fudgie

From fudge +‎ -ie. The tourists were so named because their main reason to travel was for the famous fudge. As a food name, possibly influenced by brownie or cookie.

fudgie (plural fudgies)

1. (Michigan [especially Mackinac Island] slang) A tourist.

   Alternative form: Fudgie

   • 2005, Mary Davis, chapter 2, in The Island, Uhrichsville, Oh.: Heartsong Presents, →ISBN, page 17:

     “You know my weakness.” […] They ordered, and then Veronique said, “Fudgie stories.” Veronique loved to hear and tell of the unique tourists. She wanted to take as many stories as possible back to her family in France.

   • 2022 July 28, Chelsea Ritschel, “Manager closes restaurant early due to ‘arrogant’ and ‘cocky’ tourists: ‘Not here to be abused’”, in The Independent‎^[1], London: Independent News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 28 July 2022:

     [Larah] Moore has apparently worked in downtown Charlevoix during the festival for “most of [her] adult life” and this year was different because the “fudgies” were rude to her staff.

   • [2018, P. A. Gawel, “From the Water, it Looks Like an Island”, in Son of a Son of the Thin Man in Murder Along the Crooked Way, Meadville, Pa.: Christian Faith Publishing, →ISBN:

     “As a mainlander you’ll be referred to as a fudgie by the islanders.” “What the blazes is a fudgie?” “They call you fudgie, like the rest of the tourists who go there to buy some of the most delicious fudge in the world from one of the many fudge shops on the island.”]

   • 2025, Nancy Coco, chapter 18, in Fudge and Marriage, New York, N.Y.: Kensington Books, →ISBN:

     “Or maybe it was a fudgie.” I glanced at Mallory, remembering she was a visitor along with Aunt Ginny. “A fudgie is our fun pet name for tourist.” / “Ah,” Aunt Ginny said. “Because they come for the fudge and stay for the fun.” / “Exactly,” I said. “Anyway, what if it was a fudgie who heard the commotion and peeked between the bushes to see what was going on? […]”

2. (informal, uncommon) A fudge confection or cookie.
   • 1964 August 21, “News Analysis; Atlantic City: Yesteryear; Convention Site Bears Faded Witness To a Period of Less Urgent Worries”, in The New York Times‎^[2], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2 December 2025:

     Those who find their way through the tunnels underneath the Boardwalk to the beach are met by hawkers selling fudgies.

   • 1991, Agnes Ward, “Double Delicious Fudgies”, in Judi K. Merkel, editor, Women’s Circle Home Cooking, Berne, Ind.: House of White Birches; Miami, Fla.: PSI & Associates, →ISBN, page 152, column 1
   • 2001, Gloria Lawson, Debbi Puffer, “Desserts”, in Tasty Vegan Delights, Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, →ISBN, page 116, column 2:

     Mary’s Fudgies / These bars are delicious frozen, when they become like chewy toffees.

   • 2001 December 12, “Just for Cookie Fanatics”, in The Washington Post‎^[3], Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2 December 2025:

     Pecan Fudgies (Makes about 30 2 1/2-inch cookies) […] Perhaps fudgies turned up here because sweetened condensed milk has long been a staple ingredient in many Florida kitchens -- it's used in the ever-popular key lime pie.

   • 2005 February 2, YiLing Chen-Josephson, “Sweets for Your Sweetie”, in Slate‎^[4], New York, N.Y.: The Slate Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 June 2021:

     This Canadian company offers an assortment that is “simple but tasty” (like the Pecan Caramel), “old-fashioned” (the Rum and Butter Fudgie), and “totally delicious” (the Strawberry Rosa).