National Fudge Day

National Fudge Day is celebrated every year on June 16 to honor one of America’s most beloved confections—fudge. This sweet treat, made by mixing sugar, butter, and milk, became widely popular in the United States during the late 19th century. Its simple ingredients and ease of preparation made it a household favorite, especially among college students. In fact, some of the earliest documented fudge recipes come from women’s colleges like Vassar, Smith, and Wellesley, where students would cook fudge in their dorm rooms as a social activity.

The first known reference to fudge dates back to 1886, when Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, a Vassar College student, wrote about buying a pound of fudge in Baltimore. Another student later sold a 30-pound batch at the college, helping to spread its popularity. Some believe the origin of fudge came from a culinary mistake—someone might have “fudged” a batch of caramels and accidentally created a new kind of candy. By the 1880s and 1890s, recipes began appearing in newspapers and magazines, and small shops started selling it in tourist towns. One of the most famous places associated with fudge is Mackinac Island in Michigan, where fudge-making has become a long-standing tradition.

Over time, fudge has evolved into countless flavors including chocolate, peanut butter, maple walnut, and even fruit varieties. It remains a popular gift and souvenir, often sold in gift shops near popular attractions. National Fudge Day serves as a sweet reminder of the candy’s humble beginnings and enduring charm.

🗓️ National Fudge Day is one of numerous holidays in June. If you are looking for more national holidays, check out our National Days Calendar.

When is National Fudge Day?

National Fudge Day is celebrated on June 16 each year.

When did National Fudge Day start?

National Fudge Day has been around for over 10 years, appearing in The 2009 Weird & Wacky Holiday Marketing Guide in 2009 and mentioned on some websites already in 2007. When National Fudge Day first appeared is, however, unknown.

Who created National Fudge Day?

We haven’t been able to find a person, organization or company responsible for the creation of National Fudge Day.

National Fudge Day Facts & Trivia

Here are a few facts about fudge that you might want to mention when writing a post or creating a video about National Fudge Day.

• The earliest known reference to fudge comes from an 1886 letter by Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, a student at Vassar College, who described purchasing fudge in Baltimore for 40 cents a pound.
• Fudge became a popular treat in American women’s colleges during the late 1800s. Students at Vassar, Wellesley, and Smith created their own recipes, often preparing batches in their dorm rooms.
• Mackinac Island in Michigan is famously associated with fudge. Since 1887, it has been home to several fudge shops that continue to make the candy by hand. Tourists visiting the island are often nicknamed “fudgies.”
• One popular theory suggests fudge was invented by accident when someone botched a batch of caramels—hence the term “fudged.”
• Fudge gained popularity partly because it was easy and inexpensive to make at home. As sugar prices dropped in the late 19th century, more people could afford to experiment with making candy.
• The word “fudge” existed long before the candy. In the 17th century, it was used as an exclamation by sailors and could mean nonsense or clumsy fabrication.
• Although chocolate is the most common flavor, fudge can be made in endless varieties, including maple, vanilla, pumpkin spice, and even bacon-flavored versions.
• Recipes for fudge began appearing in newspapers and cookbooks during the 1880s and 1890s, helping spread its popularity throughout the United States.
• On Mackinac Island, some fudge shops use marble slabs to cool and shape the candy—a traditional method that helps control the crystallization process for a smoother texture.
• National Fudge Day is often celebrated with homemade fudge, visits to local candy shops, or fudge-tasting parties. It also gives small fudge makers and tourist shops a chance to promote their unique flavors and methods.

Before You Go:

We have many more national days lists for you to explore.

• Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
• Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
• Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.

📝 This article was originally published on June 6th, 2021. It has been thoroughly updated, and the publishing date has been changed to reflect the new version.