MAKES:36 servings

PREP TIME:0 hours 35 mins

COOK TIME:0 hours 30 mins

TOTAL TIME:1 hour 5 mins

Ingredients

115 g unsalted butter, plus extra to grease

100 g pecans

397 g tin condensed milk

150 ml whole milk

425 g light brown soft sugar

1 tsp. vanilla bean paste

1/2 tsp. flaked sea salt

150 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), chopped

Directions

• Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4 and lightly grease and line a 20.5cm square tin with baking parchment. Spread the pecans out on a separate baking tray and toast in the oven for 8min, or until golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
• Mix the condensed milk, whole milk, sugar, butter and vanilla in a large pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Turn up the heat a little and bubble, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 113-115˚C on a sugar thermometer – about 15min.
• Set pan aside for 5min. Meanwhile roughly chop the pecans.
• Add the salt to the pan and beat using a handheld electric whisk on medium speed for 5-6min, or until the mixture has thickened and is starting to come away from the sides of the pan. Alternatively, beat with a wooden spoon for 8-10min.
• Stir in the chopped pecans. Scrape mixture into the lined tin, spreading to level. Leave to cool completely at room temperature, or in the fridge. 
• Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Meanwhile transfer the fudge to a board and trim the edges to neaten. Cut into 36 squares, each roughly 3 x 3cm.
• Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Dip each square into the melted chocolate to 1/2 coat. Leave to set on the lined sheet at room temperature, or chill briefly if needed. Serve.