Photo credit flickr.com/mackinacislandgal
In our Michigan Moments: Food series, we’re checking out the history behind iconic Michigan foods and beverages. This is the sixth article of the series. Look for a new one every Wednesday!
MICHIGAN — Midwestern cooking often combines culinary traditions from our families’ immigrant backgrounds, locally grown and produced ingredients, and the foods of Indigenous tribes. And in Michigan especially, our home cookin’ includes provisions that were concocted, bottled, and packaged by mitten-state entrepreneurs. If you’re curious about the history of some of your favorite foods and beverages, read on to discover how Michigan history creates Michigan culture.
Mackinac Island Fudge
Arguably Michigan’s most well-known food, Mackinac Island fudge is so famous, we have a name for the tourists who flock to the island specifically to swarm the fudge shops — fudgies. During tourism season, Mackinac Island handcrafts an average of ten thousand pounds of fudge daily and imports an average of twenty thousand pounds of sugar every week.
Mackinac Island didn’t invent fudge, but it did turn it into a delightful slice of Americana. The sugar candy treat was purportedly invented in the 1880s in Baltimore, Maryland. According to culinary legend, a hapless baker discovered the treat when they “fudged” a batch of caramel. The first written record of fudge’s existence was at a bake sale at Vassar College in 1886.
One year later, in 1887, Sara Murdick and her family arrived at Mackinac Island and would soon kickstart Mackinac’s fudge empire. The men of the Murdick family worked on canvas awnings at the then-new Grand Hotel. At the time, Mackinac Island was a former fur-trading post that was quickly becoming a summer vacation destination. Tourists began to associate the island with sweets (with maple sugar being the most popular at the time), and Murdick’s Candy Kitchen opened to meet the demand.
Using his mother Sara’s recipes, Rome Murdick was the first person on Mackinac Island to make fudge on marble slabs, which also created an entertaining show for customers. The art of fudge-making soon became competitive, as spectators watched as Rome and his competitors delicately balanced and shaped cooling fudge on the marble slabs.
The industry survived the sugar rationing of the Great Depression, and by the 1960s, fudge tourism was in full swing. The economic boom following World War II made it easier than ever before for Americans to get on the highway and drive “up north,” and fudge shops started experimenting with flavors that would surprise their visitors.
Today, Mackinac Island boasts 13 different fudge shops. And while Murdick’s was the island’s first, it’s a topic of fierce debate and loyalty about which shop is the best. If you’re thinking of weighing in, a proper taste test is a great reason to ferry on over.
Visit the Mackinac Island official website for more information about its fudge shops.
FAQs
As Mackinac Island evolved from a center of fur trade into a summer resort destination, Victorian-era vacationers began to identify the island with sweets. At first, the most common candy was maple sugar harvested by Native Americans. Other treats, including fudge, soon followed.
What is the oldest brand of fudge on Mackinac Island? ›
May's Candy
There is only one shop on the Island that can tout itself as the oldest offering genuine Mackinac Island Fudge, and that is May's. Harold May started his business in Atchison, Kansas in 1881. He came to the Island to work for Murdick's, and when they left, he brought his family business to Mackinac Island.
What is the story behind Mackinac Island? ›
Mackinac Island served as sacred burial grounds as well as a place of gathering for fishing, trapping, and navigating the northern waterways. Even the name Mackinac Island is derived from the original Native American name interpreted by the French as Michilimackinac, meaning “Place of the Great Turtle.”
Who owns Murdicks fudge on Mackinac Island? ›
Bob Benser, Sr. and Bob Benser, Jr. continue that tradition today along with the entire Benser family. Through the generations, Murdick's Fudge on Mackinac Island has been recognized as an iconic Michigan favorite.
What is the mystery on Mackinac Island about? ›
Thirteen-year-old Hunter Martineau lives on the island year around and knows everything about the place. Well, almost everything. When bikes start to mysteriously disappear all over the island, Hunter is determined to catch the thief and claim the reward money.
What celebrities own property on Mackinac Island? ›
Do any celebrities live on Mackinac Island? Yes, celebrities have houses on Mackinac Island. A few are actor Vince Vaughn, Director Ron Howard, and Michigan's own Bob Seger.
What is the world's best fudge? ›
Mackinac Island Fudge – The Best Fudge on Earth
- Original Murdick's Fudge.
- Joann's Fudge.
- Ryba's Fudge Shops.
How long is Mackinac fudge good for? Fudge is a perishable delight, and its longevity depends on how it's stored. For optimal freshness, we recommend consuming your fudge within ten days of purchase.
Which Mackinac fudge is best? ›
We tried all of the fudge places in mackinaw and Murdick's was the winner hands down. Some of the other fudge shops did not have the creaminess that Murdick's had, It was smooth, creamy and melted in your mouth. It is also better to buy it in Mackinaw city as opposed to on the island.
Who owns most of Mackinac Island? ›
While all of Mackinac Island, the landform, is located within the corporate limits of the City of Mackinac Island, today 82 percent of the island's landmass is owned by the State of Michigan and managed by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission (MISPC).
Mackinac Island's 'Somewhere in Time' Gazebo. It's no coincidence that the time-traveling love story “Somewhere in Time” was filmed on Mackinac Island.
What makes Mackinac Island so special? ›
Mackinac Island offers timeless charm with its horse-drawn carriages , historic architecture and attractions . Come explore the island's natural beauty through miles of biking and hiking trails and enjoy a wide variety of activities .
When was Mackinac Island Fudge invented? ›
In 1887, the Murdick family began the very first fudge store on Mackinac Island (now sold out of the family)– the same year that the Grand Hotel opened. Henry and Newton Jerome (Rome) Murdick opened the first fudge store in Michigan calling it Murdick's Candy Kitchen.
What is the history of fudge? ›
Fudge's story began in the United States around the 1880s. The first documented instance of fudge being made was at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York when a student named Emelyn Battersby Hartridge heard of a fudge recipe and made 30 pounds of it for a senior auction.
Who makes Mackinac Island Fudge ice cream? ›
Mackinac Island Fudge - Guernsey Farms Dairy. Formulated using only the finest and freshest ingredients, our premium ice cream is crafted in small batches to deliver a well-balanced creamy taste you won't soon forget.
What is so special about Mackinac Island? ›
Just world-famous Mackinac Island Fudge , historic Fort Mackinac , unique shopping and diverse dining. Unforgettable sunsets, awe-inspiring sunrises and over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails befit our ranking as the #1 Island in the Continental U.S. as named by Travel & Leisure Magazine.
Where is the world's best fudge? ›
While fudge was not invented on Mackinac Island, it most certainly – and most deliciously – was perfected here.
Why is fudge a beach thing? ›
Though it contains no saltwater, taffy—and fudge, its sister seaside treat—may benefit from being made in a beach climate. Perhaps the salty air simply gives people a hankering for something sweet; it's also possible that the candies' decelerated drying and oxidation in humid air give them a unique “coastal” flavor.
Why is fudge a tourist thing? ›
So maybe fudge—like Dippin' Dots or cotton candy—became a tourist dessert because it was a novel way of making sweets. Fudgeries provided both the entertainment of watching something new and unusual being made and the happy junk-food rush of eating a filling, sweet candy.
