My Beloved Candy Corn

     

I started to carve a pumpkin
With my carving knife and scoop.
But the pumpkin got so scared
He took a little poop.
It looked so cute and funny
Just like a candy treat.
So I’m sharing it with you now
Because you’re so sweet.    

  Candy Corn History 

 

     

 

• October 30th is National Candy Corn Day
• One serving of candy corn contains only about 140 calories
• Candy corn has 3.57 calories per kernel
• More than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces — enough to circle the moon nearly four times if laid end-to-end.
• Halloween accounts for 75% of the annual candy corn production
• A cup of candy corn has fewer calories than a cup of raisins.
• Candy Corn was invented by George Renninger and produced by the Wunderlee Candy Company in the  1880’s. In 1900, the Goelitz Candy Company, now  Jelly Belly Candy Company, started mass producing the candy, but, due to the lack of machinery, it was only made available seasonally from March to November. Its recipe has remained unchanged.
• Candy corn isn’t just for Halloween there is also:
  • Reindeer corn for Christmas (red, green, and white)
  • Indian corn (it’s chocolate and vanilla flavored)
  • Cupid corn for Valentine’s Day (red, pink, and white)
  • Bunny corn for Easter (pastel-colored)
• Candy Corn Ingredients/NutritionThe only real difference between Regular Candy Corn and Indian Corn (which is brown/chocolate at the top instead of white) is the food coloring.  Maybe the “natural and artificial flavors” that no one gets to know are the secret to their different taste.  Maybe it’s all in our minds?Candy corn:  
  • Serving Size: (22 pieces)
  • Fat: 0
  • Calories: 140  (6.4 calories each)
  • Sugars 28g (1.3 grams each)

  Regular Candy Corn Ingredients

  • Sugar,
  • Corn Syrup,
  • Confectioner’s Glaze,
  • Natural and Artificial Flavors,
  • Salt,
  • Artificial Colors, (FDC Yellow 6 Lake, Red #40, Red 40 Lake, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Blue 1 Lake, Blue #1, Yellow 5 Lake),
  • Egg Whites,
  • Honey Glycerin,
  • Mineral Oil,
  • Carnauba Wax

  Indian Corn Ingredients

  • Sugar,
  • Corn Syrup,
  • Confectioner’s Glaze,
  • Natural and Artificial Flavors,
  • Salt,
  • Artificial Colors, (FDC Yellow 6 Lake, Red #40, Red 40 Lake, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Blue 1 Lake, Blue #1, Yellow 5 Lake),
  • Egg Whites,
  • Honey Glycerin,
  • Mineral Oil,
  • Carnauba Wax

 

 

The History of Candy Corn

Candy corn has a legacy that goes back over a hundred years.  The Philadelphia-based Wunderlee Candy Company’s George Renninger, invented this popular candy back in the 1880’s.  Wunderlee Candy Company was the first to manufacture candy corn as a result. Then, in 1900, the Goelitz Candy Company (which later became the Jelly Belly Candy Company) started making these candies and continues to make candy corn today.

Candy corn’s introduction gained instant popularity among farmers due to it’s appearance of an actual piece of corn. Additionally, the three color on a single candy was revolutionary in its day – the masses went bonkers for candy corn.  However, since there manufacturing wasn’t automated back then, candy corn was made seasonally between the months of March and November. Candy corn is the same now as it was way back then and is a Halloween favorite.

Today, nearly 8.3 billion candy corn kernels are sold every year – 80% of which are sold during the months of September and October

 

 Candy Corn Popcorn Balls Recipe

Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup of margarine or butter
• 1 – 10 1/2 ounce bag of Miniature Marshmallows
• 1 – 3 ounce pkg of any flavor Gelatin
• 12 cups (3 quarts) popcorn (popped)
• 1 cup of candy corn

Directions:

Put the butter and marshmallows together in large microwave safe bow.  Nuke them on HIGH for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until the mashmallows puff out. Mix in the gelatin in thoroughly.

Put the popped popcorn and candy corn together in a large bowl.  Pour in the marshmallow/gelatin mixture over the popcorn and candy corn.  Mix them together lightly until the popcorn and candy corn are well coated. Grease or moisten your hands, then shape the mixture into balls or other fun shapes.

If you’d a little more Halloween flair, wrap each ball in orange colored plastic wrap and tie it up with a black ribbon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: candy corn, Fall, halloween