July 22 Penuche Fudge Day is celebrated annually. Penuche is a type of fudge made with butter, milk, and brown sugar and flavored with vanilla.
Penuche is popular mainly in New England and some places in the American South; though in the latter it is usually referred to as brown sugar fudge candy.
Penuche (Italian: panucci) is a fudge-like candy made from brown sugar, butter, and milk, using no flavorings except for vanilla. Penuche often has a tannish color, and is lighter than regular fudge. It is formed by the caramelization of brown sugar; thus, its flavor is said to be reminiscent of caramel. Nuts, especially pecans, are often added to penuche for texture, especially in the making of penuche candies. It is primarily a regional food, found in New England and some places in the Southern United States.
Penuche fudge is usually prepared in the following way. The mixture of brown sugar, butter, and milk is heated to the soft ball stage and set aside to cool. When the mixture is lukewarm, flavorings (for instance, nuts, vanilla, or maple syrup) are added. The mixture is beaten until thick and poured into a pan. Penuche is cooled and cut into pieces before serving.