The Delicious History of Fudge - Wockenfuss Candies (2024)

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The Delicious History of Fudge - Wockenfuss Candies? ›

Unlike many of your other favorite candies and treats, fudge is a relatively new product, dating back to just the 1880s. In fact, one of the first recorded mentions of fudge was in a letter written by Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, a student at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1886.

It all started for us in 1875 when Herman Charles Wockenfuss was born in West Prussia, Germany. He came to America in 1885 and eventually learned how to make candy. In 1915, he proudly began the Wockenfuss Candy Company, known today as Wockenfuss Candies.

Fudge's story began in the United States around the 1880s. The first documented instance of fudge being made was at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York when a student named Emelyn Battersby Hartridge heard of a fudge recipe and made 30 pounds of it for a senior auction.

It's largely speculated that, somewhere in America, a homemade batch of caramel was ”fudged” (not a pun, although very apt) and went horribly wrong leading to a result that was terribly and deliciously right.

Culinary legend has it that fudge was invented in America. On Valentine's Day, 1886, a confectioner and chocolate maker in Baltimore, Maryland "fudged" a batch of French caramels. The delicious result? The very first batch of "fudge" ever.

The first candy was used by the Ancient Egyptians for cult purposes. In ancient times, Egyptians, Arabs, and Chinese made candies with fruits and nuts that caramelized with honey. The two oldest candy types are licorice and ginger.

1900: Milk Chocolate bars.

When fudge is a verb, it means to avoid straightforwardly answering a question or addressing a subject: "Just answer my question and don't fudge the issue!" Fudge is an American word from college slang meaning "a made-up story."

Fudge is a type of confection that is made by mixing sugar, butter and milk. It has its origins in the 19th century United States, and was popular in the women's colleges of the time.

The exact origin and inventor of this delicious confection are hotly debated. However, many believe the first batch of fudge was created by accident when American bakers “fudged” a batch of caramels. Hence the name “fudge.”

What state is known for fudge? ›

On Michigan's world-renowned Mackinac Island, the sweet aroma of fudge wafts out onto the street from four unique Ryba's Fudge Shops.

Whether you visit Mackinac Island on National Fudge Day in June or any other day – maybe during the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival in August – come find your favorite flavor and experience the fudge capital of the world!

That appetite for fudge dates back more than a century. Food historian Joyce White says fudge is based on a recipe for chocolate caramels, which was very similar. "What probably happened is that there was someone in Baltimore, messed it up, or 'fadged' it," she said. "Fadge is a word that means you messed up.

Fudge is best stored at room temperature for 2 to 3 weeks wrapped up in its original wax paper. NEVER REFRIGERATE your fudge as this will draw out the moisture and leave you with dry, crumbly fudge.

Although fudge often contains chocolate, fudge is not the same as chocolate. Chocolate is a mix of cocoa solids, cocoa butter and sometimes sugar and other flavorings and is hard and brittle. Fudge is a mixture of sugar, dairy and flavorings that is cooked and cooled to form a smooth, semi-soft confection.

But clocking in at around 130 calories and 5 grams of fat per ounce, this rich treat is far from a healthy choice. Although that may not sound like an unreasonable amount of calories or fat, it's important to remember that an ounce is a very small serving. Fudge also boasts very little in terms of health.

Brach's. In 1904, a German immigrant named Emil Brach took $1,000 in savings to open his own candy shop on North Avenue in Chicago. He named it Brach's Palace of Sweets. His operation started out modestly, working with his sons to create candy in a single kettle.

The word candy entered the English language from the Old French çucre candi ("sugar candy"). The French term probably has earlier roots in the Arabic qandi, Persian qand and Sanskrit khanda, all words for sugar. Sugarcane is indigenous to tropical South and Southeast Asia.

What candy did Germany invent? The gummy bear was invented by the Bonn entrepreneur Hans Riegel. His company Haribo launched the gummy bear, formerly known as Tanzbären (dancing bears), in 1922.

1924 A unique non-chocolate candy bar, with a sweet taste and taffy consistency , called Bit O Honey is introduced by the Schutter Johnson company of Chicago. 1924 Akron Candy Company creates Dum Dums lollipops. Discover more about this easy to say treat here.