Good morning, welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: October 8th, 2021. Its National Fluffernutter Day. I would like to let you know Charlie and I haven’t ever had a Fluffernutter Sandwich and honestly Charlie and I don’t want to try one of these Sandwichs.
As for David I am not sure if he has ever had a Fluffernutter Sandwich or if we would want to try one. But being David I could see him looking for Fluff when we go grocery shopping to create his own Sandwich. Would you like one with David?
National Fluffernutter Day
Today is National Fluffernutter Day when we fondly pay homage to the childhood sandwich of Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Fluff between two slices of bread. Fluffernutter holds a special place in the childhood memories of New Englanders. Fluffernutter is celebrated by its own Holiday 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 Marshmallow Fluff is associated with the world-famous Fluffernutter which was first whipped up by Archibald Query of Sommerville, Massachusetts in 1917. Archibald made batches of Fluff in his kitchen and sold Fluff 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 14, 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 gooey sweet 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 when a proposal was made in the Massachusetts State assembly to make it 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. And the first festival celebrating Marshmallow Fluff was held that summer.
NATIONAL FLUFFERNUTTER DAY ACTIVITIES
- Pass on your love for the sweet and nutty traditions to the next generation by surprising the kids with a Fluffernutter Sandwich for dinner. Everyone can make their own Fluffernutter “entrée”. Invite the neighborhood kids to join in the Nuttiness.
- The Fluff formula is a well-beaten mixture of Corn Syrup, Sugar Syrup, Vanilla Flavor and Egg Whites. Search Google for “homemade Marshmallow Fluff recipes.”
- Take a tray of Fluffernutters to the office today instead of Doughnuts.
FACTS ABOUT THE FLUFFERNUTTER
- Marshmallow Fluff is available in most of the United States, 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 Marshmallow Fluff 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, a childhood favorite of kids around the world.
- In 1917, Archibald Query of Sommerville, Massachusetts, whiped up the first batch of Marshmallow Fluff in his kitchen and sold his recipe door-to-door
- Every year, Massachusetts holds their “What the Fluff” festival, specifically to celebrate Marshmallow Fluff.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL FLUFFERNUTTER DAY
- Do you love remembering opening your school lunchbox to discover a sweet Fluffernutter on (gasp!) white Wonder Bread. Talk about trade value! You could trade one Fluffernutter for at least two homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies or a bag of Potato Chips…if your willing to trade.
- If you were not fortunate enough to enjoy a Fluffernutter as a child, today’s the day to see what all the Nuttiness is about. Buy a jar of Marshmallow Fluff and give a Fluffernutter a try and you may find the Sandwich your new favorite comfort food.
- Just knowing that Fluffernutter survived Wars, Recessions, Depressions, and Government eating healthy guidelines makes us smile and its comforting to know some things never change.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
