National Fudge Day
About National Fudge Day
When is National Fudge Day? This holiday is always celebrated on June 16
Chocolate candy lovers rejoice! Today is a sweet day. It is National Fudge Day. On this June 16 holiday, we celebrate this irresistible, fabulous, sugary sweet confection. A great way to enjoy this holiday is to go to a candy store that makes fresh fudge right in front of your eyes. Can you pass up the opportunity to sample some fudge when you enter a candy shop? We think not. And, once you’ve tasted a sample or two, it’s nearly impossible to walk out of the store without buying some to eat later at the beach or in front of the television as a late-night snack.
The meaning of the word has changed over time. In the 17th century, well before the candy was first created, the word “Fadge” was used as a verb meaning “to clumsily fit together or adjust”. A form of this meaning is in use today. For example, we may be working on a difficult estimate and decide to “fudge it”. In the early 1800s, the word meant a “hoax or to cheat”. To this day, kids use the term “Oh, Fudge” as an expletive. Of course, today it has a much sweeter meaning, bringing thoughts of decadent joy.
Fudge is enjoyed around the world. It is a very versatile candy, too. Flavors and varieties are almost unlimited. Can you think of a food item to put into a batch of fudge? How about a combination of items? chances are someone is already ahead of you and has successfully given it the taste test.
For the Record: The largest slab of fudge ever made weighed 5,760 pounds. The Northwest Fudge Factory produced this slab of fudge in Levack, Ontario, Canada, on October 23, 2010.
The History of Fudge
No one knows certain who created the first batch of fudge candy or when. Recipes for it began to appear in cookbooks in the 1800s. It is likely people were making it much earlier. It possibly had its roots in Scotland in the 1700s.
By the 1880s fudge was made and sold in candy stores selling confections. Folklore suggests a confectioner erred in making caramel. Upon realizing the mistake, the confectioner likely said “Oh Fudge”, and the candy was invented.
In 1886, Vassar college student Emelyn Battersby Hartridge wrote a letter mentioning her purchase of a box of fudge for 40 cents a pound at a store in Baltimore, Maryland. Without knowing it, her letter caused the popularity of fudge to quickly grow in popularity in college campuses across the United States.
It began as a summertime treat. Candy stores were quick to please the sweet tooth of Americans. Many shops made it fresh right at the store in full view of gawking customers. Kids and adults drool at the sight of this delightfully sweet candy being made right before their eyes. Candy shops selling fudge are very popular in beach areas and other tourist areas. If you’re on the boardwalk at the beach, you’ll find at least one candy shop filled with tourists buying fudge. It didn’t take long before fudge was used in ice cream. In 1906, Clarence Clifton Brown from Los Angeles, CA, and owner of C.C. Brown’s Ice Cream Shop, invented the hot fudge sundae. Today, we find all sorts of ice cream flavors with fudge in it, too.
Mackinac Island, Michigan claims to be the “Fudge Capital of the World”. Every August, they hold a Fudge Festival. People from around the country and the world mark their calendars and attend this chocolatey sweet festival.
Fudge Trivia and FAQs
Amaze your friends with the depth of your knowledge of fudge candy.
- The first known sale of fudge cost 40 cents a pound.
- The flavors and varieties are only limited by your imagination.
- “Tablet”, or “Taiblet”, is a candy first made in Scotland in the 1700s. It is a medium-hard confection with similar ingredients and is considered a descendant of fudge.
- Fudge is similar to fondant.
- Mamie Eisenhower was a huge fan. Mamie’s Million Dollar Fudge was named in her honor. It included nuts and marshmallow creme.
- Harry Ryba, the “Fudge King” of Mackinac Island once offered a lifetime supply of the candy for just $2,250. He said, “a lifetime, being yours or mine, whichever ends sooner”.
- Candy thermometers are important to produce a smooth texture, avoiding crystallization which results in a gritty texture.
- It stores for up to a year in the freezer.
How to Celebrate and Participate in National Fudge Day
It is very easy to celebrate this fun food holiday:
- Eat fudge.
- Make it at home at home. Select your favorite flavors.
- Try a flavor you’ve never had before.
- Bring some to work to share with co-workers. Have a fudge party.
- Have a contest with your friends. Everyone makes a batch of their best fudge. Then judge the results.
- Go to candy stores that make it fresh.
- Give a box of fudge to a loved one.
- Give a box to someone who needs cheering up.
- Have an ice cream flavor with fudge in it.
- Candy stores celebrate this holiday with free samples and discounts.
Today's Quote
“Optimism is sustainable. If you can find something to be grateful for, then you can find something to look forward to.” – – Michael J. Fox
History and Origin of National Fudge Day
Our research did not find the creator or the origin of this day. We traced the origin of this holiday to 2014. We found no references to this day prior to 2014. While there is a lot of information and history about fudge, there is very little information written about this holiday.
We did not find any documentation confirming this to be a “National” day. There are no congressional records or presidential proclamations.
Definition of “National” Days – and why it is so important to distinguish and identify true national days.
Related Holidays and Information
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Chocolate Trivia – Enjoy it on any type of chocolate holiday. There are several.
More June 16 Holidays
Here are more June 16 holidays we are sure you will enjoy:
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