June 16 is National Fudge Day, and we can think of no better way to celebrate than with Mackinac Island fudge. Read on for the most popular, and the most unique, fudge flavors.
National Fudge Day is a holiday full of culinary history stemming from the Fudge Capital of the World: Mackinac Island. Mackinac Island’s world-famous treat not only captivates guests with sweet smells, but also with the craft that is fudge making itself.
A must-see on the island (and you can watch in the shops!), fudge making starts with sugar, heavy cream, butter, chocolate and other flavorings that are cooked in a 25-gallon copper kettle. When the mixture boils, the fudge maker then pours it into a metal frame set on a marble slab, letting it cool slightly until it thickens. After they remove the metal frame the fun really begins. The makers stroke the batter back and forth across the marble, working first with a large paddle and then a smaller one, until the fudge sets in a loaf. Finally, measuring by the eye, the fudge maker cuts the loaf into half-pound slices.
Mackinac Island’s 13 shops produce more than 10,000 pounds of fudge per day during peak tourism season with the same kettles and paddles makers have used since the start.
Mackinac Island Fudge Facts:
- 13 fudge stores located on the island
- 100+ years of fudge history on the island
- 10,000 pounds of fudge are made each day
- 10 tons of butter are imported each year
- 10 tons of sugar are imported per week
Related Read:Â The Daily Meal Votes Northern Michigan Fudge Best in America
Photo by Dave Weidner
The Top 8 Most Popular Mackinac Island Fudge Flavors
- Chocolate
- Caramel Sea Salt
- Turtle
- Chocolate Peanut Butter
- Oreo
- Mud
- Double Walnut
- Double Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel
The Most Unique Mackinac Island Fudge Flavors
Pumpkin, Pistachio, German Chocolate, Oreo, Caramel Sea Salt, Bumpy Cake, Peanut Butter Oreo, Orange Dream-Sicle, Chocolate Raspberry, Pay Day, No-Bake, Lemon, Mud, Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chunk, Triple Chocolate Caramel, Key Lime, Chocolate Toffee, Raspberry Truffle, Double Dark Espresso, Double Dark Cherry Walnut, Love Potion (chocolate fudge with coffee, hazelnut and cinnamon), Mermaid (blue raspberry fudge with sprinkles), Birthday Cake, Cherry, Mint Chocolate Chip.