Plus, we interview Eisenhower historian
Carol Hegeman for details about this historical recipe
When Pam asked me to try making the first-ever recipe featured on the blog — Mamie Eisenhower’s Million Dollar Fudge — I suspected it had something to do with her not wanting six pounds of fudge hanging around her house. But I like baking and I love chocolate — so I agreed. We know Mamie Eisenhower as the woman who launched five million pink bathrooms. As First Lady, Mamie was a well known penny pincher and coupon clipper — one of the qualities that endeared her to American women. She was massively popular in post-World War II America, so when her fudge recipe was published in print publications, it was an immediate hit. Hey — I can do this, right? Right?
Pam, a Mamie groupie, found the recipe on Wikipedia — it is a PDF provided from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library — this is an historical document!
I should have suspected from the start that I was a bit in over my head. When I read the recipe, it left me with many questions.
Mamie’s Million Dollar Fudge
4 1/2 cups sugarpinch of salt2 tablespoons butter1 tall can evaporated milk12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate bits12 ounces German-sweet chocolate1 pint marshmallow cream2 cups nutmeatsBoil the sugar, salt, butter, evaporated milk together for six minutes.Put chocolate bits and German chocolate, marshmallow cream and nutmeats in a bowl. Pour the boiling syrup over the ingredients. Beat until chocolate is all melted, then pour in pan. Let stand a few hours before cutting.Remember it is better the second day. Store in tin box.
What are “nutmeats”? Unfortunately, my assistant wasn’t much help in this department. Pam confirmed my suspicion that nutmeats are indeed just nuts without shells. And, a quick internet search revealed that a tall can of evaporated milk would be 16 oz (2 cups). Armed with this information, I went to the grocery store to track down the ingredients.
One might ask, “How much does Million Dollar Fudge cost?” Here is a breakdown of my expenses:
2 cans of evaporated milk — $1.78
12 oz of semisweet chocolate — $3.19
12 oz of German sweet chocolate — $9.87
2 Jars of Marshmallow fluff — $2.98
4 lb bag of sugar — $2.69
bag of walnuts (least expensive nut at the store) — $6.57
(I already had butter and salt)
Total: $27.08
That isn’t a million dollars, but it felt kinda pricey for a pan of fudge. You could save money buy buying the ingredients over time, when they are on sale. I’ve also seen others on the internet who have substituted Hershey’s chocolate for the German sweet chocolate and left out the nuts for a less expensive and equally tasty version, so if you don’t want to drop nearly $30 on fudge, that would be another way to keep the cost down. However, our quest was for absolute historical accuracy, so I wanted to follow the recipe to a T.
With my ingredients purchased, I set out to see if this fudge really tasted like a million dollars.
I started with a pot — which I have since decided is not large enough. Once the mixture gets to a boil, it doubles in size. I spent the entire time it was boiling trying to prevent a boil over! If I were to make this fudge again, I would use a MUCH bigger pan.
Now comes the sugar. Four and a half cups of it! Just over half of a four pound bag. That’s a lot of sugar.
Next add the evaporated milk. I needed just over one can (apparently these are medium height cans) to get the “tall” can of milk the recipe called for. My husband nearly gave me a heart attack because he asked me why pumpkin pie filling was in fudge. I think whoever designed the label on this particular can of evaporated milk could have done a better job with the picture choice.
Once you add the evaporated milk, butter and pinch of salt, don’t turn on the stove quite yet. You need to prep the rest of the ingredients so that everything is all ready to go when you have a boiling vat of sugar slurry on your hands.
Get a large bowl (I used my mixer) and add the semisweet chocolate…
The German sweet chocolate (which you will have to break up)…
Both jars of marshmallow Fluff. Why am I making this face? I have never used Marshmallow fluff before and quite frankly, it grosses me out. Plus it is super messy and sticky. The whole time I was scooping it out of the jars, I was wondering who actually eats fluffernutter sandwiches — and if they eat them for dessert or for a meal.
Add the nutmeats! I’m going to use that term as often as I can from now on. Nutmeats nutmeats nutmeats!
Then it is back over to the stove to start the boiling process. As you can see I’m trying to prevent a boil over in this photo. Save yourself the hassle and use a bigger pan folks!
After six minutes of boiling, it is time to pour your syrup over your bowl full of goodies — carefully of course — that syrup slurry is hot.
Then stir until all the chocolate is melted — I used the lowest speed on my mixer.
After everything seemed to be well mixed, I checked for chocolate lumps — it was all ready to go — the only lumps were nutmeats. Nutmeats nutmeats nutmeats!
Then I poured the mixture into a 9×13 pan. I realized a few things after I completed this step. 1) I should have used two pans because this was some thick fudge, and 2) I probably should have sprayed the pan before I poured the mixture in. Uh oh.
Then all you can do is wait. At least four or five hours and maybe longer to let your fudge set up.
I kept telling myself, “Remember, it is better the second day.”
But then the second day came and it was still the consistency of thick frosting once you broke through the top crust.
I later put it in the freezer to see if that would help, but it didn’t.
I think one of two things might have gone wrong. Either I didn’t boil the mixture long enough (because of the boil over problems I was having — USE A BIG POT! — or because the fudge was so thick it was not setting up very fast at all — USE TWO PANS!
I will say that even in its frosting form, this is some tasty fudge…err…fudge frosting. My husband and I tried to cut a piece out after seven hours to try it and ended up using a spoon, but we both agreed that the taste was delicious.
I’m not quite sure how long it will take to set up — if it ever does — or how many months it will take us to eat six pounds of this stuff, but it is good!
The morning after I made the fudge, Pam was eager to hear how the it had turned out. She knew that it had been slow to set. We had a little chat on Google instant messenger:
Pam: Hows the fudge? haha
me: ummm still runny. I hope I didn’t mess it up! It is the consistency of thick frosting! Tasty though…
Pam: hmmmm. Maybe that becomes part of the story. Put it in the fridge?
me: I think one of two things happened, either I didn’t boil it long enough (it kept nearly boiling over) or it is too thick and taking a long time to set up. I put it in the freezer.
Pam: Did you turn the heat down once it was boiling? I think a low boil would be the preferred, not a boily boil.
me: It was a low boil — anything more than that would have exploded! The stuff doubled in size when it was boiling!!!I will advise readers to use a larger pan
Pam: Did you use a real heavy pan? Nothing lightweight
me: I used a Revereware pot
Pam: yes, I would say that’s too light. I am thinking cast iron or dutch oven, something that holds the heat. but what do I know.I might have to do this now. Although i do NOT need a bunch of fudge at my house!
Maybe we ask readers to send us their photos and tips for getting it right…
me: Yes, I do not need a bunch of fudge either! This is the story of how to make million dollar fudge: or how I gained 10 lbs working for Pam!
Pam: yes haha I will fatten you right up between the fudge and the blogger’s butt syndrome.
me: hahahaha
History of Mamie Eisenhower and her million dollar fudge
Interested to learn more about Mamie’s Fudge, I contacted Carol Hegeman, Supervisory Historian at the Eisenhower National Historic Site to ask how Mamie came up with the recipe for her famous Million Dollar Fudge. You will recall, we interviewed Hegeman a while back about Mamie Eisenhower and why the pink bathrooms bonanza.
Surprisingly enough, Carol doubts that Mamie came up with the recipe herself, but verified that the recipe that Pam found was the real deal — which concerned us since Mamie’s recipe has been adapted many times. To bring home her point that Mamie didn’t author the Million Dollar Fudge recipe, Carol sent a few sample pages from a book called Ike the Cook: Dwight D. Eisenhower : General, President and Cook (affiliate link) by Edward and Candace Russoli, which surprisingly made me feel a little better about my fudgetastrophy. Apparently Mamie wasn’t the best cook — it was Ike who ran the kitchen:
Luckily Ike had been cooking for years and was quite handy in the kitchen, because Mamie knew nothing of the culinary arts. She had grown up with a family cook, so the only reason to wander into the kitchen was to ask for a cookie. She did make one effort to learn something when she joined a cooking class at the Y. However, she only stayed long enough to learn how to make mayonnaise. “I was a cooking-school dropout,” she laughed. But Mamie was Ike’s biggest supporter, and with her ringside encouragement he perfected his pot roast, successfully seared his steaks and flipped his flapjacks with finesse.
Mamie’s culinary claim to fame really was her fudge. It was such a family favorite that Ike christened it “Mamie’s Million Dollar Fudge.” Even though she could only actually make the candy and mayonnaise, Mamie kept a recipe file of a dozen or so Eisenhower family specialties which she was always happy to share with anyone who asked. Some of her file cards included recipes for Devil’s Food Cake, with Seven Minute Frosting, Frosted Mint Delight, Deep Dish Apple Pie, Tomato Pudding, Fluffy Turnips, Sugar Cookies, Danish Tomatoes, Baked Seafood Casserole, Baked Caramel Custard and General Eisenhower’s Quail Hash.
Oh oh. Pam just google messaged me wanting to talk about Devil’s Food Cake, Frosted Mint Delight, Fluffy Turnips… and Quail Hash. Holey nutmeats, what have I gotten myself into this time?
Carol Hegeman says
Pam and all:
I make this recipe every year at Christmas, always with success. I think Kate added almost double the marshmallow cream that the recipe called for. That’s why it didn’t set up. Another important point is that a tall can of evaporated milk has shrunk over time. Today they are 12 oz. but they were at least 14 1/2 oz. years ago. I’m still looking for a chart that shows the number of ounces in tall cans of evaporated milk in the 1950s. I have friends that want Mamie’s Million Dollar Fudge as their gift every year.
Carol Hegeman, Supervisory Historian (Retired), Eisenhower National Historic Site
pam kueber says
Thanks, Carol!!! I think I will try it next year!
Marcella Ilioff says
I made the fudge exactly as the recepi 1 cn evaporated milk
stirred by hand with wooden spoon
my problem it was very hard to get out of bowl and into pan.
what did I do wrong?
the fudge set up quicklyand was delicious
wa it the heavy bowl?
help
pam kueber says
Hi Marcella, Kate’s fudgestastrophy was such that… we are not experts! It sounds like it worked out all right for you, though!
Heidi E. says
Yes, had similar problems with making my mother’s fudge recipe ( slightly different from this one, butter instead of marshmallow. Apparently at some point in the 80s, they began making the standard cans of condensed milk larger. The funny part was my mother’s measurements, which went something like “4 lbs sugar, 2 lbs chocolate, 1 lb butter….makes about a pound of fudge”! Clearly these are measurements for dieting via positive thinking!
pam kueber says
My favorite quote of the week: “…My mother’s measurements, which went something like “4 lbs sugar, 2 lbs chocolate, 1 lb butter….makes about a pound of fudge”! Clearly these are measurements for dieting via positive thinking!”
Gale griffin says
Yep, this is the recipe my mom made when we lived in Abilene, Kansas in 1952. Of course it would be Mamie’s! But since sizes of cans have changed over the years, I’m having trouble getting the ratios correct. So a tall can is 12 ounces? And what size was the fluff?
pam kueber says
I am not sure about the answers to this one, Gale.
Mary Martin says
It has to boil for 7 minutes, not 6, and roily boily the whole time. Also, your baking pan was too high. Make the fudge only an inch or so high. Use a bigger pan, or even a foil lined baking sheet.
Marta says
On the off chance that anyone reads this thread in preparation for Christmas, here’s the fudge I make every year to rave reviews. It’s fool-proof as long as you don’t burn it, lol. There are several recipe versions running around, but although using store brand condensed milk is fine, get the better chocolate chips. We like the dark chocolate, but you can use semi-sweet or milk chocolate. Also, choice of pan is key to how easy this is. A thicker bottom is always good, but don’t use a small pan. use a larger pan so the chips and milk are only an inch or two high. Makes melting and stirring MUCH easier with less chance of burning. You can use vanilla instead of almond extract if you prefer, but the almond version seems to be overwhelmingly preferred in these parts.
3 cups (18 ounces) Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk (do NOT use fat-free)
2 teaspoons almond extract (the real stuff–not imitation)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Melt chips, milk, and salt together on low to medium heat, stirring constantly. As soon as all chips are melted, remove from heat and quickly stir in almond extract, then using silicone spatula pour/scrape fudge into a wax paper lined 8″ square pan or large pie plate and spread evenly. Refrigate a couple of hours until cool. Carefully loosen edges (please don’t damage your pan with a sharp knife) and turn out on cutting board. Peel off wax paper and cut into pieces.
Enjoy!
Docie says
“Nutmeats” is an inherently funny word. For cheaper, fresher nuts, buy them in bulk at the health food store or places like Fred Meyer that have a bulk food section (Kroger).
Here’s the fudge recipe I grew up making:
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/fantasy-fudge-51833.aspx
The hardest part was being patient enough to stir constantly–I’m a “turn up the heat and wander away” kind of person!
Fred2 says
To each their own I suppose, but that recipe looked utterly revolting to me. Way too sweet.
But then, I go around removing sweetness/sugar from most American sourced recipes for dessert like things…sometimes a LOT.
I find most them are “clobber over the head sweet” at the expense of actual finesse and balance in the other ingredients.
As I said, to each their own. I like desserts where you can taste other things than sweetness.
pam kueber says
Hey, it was the 1950s! Lots of marshmallow creme and chocolate chips!
Brian T says
My mom had and used this exact recipe, which I believe she got from her sister in the 60s. I remember seeing “Mamie Eisenhower’s Million Dollar Fudge” on a recipe card illustrated with an old potbelly stove that said “Here’s What’s Cookin’.” (I’d love to find a bunch of vintage recipe cards …) I like my fudge darker than this, but I do remember the recipe put into action back in the day. It was gooshier and less dense than typical fudge, but it was sliceable. Unfortunately, my mom never made it once I was old enough to be interested in cooking, or I might remember some tips. I will say that evaporated milk is and was available in some awfully tiny cans, so 12 ounces could still be a “tall” can, relatively speaking.