COOKIES AND CREAM FUDGE SQUARES
If you’ve been readng this blog for a while now, you know how much I love everything cookies and cream. Cookies, cakes, brigadeiros and in this case, fidge sqquares or Palha Italiana. As a child, I loved going to my grandma’s house on weekends and finding a bunch of oreo packages just for me. I was, am and will be a fan of oreos for the rest of my life, I’m sure. The thing with this cookie is that you can make so many different desserts with it. You can add it whole, make flour and add it to a cake, it depends on your imagination and this wonder of a cookie can fulfill. In different countries you can also find different flavors such as red velvet, or mint and chocolate for example.
Are you as much a fan of cookies and cream desserts as I am? If your answer is yes, here are some options for other types of desserts that you can make with Oreos.
What do you think of these desserts? My favorite between these babies is the cookies and cream tres leches. Such and amazing and easy to make dessert.
Let’s move on to our recipe of the day, the Fudge squares.
What are these fudge squares or Palha Italiana?
The Italian palha is the classic brigadeiro or fudge mixed with some type of cookie and served as bars. So, you would make the brigadeiro as you always do and before letting it cool, add the cookies. The classic classic Italian palha is chocolate fudge or brigadeiro and vanilla cookies. In this case, what we will do is make the Italian palha or fidge squares with the delicious fillings of the oreos that you normally throw out and add more oreos to that.
Parts of this Cookies and cream fudge squares:
Let’s start with the fudge. We want these little squares to be as cookies and cream as possible. I decided to use all the parts of the oreos. Most of the time, when you make something with Oreos, the first thing you do is take out the filling and throw it away. This time, you are not going to throw it away. That delicious white filling is going to be the flavor of the brigadeiro or fudge for these cookies and cream fudge squares. The cream part of that cookies and cream fudge. After separating those cookies you are going to add that filling to the condensed milk. It will have small crumbs of oreo cookies but don’t worry, you wont be able to see that.
Once that fudge is ready, you are going to add the whole oreos and also those without filling that you separated a while ago. Those slightly broken cookies are going to give that extra cookies and cream look to the fudge squares.
Finally, you are going to cover these perfect squares in oreo crumbs. This final detail is going to give the squares that amazing yummy look.
Tips to make it perfect:
The oreos: As I mentioned before, you are going to add whole oreos and oreos without filling to that beautiful fudge. The fidge is still hot and those fillings of the whole oreos tend to want to melt. You are going to add those oreos and very carefully stir to cover them with the fudge. Some are going to separate but not all of them. Add all the whole oreos and all the unfilled pieces before stirring so you don’t have to move them more than necessary.
Cool: To cool these bars without freezing or leaving them too hard to get out, what you are going to do is use plastic wrap. You are going to cover the container you use with that plastic wrap making sure that it touches the fudge. This will not create a harder layer due to contact with oxygen when it is cooling. Another tip is that you don’t need to put it in the fridge. Letting it come to room temperature is best. Once you want to cut it and cover it with those crushed oreos they are much more manageable than if it is too cold because they cooled down in the refrigerator.
Patience: If you have already tried my other Italian palha or fudge squares recipe, you will know why I put this word among the tips. The fudge gets really runny before getting some shape and getting thick. So, I recommend you be strong and resist the urge to turn up that fire when you are stirring the fidge for what seems like hours. I promise you it is going to thicken.
The cooking point: The fudge is done when you lift that sauce pan and put it a little on its side, the entire mixture peels off without help from the bottom. Right there you turn off the fire, add those oreos and pour it to the mold or baking dish that you are going to use.
Equipment:
Medium saucepan: To make the brigadeiro in.
A glass or ceramic dish: a 10 inch by 6 inch pan is what I used. Remember, when the dish is bigger, the churro fudge squares will turn out thinner. If your baking dish is too big, make the recipe X2.
Wooden spoon or silicone Spatula: In this case, I prefer using the spatula because that way I can make sure everything in the pan is moving.
Knife: A large knife so that it is comfortable when cutting the squares. Heat up the knife on hot water before cutting the squares as well. IT makes it easier to slice perfectly.
Plastic wrap: Cover the dish before placing in the fridge to rest or letting it rest at room temperature. This is to maintain a fresher flavor. Remember it has to be touching the fudge.
Bowl: A medium or small bowl to place the cinnamon and sugar in.
Measures: A few tablespoon measures will do for this recipe.
COOKIES AND CREAM FUDGE SQUARES
Ingredients
- 1 Can sweetened condensed milk
- 3 Regular oreo packets.
- 2 tbsp butter + extra for baking dish.
Instructions
- Spread butter on your baking dish.
- Take out the filling of two packets of oreos. Keep the cookies and the filling.
- Add condensed milk, butter and those oreo fillings to the saucepan. Mix.
- Place over medium/low heat. Stir constantly until brigadeiro is ready. That is when tilting the pan to the side the mixture comes off easily from the bottom.
- Add 1 package of oreos (with filling) and a few cookies without the fillings. Around half of the package you separated before.
- Stir slowly and carefully to cover these oreos completely.
- Pour onto the baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap, make sure it touches the mixture.
- Once room temeprature, cut into 12 pieces.
- Crush the rest of the oreo cookies and cover the squares with that.
