Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: October 8th, 2022 National Fluffernutter Day. Charlie and I may be the only person on the planet who doesn’t know what Fluffernutter is and that is okay with us. We don’t want to know. How about you?
Food Holidays: October 8th, 2022 National Fluffernutter Day
National Fluffernutter Day
October 8th is National Fluffernutter Daywhen we fondly pay homage to the childhood sandwich of Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Fluff squished between two slices of Bread. The Fluffernutter holds a special place in the childhood memories of many New Englanders and is memorialized by its own day on the calendar.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL FLUFFERNUTTER DAY
Marshmallows date back to the Roman Empire, the Marshmallow and its culinary cousins, Marshmallow Cream and Fluff, were used as homeopathic remedies in the 1800s. But the Marshmallow Fluff associated with the world-famous Fluffernutter was first whipped up by Archibald Query of Sommerville, Massachusetts in 1917. Archibald made batches of Fluff in his kitchen and sold it door to door until Sugar shortages and rationing during World War I brought Fluff sales to a not-so-sweet halt.
After the war ended, two candlemakers joined Archie as partners in 1920 and renamed the original recipe “Toot Sweet Marshmallow Fluff.” Archie sold his recipe to partners H. Allen Durkee and Fred L. Mower for $500 on May 14th, 1920, who shortened their product’s name to Marshmallow Fluff.
Sales of Fluff under the Durkee-Mower, Inc. brand increased over the next decade. In 1930 the company sponsored a 15-minute radio variety show, “The Flufferettes,” to market their popular confection. As demand for Fluff grew, the company released “The Yummy Book” cookbook in 1940 with recipes using Fluff.
The big break endearing the famous Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Fluff sandwich into hearts and kitchens across New England came in the 1960s when Durkee-Mower, Inc. trademarked “Fluffernutter,” the name of the most famous culinary concoction using Fluff.
2006 was a big year for the Fluffernutter. A proposal was made in the Massachusetts State assembly to make Fluffernutter the official Sandwich of Massachusetts. That same year Fluffernutter became a new Brigham’s Ice Cream flavor. The State sandwich proposal failed, but the Ice Cream was a hit.The first festival celebrating Marshmallow Fluff was held that Summer
NATIONAL FLUFFERNUTTER DAY ACTIVITIES
- Pass on your love of sweet and nutty traditions to the next generation by surprising the kids with a Fluffernutter dinner. Everyone makes their own Fluffernutter “entrée”. Invite some of the neighborhood kids to join in.
- The Fluff formula is a well-beaten mixture of Corn Syrup, Sugar Syrup, Vanilla flavor and Egg Whites. Search online for “homemade Marshmallow Fluff recipes.”
- Take a tray of Fluffernutters to the office today instead of Doughnuts.
FACTS ABOUT FLUFFERNUTTER
- Marshmallow Fluff is available in most of the United States and in Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, South Africa, Belgium, and even the UAE.
- Marshmallow Fluff requires no refrigeration even though it still contains no preservative of any kind. Which kind of makes us wonder if Fluffernutter is related to that other 1960s sensation that is rumored to have an eternal shelf life, the Hostess Twinkie.
- In 1966 a recipe was co-promoted with the Kellogg Company pairing Rice Krispies Cereal and Marshmallow Fluff to create Rice Krispies Treats. Another childhood favorite of kids around the world.
- In 1917, Archibald Query of Sommerville, Massachusetts, whips up the first batch of Marshmallow Fluff in his kitchen and sells it door-to-door
- Every year, Massachusetts holds their “What the Fluff” festival, specifically to celebrate Marshmallow Fluff.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL FLUFFERNUTTER DAY
- We love remembering opening our school lunchbox to discover Fluffernutter on White Wonder Bread. Talk about trade value! You could trade one Fluffernutter for at least two homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies and a bag of Potato Chips.
- If you were not fortunate enough to enjoy a Fluffernutter as a child, today’s the day to see what all the nuttiness was about. Purchasr a jar of Marshmallow Fluff and give it a try. You may find your new favorite comfort food.
- Just knowing that Fluffernutter survived Wars, recessions, depressions, and government eating healthy guidelines makes us smile. It’s comforting to know some things never change.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
