Love it or hate it candy corn is a Fall holiday season staple. From its chewy structure to its super-sweet taste, it’s a candy that is loved and hated by many. Did you know that candy corn was originally called chicken feed? It’s true! Candy corn is so popular that it even has its own holiday, National Candy Corn Day! To find out more awesome facts check out these candy corn facts for kids.
What is Candy Corn?
Candy corn is a sweet triangle-like or pyramid-shaped candy, divided into three colored sections. The traditional colors are white, orange, and red to represent Fall or the corn harvest. The flavor is based on honey, sugar, vanilla, and butter. Today, white, orange, and red are still the most popular candy corn colores however you can find them in different colors to represent different flavors.
In the 1800s Candy corn was invented by George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company. He called it chicken feed. In 1898 the Goelitz Confectionery Company or now called Jelly Belly started making candy corn. Back then candy corn wasn’t just the Fall, Halloween, or Thanksgiving, season, it was enjoyed all year round. It wasn’t until the 1950s when candy corn started to be wrapped individually and handed out to trick-or-treaters, that the company started advertising it as a Fall holiday candy.
Today, the largest manufacture of candy corn is Brach’s Confections owned by Ferrara Candy Company.
Candy Corn Ingrediants
Many believe that candy corn is just sugar, this isn’t true. The ingredients of a bag of Brach’s Classic Candy Corn include sugar, corn syrup, confectioners glaze, salt, dextrose, gelatin, sesame oil, artificial flavor, yellow 6, yellow 5, and red 3. Gelatin is made from animal protein so, candy corn is not a vegan-friendly candy. Candy corn is gluten-free and dairy-free however it is made in a factory that milk, eggs, soy, and nuts are used to make other products.
Candy Corn Flavors
Candy corn comes in a variety of flavors and shapes. You can stick with the traditional candy corn or be adventurous and try something new. Here are some fun candy corn flavors you can find on shelves. Turkey Dinner Candy Corn. This new flavor tastes like Thanksgiving Dinner! It’s flavors include roasted turkey, green beans, stuffing, glazed carrots, cranberry sauce and sweet potato pie, yum! Apple Candy Corn with the flavors of green apple, apple pie and caramel apple. Peanut Butter Cup Candy Corn, Caramel Candy Corn, Pumpkin Spice Candy Corn, Caramel Apple Candy Corn, Chocolate Candy Corn, Harvest Corn Candy Corn with is original candy corn mixed with coca. They also have Mini Candy Corn and Chocolate Peanut. This candy corn is mixed with chocolate covered sea salted peanuts. Apple Carmel Mellowcreames apple shaped pieces with a layer of caramel. Trolli Sour Bite Candy Corn, candy corn sour combination of flavors including lemon/cherry, orange/ lime and grape/strawberry
Candy Corn Facts for Kids
The National Confectioners Association estimates that about 35 million pounds of candy corn is sold every year. Did you know that candy corn has it’s own holiday? The National Confectioners Association have named October 30th National Candy Corn Day!
Candy corn has a long shelf life. It can stay fresh for 6-9 months.
It would be a stretch to say that a candy is good for you, however candy corn is less fattening than other candies. It contains around 140 calories per serving and is fat free. Don’t let that full you, candy corn is still loaded with sugar and like other candy should only be eaten sometimes.
Candy Corn Coloring Page
