A good piece of fudge is a work of art.
You can look at it and marvel at its construction. You can take a bite and revel in its flavor.
But if fudge is a work of art, making chocolate fudge is something of a science. Let’s take a look at how that science works.
So what is fudge, anyway?
Fudge is a crystalline candy. The key to a great piece of fudge is managing the crystallization of the sugar solution you’re using. The tiny microcrystals of sugar are what gives fudge it’s smooth texture. When you get those crystals to come together at just the right time, you’ve mastered the perfect batch of fudge.
Ironically, it may be a kitchen mishap that led to fudge’s original creation.
According to fudge lore, the first batch was created when someone “fudged” a recipe for caramel, hence the name “fudge.”
No one’s really sure where it came from, but the first known sale of fudge was apparently in 1886, when a student at Vassar College named Emelyn Hartridge bought some fudge from a grocer in Baltimore.
Two years later, she used the store’s recipe to sell fudge at Vassar’s senior auction, and it became a popular treat among women’s colleges, with Smith and Wellesley coming up with their own recipes.
The original Vassar recipe called for:
- 2 cups of granulated white sugar
- 1 cup cream
- 2 ounces chopped, unsweetened chocolate
- 1 tablespoon butter
Later recipes would add molasses and marshmallows, although some fudge purists say those ingredients aren’t necessary. (We are not among those people, as fans of Stutz’s chocolate marshmallow fudge will be happy to tell you.)
Controlling crystals, and the basics of fudge making
Here are the basic steps for fudge making.
- Dissolve sugar in your liquid ingredients, adding corn syrup to keep large sugar crystals from forming.
- Cook this mixture until it reaches what’s known as the soft ball stage, which means it’s at the point where if you drop the syruped sugar into cold water, it forms a ball.
- Allow your mixture to slowly cool.
- Stir the mixture to make small crystals.
When making fudge, heat and acid work together to convert sucrose – basic white sugar – into its two components, glucose and fructose. When these sugars are present, they prevent sucrose from turning into big sugar crystals.
Butter plays a similar role, controlling the sucrose molecules and keeping them from forming crystals. Another factor is temperature. Allowing the fudge mixture to cool too quickly – or letting the mixture become agitated during cooling – and crystals can begin forming.
Five generations of hand-made fudge in PA
Stutz has been making its fudge the old-fashioned way for close to 80 years, using recipes that were first honed in the 1930s. While we sell fudge year round, summertime is when our operations are at their peak, with an expanded line featuring at least 10 flavors.
Visit our website today to taste the art and science behind what we do.
FAQs
Confectionery experiments have shown that the ideal cooking temperature for fudge is around 114 to 115 °C (237 to 239 °F). The cooking is intended to evaporate a part of the liquid and concentrate the sugar. The temperature of the cream/sugar mixture (called syrup) rises as water evaporates.
What is the secret to perfect fudge? ›
Tips for Making Fudge
- Monitor the Temperature with a Candy Thermometer. If you end up with soft fudge that turns into a puddle in your hands or hard fudge that is a bit reminiscent of a crunchy candy, improper temperature is likely to blame. ...
- Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer. ...
- Beat Thoroughly.
Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.
What makes high quality fudge? ›
It's the size of sugar crystals that makes the knees of fudge lovers buckle…the smaller the crystals, the less they are perceived on the tongue and the more the fudge tastes smooth and creamy. Cooking, and beating after cooking, is the key to successful fudge.
Is fudge making profitable? ›
Witness a swift increase in sales, potentially exceeding $10,000 per month and well over $100k per year for each store you operate. Here at Calico Cottage, we've cooked up a business recipe that turns a simple fudge kettle and retail display case into a lucrative revenue source.
What's the difference between fudge and chocolate 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.
What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›
Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!
What is the difference between English fudge and American fudge? ›
Turns out that the two are not quite the same, but they're still equally delicious. Denser and sometimes a bit more crumbly than its American counterpart, British fudge comes in dozens of flavors, and is frequently found in gift shops and at outdoor markets and street fairs.
What would cause fudge not to harden? ›
Homemade Fudge Doesn't Always Set
If your fudge doesn't firm up after a few hours, you either have too high an amount of liquid to sugar, or your mixture hasn't reached the soft-ball stage. Using a candy thermometer can help home cooks avoid this problem.
Should you stir fudge while it's cooking? ›
Don't stir!
Once the fudge reaches soft-ball stage on the candy thermometer, remove from the heat and let the temperature drop to 110°F. Keep that spoon or spatula out of the pot until this happens. If you stir too early in the process, you'll make the sugar crystals too big and end up with grainy fudge.
My advice to you is to just pour it in a jar, call it something else delicious, and pretend you meant for it to be that way. The nice thing about my “failed” fudge is that it tastes absolutely delicious! A spoonful of the delectable treat will make you want for more.
What temperature should fudge be cooked at? ›
Stir the ingredients to dissolve the sugar until the mixture comes to a boil. If your recipe uses milk, stirring will keep the mixture from curdling. But once it reaches about 236–238 degrees F/113–114 degrees C (the "soft-ball" stage), do not stir it or even shake the pan.
Who makes the world's best fudge? ›
Mackinac Island Fudge – The Best Fudge on Earth
- Original Murdick's Fudge.
- Joann's Fudge.
- Ryba's Fudge Shops.
Beating the cooled batter is one of the crucial steps of fudge-making, but overbeating can turn fudge hard as a rock. Pay close attention to the change in appearance and only beat the fudge until it loses its glossy sheen.
What is the softball test when making fudge? ›
According to most recipes, the ingredients of fudge are cooked to what is termed in kitchen parlance the soft ball stage, that point between 234 and 240 °F (112 and 115 °C) at which a small ball of the candy dropped in ice water neither disintegrates nor flattens when picked up with the fingers.
How does fudge relate to chemistry? ›
The Science of Fudge: How Fudge Is Made
Fudge is made by heating sugar and water to a temperature above the boiling point for water, which is 212° Fahrenheit. The candy maker pours the syrup into a pan so it can cool faster. This technique helps prevent sucrose molecules from forming into a large crystal.
What makes fudge hard or soft? ›
Fudge usually behaves this way when it's not cooked to a high enough temperature (due to oversight or a faulty candy thermometer). If your fudge is tough, hard, or grainy, then you may have made one of several mistakes: You may have overcooked it, beaten it too long, or neglected to cool it to the proper temperature.
How does fudge get its texture? ›
Small sugar crystals give you a smooth melt in the mouth texture. The secret to smooth fudge is to let the sugar syrup cool undisturbed until it reaches about 110°F and then beat it until no longer shiny.
Is making fudge considered baking? ›
Fudge is always a no-bake dessert and can be completely stove- and oven-free if you follow our method for how to make microwave fudge. That means it's a chocolate dessert idea that will keep your oven cool on even the steamiest days of summer.
A good piece of fudge is a work of art.