Category: Fudge

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Fudge

Locals Guide: November

Fudge

November is Fudge Month at Branson’s Chocolates–everything fudge! Fudge is one of our original confections. In fact, the fudge recipes that we use originated in the late 1800s on Mackinac Island in Michigan. We’ve adapted those original recipes to include flavors such as Chocolate Huckleberry, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and Chocolate Cream Cheese. We make ten different flavors of fudge, so we have something for everyone. We know there are a few of you out there who aren’t really chocolate fans, so even though we don’t quite understand how that could be, we have Penuche and Maple Pecan for you guys. Penuche is a brown sugar and vanilla fudge, and Maple Pecan, well, it’s maple and pecans. And trust me, even you chocolate lovers will love them. Stop by to see what is currently in stock.

If you want to catch us out and about in November, here’s where we will be—

  • November 9th & 10th, Friday & Saturday, you can find us at the Holiday Market @the Expo from 10am-6pm.
  • November 10th & 11th, Saturday & Sunday, we will be at the 12th annual Ashland Culinary Festival at the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites. More information at www.ashlandchamber.com/culinaryfestival .
  • November 17th is Paddington Station’s 45nd Annual Holiday Open House, and we will be there from 11am-2pm selling chocolate.

Branson’s Chocolates is your home for delicious fudge and all chocolate deliciousness, and is right here in Ashland at 1662 Siskiyou Boulevard.  We’re just two blocks south of Omar’s, next to Abbey Carpet Mart. We’re open Monday – Saturday 10-5:30.

You can also find Branson’s Chocolates on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and at bransonschocolates.com for online chocolate shopping.

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Huckleberry

Locals Guide: September

Huckleberry

Huckleberries are related to both blueberries and cranberries, taste like a tart blueberry, and are so juicy they have to be processed or eaten right away. Huckleberry season is short, usually only August and September, so Branson’s Chocolates is debuting Huckleberry Truffles and Huckleberry Bars right at the peak of their season. We’re dreaming of Huckleberry Truffles, smooth creamy dark chocolate center with a hint of huckleberry! And the Huckleberry Bars in delicious Milk Chocolate. We take a Huckleberry Fruit Spread made right here is Oregon; cook it down with some milk chocolate to make the gooey Huckleberry center.

‘A love of huckleberries — combined with their scarcity — has created a decades-long effort to produce the berry commercially. A University of Idaho researcher named Dan Barney spent over two decades attempting to create a domesticated huckleberry that would reliably produce delicious fruit at home. He retired without accomplishing his mission. “Domesticating the wild huckleberry is impossible,” says Amit Dhingra, associate professor in the horticulture department at Washington State University. “They have been established in the wild in certain conditions in the forest, and their genetics are suited specifically for that purpose.” Most forests require a permit and limit the amount of berries a person can take home. Some rules also specify that berries be picked by hand.

Throughout history, finding and picking huckleberries has been hard work, yet for people who love them, the effort is worth it. When asked why huckleberries are worth all this trouble, Joe Culbreth laughed. “I don’t know,” he says. “But once you’ve eaten huckleberries, you’re hooked.”’

You can find all this huckleberry deliciousness right here in Ashland at Branson’s Chocolates, at 1662 Siskiyou Boulevard.  We’re just a block south of Omar’s, next to Carpet Mart. Come on down and get your own batch of Huckleberry Truffles and Bars. It’s sure a lot easier than heading out to the forest to forage them for yourself. We’re open Monday – Saturday 10-5:30.

You can also find Branson’s Chocolates on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and at bransonschocolates.com for online chocolate shopping.

Thanks to https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/08/11/542690164/for-the-love-of-huckleberries-august-brings-out-hunters-of-elusive-fruit