Fudge: A Sweet Treat with a Rich History (2024)

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Fudge: A Sweet Treat with a Rich History? ›

Fudge is a sweet treat with a rich history that dates back over a century. Whether it was first made by college students, a New England woman, or brought to the United States by Irish and Scottish immigrants, fudge has become a beloved confection that is enjoyed by people all over the world.

Culinary legend has it that fudge was invented in America. On Valentine's Day, 1886, a confectioner and chocolate maker in Baltimore, Maryland "fudged" a batch of French caramels. The delicious result? The very first batch of "fudge" ever.

Fudge's story began in the United States around the 1880s. The first documented instance of fudge being made was at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York when a student named Emelyn Battersby Hartridge heard of a fudge recipe and made 30 pounds of it for a senior auction.

It's largely speculated that, somewhere in America, a homemade batch of caramel was ”fudged” (not a pun, although very apt) and went horribly wrong leading to a result that was terribly and deliciously right.

Fudge: a family favorite for over a century

While many candies have a long history dating back many centuries, fudge is on the newer side; it was first created in the late 1880s. The very first mention of the confection came in a letter that was written by a student of Vassar College named Emelyn Battersby Hartridge.

The term fudge is said to have originated in the 17th century from the verb fadge and means "to fit together in a clumsy manner".

That's how much world-famous Mackinac Island fudge gets handcrafted daily during peak tourism season. Five tons of fudge every day!

1. : foolish nonsense. often used interjectionally to express annoyance, disappointment, or disbelief. 2. : a soft creamy candy made typically of sugar, milk, butter, and flavoring.

Think of Michigan's favorite island when you taste the delicate flavor of chocolate fudge.

So maybe fudge—like Dippin' Dots or cotton candy—became a tourist dessert because it was a novel way of making sweets. Fudgeries provided both the entertainment of watching something new and unusual being made and the happy junk-food rush of eating a filling, sweet candy.

What makes fudge special? ›

Fudge is one of the rare exceptions to the rule that sugar crystals are not desirable in candy. Tiny microcrystals in fudge are what give it its firm texture. The crystals are small enough, however, that they don't feel grainy on your tongue, but smooth.

Between its deeply rich flavor and its silky texture, fudge makes a brilliant treat to pair with coffee. The sweet and bitter flavors complement one another perfectly, making for an unstoppable combination.

Food historian Joyce White says fudge is based on a recipe for chocolate caramels, which was very similar. "What probably happened is that there was someone in Baltimore, messed it up, or 'fadged' it," she said. "Fadge is a word that means you messed up.

In fact, one of the first recorded mentions of fudge was in a letter written by Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, a student at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1886. Hartridge wrote about a classmate's cousin who made fudge in Baltimore, Maryland.

Fudge and chocolate are both candy, however, they have different main ingredients. Fudge is mainly made with sugar, while chocolate is mainly made with cocoa. Fudge is created by heating sugar past its boiling point, so it's considered a confection made from crystalized sugar.

Although fudge often contains chocolate, fudge is not the same as chocolate. Chocolate is a mix of cocoa solids, cocoa butter and sometimes sugar and other flavorings and is hard and brittle. Fudge is a mixture of sugar, dairy and flavorings that is cooked and cooled to form a smooth, semi-soft confection.

The exact origin and inventor of this delicious confection are hotly debated. However, many believe the first batch of fudge was created by accident when American bakers “fudged” a batch of caramels. Hence the name “fudge.”

By most accounts, the first batch of fudge was concocted in Baltimore in the 1880s. By the turn of the century, fudge-making arrived on Mackinac Island in northern Michigan, which today has a legitimate claim as the modern day fudge capital.

English (of Norman origin): from the Middle English, Anglo-Norman French personal name Fulch or Fuche, usually a pet form of Old French Fulcher, Fucher (see Fulcher ). Voicing of 'ch' to soft 'g' gave rise to Fudge.

That appetite for fudge dates back more than a century. Food historian Joyce White says fudge is based on a recipe for chocolate caramels, which was very similar. "What probably happened is that there was someone in Baltimore, messed it up, or 'fadged' it," she said. "Fadge is a word that means you messed up.