All About Fudge: American Chocolate Fudge
American Chocolate Fudge
Many of the world’s favorite sweets and confections have been around for a long time – a really long time. Ice cream, for example, is some 5,000 years old.
But fudge – American-style fudge, the kind that contains chocolate – is a relatively recent invention.
A Brief History of Fudge
The rich chocolate treat we have come to know and love seems to have been stumbled upon at the tail end of the 19th century. Some Food Historians claim to have zeroed in on the date, marking February 14th, 1886 as fudge’s official birthday. Sources suggest that Fudge derived its name from the exclamation, “Oh, fudge!” when its creator botched a batch of caramels by allowing the sugar to crystallize.
One of the earliest – if not the earliest altogether – documented references to fudge was found in a letter from one Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, a student at Vassar College in New York.
In the letter, Hartridge noted that her cousin made fudge and sold it for 40 cents a pound. Hartridge got her cousin’s recipe and made about 30 lbs of fudge for a senior auction. The treat was an immediate success and caught on as a staple in women’s colleges everywhere.
In the following decade – recipes and combinations of ingredients similar to Hartridge’s own “original” creation started popping up in shops on Mackinac Island in Michigan. To this day, some of those shops still produce products from their time-tested, 19th-century recipes.
How Fudge Is Made
Fudge is a version of fondant, although it’s drier than its common, cake-topping sibling. It’s made by boiling sugar in milk and letting it mature to the “soft-ball” stage (between 224 and 238 degrees Fahrenheit).
After that, you beat the milk-and-sugar mixture as it cools. This allows the fudge’s smooth, creamy, melty texture to develop throughout
The First Fudge Recipes
The first recipes for fudge were notoriously delicate and precise. They noted exceedingly specific measurements, temperatures, cooking times and processes.
Most fudge recipes look pretty simple – a few ingredients are combined, heated and then beaten and cooled. The trick is – it’s easy to overcook or undercook a batch of fudge. You really need a candy thermometer and a determined stirring hand in order to avoid ending up with “crystallized” fudge through oversight or over-pause in stirring.
As a result of the delicate nature (and subsequent mishaps) of those original recipes – people started coming up with “foolproof” alternatives that included ingredients like corn syrup, condensed milk, or marshmallow cream to prevent crystallization. Some recipes are better than others – depending on the “style” of fudge you’re looking for.
The Candy Kitchen
Come visit the Candy Kitchen at the Strasburg Shoppes. You can order from a selection of boutique crafted fudge creations – all with their roots in the time-tested original recipes of this American dessert classic.
It’s no wonder fudge has caught on as a staple American treat. Come have a bite and see for yourself!
Ten New Years Pursuits
New Year’s Resolutions are great, but they can also cause a lot of pressure and sabotage our efforts if taken too seriously. Instead, here’s a list of “pursuits” you can aspire to in the coming months:
Interesting Christmas Song Facts
Several of the more popular Christmas tunes that we all enjoy (or that drive us crazy after hearing them a thousand times) actually have very interesting origins. Let’s delve down into the history of some of the classics.
Declutter Before The Holidays
The one tough thing about Christmas is the fact that more “stuff” makes its way into our already cluttered homes. This year, commit to taking some time to clear your house out before Santa visits.
Christmas Traditions From Around the World
Have you ever wondered what common Christmas traditions exist in other places around the globe? Here are some of the more interesting Christmas Traditions from around the world:
The Origins of Christmas Traditions
Have you ever wondered what the origins of our most commonplace holiday traditions are? Perhaps a little insight into some of these rituals will give them further meaning and poignancy to you and your family!
Candy Cane Christmas
There’s not much that says Christmas more than the red and white striped candy cane. Learn why, and come on in for some Candy Cane Fudge!
Pumpkin Decorating Ideas
Gorgeous gourds and pretty pumpkins! Don’t be dull and do the usual. Pick a different decorating method this year and show the world just how Pinterest-y you can be!
Thanksgiving Traditions
Why do we eat what we eat, watch what we watch on TV, and do what we do on Thanksgiving Day? Here is a little history behind some of our most common Thanksgiving traditions.
Thanksgiving Food Alternatives
Are you tired of eating the same exact things every single year on Thanksgiving Day? Why not mix it up and try out some new recipes this year! Check out these ideas:
5 Unexpected Pumpkin Spice Recipes
Pumpkin Spice takes over in the fall, and there is no shortage of recipes for this favorite seasonal spice. Here are 5 Unexpected Pumpkin Spice Recipes to keep you on your toes!
Five of the Best Aspects of Halloween
We’re on the countdown to Halloween which is arguably the undisputed most fun holiday of them all. Read on to review five of the best aspects of this spooky season!
Amish Education
The month of September always signals “back to school”, and we thought we’d share with you how education in the Amish communities of Lancaster County differs from conventional educational systems and institutions. But, first, a little history.
