Sloemotion Cherry Brandy Fudge

Method

1. Grease the base and sides of the baking tin with oil or butter and line with a sheet of non-stick baking parchment.
2. Place the cherries in a small saucepan with the cherry brandy, then cut the vanilla pod to expose the seeds and add it to the cherries. Put the pan on a low heat for about 3 minutes to warm the cherry brandy, but don’t allow it to boil. Remove from the heat and leave to cool, stirring occasionally, so the cherries soak up the vanilla-infused brandy.
3. To make the fudge, tip the remaining ingredients and the brandied vanilla pod into a large saucepan. Put the pan over a low heat to melt the butter and dissolve the sugar.
4. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to the boil. At this stage, the mixture will be a deep creamy colour, but as it reaches the required temperature it will turn into a rich caramel shade.
5. Stirring frequently, continue to cook on a low-to-medium heat. Half fill the sink with cold water and plunge the base of the pan into it for 20 seconds to halt the cooking process.
6. Using tongs or a fork, remove the vanilla pod from the pan and leave the fudge to cool on a heatproof surface for 3-4 minutes. The fudge will start to lose its surface sheen as it cools. Beat the cooled fudge with a rubber spatula for about 3 minutes until it thickens and starts to become grainy. Add the cherries and mix to combine, then spoon the fudge in an even layer into the prepared tin.
7. Allow to cool completely then cover with cling film. Leave overnight before cutting into squares and enjoy!