Halloween Candy: Candy Corn

Typically, what we see that same candies on Halloween that we see all year roung, right? Well, the main difference is that when Halloween season comes around the calendar, candy corn also comes. Now, throughout the year, you can buy candy corn from the generic brands, but when Halloween comes around, you can buy real candy corn.

It's sort of like the marshmellow Peeps when Easter comes around the calender, except now there are Peeps for just about every holiday, even Halloween with the Peep pumpkins.

Candy corn is truly a Halloween favorite among so many different types and ages of people. I mean come on, it is estimated that Americans eat about 20 million pounds of candy corn every year, which is about 8.3 billion candy corn kernels.

Although, it is not 100% sure who came up with the Halloween treat, candy corn has been a popular Halloween candy for a over a century. It is thought that Americans learned about the candy in the 1880s, and by the turn of the century, the Goelitz Candy Company in Illinois was making large quantities.

Then in the early 20th century, candy corn was the Goelitz Candy Company's best selling candy.

Currently, there are a few different companies who manufacture candy corn, and Goelitz is not the largest producer of the candy any longer. But, no matter who makes the candy, the basic procedure has not changed.

The main difference in the manufacturing process of candy corn is that in the past, the candy was cooked as a fondant and then poured from large ladles into triangular molds with each color being poured separately. Now, the process is entirely done via machines versus by hand. 

Currently, you can find different colors of candy corn such as red and white for Valentine's Day and green and white for St. Patrick's Day. Sometimes, you can even find candy pumpkins around Thanksgiving. And, now the candy manufacturers have caramel and chocolate candy corn in addition to the standard plain sugar candy corn.

Because candy corn is by far my favorite Halloween candy, I had to find a candy corn recipe. Although, I have not tried the following recipe, which seem pretty easy to make and tasty, too. Plus, the recipe is a kid friendly recipe. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup white corn syrup
• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• several drops food coloring (optional)
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup powdered milk

Directions:

You want to combine the sugar, white corn syrup, and butter in pan and bring it to boil stirring CONSTANTLY. Then turn the heat on low and boil for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the mixture from the heat and add the vanilla and several drops food coloring (optional). Then, combine the powdered sugar, salt, and powdered milk in a separate bowl and add the dry mixture all at once to wet mixture in the pan. You want to stir the mixture until it is cool enough to handle. When the mixture is cool you want to knead it until it is stiff enough to hold its shape, and then shape the candy into triangles, or any shape you want.