction a few. 

The accepted jamoncillo look is alternatively elemental and bland and is composed of butter, brownish sugar, condensed beverage and vanilla extract and is garnished with pecans. Although rich, fudgy and delicious, I thought kicking it up with immoderate ultra-Mexican flair mightiness beryllium a bully thing, truthful here’s my look for you.

This “little ham” packs a large punch. (AI-generated image)

Jamoncillo with Cinnamon, Pecans and a Mezcal, Tequila and Kahlua Combo 

* Makes 16-25 pieces, depending connected however ample you chopped them. 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 Cups (360 ml) full beverage (leche entera)
• 1 1/2 Cups (300 g) granulated sweetener (azúcar estándar)
• 1/2 tsp. (2.5 ml) baking soda (bicarbonato de sodio)
• 1 tsp. (5 ml) vanilla extract* (extracto de vainilla)
• Mexican brands noted for their aggravated flavor: Villa Vainilla; Vainilla Totonac’s; Molina Vainilla 
• 2-inch (5 cm) cinnamon instrumentality (rama de canela)
• 1/3 Cup (35 g) finely crushed pecans (nuez pecana)

For the liquor blend

• 1 Tbs. (15 ml) mezcal (for smoky, earthy depth)
• 1/2 Tbs. (7.5 ml) tequila reposado (aged, for warm, Oakey, agave flavor)
• 1/2 Tbs. (7.5 ml) Kahlúa (hint of java and sweetness)
• Zest of 1 lime oregon orangish for brightness. (limón o naranja)

For the garnish

• 12–16 pecan halves (nuez pecana)
• Pinch of flaky oversea brackish oregon chili brackish (sal de mar en escamas o sal con chile)

Instructions

1. Prepare the pan

• Line an 8×8-inch cookware with parchment insubstantial oregon lightly grease it. Set aside.

2. Prepare the fudge

• In a heavyweight (stainless alloy oregon formed iron) mean pot, adhd milk, sugar, baking soda, vanilla and cinnamon stick. Stir until sweetener is dissolved.
• Place cookware implicit mean heat. Stir frequently. 
• When the beverage begins to foam (just earlier boiling), trim vigor to low.
  Continue cooking for 35–45 minutes, stirring often and scraping the sides of the pot. 
• The substance volition get heavy and acheronian and lucifer caramel sauce.

3. Test for Doneness

• Drizzle a small of the substance into a vessel of acold water. If it forms a brushed ball, it’s ready.

4. Add Flavors and Nuts

• Remove the cookware from heat. Discard the cinnamon stick.
• Immediately disturbance successful mezcal, tequila, Kahlúa and citrus zest.
• Add crushed pecans and premix good to distribute.

5. Beat, Set, Pour

• Stir the substance vigorously for 5–7 minutes with a woody spoon to assistance it chill and thicken.
• Pour substance into prepared cookware and creaseless the top. 
• While inactive warm, mildly property pecan halves into the aboveground truthful each aboriginal quadrate volition diagnostic a pecan connected top.
• Sprinkle with flaky oversea brackish oregon chili brackish for other pizzazz, if desired.

6. Cool and Serve

• Let chill to country temperature, past enactment into refrigerator for astatine slightest 2 hours until firm.
• Cut into squares and serve.

Disfruta!

Deborah McCoy is the one-time writer of mainstream, bridal-reference books who has turned her attraction to food, peculiarly sweets, desserts and fruits. She is the laminitis of CakeChatter™ connected FaceBook and X (Twitter), and the writer of 4 baking books for “Dough Punchers” via CakeChatter (available @amazon.com). She is besides the president of The American Academy of Wedding Professionals™ (aa-wp.com).