These days, we’re all looking for a bit of comfort. A piece of chocolate has long been a favorite option due to its tastiness and the fact that just one bite of chocolate releases dopamine into the brain which can lower stress levels. 

What could be better than a piece of chocolate fudge from Gulf Coast Fudge Co? Or, of course, a piece of Sea Salt Caramel, Chocolate Cherry, Peanut Butter, or Chocolate Peanut Butter fudge. The original fudge recipe dates to the 1800s from Northern Michigan, and there are no preservatives, waxes, butter or oil used in the making, except for the natural butter and oil in peanut butter.

Gulf Coast Fudge makes a variety of delicious treats, as well as many flavors of old-fashioned fudge. Image courtesy of Gulf Coast Fudge Company.

“All of our flavors are delicious, made the old-fashioned way—in copper kettles, stirred by hand, cooled, and shaped by hand on marble slabs,” says Jeff Stanko, who owns Gulf Coast Fudge Company with his wife, Kristen. 

There’s great news for local fudge lovers! Cape Coral’s waterside location at the Marina Village Shops at the Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral is now open again. After a 33-day closure, Gulf Coast Fudge Company is thankful to the local community for making their way back in. 

“We appreciate every visit and are grateful for our customers,” adds Stanko. 

Plans for 2023 include developing the brand with a big push towards boxed truffles and packaged goods—perfect for travelers and make for great gifts. 

In addition to delicious fudge, the company sells homemade ice cream made by its sister company Royal Scoop. Additionally, homemade chocolate confectionary items include turtles, smores, chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate-covered marshmallows on a stick, chocolate-covered Oreos and chocolate-covered nutter butters, salted caramel chews, peanut butter cups, coconut clusters, chocolate-covered graham crackers.  

Gulf Coast Fudge makes a variety of delicious treats, as well as many flavors of old-fashioned fudge. Image courtesy of Gulf Coast Fudge Company.

“Whether it is a delicious slab of fudge, an overflowing ice cream, a chocolate confectionary item, or some old-school candy, we have it all,” says Stanko.

In addition to the Tarpon Point Marina, Gulf Coast Fudge is in Downtown Fort Myers, at Shell Factory & Nature Park in North Fort Myers, and on Fort Myers Beach (Under the Royal Scoop name—with plans to open again). Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/GulfCoastFudge and https://www.facebook.com/RoyalScoopFMB.

Ann Marie O’Phelan is a SW Florida resident and a regular contributor to TOTI Media.