Fudge is a type of confectionery which is made by mixing sugar, butter and milk, heating it to a temperature of 240 °F, the soft-ball stage, and then beating the mixture while it cools so that it acquires a smooth, creamy consistency. Fruits, nuts, caramel, candies, and other flavors are sometimes added either inside or on top.
Where did Fudge begin you ask? An American-style fudge was found in a letter written by Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, a student at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. She wrote that her schoolmate’s cousin made fudge in Baltimore, MD in 1889 and sold it for 40 cents a pound. Hartridge obtained the fudge recipe and, in 1890, made 30 lbs. of fudge for the Vassar College Senior Auction. This Vassar fudge recipe became quite popular at the school for years to come.[1]
Word of this popular confectionery spread to other colleges. For example, Wellesley College and Smith College have their own versions of a fudge recipe dating from the late 19th or early 20th century.[2]
Fudge-making evolved a variety of flavors and additives as it grew beyond its popularity at colleges. It is often bought as a gift from gift shops in tourist areas and attractions.
Do you have a favorite Fudge recipe? Please share it in our comments section and share the “sweetness”!!!
Yummy Holidays to All!!!