The history of fudge: Did a mistake create a sweet treat? (2024)

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The history of fudge: Did a mistake create a sweet treat? ›

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.

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.”

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.

The first written record of fudge's existence was at a bake sale at Vassar College in 1886. One year later, in 1887, Sara Murdick and her family arrived at Mackinac Island and would soon kickstart Mackinac's fudge empire. The men of the Murdick family worked on canvas awnings at the then-new Grand Hotel.

The most popular lore suggests that fudge was first created in the United States, where, in the 19th century, a serendipitous mistake led to a delicious discovery. As the story goes, a batch of caramel was mistakenly "fudged up," leading to the birth of this new confection.

Chocolate Fudge: An American Invention

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.

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.

Tarte Tatin

This upside-down French dessert was stumbled upon in a hotel owned by two sisters in the 19th Century. When making an apple tart, one of the sisters accidentally over-cooked the apples. To rescue it and disguise the error, she popped the pastry over the top. Et voilà – a dessert favourite was born!

Whether you visit Mackinac Island on National Fudge Day in June or any other day – maybe during the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival in August – come find your favorite flavor and experience the fudge capital of the world!

What island in Michigan is known for fudge? ›

Just as Mackinac Island was at one time the center of the world's fur trade, it now attracts people from around the globe to taste world-famous Mackinac Island Fudge! Visitors get to enjoy delicious samples from the many fudge shops downtown and also see the fudge making process in action.

OPTION 1) Depending on how runny it is, you can either use it as a frosting for cakes, or a sauce for ice-cream. OPTION 2) Freeze it overnight. Cut it into squares. Cover each square thickly in melted chocolate, ensuring no part of the fudge is exposed.

How do you fix fudge that is too soft? Bring the fudge back to a boil with 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of cream. If your fudge is soft or runny, it probably didn't come up to a high enough temperature while it was cooking. Put it back into the saucepan and add 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of 35% fat whipping cream.

Fudge is a type of confection that is made by mixing sugar, butter and milk. It has its origins in the 19th century United States, and was popular in the women's colleges of the time.

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

Whether it's chocolate, nut-filled or even swirled with peanut butter, fudge is a holiday favorite. But clocking in at around 130 calories and 5 grams of fat per ounce, this rich treat is far from a healthy choice. ... Fudge also boasts very little in terms of health.

The first recorded mention of fudge came from 1888. That year, a student at Vassar College named Emelyn Battersby Hartridge wrote a letter about the candy. She claimed to have received a recipe from a friend's cousin. That same year, Hartridge made a large batch of fudge to sell at a school fundraiser.

In 1905 year, an 11 year old Frank Eperson mixed soda, juice and water in a cup and accidentally left it with a spoon inside on a cold winter day. On the second day the cup was frozen and instead of drinking juice, Frank had to eat an ice-cream. After 18 years, Frank refined and patented his own invention.

Fudge Didn't Set

If your fudge turned out super sticky, or it didn't set as it cooled, it probably never got hot enough.

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.

Was fudge a coward? ›

In the case of Cornelius Fudge, his fear of Lord Voldemort led to us seeing the more cowardly side of his reign – using his influences with the Daily Prophet to try and cover up the whole thing.