Written By Sam Henselijn
Candy corn is famous worldwide because it is an integral part of Halloween celebrations. But, what exactly is candy corn?. What is the origin of this delicious candy?. How did it gain so much popularity?. Here is another guide to Candy Corn.
What is Candy Corn?
Candy corn is a delicious duplicate of the traditional dried corn kernels. Candy corn has a very rich taste. However, it is fat and gluten-free. People use these color combinations during different holidays:
- People use the popular traditional candy corn color combination for Halloween. This candy corn has three stripes: white at the top, orange at the middle, and yellow at the bottom.
- People use brown, white, and orange candy corn for Thanksgiving celebrations. The brown part also has a chocolate flavor.
- People mainly use the Bunny candy corn with various pastel colors during Easter celebrations.
- The delicious, soft, and chewy Reindeer candy corn has a vibrant color combination of green, red and white. This vibrant color combination is ideal for Christmas celebrations or Christmas-themed parties.
- The red, pink, and white cupid candy corn is perfect for Valentine’s day celebrations.
Keep reading to learn all about a guide to Candy Corn.
Candy Corn Origin
Candy corn has been in existence for more than a century.
However, the first record of its invention was in the 1880s. According to the National Confectioners Association, the first manufacturer of candy corn is George Renninger. George Renninger was an employee at Wunderle Candy Company.
At its inception, this fantastic candy was an ingenious product in the candy industry. People accepted this candy and made it incredibly popular. The Goelitz Candy Company was the first company to start producing candy corn in the year 1900. They are still in business. However, they have now changed their name to the Jelly Bean Candy Company.
How is Candy Corn Made?
During the early days of producing candy corn, especially in the 1900s, workers had to work as a group. Firstly, they will mix the major ingredients in large kettles. These ingredients are corn syrup, water, and sugar. After which, they will add marshmallows and fondant to the mix. This is to ensure that the texture and bite of the candy are smooth. Then, Stringer’s workers will walk backward and pour the candy into cornstarch trays.
These cornstarch trays always have the shape of corn kernels. To achieve the three-color combination, the stringers repeat this process three times. The production process of candy corn is complex and tedious. This is why it was only available from August till November.
Today, the production process is slightly different than how it used to be. This is because machines do most of the heavy lifting. However, the ingredients remain the same. Numerous manufacturers now use cornstarch molding to design the signature corn kernel pattern.
Candy corn production undergoes three color passes. First, the machine fills the depression with sweet white syrup. This is also known as mellow crème. Next, the orange mellow crème comes after the white. And lastly, the machine adds the yellow mellow crème to finish the pattern.
The manufacturers then leave the candy corn to cool and harden. This can take about 24 hours or less. After cooling, another machine empties the tray and adds a confectioner’s glaze. This will make the candy corn shiny. Finally, workers package the candy so they can ship it to stores or warehouses.
How Many Pounds Is Produced Each Year?
According to the National Confectioners Association, the candy
corn produced and sold each year is approximately 35 million pounds. This also means that manufacturers produce 9 billion candy corn annually. This is to show how much people love this delicious candy. The majority of the sales come from the Halloween holiday. This is why the official Candy Corn day is October 30th. This is a day before the official National Halloween Day. One of the best candies to add to this year’s Halloween treat is the Caramel candy corn. It is bursting with flavor and vibrant color combinations. Click here to buy our Caramel Candy Corn.
Is Candy Corn Vegan?
No, candy corn is not vegan. One of the crucial ingredients in candy corn is gelatin. Manufacturers of gelatin use animal products like bones, ligaments, and tendons in its production. So, if you are a vegan or don’t eat meat, Candy corn is not for you.
Final Thoughts
With a guide to candy corn, you can know everything about this delicious candy. Although many people associate candy corn with Halloween, you can eat it anytime. You can also add these tasty candies to your themed party. There is always a color combination that will fit your parties.
Sam Henselijn Author’s Biography – Meet L’Orenta Nuts CEO
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