This Woman’s Legendary Fudge Recipe Was Engraved on Her Tombstone
You can find all kinds of ways to share treasured family recipes. These not-so-secret recipes live on in church cookbooks, scrawled on index cards or, these days, typed carefully into an online collection. But Kay Andrews’ beloved fudge recipe is carved on her headstone in Logan Cemetery in Logan, Utah, a surprising sweet treat for all cemetery visitors.
The Story Behind the Fudge Recipe
Kay—a mom of five, grandma of 15 and great-grandma of 37—died at age 97 in 2019. Not that many of us think ahead and design our own tombstone before we pass, but she was an exception.
Her husband, Wade, died in 2000, and their shared headstone celebrates things that were important to them, KSL.com reports. One side of the stone shows a horse, B-24 bomber, professor’s cap and other important memories from Wade’s life. But Kay wanted something different carved on the stone to mark her own experiences.
“You know what I want? I want my fudge recipe on there,” Kay said, according to her son Steve Andrews.
Kay was known for sharing her famous fudge with family and friends, so the recipe was a natural choice to represent her on the stone.
Steve told KSL that the gravestone became so popular, people began to refer to that part of the cemetery as “Kay’s Fudge.” Another of her sons would take her to the cemetery, and introduce Kay to the workers there, explaining the story behind the recipe.
“She got a kick out of the fact that people were enjoying her fudge,” Steve said. This warms our hearts—and makes us want to whip up the recipes passed down from our mothers.
How to Make Kay’s Fudge
The recipe is simple and straightforward—no room for fancy ruminating when you’re engraving words in stone! Briefly, the recipe as presented on the headstone had a typo—calling for a tablespoon of vanilla instead of a teaspoon—but that’s been fixed.
Years after Kay Andrews chose to include her now-famous fudge recipe on her headstone in the Logan Cemetery, her story went viral as social media buzzed over the weekend about “Kay’s Fudge.” https://t.co/4hhaayJKqg
— KSL (@KSLcom) June 2, 2021
Recipes That Have Been Handed Down Through Generations
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Oma's Apfelkuchen (Grandma's Apple Cake)
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Jim's Secret Family Recipe Ribs
For more than 30 years, my brother-in-law Jim kept his famous rib recipe a secret. When he finally shared it, we just had to pass it along because we loved it so much. This one's for you, Jim! —Vicki Young, Brighton, Colorado
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When frost nips our garden, I quickly gather all the green tomatoes still on the vine and make this old family favorite. It's been handed down from my grandmother, and now my granddaughters are asking for the recipe.—Violet Thompson, Port Ludlow, Washington
Grandma Pietz's Cranberry Cake Pudding
For generations, our family has handed down this cake recipe starring cranberries. Simple and unusual, it remains a treasured family heirloom. —Lisa Potter, Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
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We make this treasured family goulash recipe using squash from our own backyard. The chili powder and cayenne really warm you up! —Allison Wilmarth, Forest City, Pennsylvania
Triple Ginger Cookies
My dad loved ginger cookies. I've tinkered with the recipe my grandma handed down by using fresh, ground and crystallized ginger for more pizzazz. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Lemony Cream Cheese Bars
Anytime I can take a recipe that has been handed down two generations and lighten it up while keeping the delicious flavor memories intact, I’m a happy girl. —Patti Lavell, Islamorada, Florida
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This is a family favorite handed down from my grandmother in London. She made it for every family gathering. It was always the first food to go on the table and the first one to disappear. —Wayne Barnes, Montgomery, Alabama
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My mother-in-law handed down this recipe from her mother. They’re a special treat—even better, I think, than those at a carnival or festival. And (shh!) they're baked, not fried. —Delores Baeten, Downers Grove, Illinois
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My version of sloppy joes comes from an old family recipe. Make these sandwiches even more German by stacking everything on a pretzel bun. —Jason Koren, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Turkey Sausage Cabbage Rolls
I practically grew up in my Polish grandmother's kitchen, watching Babci cook and listening to her stories. I made her cabbage roll recipe healthier with whole grains and turkey, but kept the same rich flavors I remember. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
Amaretto Ricotta Cheesecake
There's a good reason why this cherished recipe was handed down to me by a relative. It's a keeper! The amaretto and ricotta make for a truly unique dessert. —Isabel Neuman, Surprise, Arizona
Turkey Sausage Bean Soup
This recipe is from my great-grandmother, though I've added a few ingredients to make it my own. Serve it with a side salad and some artisan bread for a wonderful, hearty family dinner. —Terrel Porter-Smith, Los Osos, California
Triple Berry Shortcake
My great-great-grandmother handed down her shortcake recipe. I’m sharing it because it’s way too fabulous to keep it a secret! —Sara Kingsmore, Vadnais Heights, Minnesota
Best-Ever Sweet Potato Pie
My grandmother handed down this recipe and it’s amazing! The flavor, with a hint of maple and great spices, totally lives up to its name. —Erin Gibbons, Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Cranberry Ketchup
This recipe was handed down to me from my mother. It may sound like a strange combination of flavors, but once you try it, you won’t want to go back to regular ketchup. —Jerome Wiese, Bemidji, Minnesota
Grandma's Polish Cookies
This traditional khruchiki recipe has been handed down through my mother's side from my great-grandmother. As a child, it was my job to loop the end of each cookie through its hole. —Sherine Elise Gilmour, Brooklyn, New York
Grilled Three-Potato Salad
Everyone in our extended family loves to cook, so I put together all of our favorite recipes in a cookbook to be handed down from generation to generation. This recipe comes from that cookbook. It's a delicious twist on traditional potato salad. —Suzette Jury, Keene, California
Lebkuchen
It's tradition for my family to make these German treats together. The recipe came from my great-grandmother's cookbook, and judging from the amount of requests I get, it has certainly stood the test of time. —Esther Kempker, Jefferson City, Missouri
Maple Carrot Cupcakes
I come from a line of family cooks and have liked to cook and bake since I was young. Mother and Grandmom were always in the kitchen cooking up something delicious. These carrot cupcakes were Grandmom's specialty, and we always have them at family gatherings. —Lisa Ann Panzino DiNunzio, Vineland, New Jersey
Zucchini Hamburger Pie
This hamburger pie is a family favorite handed down from my dear aunt. It is so hearty that it satisfies the appetite well. And my family has always enjoyed the idea of having pie for supper! —Eloise Swisher, Roseville, Illinois
Frosted Spice Cookies
This recipe has been handed down through many generations of my husband's family. The cookies were always in his grandmother's cookie jar when he'd visit. Today, he enjoys them more than ever—and so do I. —Debbie Hurlbert, Howard, Ohio
Layered Orange Sponge Cake
This recipe's been handed down in my family for 40 years, from a relative who was a French baker. It's light, delicate and delicious, just like a great cake should be. —Joyce Speerbrecher, Grafton, Wisconsin
Pumpkin Walnut Squares
My mother-in-law handed this pumpkin bar recipe down as a surefire way to keep my husband happy during the holidays. It's his favorite childhood dessert. —Melissa Conchieri, Northport, New York
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