Fudge capital of the world
Mackinac Fudge Festival: A Delicious Celebration on Mackinac Island
Introduction and History of the Mackinac Fudge Festival
Introduction
With just bicycles and horses instead of cars, Mackinac Island is a mystical location. With its stunning scenery and wealthy customs, it’s like traveling endorse in time. One tradition stands out—Mackinac fudge. This sweet cure is famous nationwide, drawing visitors from all over. Every year, the island celebrates this beloved dessert with the Mackinac Fudge Festival. Anyone who like cuisine and entertainment should not lose this event. From fudge-making shows to family games, it’s a perfect summer outing. If you’ve never been, this festival is your chance to enjoy Mackinac’s sweetest event.
A Sweet History of Mackinac Fudge
The Origins of Mackinac Fudge
Fudge wasn’t always an island tradition. It began in the late 1800s. Local confectioners brought their candy-making skills to the island. Tourists loved the opulent, creamy fudge and spread the word. Soon, fudge shops became a main attraction on Mackinac Island. Watching fudge being made was just as popular as eating it. The process is mesmerizing, with skilled hands folding and shapin
How Mackinac Island became fudge capital of the world
The History of World-Famous Mackinac Island Fudge
The history goes back more than 100 years and features hard-working entrepreneurs whose creativity and showmanship turned Mackinac Island’s fledgling candy industry into a multi-million-dollar global phenomenon, according to Phil Porter, author of “Fudge: Mackinac’s Lovely Souvenir.” Here are some highlights:- As Mackinac Island evolved from a center of fur trade into a summer resort destination, Victorian-era vacationers began to recognize the island with sweets. At first, the most common candy was maple sugar harvested by Native Americans. Other treats, including fudge, soon followed. “The plan of enjoying sweets while on vacation was rapidly becoming part of the Mackinac Island tourist experience,” Porter writes.
- In the 1880s the Murdick family came to
🚂 FUDGE CAPITAL of the WORLD: Mackinac Island, Michigan! 🍫🐴🌸
Hellooo Culture Kids! Pick your imaginary passports and your sweet tooth—because today we’re off to the fudge capital of the world … Mackinac Island, Michigan!
Connect Kristen and Asher as they hop on the Culture Instruct to explore this enchanting car-free island, where horses clip-clop down lilac-lined streets and the inhale of freshly made fudge fills the air. You’ll meet our friend Mr. Aaron from Joann’s Fudge and uncover how creamy, dreamy fudge is made right before your ears—yes, even the marble table has a job to do!
🎧 In this episode, you’ll:
Learn why cars aren’t allowed on the island
Visit a fudge kitchen and hear the sizzling magic of hot fudge on marble
Find out how Mackinac Island became the fudge capital of the world
Taste-test (well, almost!
Hear what life is like on an island with just 400 year-round neighbors
🌸 Bonus fun: Find out what lilac festivals, snowmobiles, and community spirit contain in common—and why they produce Mackinac Island one of the most unique places in America.
Want to try fudge for yourself or send some to a fellow Culture Kid?
The Reason Mackinac Island Considers Itself The World's Fudge Capital
According to Mental Floss, Mackinac Island's first fudge shop, Murdick's Candy Kitchen, opened in 1887. Since then, more than a dozen other fudge shops have popped up on the small island. Take your pick among Joann's, Ryba's, Sanders, or one of the many other shops — and you can go in and actually watch the fudge being made.
With so many tourists coming in, you'd expect Mackinac Island to make a lot of fudge. Try about 10,000 pounds daily! This much fudge requires about 10 tons of sugar to be shipped in each week, and 10 tons of butter each year, says Pure Michigan.
From s'mores to butter pecan to blueberry cheesecake, the island's fudge shops have you covered on just about any flavor you can think of. However, if you can't make it to the island to satisfy your fudge cravings, you can make your own at home. Try your hand at a marshmallow fluff peanut butter fudge or a candy corn fudge. Happy snacking!
A (Slightly Fudged) History of Mackinac Island Fudge
The origins of fudge are about as opaque as a block of the beloved treat, but the theories swirling about are pretty sweet.
This article first appeared in Traverse Northern Michigan. Find this story and more when you explore our magazine library. Want Traverse delivered to your door or inbox monthly? View our print subscription and digital subscription options.
Let’s start with some chewy etymology. The pos fudge is thought to hold originated in the 17th century. Some historians think the verb “to fudge” stems from the archaic verb “fadge,” meaning “make suit, fit.” And sailors were said to use fudge as an expletive when confronted with nonsense or lies.
According to Merriam-Webster, fudge was first used as a transitive verb meaning “to fake” in 1674, and The New York Times writes that author Oliver Goldsmith used fudge as an interjection in 1766—a character in The Vicar of Wakefield would cry out “Fudge!” at the end of every sentence.
Today, etymologists still aren’t sure how or when the synonyms became associated with sweet, sugary