Alabama Chocolate-Pecan Jumbo Christmas Fudge

Ingredients

• 1¼ cups chocolate wafer crumbs
• ⅓ cup butter, melted
• ½ cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar, brown
• 3 eggs
• 12 oz semisweet chocolate morsels melted
• 2 tsp coffee, instant
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup flour
• 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
• whipped cream, sweetened
• chocolate syrup
• maraschino cherries with stems
• mint sprigs

Directions

1. Combine chocolate wafer crumbs and ⅓ cup melted butter; firmly press on bottom and sides of a 9-inch tart pan or pieplate.
2. Bake at 350 °F for 6 to 8 minutes.
3. Cream ½ cup softened butter; gradually add brown sugar with the electric mixer at medium speed until blended.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
5. Stir in the melted chocolate, instant coffee granules, vanilla extract, flour and chopped pecans.
6. Pour into the prepared crust.
7. Bake at 375 °F for 25 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and cool completely on a rack.
9. Before serving, pipe sweetened whipped cream on each piece and drizzle with chocolate syrup.
10. Garnish with cherries and/or mint if desired.