Mackinac Island’s many shops, restaurants, and local landmarks make it the ideal place for an extended summer getaway or a weekend stroll. It’s a great place for the whole family, and Kilwins makes it even better. Every time you walk down the streets of Mackinac Island, you can rest easy knowing that Kilwins is always there to greet you with a smile.

The History of Kilwins

Kilwins was first brought into existence in 1947 by husband and wife Don and Katy Kilwin. Their goal was simple: to create the best products using the best ingredients possible. To this day, Kilwins has never strayed from that goal. We continue to uphold the Kilwins tradition of creating desserts by hand and making our customers happy at our Mackinac Island chocolate store.

The History of Mackinac Island Fudge

Mackinac Island Fudge is a sweet treat with a rich history. We have records of this fudge dating back to the 19th century on Michigan's Mackinac Island. Mackinac Island was—and still is—a popular tourist destination famous for its historic charm and car-free streets. Once Mackinac Island Fudge hit the streets, it quickly became a local specialty. Not long after, people from all over traveled to get a taste of this one-of-a-kind fudge.

Among the many makers of this iconic fudge, Kilwins stands out. Kilwins is celebrated for our work in preserving the legacy of Mackinac Island Fudge—making it with high-quality ingredients in the traditional way.

The traditional method involves cooking sugar, butter, and milk together until the mixture softens. Then, the candy-maker adds chocolate or other flavorings. Once cooked, the hot mixture is poured onto a marble slab (which cools the molten fudge) and pushed and pulled by hand until it reaches a smooth, creamy texture. The fudge is then cut and allowed to cool, creating its signature consistency and flavor. 

Kilwins is committed to bringing a taste of Mackinac Island's history to visitors and fudge enthusiasts alike. Order a slice of your own and see what confectionery historians can't stop talking about.

Mackinac Island Fudge by Kilwins

You cannot set foot in our Mackinac Island store without trying our iconic Mackinac Island Fudge. Our fudge recipe comes from our founder, Don Kilwin, himself. It all started when he bought a marble table in 1947 and taught himself the art of fudge making. Since then, our fudge lineup has continued to expand, solidifying itself as one of our best-selling products.

We have a long list of flavors, all handcrafted in-store by our team of confectioners. Like some of our other proprietary products, our base Mackinac Island Fudge recipe has not changed, honoring the legacy that founders Don and Katy Kilwin, started way back in the 40s. Our fudge is just as delicious now as it was back then, and every bite you take is a reminder of its incredible history.

Our Unchanged Process

Ever since Kilwins’ beginnings in 1947, we’ve stuck to many of the same methods developed by the founders as a way to give back and carry on their legacy. Even some of our machines and equipment have stood the test of time, dating back to our early days in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. We blended modern technology into our process as well, but the essence of everything we do remains the same. Same recipes, same handcrafted process, same premium quality.

Every part of the process is completely controlled by Kilwins. We invested in climate-controlled trucks and customized packaging. All of these work together to maintain the quality and consistency of our products.

To us, it is always quality over quantity. We stay true to following the original recipes, and they have never let us down. Dessert-making takes time and precision to be flawless: We devote significant time and effort to our products so that every single piece on the counters of our Mackinac Island chocolate store is perfect.