These fun facts about fudge should give you a new appreciation for one of the most popular candies in America.
Although my fudge production increases in the fall and winter months, I’ve been known to make it year-round. Fudge is one of the best mood boosters, and moods change regardless of the season.
When I want fudge, but I don’t have much time, I make the classic chocolate flavor with this recipe for 2-ingredient festive fudge.
I love the fact that you can decorate it for the occasion. Well, actually, you can do that with any fudge.
Another one of my favorites is this delicious and super easy 2-ingredient peanut butter fudge.
In fact, if I had to choose one flavor of fudge to eat every single day, this is the one I’d pick.
This Velveeta fudge is absolutely amazing! In case you wondered, yes it does have Velveeta cheese. But no one will know unless you tell them.
And here’s a fun chocolate fudge recipe that’s made without condensed milk. It’s so easy you can make a batch every day. Not that you’d want to … but maybe.
How to Make Fudge
Traditional fudge is chocolate flavored, so it has a combination of cocoa, sugar, and other flavorings.
Fudge purists claim that you need to start with basic ingredients (not chocolate chips or other short-cuts I typically use) and boil them together until the mixture reaches the hard ball or soft ball stage, depending on the texture you prefer.
I like to take as many short-cuts as possible, so I’m one of those cooks who use chocolate chips, globs of peanut butter, frosting, sweetened condensed mile, and whatever else I can find to make the process easy.
And in spite of what many of the purists say about fudge making, I’m not one to turn my back on the microwave. In fact, when making fudge, I embrace it with enthusiasm.
Who Invented Fudge?
There is some controversy over who invented fudge. I like the story I tell in this easy chocolate fudge recipe post.
Since I used to cook in my dorm room, the very idea of a bunch of college girls “accidentally” making fudge while trying to make something else sounds fun. In a nutshell, they were trying to make caramel, but it didn’t turn out like they wanted. Since they “fudged,” they called it fudge.
This story might be totally true, or it might have been fudged by the original storyteller. But does it really matter? I don’t think so.
What Makes Fudge Unique?
With most candy, you don’t want sugar crystals to form. However, with fudge, you want tiny crystals, also known as micro-crystals to give it the somewhat firm (but not hard) texture.
Keep in mind that the crystals have to be super tiny, or the fudge will feel grainy in your mouth.
Why is Fudge So Popular?
The reason behind fudge’s immense popularity is up for debate. In my opinion, it’s because people associate fudge with happy times.
After all, you’ll see candy shops that feature a variety of fudge flavors in a lot of touristy areas.
So when you’re on vacation, you’re likely to splurge and indulge in a chunk of fudge.
It’s also popular during the holiday season. Happy times call for sweet treats, and fudge is the perfect treat to enjoy.
It also makes a great gift when you don’t know what else someone wants.
Just make a batch of fudge, divide it by the number of friends you want to exchange gifts with, seal it, and put a bow on it.
What Does “Fudge the Truth” Mean?
When someone wants to tell a partial truth or twist a true statement to mean something else, it’s called “fudging the truth.” In other words, it’s a lie, but it sounds better to say, “Fudge the truth.”
A lot of people fudge numbers on their accounts to get something they want. And that’s bad.
However, if your best friend or spouse asks if you think she’s fat, you might want to consider fudging the truth. That is, if you don’t want to hurt her feelings.
Why is Good Fudge So Expensive?
Really good fudge that’s made with high quality ingredients can be quite pricy. Not only do the ingredients cost money, it takes time to make fudge the old-fashioned way.
Is Fudge Good for You?
This is a tough question to answer. I like to think that fudge is good for you in some ways, even though the ways it isn’t good for you are obvious. For example, candy is bad for your teeth and terrible for weight control.
However, if you need a quick pick-me-up or mood booster, a bite or two of fudge might be exactly what you need.
So I’m going to claim that it is good for you as long as you don’t eat too much, and you brush your teeth afterward.
Should Fudge be Refrigerated?
Fudge is best kept at room temperature, as long as it’s not too hot. That’s probably why people make it more in fall and winter months.
Refrigerating fudge can cause it to dry out very quickly. And if you have other foods in the fridge that have a smell, it can alter the taste of the candy.
However, I often refrigerate fudge if I make more than I can eat in a few days … unless I’m giving most of it away. I don’t want it to spoil. What I do is wrap it in plastic and then put it in an airtight container to protect it as much as possible.
Can You Make Fudge Set More Quickly in the Refrigerator?
Ideally, fudge should be allowed to set at room temperature. But who has time for that?
If you’re anything like me, you want to dig into the tasty treat. I usually hasten the setting process by putting it in the fridge until it reaches the firmness I want.
How Long Will Fudge Last at Room Temperature?
If you seal fudge in an airtight container, it should last about a week … or sometimes more if the temperature and other conditions are right.
In order to keep the fudge as long as possible, place it in the container and place pieces of wax paper between the layers of fudge.
Can Fudge Make You Sick?
It’s highly unlikely that fudge can make you sick, even if it’s been around a while. The sugar acts as a stabilizer, so even if it’s old, you should be fine.
That said, if you eat too much fudge, you might wind up overdosing on sugar. As much as I love fudge, I know better than to eat more than a couple of pieces at a time.
What are the Most Important Ingredients in Fudge?
The most important ingredients in fudge are sugar, butter, and milk. After that, the ingredient list depends on what flavors you want to add.
What are the Different Flavors of Fudge?
The most popular fudge flavor is chocolate fudge. This rocky road fudge is a variation of that, with lots of delicious things added to give it a “rocky road” texture.
Remember that when you see a recipe for any kind of fudge, you can add other ingredients that sound good to you. Don’t be afraid. You might discover the next best thing that you can share with the world … or keep to yourself. No judgment here.
In addition to the peanut butter fudge I mentioned earlier, I make this other version of easy peanut butter fudge when I have a little bit more time. And I honestly like both of them equally.
If you’re looking for a fun and tangy fudge recipe, try this creamy orange fudge.
Some people say it tastes like an old-fashioned creamsicle. I just say it’s delicious!
My friend Julie who runs the Back to My Southern Roots blog makes this out of this world maple walnut fudge that will have you returning to the treat table often.
You might also like this yummy Texas praline fudge from Miz Helen’s Country Cottage. Everything Miz Helen makes is delicious, so you can rest assured that this will be as well.
If you want a fudge that’s almost too easy to make, try this easy chocolate fudge without condensed milk. I think you’ll love it!
How Do You Make Hot Fudge?
If you like ice cream as much as I do, you’ve probably found a lot of ways to enjoy this frozen treat.
One of my favorite toppings for vanilla ice cream is this delectable homemade hot fudge sauce.
It’s easy to make with just a few ingredients, which include chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and vanilla.
The link above has the detailed recipe that will only take you about 10 minutes to make.
Fudge is Fun!
Whether you enjoy eating fudge candy or drizzling hot fudge over your ice cream, it’s a fun food. I mean, who can frown when eating something that tastes this good?
So when life starts getting you down or you feel like you need something fun in your life, stop stressing out and indulge in a little bit of fudge.