Family Recipe Drama: AITA for Keeping my Secret Christmas Fudge Recipe from my Sister?

Is it selfish to keep a cherished family fudge recipe a secret from a sister with a history of taking credit for others' work? AITA?

Damjan

Published in Interesting
7 Dec 2025

Family Recipe Drama: AITA for Keeping my Secret Christmas Fudge Recipe from my Sister?

In a heartwarming yet contentious Reddit thread, a young woman grapples with a family tradition that could be at risk of becoming a source of division. The original poster (OP), a 28-year-old woman, has long cherished her family's secret Christmas fudge recipe, a beloved culinary heirloom passed down through generations.

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While she finds joy in making this festive treat each year, her sister, a 25-year-old with a history of claiming credit for others’ culinary creations, has expressed a strong interest in learning the recipe for herself. This holiday season, the sister's request for the fudge recipe has sparked a heated debate.

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OP hesitated to share, citing concerns about her sister's past behaviors, including a notable incident where she falsely claimed credit for a store-bought pie. When OP declined her sister's request, wanting to preserve the personal touch of the family tradition, the response was an emotional accusation of selfishness, leading to a rift between the siblings.

Now OP is left questioning her decision, wondering if she may have been too harsh. As the community weighs in, opinions are decidedly mixed—prompting a discussion on the complexities of family traditions, shared experiences, and the essence of holiday spirit.

What do you think? Should family recipes remain sacred, or is sharing them part of the joy of the season?

Original Post

I (28F) come from a family with a long tradition of making exquisite Christmas fudge. It's a cherished recipe passed down from generation to generation, and I take great pride in making it every year.

My sister (25F) has always been interested in learning the recipe, but I've kept it a secret, wanting to uphold the family tradition. For background, my sister has a history of taking credit for others' work.

She once claimed she baked a pie at a family gathering when it was actually store-bought. This has caused tension between us in the past.

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This year, she asked me once again for the fudge recipe, claiming she wanted to surprise our parents with it. I hesitated, knowing how she tends to assert herself as the master chef.

I politely declined, explaining that I wanted to keep the tradition alive and personal. She became upset, accusing me of being selfish and hoarding the recipe.

She argued that family should share everything, especially during the holidays. She even tried to guilt-trip me by saying our grandmother would've wanted us to bond over making fudge together.

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I stood my ground and refused to divulge the recipe, but now I'm questioning if I was too harsh. So, AITA?