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Penuche

The fudge equivalent of mystery meat.
Jane Morris

Comments

I must know. Is this a regional fudge?

Holly on April 8, 2004 07:56 AM.

Penuche is awesome fudge made from brown sugar! I never knew until I went away to college in the south that not everyone eats Penuche.

Robin on April 10, 2004 11:49 AM.

Penuche is awesome fudge made from brown sugar! I never knew until I went away to college in the south that not everyone eats Penuche.

Robin on April 10, 2004 11:53 AM.

The funny thing is, it's a southern thing, only it's known as brown sugar fudge down here. Same recipe.

Pam on April 22, 2004 04:24 PM.

Penuche fudge is the BEST! I live in Pittsburgh now (YUCK!) and most people do not even know what I am talking about!

I will be visiting Boston in two weeks and will
OVERDOSE on the stuff!!

Jenn

Jennifer on May 17, 2004 09:37 PM.

I was able to get some stores out here in Portland to carry Rosa's Penuche after I moved here from Ct. I grew up on it in NYC and Long island, and now my Grandson loves it too.

If only I could find a good chocolate egg cream!

Mary on July 1, 2004 05:24 PM.

I LOVE PENUCHE!!!!!! I first came into contact with this stuff at Russel's Convience Store in Denver. I must say though I love my girlfriends penuche the most, its so much better than store bought penuche

Jason on September 6, 2004 02:10 AM.

Penuche??? Delicious, but what is it. In work we are debating - is it a nut butter? is it vanilla? Maple? what gives penuche it's unusual flavor?

KathyAnn on September 22, 2004 02:32 PM.

Funny thing, i was just eatting some penuche fudge i got as a gift and wondering what it was. Came to this site. Try ordering from Murdick's Fudge. Their other flavors are great. www.murdicks.net
888-55-fudge

Pat on October 6, 2004 11:38 PM.

Penuche is really an old fashioned fudge or candy that was most popular from the 20's throughout the 1950s. But as home candy making started to die out the 1960s. These types of fudge were the first to go. I remember my grandmother making this and REAL chocolate fudge {the non marshmallow fluff stuff} almost every weekend. I guess Penuche is quite poplar in the South. But I'm from western New York. And many people over the age of 50 around here still remember it. The thing is that real old fashioned Penuche must be made with light cream. Not milk. Trust me, it does make a difference in the final product. So if you want to whip up a batch. Keep this in mind. :)

Paul S on November 6, 2004 04:55 PM.

In the 1940's and '50's my mom in Illinois would make a yellow cake, and put penuche frosting on it for special occasions. Thinned out a little, it is heavenly as an ice cream topping too.

Caroline on November 12, 2004 04:13 PM.

I grew up in Northwest Missouri. My Grandmother used to make penuche every Christmas but I've met very few people who have ever heard of it. I still have her original recipe and make it every now and then. Recently, I found it at the Rocky Mtn Chocolate Factory. It was almost as good as I remember my Grandmother's to be. Mmmmm...

Kim on December 11, 2004 05:35 PM.

I found myself craving penuche. Had it as a kid. This recipe is good.

3 c. light brown sugar
1 c. cream
1/4 t. salt
Cook until reaches 235 degrees on candy thermometer or soft ball stage.
Remove from heat and stir in 2 T. butter.
Cool to 110 degrees or lukewarm.
Add 1 t. vanilla.
Beat with mixer until it loses shine.
Add 11/2 c. nutmeats--walnuts or pecans best
Pour into buttered 9x 12 pan. When set, cut into squares.

MJ on December 20, 2004 03:19 PM.

Penuche Fudge Rocks!

Bob on January 13, 2005 12:10 PM.

Hi I just made some penuche fudge and i dont know what went wrong. I burned out my mixer trying to mix it and it was so stiff. I may have let it cool too much it was at about 100 degrees farenheight when i went to mix it. I think i might try the recipe with cream too next time. oh well live and learn, try again!!

Nicky on April 18, 2005 07:49 PM.

My mom makes penuche alot from the Betty Crocker cook book (1st or 2nd edition). Except she makes it without the nuts. Really yummie. Very popular in the East coast too..just had to look for it. LOL.

Mark on April 21, 2005 11:30 PM.

Jennifer,
I'm from Boston, but lived in Pittsburgh for a few months. Go down to the strip. There's an Italian fudge shop towards the downtown end. The fudge is amazing!

Kate on August 20, 2005 10:34 PM.

Stumbled on these postings--Penuchi/Penuche is my favorite! We moved to FLA in June and haven't found it here, and no one knows what I'm talking about. I always got mine in Cape Cod, a cute place called Sand'n'Surf in Wareham. Much to my surprise (and delightment!), in my last care package from Mom, I got 2 lbs! YUM!!

Emily on September 1, 2005 12:01 AM.

hey guys! i live in Phoenix,az and almost no one has heard of penuche. i love it. my mom makes it on special occasions and my dad's mom made it every sunday for desert to go with the pot roast. my mom is passing the recipe on to me and ill be proud some day to give it to my little girl or boy. im amazed at how many different variations there are!. but in my grandmother's recipe it calls for NO STIRRING after sugar is dissolved...my mother insists on stirring it. what is the difference? and also where does the word penuche come from? sounds italian to me?

mary on October 6, 2005 07:27 PM.

I'm reading about all these wonderful recipes, will some of you share them? I always got penuche on Cape Cod too when I was a little girl in the 70's. I would love to have a great recipe for it.

Jennifer on November 24, 2005 01:05 AM.

My grandmother (who lived in Boonville, NY, north of Utica and SE of Syracuse) used to make penuche and it was delicious. Well ... so many things she cooked were delicious, and one of my greatest regrets is that I never got Grandma's scattered notes on recipes. I think penuche is a Northeastern thing, because I haven't seen it down South, where I now live.
Find or make some penuche and enjoy!
PS I would love to know if the name is Italian in origin and what its literal meaning is.

MJ Millard on November 26, 2005 11:04 PM.

i remember growing up in portland, oregon in the 60's, going to Morrow's Nut House at the Lloyd Center and buying their "pralines", which i think was penuche. anyone from portland remember this treat? been searching for a recipe that will come close to what i remember loving!!!!!!

Carol on November 28, 2005 07:42 PM.

Penuche!! My favorite fudge! Brown sugar gives it take special flavor, and a recipe calling for white corn syrup makes a creamier fudge.

"Panocha" is another name, I think, as is "Brown Sugar Fudge".

Joyce on December 2, 2005 02:15 PM.

My Bonus Mom (stepmother) died, just before Christmas, year before last. She ALWAYS made me Penuche.

I have her recipe but it never tastes like hers. Is there some trick to making it soft but still firm enough to cut and hold in my hand? Mine is always yucky!

I can make regular fudge just fine.
I miss her...

Jeannie on December 3, 2005 04:54 PM.

I was just able to purchase penuchi at the new Cabela's in Rogers, Minnesota. It was great! Haven't had it since I was a young girl and my mother would make it for a treat, and I am in my 50s!

Kathy on December 5, 2005 11:03 PM.

My girfriends and I always have "cookie day" before the holidays and they nominate me to make the fudge. I have made them penuche from one of the girls recipes for the last couple of years. It tastes great but isn't as firm as regular fudge....what is the consistency supposed to be? Thanks!

Dawn on December 12, 2005 01:11 PM.

My mother made Penuche in the 40's and 50's. She often called it "nochie". It was wonderful. I make something similar called Creamy Pralines from Cooks.com website.
Hope that helps.

Rubye on December 21, 2005 09:56 PM.

Oh my gosh! A blog about penuche! I stumbled onto you because I was craving penuche, which I had as a kid. A neighbor used to make it every Christmas and give our family some. For some reason, this year, I decided I would track down a recipe and here I am! Cooks.com has recipes for penuche but they call it walnut penuche.

Debbie on December 22, 2005 06:55 PM.

Hi everyone!
My memere (grandma) made this since 1920 and every year from then to 1985 she made it every Christmas. When she died so did her recipe. Mom and I have tried in vain to channel her and we have tried sooo many recipes that I have had to resort to the internet and can't believe there is a blog about IT!
But it is really addicting and this recipe is close. I found a recipe that was made by Eleanor Roosevelt called mystery fudge but hers added chocolate.
Any way try this and enjoy!
Penuche Fudge (Brown Sugar Fudge)
Rec.food.recipes/Johnson(1990)
PS I always use just brown suger no white.
2 cups white sugar
2 cups light brown sugar
1 large can evaporated milk

Cook on medium heat stirring constantly. When it begins to boil drop heat to low, still stirring constantly. When medium firm ball is dropped when a bit is added into water then take off heat and add:

2 Tbsp. butter
1/3 large jar marshmallow fluff (also called marshmallow cream)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Beat until slightly thick and pour into buttered pan 9x12. Let harden cut into squares.

joy on January 3, 2006 07:15 PM.

I bought some great penuche fudge with pecans from Papa Bear's Chocolate Haus in Mendocino, CA (sadly they have no website or I would be happy to advertise for them). But mostly I am here to say I am 99% sure that the word "penuche" is not Italian in origin. I've been living in Rome for 3.5 years and can speak Italian pretty much fluently. The word looks more French to me.

Sally on January 4, 2006 10:44 AM.

Emily wrote that she can't find penuche in Florida. That was a few months ago but I hope she finds this. There is a place in Tarpon Springs (I think it's called the Fudge Factory) that has great penuche. I found it there while visiting in-laws. I hope this helps.

Kathy on January 23, 2006 02:53 PM.

I live in Houston, Texas. My Great Aunt Helen lives in Maine and she sent me a booklet on "Victorian Tea-Time Recipe," including recipe for penuche!
The penuche recipe is divine! It makes me think of Louisiana-style pralines or Leche Quemada(Mexican goodies)[literally, "burned milk"]!
Sorry, no commentary on its origin in the booklet! Enjoy!
Penuche
2 c brown sugar
1/2 c whipping cream
2 tbsp butter
1/3 c coconut
1/3 c chopped dates
1/3 c chopped nuts(tried w/ pecans)
Combine sugar, cream, butter. Boil to soft ball stage (234-238F on candy thermometer). Remove from fire. Cool to room temp. Beat until creamy. Add dates, coconut, and nuts. Continue beating until mixture holds its shape. Pour into well-buttered, shallow pan. Cut in squares.

Meredith Bennett on February 13, 2006 10:48 PM.

I found this site by accident. What a hoot to find so many people interested in Penuche fudge. Hands down, the best place to acquire Penuche fudge is at www.Harborcandy.com, the website is for a great candy store in Maine. They offer it as one of their fudge selections. Good prices, too.

Eric Milletich on March 13, 2006 04:40 PM.

Three phrases should be among the most common in our daily usage. They are: Thank you, I am grateful and I appreciate.

penis enlargement on April 5, 2006 10:26 AM.

Yummy, I never heard about Penuche but, I LOVE IT!!! I know it as Dulce de Leche translated meaning: Milk Candy!
(Found in Central Mexico)

It is my favorite and I am not a Candy Eatter!

Found by my Husband through Betty Crocker cook book we learn that Penuche is something related that everybody love's and found in different countries in the world!!!
Enjoy yours and learn on this site the variations you can make!

Lupe on May 15, 2006 07:21 PM.

My mom used to make a banana cake and penuche frosting (which translates into a wonderful brown sugar fudge topping). It is awesome! I was curious - where does the term penuche come from?

Mary on August 10, 2006 10:18 AM.

I love Penuche..

Tim P on August 15, 2006 10:58 PM.

Does anyone know where penuche was first made, was it here in the states or was it brought over from Europe? It is my favorite fudge.

Jay on November 12, 2006 12:32 PM.

After working in Scotland for a month there is a local fudge called tablet which is the same as penuche;: Not difficult to find and very inexpensive Now that I am living in Belgium I have to make penuche from scratch: Need to find an outlet for Peeps Any ideas over here?????

ellen on November 13, 2006 03:47 AM.

A great penuche equivalent can be found at See's; the West coast candy maker that is the best in the U.S. You can select at the candy counter as "butterscotch squares". It is the closest that I've found to a great penuche. By the way, do not call penuche by the Mexican Spanish slang "panocha", that is slang for female genitalia.

Craig on December 17, 2006 02:31 PM.

penuche! awesome stuff that. my mother made penuche my whole childhood, more often than fudge which call for special ingrediants you may not always have on hand . but penuche can be so simple as brown sugar and canned milk or if you have it cream and corn syrup ive made it both ways i prefer the one with corn syrup added for the texture difference but the other one works well if i wake up in the middle of the night dying for it which i have!its quite addictive,I was really shocked to find out when i moved away from home that no one knew what i meant by penuche, theyd say you mean peanut butter fudge? vanilla fudge? a mexican family i met did know what i meant, and informed me that it was popular in the part of mexico that they were from. but if that is where it originates i dont know.I do know that i got here to this site cause Im making a big batch for christmas and was curious on how many versions of it there were.id also like to know where it started and its name.where it came from,this is embaressing but the mexican family also told me that the name of the candy was used as a slang word for a certain part of a womans body,I didnt catch on right away so they laughed at me and said .they are both sweet and delicious.so im wondering if that part of mex. is so familiar with penuche that they turn it into a slang word maybe it did come from there?

colleen on December 22, 2006 12:04 AM.

I grew up in the 50's and 60's in central California. My mother made Penoche every Christmas.Here is the recipe I grew up with.
Penoche
3 cups brown sugar
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons white corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup nuts

Combine sugar, milk and syrup in saucepan. Cook stirring constantly until small quantity forms soft ball when placed in a cup of cold water. Remove from heat. Drop in butter do not stir. Let cool until lukewarm. Add vanilla and nuts. Beat until mixture loses it’s gloss. Pour into a greased pan. When cool cut into squares.

It is sugary and delicious!!

sandy Vinatieri on December 26, 2006 11:04 PM.

According to the Collins Dictionary and to Barron's "Food Lover's Companion", "penuche" or "panuche" comes from the Mexican word for brown or raw sugar, and the confection is of Mexican origin.

Lori on January 9, 2007 02:18 PM.

My Mom used to make me a devil's food cake with Penuche (I called it butterscotch)frosting that she made from a box! Does anyone remember this stuff? It was the best. It disappeared sometime in the mid 50's and I crave it often.

Candi on February 15, 2007 06:40 PM.

I can't believe I found this blog about penuche! What a coincidence. I just bought the best ever penuche on ebay. It really did melt in my mouth. Penuche is the best fudge ever! And now I have a source to buy it anytime. Yeah!!Rejoice fellow penuche lovers everywhere.

ann on March 6, 2007 06:37 PM.

Try the Mount Saint Mary's penuche, described thus: "The name is derived from the Spanish word for brown sugar, but its maple flavor makes it a New England favorite. The nuns use cream, walnuts, butter and, of course, real maple syrup to make this delicious treat."

Madeline on March 15, 2007 05:49 PM.

If you want to find out about anything, penuche, or otherwise, I guess the internet's where to go. Growing up in the 50s & 60s penuche was by far my favorite fudge. You could find it homemade almost anywhere in the State of Maine at church and Grange fairs. That's almost a thing of the past now. Homemade is the very best, and there were many recipes I am sure. Hardly anyone seems to make it now.

Last fall, while visiting friends in Tennessee, I visited a famous candy store in Pigeon Forge that makes many great flavors of fudge, but when I asked for penuche, I was given only a blank stare. I had to settle for a vanilla pecan fudge instead, which was very good but not what my taste buds were looking for.

Fortunately there is a great "handmade" candy store here in Maine that does make penuche, and its as close to homemade as I have found from a candy company. This is Haven's Candies of Westbrook and one can order online at www.havenscandies.com. There prices are considerably better than www.Harborcandy.com, however, I have not made the comparison to see which one might be better. The prices are even better if you can visit the Haven's Factory Store in Westbrook. They will ship most anywhere and will ship overnight with a cold pack to assure safe delivery.

Well, here's hopein' that all the penuche lovers out there find the perfect penuches from there childhood memories.

Sam on April 24, 2007 12:58 PM.

Hey there, I love penuche. For those of you who are wondering, the word "penuche" is hispanic and is the name of a candy made of brown sugar, milk, butter, and (usually) nuts. It is pronounced pu-noo-chi. The candy got its name because brown sugar is called panocha, again, an hispanic word, pronounced pan-oh-cha. I hope this helps!

Bonnie on May 20, 2007 12:42 AM.

My mom made this every year but she would always add oats to it! Vey goood and somewhat chewy. Going to Boston for the first time this summer

Patty on May 21, 2007 01:42 PM.

I adore penuche and some of my favorite is at Sees candies. I live in Oregon and we have those stores all over. Lucky me! I only live 1/4 of a mile away from one!

Amy on May 28, 2007 09:16 PM.

I adore penuche and some of my favorite is at Sees candies. I live in Oregon and we have those stores all over. Lucky me! I only live 1/4 of a mile away from one!

Amy on May 28, 2007 09:16 PM.

I adore penuche and some of my favorite is at Sees candies. I live in Oregon and we have those stores all over. Lucky me! I only live 1/4 of a mile away from one!

Amy on May 28, 2007 09:16 PM.

penuche is my favorite--and even better is penuche sauce for ice cream. bailey's in wolfeboro, NH had the best penuche sauce but last time I went there, they'd changed names.

Helen on July 17, 2007 10:34 PM.

I am from NH and have lived up and down the East coast Me to Fla and Pennuche has been in our family for generations. It is my faborite . My mom made it growing up but my favorite is Penuche sauce from Putnum Pantry in Danvers Ma they have a candy store anad ice cream smorgishboard that is still in existance today as well as Bailey's in wolfboro the last I knew the new owners still had a penuche sundae to die for. I am still trying to recreat the sauce.

JUdy on August 14, 2007 02:08 PM.

My grandma in Southern Indiana used to make us big batches of chocolate fudge, divinity, and penuche for Christmas. Talk about a sweet tooth! I found some great recipes to try here - thanks everyone!

Rachel on October 24, 2007 05:05 PM.

My grandma in Southern Indiana used to make us big batches of chocolate fudge, divinity, and penuche for Christmas. Talk about a sweet tooth! I found some great recipes to try here - thanks everyone!

Lanzarote Car Hire on November 5, 2007 12:49 PM.

I grew up in Maine and penuche was omnipresent. My mother made it often and it was a staple at church and communty bake sales -- along with divinity (another hard-to-find item). My mom pronouced it pen-oo-chi and she also remmebered it from her childhood in the 1920s. Real penuche, like all "real" fudge should be crumbly, not that waxy sticky stuff that passes for fudge nowadays.

Off to check out some of the sites mentioned here in search of some "like mom used to make." Thanks to all for the leads.

Maine girl on November 25, 2007 04:18 PM.

Sam's comment was very interesting. I live in Maine now, having grown up in Tennessee. Shame on Pigeon Forge for not having penuche...maybe its because we always called it Brown Sugar Fudge. I'm certainly gonna check out Havens Candies, thanks Sam for the heads up. BTW there is a really easy recipe for it on Cooks.com, just remember...if it cooks to long it will be grainy. Pouring it over chocolate cake is sheer heaven!!

Bobbie on November 27, 2007 10:55 AM.

I used to love penuche as a kid, and made it so much I stopped needing a recipe. I think the recipe I used came from Betty Crocker, and was so easy I see no reason to buy it readymade. The technique was, melt a tablespoon or two of butter, stir in enough brown sugar to soak up all the butter and make a thick mixture, cook till the sugar is dissolved and bubbly, stir in about a cup of milk (I'd eyeball it while stirring till it was the right color and thickness), cook for a few minutes, remove from heat, add vanilla, then when lukewarm stir in powdered sugar until firm enough to handle. An advantage of this recipe is it's quick and doesn't need a candy thermometer. I'd add nuts when I had them. We always had the ingredients on hand, and it only took a few minutes to make. I'd make a small batch so I wouldn't get too fat.

Lise on December 11, 2007 11:18 PM.

Growing up just outside Boston, I've had my share of penuche, storebought and homemade. The best recipe is always the simplest. And homemade is always better than storebought! At Christmas I make "white peanut butter fudge" for everyone. Just this year my friend said that he liked the first batch I made which I thought was awful. He said it was more like penuche. I had burnt it a little and didn't use as much marshmellow creme as I was supposed to. Just in a hurry because I had so many pounds to make. Anyway, I'm going to make some penuche for him before Christmas.

lorraine v. on December 16, 2007 01:51 PM.

I remember this wonderful, creamy, maple flavored penuche my mother used to by from a local bakery in Napa, California. I used to sneak into the refrigerator and get a bite every once in a while. I have tried to make it,four times now, and it is just awful. I have no idea, how to get it to turn out well. I have used 4 different recipes too. The last one was edible at least.

Debbie on December 18, 2007 04:05 AM.

I can't believe this. A blog about penuche. This was my fathers absolute favorite candy. His birthday was always celebrated with spice cake and penuche frosting. So sweet it makes the roof of your mouth hurt. I always thought it was Spanish, but it definitely came from Europe. Dad's gone now but penuche will live on as a Christmas candy tradition in our family.

Michelle on December 18, 2007 01:20 PM.

I grew up in New Hampshire and my mom always made penuche. I now live in Idaho and hardly anyway knows what I'm talking about when I refer to penuche fudge. There are a couple of candy stores out here that make it but it's just not the same as my mom's. Unfortunately, I never got her recipe before she died, so I'm going to give some of these recipes a try.

Tami on December 18, 2007 09:08 PM.

I grew up in NE Wyoming. My grandfather always made Penuche at Christmas Time. He Passed away in 1994 and his receipe too. Wanted to make it for Christmas this year just looking for a receipe when I found this site. I haven't found anyone in Denver Co thats heard of it.

Sheri on December 22, 2007 01:03 PM.

The last two times I've made penuche (I think I must be using a different recipe), it's come out very crumbly--so much so that you can't cut it into pieces. Does anyone know the secret to getting the right consistency? I've followed all the cardinal rules: cool to 110, do not stir while cooling, etc. Thanks!

Debora on January 3, 2008 12:12 AM.

Hi all,

As a person of Mexican heritage and speaker of Spanish, I just wanted to clarify some things about the origins of some of the words "defined" above from the Spanish language. The word in spanish for brown sugar is:

"azucar moreno" http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=brown+sugar

There are no other ways of saying brown sugar.

The word "panocha" in spanish has multiple meanings. The BEST known is a slang term in spanish, which roughly translates to vagina (but starting with the letter "P").

The word "panocha" has other meanings as well. It is a coarse grade of sugar, but not brown sugar specifically, and it is a word variant of penuche. Which of course means technically you can use the word to mean penuche when speaking spanish. I just wouldn't recommend it as most Mexicans will think you mean the first meaning I gave.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/panocha

Mark on January 13, 2008 11:33 AM.

MY mother made the best Brown Sugar Fudge but it was alway 2 cups Brown Sugar and 2 cups White sugar 1 tblspn butter 1 tsp vanilla that was all nothing fancy. We cold live on the stuff.

Nadine BC Canada

Nadine Lewis on April 4, 2008 03:13 AM.

Nadine again I forgot the cup of cream. Sorry but that really was all she used and it was always a nice hard fudge.

Nadine Lewis on April 4, 2008 03:15 AM.

We sent penuche fudge to my mother-in-law as a gift from Harbor Candy Shop in Maine and she loved it. This year we thought about making some to send her for Mother's Day. We have seen many types of recipes that claim to produce different results, crumbly, not crumbly, smooth, etc.

What would be the best recipe to use that resembles Harbor's penuche fudge? We would also appreciate any tips about making this for the first time.

Denise on April 24, 2008 02:06 AM.

We sent penuche fudge to my mother-in-law as a gift from Harbor Candy Shop in Maine and she loved it. This year we thought about making some to send her for Mother's Day. We have seen many types of recipes that claim to produce different results, crumbly, not crumbly, smooth, etc.

What would be the best recipe to use that resembles Harbor's penuche fudge? We would also appreciate any tips about making this for the first time.

Denise on April 24, 2008 02:06 AM.

this may sound strange,
but my friend melissa and i have an ongoing joke about penuche.

although, i realize..it's nothing to joke about.
we were at a store in Rockport, MA..unsure about how to pronounce the confectionary god that is penuche...
the boy working behind the counter had a constant frowning face, yet his voice was that of an excited baby. he yelled "OH, you guys want some PEH NOOCH!?"

ever since then, we have thought it was pronounced "peh nooch".
only today did i find out, it's actually "peh noo chee"

my life has been changed people, changed.

Molly on May 6, 2008 09:21 PM.

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