Welcome, back to our series featuring Food Holidays: October 30th, 2022. Today is National Candy Corn Day and I don’t know about you but I will sit this Holiday out. Did you know neither Charlie or I like Candy Corn. How about you?
National Candy Corn Day is an Autumn treat for everyone. Candy Corn is commonplace in store windows and at parties. We eat Candy Corn like Popcorn, by the handful/ It seems only natural that we celebrate Candy Corn for a day. Would you believe that technically Candy Corn are a vegetable? They are. Whether you grab Candy Corn from your kitchen table or eat small packets of Candy Corn, we all know Candy Corn returns every year. Candy Corn isn’t going anywhere. Grab a handful of Candy Corn and join us for National Candy Corn Day.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CANDY CORN DAY
George Renniger, who worked at Wunderlee Candy Company, created Candy Corn in the 1800s. Working out of Philadelphia George Renniger invented Candy Corn to celebrate what he believed to be the beauty of Corn created with Autumnal colors. Winter was cold, dark, and long and the bright colors of Candy Corn would last for a long time, bringing optimism and joy as well as a burst of Sugar.
Speciale Candy for Halloween turned out to be a winning idea with different Halloween Candies becoming increasingly popular over time. Wunderlee was credited for being the first to sell Candy Corn commercially even though Goelitz, also known as Jelly Belly, is the most linked to commercial Candy Corn sales.
Here is a fun fact for you: Candy Corn began its life as food for Chickens and used to be available between March and November only. Candy Corn was originally a type of Mellow Cream known as ‘‘Butter Cream Candies.” The name was changed in the 1950s due to false advertising because Candy Corn had no Butter inside it.
The original method of making Candy Corn was to pour each color into molds separately but this was a very time-consuming process. The recipe was Sugar, Corn Syrup, and Water. Later on, Marshmallow and Fondant started being added, which was Carnauba Wax. Today, the recipe for Candy Corn is pretty similar and gives us plenty of energy for trick or treating.
NATIONAL CANDY CORN DAY ACTIVITIES
- Try recipes online for Homemade Candy Corn Cookies. Make the usual Cookie Dough batter and sprinkle in Candy Corn instead of Chocolate Chips.
- Add Candy Corn to Popcorn or make a Halloween Trail Mix with Peanuts, M&M’s or Cereal. You can also make Candy Corn Cupcakes and try Buttercream Frosting on top.
- Purchase a bunch of Candy Corn for Trick or Treaters or for your family. Indulge and enjoy the Holiday by using #NationalCandyCornDay and share the photos on Social Media.
5 FACTS ABOUT NATIONAL CANDY CORN DAY
- Candy Corn used to be called ‘‘Chicken Feed.’’
- “The Goelitz Candy Company’’ was the first to mass manufacture Candy Corn.
- Annually 35 million pounds or 9 billion pieces of Candy Corn are consumed worldwide.
- One serving of Candy Corn has 140 calories.
- Can you believe Candy Corn is one of the top ten most popular Halloween Candies.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL CANDY CORN DAY
- Candy Corn is a staple for Halloween. National Candy Corn Day is just not the same without a helping of Candy Corn. Candy Corn has been around for more than a Century and deserve recognition for their longevity.
- The colouful and amazing Candy Corn we all know and love has no competition in our eyes. It’s a beast in its own lane with three flavors in one bite.
- The versatility of Candy Corn is unreal with top Chefs like Amie Liming even commenting on how many fun things you can do with Candy Corn.
Five things to know about Candy Corn:
Did you know 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 of Candy Corn which is enough to circle the Moon nearly four times if laid end-to-end.
A cup of Candy Corn has fewer calories than a cup of Raisins.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
