What is a Cottage Kitchen?
This is a small food, beverage, or confection operation that is prepared out of their home kitchen for eligible items that are deemed low-risk and shelf stable. Because Fudge is considered a candy, it is permitted for a cottage kitchen operation.
Cottage Kitchens are typically how small businesses will start vs taking on risks of starting a commercial operation without a client base or past experience. Cottage kitchens allow new business owners to gain valuable feedback, perfect their craft and business plan, and build a following in their community.
Cottage Kitchens are typically how small businesses will start vs taking on risks of starting a commercial operation without a client base or past experience. Cottage kitchens allow new business owners to gain valuable feedback, perfect their craft and business plan, and build a following in their community.
Are you Licensed?
Yes, I have a food handlers license. which is the requirement for a cottage kitchen operation. You can view that here
I am also a sole priopriator registered in Dallas County.
I am also a sole priopriator registered in Dallas County.
What COVID-19 measures are you taking?
All prepared fudge will be made and handled according to food handlers licensing standards. Owner/ Operator is vaccinated and dedicated to everyone's safety.
What is your most popular fudge?
Through feedback, I have found most go for the Orange Vanilla Cream, Irish Coffee and the Peanut Butter fudges. Chocolate Walnut is also a contender. All the flavors have some serious fans, so there's something for everyone's tastes.
Is Festive Fudge a chain?
No, Festive Fudge is just in it's humble beginnings.
I (Lauren Hull) am the founder, owner, operator, fudge maker and artist. Festive Fudge is small local business that serves at farmers markets, events, pop up shops and local orders for pickup or delivery.
I (Lauren Hull) am the founder, owner, operator, fudge maker and artist. Festive Fudge is small local business that serves at farmers markets, events, pop up shops and local orders for pickup or delivery.
How did Festive Fudge get it's beginnings?
Festive Fudge was concepted during the pandemic, but Lauren's many years of experience making desserts, working in the food industry and her years of design and marketing experience shaped her for this venture.
Lauren's idea was a lightbulb moment, when she realized just how under-celebrated fudge was compared to most desserts, such as cookies and cakes. She also realized how fun fudge could be for events and occasions outside of the holiday season to be a satisfying sensible portioned year-round treat. You can read more of her story here.
Lauren's idea was a lightbulb moment, when she realized just how under-celebrated fudge was compared to most desserts, such as cookies and cakes. She also realized how fun fudge could be for events and occasions outside of the holiday season to be a satisfying sensible portioned year-round treat. You can read more of her story here.
What areas do you service?
Primarily I will service DFW areas and cannot sell outside of the state of Texas.
Do you ship?
Glad you asked! Texas cottage laws to not generally allow shipping within Texas except in special circumstances, such as if you paid me in person for your order beforehand, because they require one part of the transaction be in person, either payment or handoff. If I can't ship to you, I am to hand deliver your order to you through arranged pick-up or delivery for a fee. Because of this, all orders are by request based on my availability.
I can only ship fudge by weight or gift boxes listed on my menu. Printed fudge and event bites are delicate and not eligible for shipping.
I can only ship fudge by weight or gift boxes listed on my menu. Printed fudge and event bites are delicate and not eligible for shipping.
Why can't I place an order and pay on your website?
Since I am limited to areas I can service, with shipping limitations, orders must be arranged with me personally in advance. There may be those who wish to order and can't who are not able to pay or receive their order in person, to which I apologize for that inconvenience. It is a matter of legal compliance.
There are a few ways to get an order started for those who can and wish to:
Order and pay in person: I will be selling at farmers markets and occasional pop-up shops which will be announced on the home page. If I'm out of something you would like shipped, I can always take pre-orders in person.
Request an order through my Contact page or my social media pages through a direct message: I will follow up to coordinate and clarify your order, and will email an invoice that accepts all major credit cards. Follow my social pages for updates. instagram.com/festivefudgelady/ and www.facebook.com/Festivefudge.
There are a few ways to get an order started for those who can and wish to:
Order and pay in person: I will be selling at farmers markets and occasional pop-up shops which will be announced on the home page. If I'm out of something you would like shipped, I can always take pre-orders in person.
Request an order through my Contact page or my social media pages through a direct message: I will follow up to coordinate and clarify your order, and will email an invoice that accepts all major credit cards. Follow my social pages for updates. instagram.com/festivefudgelady/ and www.facebook.com/Festivefudge.
What forms of payment do you take?
I accept cards or send invoices through Square. I also take Cash or money orders made out to Festive Fudge.
How much notice do you need for orders?
For personal small orders, 1 week notice is preferred. For large orders for a large event, I will need 3+ weeks notice minimum, possible more depending on the scope of the request. For shipping, allow 3 business days to process most smaller orders with 3-4 business days for shipping. Extra notice is always appreciated.
Do you take flavor requests for an order?
I am open to custom flavors, so long as the product can remain shelf stable and I have time to purchase or receive the special flavoring. Extracts, spices, dried fruits and nuts can be added to fudge while remaining shelf stable, but adding undried fruit, undried vegetables or meat (such as wanting a maple bacon fudge) is prohibited per Texas Cottage Kitchen Laws.
I want to print on fudge for an event. How does this work?
I will have pre-designed owned graphics and templates as options which can be personalized for a variety of requests, and I can search from a stock membership I have for graphics to print based on your request. If you wanted to provide a file that is approved and rightfully permitted for you to use, that is also an option. I may consult towards a solution based on your needs and the desired order, as coloring not be the exact same as depicted in the print file.
Any new design request requiring custom graphic design services or illustration (such as Wedding Monograms, Illustration, Logos, General Art with words and imagery) will be an additional cost of $50 per hour. Please view the menu for recommendations on what types of imagery would be best based on the type of item you are ordering.
*Please note that printing on fudge means colors can vary and some fudges are not print friendly, such as darker or more fragile textured fudges, which you can refer to on the menu page. The color of the fudge will effect the way the edible ink displays. Printing onto fudge works in the same way a fake tattoo works on your skin, except it requires heat, moisture and time to set.
Printers typically are designed to account for white paper and not print where there is white in an image, except in this case, the edible transfer sheet I use is clear. It prints the standard Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black edible ink onto a clear transfer sheet frosted with a very thin layer of confectioners sugar and coco butter, which will be nearly invisible leaving only the edible ink visible.
I have ways of improving the color based on the fudge color, but cannot guarantee color accuracy.
Any new design request requiring custom graphic design services or illustration (such as Wedding Monograms, Illustration, Logos, General Art with words and imagery) will be an additional cost of $50 per hour. Please view the menu for recommendations on what types of imagery would be best based on the type of item you are ordering.
*Please note that printing on fudge means colors can vary and some fudges are not print friendly, such as darker or more fragile textured fudges, which you can refer to on the menu page. The color of the fudge will effect the way the edible ink displays. Printing onto fudge works in the same way a fake tattoo works on your skin, except it requires heat, moisture and time to set.
Printers typically are designed to account for white paper and not print where there is white in an image, except in this case, the edible transfer sheet I use is clear. It prints the standard Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black edible ink onto a clear transfer sheet frosted with a very thin layer of confectioners sugar and coco butter, which will be nearly invisible leaving only the edible ink visible.
I have ways of improving the color based on the fudge color, but cannot guarantee color accuracy.
Can you print a large party block?
Unfortunately not at this time. My edible printer can only print letter sized transfer sheets and to ensure print reaches the edge and with the molds I offer, 8"x8" is the largest current printable area for a party block.
What do you recommend for weddings?
Wedding recommendations:
Since fudge isn't a mainstream dessert, this is a great supplementary sweet to offer at a wedding.
• A fudge bar or platter of pre-cut bites where guests can serve themselves would be a great way to accommodate guests and save time slicing fudge, which can take more effort than slicing cake.
• Favors are another great option. Hosts could provide favor boxes if they wished to make this a favor for their attendees. Please coordinate with me if you plan to do this so we can determine the serving size and box size.
• If you're serving fudge instead of cake, another option is for the host or customer to supply a 3 tier tray and arrange bites on this for guests, with a party block for the couple if they want to cut a fudge for their reception.
At this time, I can only supply fudge blocks individually or provide boxes of pre-cut bites. I do not stage tables or tiers, due to limited availability, but exceptions can be made. Reach out to [email protected] a free tasting and consultation if you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth or East Texas Area.
What about fudge cakes?
Because fudge is very delicate and dense, it is possible to tier fudge, but not recommended. Holes would have to be cut for support, wasting some fudge, and dowels have to be inserted with cardboard supports, which cannot be hidden easily since I do not decorate with icing. There is a risk of the design being compromised in attempting to create a tiered fudge wedding "cake". This has not been tested to see how it holds up, but fudge is often very thick and may present issues attempting to quickly cut for guests. Dipping a knife in hot water and wiping with a cloth between each cut is recommended for clean neat cuts. Because this is often a cumbersome task and much more difficult to cut than cake, it is not recommended for a big event, as this could slow down service time.
Since fudge isn't a mainstream dessert, this is a great supplementary sweet to offer at a wedding.
• A fudge bar or platter of pre-cut bites where guests can serve themselves would be a great way to accommodate guests and save time slicing fudge, which can take more effort than slicing cake.
• Favors are another great option. Hosts could provide favor boxes if they wished to make this a favor for their attendees. Please coordinate with me if you plan to do this so we can determine the serving size and box size.
• If you're serving fudge instead of cake, another option is for the host or customer to supply a 3 tier tray and arrange bites on this for guests, with a party block for the couple if they want to cut a fudge for their reception.
At this time, I can only supply fudge blocks individually or provide boxes of pre-cut bites. I do not stage tables or tiers, due to limited availability, but exceptions can be made. Reach out to [email protected] a free tasting and consultation if you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth or East Texas Area.
What about fudge cakes?
Because fudge is very delicate and dense, it is possible to tier fudge, but not recommended. Holes would have to be cut for support, wasting some fudge, and dowels have to be inserted with cardboard supports, which cannot be hidden easily since I do not decorate with icing. There is a risk of the design being compromised in attempting to create a tiered fudge wedding "cake". This has not been tested to see how it holds up, but fudge is often very thick and may present issues attempting to quickly cut for guests. Dipping a knife in hot water and wiping with a cloth between each cut is recommended for clean neat cuts. Because this is often a cumbersome task and much more difficult to cut than cake, it is not recommended for a big event, as this could slow down service time.
Is there a delivery minimum?
Yes, because of limited availability, I would require a $50 minimum to deliver within DFW and this may incur a delivery fee based on distance and other variables. I will deliver free in the Irving/Coppell area but this must be coordinated with me in advance.
I want to buy from you to sell your fudge at my business. Can I do that?
Unfortunately, this is not allowed under cottage law, since my product is not commercially manufactured. Only I can sell the fudge directly to customers. If you wished to offer my fudge at your business for an event or ongoing, I am legally allowed to sell most places in Texas. I can sell as an on-site pop-up shop, so long as I am abiding by city ordinances and have permission to be on your property.
Can I print anything onto fudge?
With a background in graphic design and photography, I can print a variety of imagery and graphics onto fudge with a few exceptions:
• Trademarked or copyrighted material is prohibited
• Images cannot be pulled off a google search, unless they are public domain and free for commercial use, as images of your fudge may be used on my social media pages or website.
• Images must be royalty free, suck as purchased stock images and graphics
• Art printed must be rightfully owned by either Festive Fudge or the customer
• Using someone's art (like a professional photo or graphic designed piece) means that the artist must approve the use of their work.
I will have pre-designed owned graphics and templates as options which can be personalized for a variety of requests. Any new design request requiring graphic design services/illustration will be an additional cost of $50 per hour. Please view the menu for recommendations on what types of imagery would be best based on the type of item you are ordering.
*Please note that printing on fudge means colors can vary and some fudges are not print friendly, such as darker or more fragile textured fudges, which you can refer to on the menu page. The color of the fudge will effect the way the edible ink displays. Printing onto fudge works in the same way a fake tattoo works on your skin, except it requires heat, moisture and time to set.
Printers typically are designed to account for white paper and not print where there is white in an image, except in this case, the edible transfer sheet I use is clear. It prints the standard Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black edible ink onto a clear transfer sheet frosted with a very thin layer of confectioners sugar and coco butter, which will be nearly invisible leaving only the edible ink visible.
I have ways of improving the color based on the fudge color, but cannot guarantee color accuracy.
• Trademarked or copyrighted material is prohibited
• Images cannot be pulled off a google search, unless they are public domain and free for commercial use, as images of your fudge may be used on my social media pages or website.
• Images must be royalty free, suck as purchased stock images and graphics
• Art printed must be rightfully owned by either Festive Fudge or the customer
• Using someone's art (like a professional photo or graphic designed piece) means that the artist must approve the use of their work.
I will have pre-designed owned graphics and templates as options which can be personalized for a variety of requests. Any new design request requiring graphic design services/illustration will be an additional cost of $50 per hour. Please view the menu for recommendations on what types of imagery would be best based on the type of item you are ordering.
*Please note that printing on fudge means colors can vary and some fudges are not print friendly, such as darker or more fragile textured fudges, which you can refer to on the menu page. The color of the fudge will effect the way the edible ink displays. Printing onto fudge works in the same way a fake tattoo works on your skin, except it requires heat, moisture and time to set.
Printers typically are designed to account for white paper and not print where there is white in an image, except in this case, the edible transfer sheet I use is clear. It prints the standard Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black edible ink onto a clear transfer sheet frosted with a very thin layer of confectioners sugar and coco butter, which will be nearly invisible leaving only the edible ink visible.
I have ways of improving the color based on the fudge color, but cannot guarantee color accuracy.
I no longer see the flavor I liked available. Can I still order it?
Yes! We feature a fudge each month, and typically always have the ingredients to make those fudges. However, 1 batch yields 2 lbs, so orders for an off-menu request must be for at least 1 lb. Any new custom flavor request would require a 2 lb minimum purchase, and fees may be associated with a custom requests for a test batch and purchasing ingredients.
How long does fudge stay fresh?
Fudge can last quite a while as a shelf stable product. As a general guideline, to enjoy fudge at its peak of freshness, store in an airtight container out of sunlight for up to 1 week at room temperature, 2 weeks refrigerated or 3 months frozen. If you freeze your fudge for future consumption, thaw in the refrigerator before bringing to room temperature for the best results.
Are your fudges gluten free?
Most fudges are gluten free except for the Irish Coffee Fudge. The espresso used was made in a facility that processes wheat, meaning there could be traces of wheat contained.
Are food allergens listed on your labels?
Yes- every fudge will have any allergens contained on this website on the menu page. I also will have this information on the packaging. You can view the menu on this website to learn more.
Can you make a keto fudge by request?
Unfortunately I cannot, since fudge is primarily sugar candy boiled with a candy thermometer. Artificial sugars will not behave the same way as sugar so results will not be true to a real fudge. Any keto recipes I have researched involving cream cheese and a different method of making are prohibited under the Texas Cottage Laws because it would not be shelf stable and require refrigeration.
How is your fudge made?
All my fudge recipes involve mostly sugar and a candy thermometer, boiling to 236° Fahrenheit or "Soft Ball" stage. No shortcuts are made- all fudge recipes are boiled to be shelf stable to create a texture for printing and/or molding into basic shapes. Recipes and techniques vary by recipe.
Some of your fudges include liquors. Is this safe for kids?
Per Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, alcohol infused foods can be served to any age from cottage kitchen operations. Also note that our fudge can be deemed non-alcoholic as the alcohol is cooked to at least 230 degrees, far beyond alcohol evaporation temperatures.
What is the recommended serving?
Because fudge is rich and satisfying, portions are much smaller than a slice of cake, making it solution for those who wish to enjoy treats in moderation and spend less per serving for a group. 1 or 2 oz would be the average recommend serving range for an event depending on your or your group's sweet tooth.
*1 oz of fudge is generally 1 cubic inch in volume.*
Fudge by Weight: Since this is not typically meant for groups and more for individuals/ families who like to enjoy fudge now and later. Slice off desired amount and store the rest in the fridge or freezer. Recommended serving is 1-2 oz.
Bites for Events: Recommended to plan for 2- Pieces per person on average. Size of bites will vary on as depth can vary, but will generally be 1" squares, give or take, depending on the depth of fudge being cut and the request of the customer to make cuts larger or smaller.
Party Blocks: When cutting your own block for guests, cut into cubes of the desired size for sharing. Most guests will be satisfied with 1 or 2 oz. which could range from 1-3 pieces depending on size of cuts. For clean cuts, have a pitcher of hot water to dip the knife and wipe clean between each cut.
*1 oz of fudge is generally 1 cubic inch in volume.*
Fudge by Weight: Since this is not typically meant for groups and more for individuals/ families who like to enjoy fudge now and later. Slice off desired amount and store the rest in the fridge or freezer. Recommended serving is 1-2 oz.
Bites for Events: Recommended to plan for 2- Pieces per person on average. Size of bites will vary on as depth can vary, but will generally be 1" squares, give or take, depending on the depth of fudge being cut and the request of the customer to make cuts larger or smaller.
Party Blocks: When cutting your own block for guests, cut into cubes of the desired size for sharing. Most guests will be satisfied with 1 or 2 oz. which could range from 1-3 pieces depending on size of cuts. For clean cuts, have a pitcher of hot water to dip the knife and wipe clean between each cut.
I read about a flavor that I don't see on the menu. How often does your menu change?
Every month, I will feature a fudge of the month for a that month only, and twice a year, my menu will be slightly revised to reflect seasonal flavors and announced on social media. If you fell in love with a flavor not listed on my menu, I can still make it for orders with a minimum 1 lb order. My core menu that is listed on my website will be applicable to my pop up shop and farmers market offerings.
Is fudge high in sugar?
Fudge is made with sugar, but each 1 or 2 oz (a recommended serving range) is 11-13 grams of sugar per oz—much less sugar than a slice of cake or a sweetened coffee drink. Because fudge is rich and satisfying, you don't need much to get your sweet tooth fix.
What is in your edible ink?
Inks used are specially formulated food-grade color inks purchased from Icinginks.com.
Contains: Water, Humectant, Glycerin, ethanol and edible coloring agents
Contains: Water, Humectant, Glycerin, ethanol and edible coloring agents
I see some mild condensation on my print. Is this normal?
Yes-mild condensation may show up from fudge when it was poured but should be very minor, which the print helps to conceal. Condensation can happen on fresh fudge that has been chilled and then brought to room temperature causing it to sweat. Freezing anything printed before serving can alter the print significantly to become low resolution, so it is recommend to not freeze before presentation and serving. Refrigeration is fine, but when at room temperature, open box to allow evaporation of any condensation, which will dry and leave the fudge looking smooth and matte. Fudge can stay at room temperature for a week in the box or or an airtight container. Do not attempt to blot the moisture as this could smudge or remove your print.
"I have tasted this fudge and it is divine! I normally hate fudge, but Lauren has cracked the code for smooth, delicious candy that doesn’t taste like a chunk of chewy sugar. Highly recommend the peanut butter, bananas foster, and chocolate flavors!"
