The Seasons of Fudge at The Fudge Co.
By Lynn Blamires feature writer for My Local Utah
When I wrote The Fudge Co story last year, I told about the company and its beginnings. I am happy to report that their successful beginning has continued to be well, successful.
Where to Find the Fudge
Using the magic that was passed down from her Great Grandmother Hazel, Patience Kunz has used her talent to create The Fudge Co. and its variety of tasty treats. Search the valley – you will not find a brick-and-mortar store with a fancy showroom for The Fudge Co.
However, you will find their delectable treats featured at such stores as the Quilted Bear and Salt and Honey located on the Wasatch Front. A list of stores and locations where The Fudge Co. treats are featured can be found on their website – the-fudge-co.com.
Fudge Is an American Invention
Now, a little more about fudge – all chocolate is chocolate, but not all fudge is chocolate. More about what fudge is later, but first a little history about fudge.
”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 was the very first batch of “fudge” ever (https://www.cocopotamus.com/pages/History-of-Fudge.html).
This story also reveals how this tasty treat got its name. When the batch of French caramels was “fudged,” the name stuck.
While all fudge is not chocolate, the chocolaty fudge variety is the most popular one. It is often remembered as the fudge grandma used to make. Fudge is a uniquely American invention.
Fudge Has a World Capital and Three National Days
Mackinac Island is listed as the fudge capital of the world. Located between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, this national landmark has been known for its fudge since the late 1880s.
Fudge has its own days which gives you an excuse to indulge. They are:
- May 12th is National Nutty Fudge Day.
- June 16th is National Fudge Day.
- November 20th is National Peanut Butter Fudge Day.
Fudge has seasons. The four seasons of the year are different from the seasons of fudge. This I learned from Patience.
The Seasons of Fudge
Now is the Christmas Season. It has its own kind of fudge as does each of the other fudge seasons. Fall is the only fudge season that fits in the traditional four seasons of the year.
Fall fudges are:
- Maple
- Chi Latte
- Pumpkin Spice
- Butterscotch
The Christmas fudges are:
- Pralines and Cream
- Peppermint Bark
- Mint Cookie
- Eggnog
The next season is Valentines. Featured fudges are:
- Valentine Fudge – milk and white chocolate with Valentine’s sprinkles
- Fudge Truffles in these flavors:
- Red Velvet Cheese Cake
- Strawberry Cream
- Cinnamon Roll
- Sparkling Wine
The Easter season brings:
- Vanilla Fudge with Easter M&Ms
- Rollo Fudge – chocolate fudge with Rollo’s
- Cookies and Cream Fudge
- Tutti-Frutti Fudge (fruity marshmallows on top of vanilla fudge)
- Caramel Corn (not fudge) with these flavors
- Chocolate Drizzle
- Easter M&Ms
- Reese’s Pieces
- Cadbury Egg pieces
Mother’s Day comes with Chocolate dipped Oreos in a gift box in these flavors:
- Mint Fudge
- Lemon
- Birthday Cake
- Red Velvet
- Milk and White Chocolate
Father’s Day comes next with:
- German Chocolate Fudge
- Carmel Pretzel Candy
- Caramel Peanut Bark Candy
Then there are some summer items that find their way into the mix:
- Cotton Candy Fudge
- Chocolate Dipped Twinkies
Varieties of Fudge Limited to the Confectioner’s Imagination
I have to stop – my head is sweetly spinning. One thing I have learned about the world of fudge from The Fudge Co. is that the varieties of fudge are only limited by the confectioner’s imagination. Patience’s mother had an idea to make a Raspberry Lemonade Fudge that turned out to be a success.
However, the variety is driven by the taste of the customers. The reason for the seasonal fudge flavors is that some flavors are more in demand at different times.
Their signature fudge is the Fudge Truffle. A Fudge Truffle is an extra soft and creamy fudge that is hand-dipped in chocolate. Not just any chocolate – it has to be chocolate from Guittard. They are packaged in a gift box and come in a variety of unique flavors like lemon, cheesecake, and strawberry.
The Secret of Making Fudge Is in Small Batches
A secret to the quality of the Fudge Co. fudge is making small batches. Patience and her mother will make a four-pound batch of fudge. She does not believe in doubling or tripling a batch.
The magic is in the four-pound batch. Mixing is a problem with larger batches – the risk of grainy fudge is too great. However, they can turn out a lot of fudge because they can make a batch in 30 minutes. One of the trickiest parts is to bring the sugar, milk, and butter to a soft candy state to a soft candy state and then hold it there. The chocolate is added at this point which melds almost immediately with the other ingredients because of the temperature.
Visit Their Website and Enter the Fudge World
A pleasant part of writing this article has been revisiting the success of The Fudge Co. since its beginning in 2019. Well, and eating a piece of their Toffee Pecan Fudge. While they don’t have a showroom, they do have a presence in places where people will buy fudge and you can order your favorites for shipping online at the-fudge-co.com.
I look forward to watching their continued success.