National Fudge Day
Every year, on June 16th, American fudge lovers mark National Fudge Day. Learn more about fudge, its origins, and ways to honor the dessert.
MMM… Did someone say Fudge?
Whether served hot or cold, fudge is a rich, delicious and creamy delight for any sweet tooth.
I remember every Christmas, making fudge was a big part of our family traditions. And did we make just chocolate? No way. We often made peanut butter, not to mention, butterscotch!
Those memories are so dear because it was my dad who led the fudge making charge and we, four girls, followed him every step of the way!
That’s why I’m loving writing this article. Not only do I have such fond memories of making fudge, but I have such fond memories of the time my family spent together. In a word, I could talk about it all day.
So then, let’s get started!
When is National Fudge Day?
National Fudge Day is June 16th!
A Brief History of National Fudge Day
Unfortunately, here we are again with absolutely no history for this delightful day! But we’ll move on because there is so much more to talk about.Â
Where did Fudge Originate?
One of the few treats that is truly American, Fudge has a bit of a murky history. Since there is no real information of who invented it, some assume that it came from a mistake a Baltimore confectioner made when cooking caramels. And as they exclaimed, “Oh, Fudge!”, fudge was then born. [1]
However, there is a record of a young student at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, namedEmelyn Battersby Hartridge, who procured a recipe for fudge from a schoolmates cousin and made a bunch for the Vassar Senior Auction.
From there fudge fever spread to other schools, who then developed their own fudge recipes. [2]
Ideas for Celebrating National Fudge Day
Because there are so many ways you can eat fudge, celebrating National Fudge Day really is a breeze! Here are a few of our favorites:
- Make a big batch of fudge and share it with your friends and neighbors
- Throw a Fudge party and ask all your friends to bring “fudge” based desserts
- Travel to Mackinac Island, Michigan and enjoy some other their timeless fudge recipes
Popular Flavors of Fudge You Can Make for National Fudge Day
When I was growing up, we really only made those three flavors I talked about at the beginning of this article. But there are soooo many more! Let’s see:
- Classic Chocolate
- Chocolate Nut
- Maple Nut
- Peanut Butter
- Butterscotch
- Chocolate Peanut Butter
- Rocky Road
- Vanilla
- Chocolate Mint
- Red Velvet
- Sugar Cookie
- Potato Chip Pretzel
- S’more’s
- Mocha
- Cookies and Cream
- Salted Caramel
- Cookie Dough
- Coconut
- German Chocolate
- Kahlua
- Amaretto
- Pumpkin Pie
- Raspberry
Can you think of any more? What did we leave out?
Different Types of Fudge
There are a couple of ways to make fudge. The recipe I grew up on used Marshmallow Cream. Oh my word. It was so good! Yes, that is one of the foolproof recipes that evolved over time, but let’s take a look at the different ways fudge can be made.
Traditional Method
The traditional way of making fudge is by cooking it on the stove. Basically you take the ingredients and melt them in a pot, stirring them together until they reach a certain temperature. Then you pour the mixture in a pan and let it cool before you cut it.Â
This method requires full concentration so you come out with the creamy consistency fudge is famous for! Let it cook too long or too high and you’ll end up with crystalized chocolate that will be dry and crumbly.
Cook it too little and it won’t set and will be a gooey mess.
Yuck. or Yum. Depends on who’s eating!
Marshmallow Cream Method
One reason why I love this method is because it is quick and easy. And pretty impossible to mess up. It’s an old favorite!
Basically, you melt all the ingredients except the marshmallow cream. Then you beat in the marshmallow cream until it is the right consistency.
Then pour in a pan and cool.
Easy peasy!
Condensed Milk Method
This is probably the quickest and easiest way to make fudge. And yes, less messy than my beloved Marshmallow Cream recipe.
You simply heat the condensed milk and then pour it over the chocolate. Stir if until it is thoroughly mixed, and then pour in in a pan.Â
Done. Five minutes. Seriously.
Other Delicious Forms of Fudge Besides Candy
We all know that fudge comes in many forms that taste like heaven. Or maybe we don’t! So let’s list them here:
- Fudge Ice Cream
- Hot Fudge Sauce
- Fudge Brownies
- Fudge Cupcakes
- Fudge Cakes
- Fudge Icing
- Fudge Doughnuts
- Fudge Pudding
Any way you eat it, desserts with fudge flavors are truly a delicacy!
Yummy Ingredients You Can Add to Fudge
We listed a ton of kinds of fudge above, but let’s see what ingredients you can add to some of the “plain” recipes like chocolate and vanilla.
- Sprinkles
- Bits of Candy like:
- Reeses
- Snickers
- Twix
- Almond Joy
- Crushed Peppermint
- Crushed Pretzels and Chips
- Dried Fruit like:
- Raisins
- Apricots
- Dates
- Freeze Dried Strawberries
- Nuts like:
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Macadamia Nuts
- Peanuts
- Almonds
FAQs About Fudge Making
Can fudge stay out of the fridge?
Yes. In fact, refrigerating fudge can dry it out and leave you will a crumbly mess.
Can fudge expire?
Yes. After a week or so, you should throw it out. But who has any left after a week anyway?
Four days max here. Maybe three.
When is National Hot Fudge day?
Noteworthy Stats About Fudge
- Ten thousand pounds! That’s how much world-famous Mackinac Island fudge gets handcrafted daily during peak tourism season. Five tons of fudge every day!
- Can dogs eat fudge? No! Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains methylxanthines like caffeine and theobromine, which dogs cannot break down like we can.
- 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
Now that you know so much more about Fudge, which flavor are you going to make first???
