 In its most basic form, fudge is a soft, creamy confection that everyone can love. It’s most often flavored with chocolate, but is a versatile base for many flavors. You can find fudge in its delicious plain form or dressed up with nuts, fruit, mints- you know the drill. Confectioneries usually make it a point to carry lots of different types, but in honor of National Fudge Day (June 16th) I went on a hunt for some varieties I bet you have never tried before.
Cheese
Typically, when you see “cheese” in a dessert, it’s referring to cream cheese. However, Cranberry Sweets in Oregon offers a cheddar cheese fudge. It’s brightly colored to look like its namesake and having tried it I can confirm it tastes exactly like cheddar cheese…. except fudge. You may recoil, but first consider how apple pie is often paired with cheddar in the South, or how some famously decadent burgers use donuts as buns. If you’re a fan of sweet-and-salty, give this fudge flavor a try.
Dill Pickle
Pickle-flavored chips and popcorn are becoming increasingly common, but have you ever tried pickle fudge? Ever since I found out about this fudge, I haven’t been able to get the idea out of my mind. For some reason, the taste of pickle in a creamy, sweet treat makes my mouth water. I want to try it! If you feel the same, you can purchase some from Valley Fudge & Candy, online or in their Wisconsin store. If you’re real weird, pair it with the cheddar fudge above and you’re on your way to creating a fudge sandwich.
Fireweed
Fireweed is an eye-catching fuchsia plant that grows all around the country but is emblematic of Alaska, where it is incorporated into many treats. The taste is controversial: some argue that it has no flavor, while others swear it has an understated tangy floral-herbal taste. The fudge is a lovely lavender color. Having tried it, I don’t know if I can confirm the exact flavor, but you can’t go wrong with fudge, can you? You can order some from The Huckleberry People.
Clotted Cream
Clotted cream, or Devonshire cream, is made when the fat in full-fat milk is separated. It’s used as a spread for biscuits or a mix-in for tea and has a delicious delicate taste. And it makes for a perfect fudge flavor. We are proud to offer this Scottish fudge in our very own store. That’s right: the U.S. isn’t the only country with fudge-making chops! I think most of us at Celtic Croft favor the clotted cream amongst all our fudge varieties. It’s soft, subtle, and is a great option if you find typical fudge too sweet.
Dirty Coke
I hadn’t heard about a dirty Coke until doing research for this blog. It’s a mixture of Coke, coconut syrup, and lime. I love tropical flavors, so this sounds like a fun way to make a plain cola into a fancier drink. To really go all-out, though, why not try these flavors in a fudge? Elizabeth at Sugar Hero posts her own recipe for a beautifully swirled Dirty Coke fudge.
Beef Fudge
Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like! Not just made with beef fat, but with actual pieces of beef. One of my favorite Youtube channels, Emmymadeinjapan, tried out this recipe so you can see every step. If you prefer to read your recipes, try Mid-Century Menu . I have not attempted this yet, but the universal review seems to be: “Wow! This tastes surprisingly good, and I can’t tell there’s beef in there.” The beef apparently adds a depth of flavor not found in typical fudge.
I hope you are inspired to give some of these recipes and flavors a try. We may not carry beef fudge, but you can explore our full candy selection here. If you like variety I suggest our Assorted Fudge Tin. It includes the above-mentioned clotted cream; plus, ginger, apple-cinnamon, strawberries and cream, and rum-raisin so you can try all sorts of Scottish fudge in one tin.
Let us know if you have ever tried the flavors we listed… or if you have an unusual fudge flavor we missed! Thanks for reading, and happy National Fudge Day!
