Photo credit flickr.com/mackinacislandgal
In our Michigan Moments: Food series, we’re checking out the history behind iconic Michigan foods and beverages. This is the sixth article of the series. Look for a new one every Wednesday!
MICHIGAN — Midwestern cooking often combines culinary traditions from our families’ immigrant backgrounds, locally grown and produced ingredients, and the foods of Indigenous tribes. And in Michigan especially, our home cookin’ includes provisions that were concocted, bottled, and packaged by mitten-state entrepreneurs. If you’re curious about the history of some of your favorite foods and beverages, read on to discover how Michigan history creates Michigan culture.
Mackinac Island Fudge
Arguably Michigan’s most well-known food, Mackinac Island fudge is so famous, we have a name for the tourists who flock to the island specifically to swarm the fudge shops — fudgies. During tourism season, Mackinac Island handcrafts an average of ten thousand pounds of fudge daily and imports an average of twenty thousand pounds of sugar every week.
Mackinac Island didn’t invent fudge, but it did turn it into a delightful slice of Americana. The sugar candy treat was purportedly invented in the 1880s in Baltimore, Maryland. According to culinary legend, a hapless baker discovered the treat when they “fudged” a batch of caramel. 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. At the time, Mackinac Island was a former fur-trading post that was quickly becoming a summer vacation destination. Tourists began to associate the island with sweets (with maple sugar being the most popular at the time), and Murdick’s Candy Kitchen opened to meet the demand.
Using his mother Sara’s recipes, Rome Murdick was the first person on Mackinac Island to make fudge on marble slabs, which also created an entertaining show for customers. The art of fudge-making soon became competitive, as spectators watched as Rome and his competitors delicately balanced and shaped cooling fudge on the marble slabs.
The industry survived the sugar rationing of the Great Depression, and by the 1960s, fudge tourism was in full swing. The economic boom following World War II made it easier than ever before for Americans to get on the highway and drive “up north,” and fudge shops started experimenting with flavors that would surprise their visitors.
Today, Mackinac Island boasts 13 different fudge shops. And while Murdick’s was the island’s first, it’s a topic of fierce debate and loyalty about which shop is the best. If you’re thinking of weighing in, a proper taste test is a great reason to ferry on over.
Visit the Mackinac Island official website for more information about its fudge shops.
FAQs
As Mackinac Island evolved from a center of fur trade into a summer resort destination, Victorian-era vacationers began to identify the island with sweets. At first, the most common candy was maple sugar harvested by Native Americans. Other treats, including fudge, soon followed.
What is the oldest fudge company on Mackinac Island? ›
In 1887, Mackinac Island's first candy shop opened as Murdick's Candy Kitchen. Henry Murdick continued to make sails in the back of the building, while up front, Rome crafted fudge using his mother's recipe.
What is the history of fudge? ›
Fudge, a much-loved confection, traces its origins back to the late 19th century in the United States. The exact date of its invention is somewhat nebulous, but the first documented instance of fudge is commonly believed to have occurred around the 1880s.
What is the creamiest fudge on Mackinac Island? ›
With over forty flavors to choose from and the creamiest fudge on Mackinac Island, the Murray Hotel wants to make it easier for you to buy and receive fudge from anywhere in the United States!
What did the Indians call Mackinac Island? ›
Mackinac Island is a shortened version of the Native American name, Michilimackinac. The Anishinaabek word means place of the great turtle. Why great turtle? They thought that Mackinac Island, with its limestone bluffs, looked like a giant turtle rising out of the water.
Who makes the best fudge in the world? ›
Mackinac Island Fudge – The Best Fudge on Earth
- Original Murdick's Fudge.
- Joann's Fudge.
- Ryba's Fudge Shops.
Mackinac Island, between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, is the self-proclaimed "Fudge Capital of America." The car-free oasis has more than a dozen fudge shops. During the summer, fudge-loving tourists (affectionately called "fudgies") flood the island.
Is fudge a Michigan thing? ›
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.
What state is known for fudge? ›
Choose from our Famous Pure Michigan Fudge Flavors.
What makes Mackinac Island so special? ›
Mackinac Island offers timeless charm with its horse-drawn carriages , historic architecture and attractions . Come explore the island's natural beauty through miles of biking and hiking trails and enjoy a wide variety of activities .
Mackinac, which normally smells like fudge and horse manure, was momentarily filled with the most wonderful of spring flowering scents.
How much sugar is in Mackinac Island fudge? ›
Mackinac Island Fudge - Pint
| Serving Size | | 2/3 cup (100g) |
|---|
| Total Carbohydrates | 29g 11% | 29g 32% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g 4% | 2g 7% |
| Sugars | 24g 1g | 72g 2g |
| Protein | 3g 0% | 10g 0% |
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Why are there so many Jamaican workers on Mackinac Island? ›
While Mackinac Island has about 500 year-round residents, it takes about 5,000 seasonal workers to support visiting tourists. When the local unemployment rate is low, it's difficult to fill those jobs with local residents. As a result, Mackinac Island relies on a large influx of foreign guest workers.
Why is fudge a tourist thing? ›
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.
