Fudge Is The Original Old Time Family Favorite Chocolate Sweet Treat

                                                                                         

According to history (although disputable) fudge was accidentally invented by a batch of failed candy; probably caramels, around 1886. From this fouled up candy batch came the exclamation of or the phrase 'oh, fudge!' The initial documentation of fudge was in a letter from Poughkeepsie, New York. Emelyn Battersby Hartidge, a college student from Vassar, wrote that a classmate's cousin made fudge. In Baltimore in 1886, the confection was 40 cents a pound. Emelyn got the recipe a few years later and made 30 pounds for a Senior Auction. Other colleges like Smith and Wellesley then made recipes of their own for this sweet treat.

Fudge by definition is a creamy and rich candy. It is a soft candy, usually extremely smooth and made with fresh butter, sugar, sweet cream, corn syrup and often some sensational flavorings. Flavorings might be chocolate, butterscotch, white chocolate, vanilla, kool aid, Kahlua, flavored gelatin, peanut butter, buttermilk, maple, pumpkin, mint or even bourbon. Fudge might have various nuts, including pistachios, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, roasted macadamia nuts, or almonds. Additional ingredients that can be found in uncommon or decadent fudge could be: popcorn, crackers, cheese, crushed candy canes, lime zest, coconut, pineapple chunks, candy bars, espresso beans, cookies, caramel, chocolate chips, marshmallows, chocolate chunks, or cherries and other candied or dried fruit.

Nearly everybody loves eating creamy, sweet fudge, but people assume it is hard to make. Early recipes were difficult and kind of ambiguous. Difficulty depended on the kind of ingredients, which recipe was used, the quality of equipment and the patience taken in order to make it right. Also, being certain of the exact measurements, cooking time and constant stirring were important for perfect fudge. Bringing the ingredients to the right temperature, and stirring at the right time are necessary as well in order for the fudge to be smooth and creamy and not gritty. Moreover it was quite easy to under cook or over cook this mouthwatering treat, which can often result in it not setting up or scorching.

In contrast with other candies and sweets that go back thousands of years, fudge is relatively young. Early fudge flavors were vanilla, chocolate and brown sugar penuche. The state of Michigan has become the fudge capital of the United States. And nowadays the mixtures of fudge ingredients or flavorings are almost endless. Some of them are: vanilla cherry chocolate chip, maple walnut, chocolate cappuccino, raspberry coffee, vanilla caramel, lemon butter, chocolate cheesecake, peanut butter, dark chocolate and chocolate caramel pecan.

Although the word fudge can be defined differently, none are equivalent to the traditional, family favorite, premium chocolate fudge. In America, almost always, the word fudge means a rich and creamy, heavenly treat made with chocolate. At times you will find the word fudge used on the packaging of brownies and cakes, but this only means they have got some extra chocolate flavoring in the mix.

Author's Bio: Anna McAnthony is a staff writer at Chocolate Gourmet Candy, and has been writing articles and doing research on chocolate and chocolate candy for many years. Visit http://www.chocolategourmetcandy.com for more information.

About the author:
Anna McAnthony is a writer at http://www.chocolategourmetcandy.com, and has been writing and doing research on fudge and chocolate candy for years.

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