10tablespoons1-1/4 sticks unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2tablespoonsgood quality bourbon
1tablespoonlight corn syrup
1/4teaspoonskosher salt
1vanilla beansplit lengthwise
Flaky sea saltsuch as Maldon
Instructions
Bourbon Sugar: Preheat oven to 150° or as low as your oven will go. Using a small paring knife scrape the seeds from the vanilla into a small bowl. Stir in sugar and bourbon. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let dry out in oven overnight, leaving door slightly ajar. Mixture should feel like the original sugar again in the morning (meaning it’s back to it’s dry state).
Fudge: Line an 8x8" baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a generous overhang on 2 sides; lightly coat with nonstick spray.
Heat chocolates in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let bowl touch water) on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until almost completely melted (just barely hot). Set aside.
Combine condensed milk, butter, bourbon, corn syrup and kosher salt in a small saucepan; scrape in vanilla seeds and add pod. Heat over medium heat until barely hot (same as the chocolate).
Remove the vanilla pod from the milk mixture.
Gently stir one quarter of milk mixture into chocolate with a rubber spatula. Add another quarter of milk mixture, stirring to incorporate (it might look broken and greasy; don't worry, it will come back together). Continue with remaining milk mixture in 2 additions, stirring vigorously until fudge is very shiny and almost elastic, about 5 minutes. Scrape into prepared pan and smooth top. Sprinkle with bourbon sugar and sea salt. Let cool, then cover and chill at least 4 hours.
Turn out fudge onto a cutting board and slice into rectangles, squares or triangles.
Notes
* You’ll need start this recipe the night before you intend to serve it as the sugar needs to dry overnight in a very low temperature oven. * You likely will only need half of the sugar mixture. Use the rest to sprinkle on top of ice cream, add to your coffee or as a rim for a festive cocktail. * Store bourbon sugar in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 months. * Fudge can be made two weeks in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.