Happy National Fudge Day!!

Today, June 16th is National Fudge Day!

American style fudge dates back to the late 1880s.  Surprisingly, fudge was popularized at Vassar College. Newspaper clippings from the day show its fashionability.

“Nearly every night at college,” said the Vassar girl, “some girl may be found somewhere who is making ‘fudges’ or giving a fudge party.” Fudges are Vassar chocolates, and they are simply the most delicious edibles ever manufactured by a set of sweetmeat-loving girls. Their origin is wrapped in mystery. We only know that their receipt is handed down from year to year by old students to new, and that they belong peculiarly to Vassar.

A letter written by Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, a student at Vassar College, is believed to be one of the first documentations of fudge. Fudge soon spread its chocolatey goodness to other colleges, as well. Wellesley and Smith had their own versions of the Vasser fudge recipe.

Here is Emelyn’s recipe:

2 cups granulated white sugar
1 cup cream
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon butter

Combine sugar and cream and cook over moderate heat. When this becomes very hot, add the chocolate. Stir constantly. Cook until mixture reaches soft-ball stage (234°-238°F). Remove from heat and add butter. Cool slightly, then mix until fudge starts to thicken. Transfer to a buttered tin. Cut into diamond-shaped pieces before fudge hardens completely.

For more modern takes on fudge, here are links to recipes at Recipezaar and Tastespotting.