Pumpkin Fudge (for the Hogwarts Student inside everyone)

   Pumpkin is all over the freaking place in Harry Potter.  Pumpkin pasties, pumpkin juice... The concept of Halloween linking pumpkins to.... [magic?] I'm guessing is what spurred J.K. Rowling's prolific use of sweet pumpkin treats in her phenomenon that is Harry Potter.  What ever her reason, I don't care.  I love the books (and the movies) and I love pumpkin.  I have only met a few people who don't enjoy Harry Potter and I have found I generally don't like them as human beings.  So this recipe is for the Witch (and)or Wizard inside all of us!

  I kinda just wanted to share how geekily awesome this pic is.

   I admit the reasoning for making pumpkin fudge was not originally for HP but for my friend Rachel who bought some at a local arts festival last year.  I have since made several attempts at pumpkin fudge and failed miserably on all previous occasions.  But I cracked the beast a few weeks ago, and now, in honor of part 1 of The Deathly Hallows, it seems appropriate to share.  I will still try other variations of pumpkin fudge in the future to get it absolutely perfect, but this is recipe is pretty damn good.  Rich, creamy, dense, sweet, and pumpkin-y!

Pumpkin Fudge
2 C white sugar
1 C brown sugar
3/4 C butter
2/3 C evaporated milk
2/3 C pumpkin puree
1 Tbsp light corn syrup
1 Tbsp molasses (may be substituted for more corn syrup)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp clove
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 pkg (12 oz) white chocolate chips
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme
1 C chopped walnuts (optional)

   Over medium heat, melt butter.  Add sugars, milk, pumpkin, syrups, and spices.  Turn heat up to med-high.  Heat until mixture reads 234 deg F on a candy thermometer (soft ball stage.)  Stir constantly, this will take 15-20 minutes.  (I know, tedious, but necessary.)
   Once temperature is reached, remove from heat and immediately add vanilla, white chocolate, and marshmallow creme.  Stir until fully incorporated.  Fold in nuts.
   Pour into a foil lined 9x9x2 baking dish.  Allow to set up at room temp for at least 2 hours.  Cut into small pieces.
   36 bite-sized squares of fudge, you be the judge on how many that actually serves.

This is 1/3 of what I made... all that was left when I got around to taking a picture.

Vader/Potter image courtesy Tailgate 365