Seattle, WA

Today, for those of you not-in-the-know, is National Candy Corn Day. When did we start getting national days for every darned thing? Next thing you know we’ll have a National Get Out of Bed Day. I mean really, we already have Halloween and isn’t that all about candy corn? Hmm, maybe that’s just me?

Ok, I’ll admit it. My name is Kyla and I have a have a candy corn addiction. There, I said it. I love me some candy corn. This is not a good thing for a diabetic and that is why I refer to the month of October as “the mean season”. Try though I do to avoid buying candy corn, it always seems to make it into my house. I try to eat less and savour a piece here and there but my desire is to sit with a handful and eat the whole bag. Doing so would make me horribly ill but that doesn’t stop the desire. No siree!

Candy corn was invented in 1880 by George Renninger and was made by the Wunderle Candy Company. The National Confectioners Association estimates yearly sales at 20 million pounds. By 1900 the Goelitz Candy Company, now known as Jelly Belly, began mass production of the triangular treats.

Originally candy corn was made by hand. Made from a combination of sugar, corn syrup and water, fondant was added for texture and marshmallow for softness. The mixture would then be melted down and poured into molds. Candy corn is made from the bottom up and requires thee passes, one for each colour. The basic recipe has changed little over the years but of course nowadays the process is done by machines rather than people. When candy corn first appeared farmers went crazy over it. The tri-colour confections were revolutionary for the time.

Nowadays candy corn comes in several colours. My favourite is Indian corn where they replace the bottom yellow tier with a chocolate brown flavour. Indian Corn is most often associated with Thanksgiving. There are holiday mixtures for Valentines, Easter and of course, Christmas, known as “Cupid Corn”, “Bunny Corn” and “Reindeer Corn”.

One serving of candy corn contains a mere 140 calories and that’s for about 20 pieces if I remember correctly. And now the candy corn pumpkins in my candy jar are calling to me.

For those of you curious about yesterday’s bunny, I released him back into the yard last night after the neighbor picked up the dog and repaired the fence. No sight of the little cutie but I hope it’s ok!

Candy Corn, Anniversary, Halloween, Mean Season, Indian Corn, Bunny Corn, Renideer Corn, Cupid Corn, Farmers