Fudge is the original old time favorite chocolate sweet treat

By:  Anna McAnthony

According to legend, (although disputed) fudge was accidentally invented by a batch of failed candy; likely caramels, around the year 1886. From this failed candy batch came the exclamation of or the phrase ‘oh, fudge!’ The first time we have documentation of fudge was in a letter from New York. Emelyn Battersby Hartidge, a college student from Vassar, said that the cousin of a friend made fudge. In Baltimore in 1886, the confection sold for 40 cents per pound. Ms. Hartidge got the recipe two years later and made 30 pounds for the Senior Auction. Other colleges like Smith and Wellesley later created their own recipes for this sweet treat.

Just about everyone loves to eat rich, delicious fudge, but it is considered a hassle to make. The earliest recipes were a little ambiguous and extremely difficult. The degree of difficulty had a lot to do with the quality of equipment used, the type of ingredients, which recipe and the patience taken to make it right. Also, constant stirring and being sure of the cooking time, and precise measurements were vital in order to get the perfect fudge. Heating the ingredients to the appropriate temperature, and stirring for the proper amount of time are necessary in order for the fudge to be creamy and smooth and not gritty. Moreover it could be quite easy to under or over cook this sweet confectionery, which results in the candy not setting up or the unsatisfying taste of scorched ingredients.

Fudge by definition is a confectionery treat that is rich and creamy. A soft confection, customarily very smooth and made using fresh butter, sugar, corn syrup, sweet cream and often some incredible flavorings. Flavorings might be vanilla, butterscotch, chocolate, white chocolate, peanut butter, flavored gelatin, Kahlua, buttermilk, kool aid, maple, pumpkin, mint or even bourbon. Fudge could have nuts, such as pecans, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, roasted macadamia nuts, and almonds. Other ingredients that are used in some of the more decadent or unusual fudge might be:  crackers, candy canes, popcorn, cheese, pineapple chunks, lime peel, candy bars, coconut, chocolate chips, cookie wafers, caramel, espresso beans, marshmallows, cherries and other dried or candied fruit, or chunks of chocolate.