Walk into Murdick’s Famous Fudge in Mackinaw City and you’ll notice something special almost immediately. The rich aroma of fresh fudge fills the air, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see Aaron Murdick working a warm batch of fudge by hand on a marble slab.

This isn’t just a demonstration for visitors—it’s the same traditional method the Murdick family has used since 1887.

While many candy companies have switched to machines and mass production, we continue to handcraft every batch using time-honored techniques that have been passed down through generations of the Murdick family.

It Starts with Simple, Quality Ingredients

Great fudge begins with great ingredients.

Every batch of Murdick’s Famous Fudge starts with:

  • Fresh cream
  • Real butter
  • Michigan beet sugar, or real Michigan maple sugar
  • The finest Belgian chocolate
  • Premium nuts, fruits, and flavorings

These ingredients are carefully cooked in our traditional copper kettles until they reach the perfect temperature.

Making exceptional fudge isn’t just about following a recipe. It requires experience, patience, and knowing exactly when the candy is ready for the next step.

Poured onto the Marble Slab

Once the fudge reaches the proper temperature, it is poured onto a cool marble slab.

Marble has been used by candy makers for generations because it naturally draws heat away from the fudge at just the right speed. This allows the candy to cool evenly while preserving its rich, creamy texture.

Watching warm fudge flow across the marble slab is one of the most popular sights in our candy kitchen.

Working the Fudge by Hand

As the fudge begins to cool, Aaron Murdick, our expert, and only, candy maker,  gently moves it back and forth across the marble using a traditional fudge scraper. It is at this point in the fudge making process that one of the customers will ask, “How long do you have to do that?” and Mr. Murdick will inevitably answer,  “Until Labor Day!” 

The fudge cannot be worked too early or too late. This process requires perfect timing.  Years of experience allows Mr. Murdick to recognize the exact moment when the fudge begins to set.

Once the fudge begins to set, he will form the fudge into a neat rectangle that  will enable him to begin to shape it into a perfect loaf of fudge.

Forming the Loaf

Once the fudge reaches the proper consistency, it is carefully shaped by hand into a long loaf. Using a flat stainless steel tool, Aaron gently lifts and forms the fudge, preparing it for slicing.

Each loaf is the length of the marble slab, uniform in width, and ready to be cut into half pound slices that fit perfectly into the fudge box. The “heals” of the fudge, are kept in plastic containers to be used in the next batch of fudge. 

Aaron Murdick makes this entire process look so simple and easy, but it takes skill developed through years of experience.

Sliced Fresh Every Day

After the loaves have cooled, we slice the fudge into generous half-pound pieces.

Each slice is individually wrapped to lock in freshness before being displayed in our showcase to be sold, or carefully packed for shipping across the country.

Whether you purchase one slice or several pounds, you’re receiving handcrafted fudge made with the same methods the Murdick family has used for more than 135 years.

Why Marble Slabs Still Matter

People often ask why we still make fudge on marble slabs.

The answer is simple.

Traditional methods produce traditional results.

Marble cools the fudge naturally and evenly while allowing Mr. Murdick complete control over every batch. That careful attention creates the creamy texture and rich flavor that customers have loved for generations.

Once you’ve tasted handcrafted marble slab fudge, you’ll understand why we’ve never changed the process.

Visit Our Candy Kitchen

One of the highlights of visiting Murdick’s Famous Fudge in Mackinaw City is watching an expert candy maker at work.

Guests can often watch fresh fudge being poured, paddled, formed into loaves, and sliced throughout the day. It’s a tradition that has delighted visitors for generations and continues to create memories for families from around the world. And watching a master candy maker like Aaron Murdick is mesmerizing we have been told!

If you can’t visit us in person, you can still enjoy authentic Murdick family fudge delivered right to your door.

Our online store ships fresh fudge throughout the United States, so you can enjoy the same creamy, handcrafted fudge no matter where you live.

Experience the Murdick Family Difference

Since 1887, the Murdick family has remained committed to making fudge the old-fashioned way—with fresh cream, real butter, local Michigan sugar, Belgian chocolate, marble slabs, and generations of experience.

We invite you to stop by our Mackinaw City candy kitchen, watch the process for yourself, and taste why Murdick’s Famous Fudge has been a Michigan tradition for well over a century.