History of Fudge

There are many stories describing the origins of fudge, with no one story universally accepted as true. Most fudge historians do agree that fudge was first the result of an accident, a botched batch of some other confection, thus, explaining the exclamation “oh, fudge!” Most fudge historians also agree that fudge was first made in the United States, probably somewhere in the Midwest.

Fudge probably did not exist as of 1849 when J.M. Sanderson assembled the second edition of his Cook and Confectioner; The Complete Cook, a book meant for professionals, since no recipe consistent with fudge is mentioned. An archived letter written by an alumnus of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, claims that fudge was first made around 1886, and sold for 40 cents a pound. Sometime around the turn of the century, fudge made its way out of the Midwest to what eventually would be known as the fudge capital of the United States – Mackinac Island, located off the coast of northern Michigan in Lake Huron. Now, fudge is enjoyed almost worldwide, with various methods of creating this thick, rich confection.