Maple Walnut Fudge

Maple Walnut Fudge is a delicious and popular flavor for this perfect, creamy fudge recipe!

June 16th is National Fudge Day. This is a day to indulge in your favorite fudge flavor. Chocolate fudge is the most popular fudge to enjoy, but maple walnut fudge is an old fashioned favorite too. Celebrate this day by making your favorite fudge recipe, or sample some fudge at your local candy shop. Share your fudge on social media by using the hashtag #NationalFudgeDay, #FudgeDay and #RecipesForHolidays. Be sure to check out my June holidays food page so you can help celebrate all of the food holidays in June!

“Families are like fudge- mostly sweet, with a few nuts.”

-Les Dawson

The History of Fudge:

Fudge is an American invention. It’s a sugar candy made by heating sugar, butter and milk until it reaches a soft-ball consistency, then beating it until creamy.

Fudge has its origins in the US. One story is that fudge was created by accident when a batch of caramels was “fudged up.” Someone exclaimed, “Oh Fudge!” and this new creation was born.

Another story is that in 1886, a Vassar college student named Emelyn Battersby Hartridge sampled fudge made by a classmate’s cousin who lived in Baltimore. Emelyn used the recipe to make 30 pounds of the fudge for the senior auction. The recipe was passed around to other women’s colleges and word spread about how good “fudge” was.

And still another story: Gulf Coast Fudge Company in Florida claims that their fudge recipe is from an original recipe from 1837.

It’s difficult to know who made the first fudge. But we do know that recipes for fudge were shared in books, magazines and advertisements beginning in the 1880’s. Sugar was cheap, and people could make fudge at home without using any special equipment. Fudge shops began to emerge as its popularity soared. When it first began selling, fudge was just 40 cents per pound.

How to make Maple Walnut Fudge:

*NOTE: this recipe has been challenging for some. Keep in mind that making homemade fudge can be tricky. Getting it to the right temperature and consistency is everything. And the temperature and humidity of your kitchen can affect the outcome too. Be sure to watch the “how to” video included in this post. And read the directions carefully before making this maple walnut fudge. Good luck!

The full, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

In a medium saucepan, combine the maple syrup, sugar, cream and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Once you are at boiling point, clip a candy thermometer on the side of the pan and cook 7 to 8 minutes until the temperature reaches 238 degrees.

Remove the pan from heat. Use an electric mixer to beat in the butter and the vanilla and maple extracts. Continue to beat for 8 to 10 minutes, or until thick and light colored. The fudge should begin to lose its glossy sheen. Stir in 1 cup of walnuts.

You’ll end up with a wonderful, creamy maple walnut fudge mixture!

Spread into the prepared pan. Sprinkle a few more nuts on top. Give the fudge about 25 minutes (or longer) to set before cutting.

To store, separate layers of fudge by using wax paper. Store in a covered container at room temperature up to 2 weeks. If you refrigerate it, it will last a little longer- maybe 3 weeks. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Fun Facts about Fudge:

• The most popular fudge flavors are chocolate, peanut butter, butter pecan and maple walnut.
• Mackinac Island fudge stores in Michigan have been a tradition since the late 19th century. Over 10,000 pounds of fudge leave the island every day.
• In France, they say that fudge and caramel are cousins.
• Fudge is a drier version of fondant.
• The largest slab of fudge ever made was at Northwest Fudge Factory in Ontario, Canada in 2010– weighing in at 5760 pounds.
• Making fudge at home can be tricky. Corn syrup is a secret ingredient that helps to prevent crystallization and a grainy texture.
• First Lady Mamie Eisenhower was an avid fudge maker. She created her own recipe and named it “Mamie’s Million Dollar Fudge.”