Fudge Around the World

A Sweet Adventure for Kids Who Love to Cook!


Fudge is a creamy, sweet treat made by cooking sugar, butter, and milk together until smooth and rich. While many kids think of fudge as a classic American candy, versions of fudge-like sweets can be found all around the world! Let’s take a tasty trip and discover how different countries make their own sweet treats.

United States: Classic Chocolate Fudge

In the United States, fudge is most often:

• Chocolatey
• Creamy
• Cut into neat squares

Many American fudge recipes use marshmallow crème to help make the fudge smooth and easy for home cooks. You’ll often find fudge at fairs, candy shops, and holiday celebrations.
Kid Cooking Skill: Learning about the soft-ball stage of candy making

United Kingdom: Tablet & Creamy Fudge

In the United Kingdom, fudge comes in two popular styles:

• Traditional fudge – creamy and soft
• Scottish tablet – firmer, crumbly, and very sweet

Tablet looks like fudge but snaps instead of bending. It’s often flavored with vanilla or caramel.
Fun Fact: Tablet is one of Scotland’s most famous candies!

India: Milk-Based Fudge Sweets

In India, fudge-like sweets are often made with:

• Milk or condensed milk
• Sugar
• Nuts like pistachios or almonds

One popular sweet is burfi, which is cooked until thick, pressed flat, and cut into squares—just like fudge!
Kid Connection: Many Indian sweets are made without ovens—just stovetop cooking.

Mexico: Dulce de Leche Treats

In Mexico, milk and sugar are slowly cooked into a caramel-like candy called dulce de leche or cajeta (made with goat’s milk).
These treats are:

• Creamy
• Caramel-colored
• Very rich and sweet

They’re sometimes cut into squares or rolled into soft candies—just like fudge!

Brazil: Brigadeiro Bites

In Brazil, kids love brigadeiros—small chocolate treats made with:

• Sweetened condensed milk
• Cocoa powder
• Butter

They’re rolled into balls instead of squares, but the texture is thick and fudgy.
Kid Favorite: Rolling candy into balls is a fun job for young chefs!

Why Fudge Is a Global Favorite

No matter where you go, fudge-style sweets usually have three things in common:

• Milk or butter
• Sugar
• Slow cooking and stirring

That’s why fudge is perfect for kids to learn:
Patience
Measuring
Stirring safely
How food connects cultures

Try This With Kids!

1. Make one basic fudge recipe
2. Talk about how you could change flavors for different countries
3. Add nuts, spices, or different shapes
4. Match fudge to a world studies lesson

Fudge may look different around the world, but it always brings people together. Cooking fudge is a delicious way for kids to explore geography, culture, and kitchen skills - all at once!