The recipe for "Kay's Fudge" will never be forgotten.
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
1 / 25
Homemade Buttermilk BiscuitsThe recipe for these four-ingredient homemade buttermilk biscuits has been handed down for many generations. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, North CarolinaGo to Recipe
Taste of Home
Bavarian Pot RoastSince all my grandparents were German, it's no wonder that so many Bavarian recipes have been handed down to me. Because the Midwest has such a large German population, I feel this recipe represents the area well. —Susan Robertson, Hamilton, Ohio
Go to Recipe
Oma's Apfelkuchen (Grandma's Apple Cake)My husband’s German family calls this Oma’s apfelkuchen, which translates to "Grandma’s apple cake." They’ve been sharing the recipe for more than 150 years. I use Granny Smith apples, but any variety works. —Amy Kirchen, Loveland, Ohio
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Jim's Secret Family Recipe RibsFor 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
Go to Recipe
Green Tomato PieWhen 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
Go to Recipe
Grandma Pietz's Cranberry Cake PuddingFor 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
Go to Recipe
Butternut GoulashWe 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
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Triple Ginger CookiesMy dad loved ginger cookies. I tinkered with the recipe my grandma handed down by using fresh, ground and crystallized ginger for more pizazz. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Go to Recipe
Lemony Cream Cheese BarsAnytime 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
Go to Recipe
Wine-Braised Chicken with Pearl OnionsThis 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
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Baked Elephant EarsMy mother-in-law handed down this recipe from her mother. These are a special treat—even better, I think, than those at a carnival or festival. —Delores Baeten, Downers Grove, Illinois
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Sloppy OttosMy 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
Go to Recipe
Turkey Sausage Cabbage RollsI 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
Go to Recipe
Amaretto Ricotta CheesecakeThere's a good reason why a relative handed this cherished recipe down to me. It's a keeper! The amaretto and ricotta make for a truly unique dessert. —Isabel Neuman, Surprise, Arizona
Go to Recipe
Turkey Sausage Bean SoupThis 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
Go to Recipe
Triple Berry ShortcakeMy 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
Go to Recipe
Cranberry KetchupThis 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
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Grandma's Polish CookiesThis 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
Go to Recipe
Grilled Three-Potato SaladEveryone 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
Go to Recipe
TMB studio
LebkuchenIt'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
Go to Recipe
Maple Carrot CupcakesI 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
Go to Recipe
Zucchini Hamburger PieThis 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
Go to Recipe
Frosted Spice CookiesThis 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
Go to Recipe
Layered Orange Sponge CakeThis 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
Go to Recipe
Pumpkin Walnut SquaresMy 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
Go to Recipe