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candy corn

Candy Memories, Candy News, Retro Candy

Love ’em or Hate ’em: America’s Controversial Candies

January 22, 2018 by

What comes to mind when you think of the most controversial candies? Do you think of Circus Peanuts, Mary Janes, or Candy Corn? After much research, I have learned that the top three most controversial candies in America are those three. People think of circus peanuts as confections, not even candy, candy corn is one of those candies that you either love or hate, and as for Mary Janes, people say that peanut butter shouldn’t be chewy. But I think there are some really great aspects of these candies that consumers should stop overlooking, so let’s take a deeper look.

Candy cornCandy Corn is a small triangular candy split into 3 different colors: yellow, orange, and white. These bite size pieces really pack a flavor punch though. With their slightly bitter butter flavor, one is normally very intrigued by the sharpness or completely disgusted. It is claimed that a Pennsylvania candy company worker in the 1880s named George Renninger was the creator of the most debated candy in America. He must’ve been very proud of himself. These little nuggets of sweetness are the perfect Halloween treat, but can be eaten year round, and can be used to make some mean art projects.

  • Share-ability: 10
  • Denture Danger: 6
  • Convenience: 5
  • Novelty: 3
  • Overall: 7

Circus peanuts can be described a lot of ways. I’ve heard people say that it is like a hardened banana cotton candy, a puffed air taffy, and a taffy made of foam. These odd little marshmallows are banana flavored and very easily chewed. Circus peanuts started off in the 1800s as penny candies and the inventor is unknown. Although you’d think that because the candies are orange in color, they would be orange in flavor too- the candies are actually that sweet artificial banana flavor that I have always loved. These marshmallow treats are quick dissolving and fast to eat. They are also fat free and don’t leave you with a nasty aftertaste. With all that in mind, just remember that these strange little candies will always give you a lot to talk about.

  • Share-ability: 8
  • Denture Danger: 2
  • Convenience: 7
  • Novelty: 8
  • Overall: 6

Mary JaneMary Jane’s are small tan rectangles that are meant to be chewy, but are actually very difficult to eat. They have a peanut butter and molasses taste which is very evident once they eventually become soft. These little candies were created in 1914 by the Charles Miller company and they were named after the creator’s aunt. After trying these candies, I have really learned to appreciate them. At first I had a hard time getting used to the amount of work that it took to eat them, but after that, I found the flavor to be quite enjoyable. I have always been a peanut butter fan and on the inside there is a bit of the gooey food for consumers to love as well. These are now one of my favorite candies because they are very tasty and have a texture that doesn’t really exist within any other candies.

  • Share-ability: 7
  • Denture Danger: 10
  • Convenience: 8
  • Novelty: 9
  • Overall: 9

So now that you know a little more about these unique, controversial kinds of candies, I hope that you have found a new appreciation for them. Next time you look at Candy Corn, Mary Janes, or Circus Peanuts sitting on a shelf at a store, maybe you’ll pick up a bag and delve into some flavorful adventures. Or you can buy them right here at CandyFavorites.com

Candy Memories, Halloween Candy

It’s All About the Halloween Candy

September 22, 2017 by

“When witches go riding, and black cats are seen. The moon laughs and whispers, ‘tis near Halloween.”  — 19th century postcard.

halloween ghost costumeBOOOOOO! Halloween! It’s my absolute favorite holiday. Yes, even more than Christmas! Now I know I’m no Morticia (from the Addams Family), or Endora, (from Bewitched) or even close to Glinda,(from The Wizard of Oz) but I just may have some tricks left up my sleeve this Halloween for our Trick or Treaters and a whole lot of delicious candy they’ll howl about!

You see I’m a child of the 60’s and lots of my childhood memories are tied to things that are Halloween. I grew up rooting for the good witch and booing the bad witch on the Wizard of Oz. What I would give to pop into a room like Endora or twitch my nose like Samantha Stevens did on Bewitched and my house would instantly clean itself!

I read Casper the Friendly Ghost and Wendy the Good Little Witch comic books. And let’s face it; it was always Halloween at The Munsters and the Addams Family’s houses. My brother and I were actually allowed to stay up late and watch those hilarious shows on Friday night.

I grooved to “The Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, a number 1 hit in 1962, and  danced hundreds of times to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. Yes those were the days my friends. You bet your candy corn!

halloween candy cornI remember my dad driving me and my younger brother to G. C. Murphy’s and picking out that year’s Halloween costume. The costume’s came in a cardboard box and I remember choosing a yellow Tweety bird costume one year and a black cat another year. My older sister Kathy would also make me costumes. One year she made a red and white striped clown costume complete with a huge ruffled white collar edged in red ric rac, a tall pointed hat with 3 red pom poms and a red yarn wig!

We’d go to a local farm and pick out our pumpkins and Indian corn. We’d bring the pumpkins home and spread newspaper on the kitchen floor. My dad would cut the top off and we’d scoop out the seeds with an ice cream scoop. Then we’d carve them into a funny or scary Jack O’ Lantern.

halloween butterfingersBut the very best part of Halloween was going trick or treating through our neighborhood. When we were younger my older sister would take me and my brother out as soon as it got dark. We’d grab a shopping bag or an orange plastic Halloween bag to help us collect all our treats. We’d walk up to the people’s front doors, ring their doorbells and yell “Trick or Treat!!” Then the neighbors would try and guess who we were as chocolate Hershey bars, Clark bars, popcorn balls, Milky Ways, 3 Musketeers, Pay Days, Oh Henrys, Snickers, Butterfingers, and Good n Plenty, were plopped into our bags.

halloween haribo sour vampire bats

When our bags got too heavy to carry, we’d head home to count our treasures. Then my brother and I would separate our candy into piles on our living room carpet and trade each other for the ones we liked the best!

Halloween is creeping around the corner, and it’s time to stock up on some of the long-standing favorites and try some of the new candies from Candy Favorites just out for Halloween.

There’s Twizzlers Caramel Apple Filled Twists, Wonka Halloween Fright Tins, Haribo Vampire Bats, Candy Fangs, RM Palmer Creepy Peepers Mix, and even Box of Boogers, but the kids in your neighborhood will wonder who filled their bags and pillow cases with all these wickedly good treats.

So dress up, throw a spooky party, decorate your yard, and be ready with bags of delicious candy when those costumed kids ring your doorbell and yell “Trick or Treat. Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat!”

I’ve shared some of my favorite Halloween candy memories, and I’d love to hang around for a spell, but now it’s your turn at bat. At the end of my blog, tell me your best Halloween candy memory and I will award my favorite a $50 Sweet Certificate to CandyFavorites.com.  Happy Haunting!

Halloween Candy, Retro Candy

Halloween Costumes Inspired By Our Favorite Retro Candies

October 24, 2016 by

Nothing says “it’s time to eat candy” quite like Halloween. While we tend to think that any time of year is a good time for a sweet treat, the celebration of Halloween practically requires it! After all, the night would just not be as fun if it didn’t end with a sugar high!

But before you can even begin the trick-or-treating, you’ll have to decide on a costume, right? That is definitely the most important part. And, as a result, there’s a chance you may be at a loss for what to do.

Around here, when we have a question we can’t seem to answer, we get inspiration from our favorite retro candies! And you can, too.

A vintage Baby Ruth Candy Bar advertisement from when the company was owned by Curtis Candy Company

Try Baby Ruth on For Size

One of the most popular candy bars over the years has always been Baby Ruth. The origin of the name is a little bit disputed, which means that it may inspire more costume options! While some claim that the bar was named after the famed baseball star, Babe Ruth, others claim that it was named after the daughter of President Grover Cleveland.

So whether you like sports or children, this may give you just the boost of inspiration that you need! And it will certainly make for a great option to hand out to all of your trick or treaters.

No One Can Resist a Gummy Bear

Another fantastic retro Halloween candy is the Haribo Gummy Bear! These little cuties were first invented all the way back in 1920! Thanks to their convenient gummy nature, they won’t melt if your Halloween happens to be a little hotter or rainier than expected.

As for costume inspiration, there’s really nothing cuter than a toddler dressed as a bear, right? It’s a look that’s sure to get lots of oohs and ahhs as you go door-to-door, calling, “trick or treat!”

And, Of Course, Candy Corn

It would be remiss of us to write about Halloween without mentioning candy corn! Easily the most beloved and polarizing candy of the holiday, candy corn is a staple of October 31st, and has been for quite some time!

This sweet tooth satisfier first came into existence in the 1880’s! So if that’s not a retro candy, we don’t know what is.

We also appreciate the fact that candy corn can be so easily transformed into a cute and recognizable costume for all ages! So whether it’s your first year out on the trick or treating trail, or your 75th, you’ll be well received by everyone on your path.

So, as Halloween draws near and the scent of candy fills the air, we recommend looking to a few of your favorite retro treats to get you in the costume-making mood!

Halloween Candy

Candy Corn Craze

August 25, 2015 by

It’s that time of the year again — kids are headed back to school and the start of the football season is on the horizon. This means that Fall is officially upon us. With the cool air and changing leaves comes a classic seasonal candy — Candy Corn! Every fall, party-hosts, party-goers, and trick-or-treaters alike seek out this iconic tri-colored treat. With a legacy that goes back more than a century, Candy Corn has established itself as a Fall staple.

In the 1880s, George Renninger, a candymaker at the Wunderlee Candy Company in Philadelphia, invented Candy Corn. However, it wasn’t until the beginning of the 20th century that the Goelitz Confectionery Company (now known as the Jelly Belly Candy Co.) sold the yellow, orange, and white morsels to the public. Since then, Candy Corn has become a must-have in homes during the fall season. Whether you can’t get enough of the way it tastes or just love how it looks, the following recipes offer unique ways to enjoy this treat as the weather gets colder.

Candy Corn Bark

How can you take candy corn to the next level? Just add chocolate! Candy Corn bark is simple to make and is the perfect sweet treat to get you in a spooky mood for Halloween. Simply pour a layer of melted white chocolate or milk chocolate (or both) onto a baking sheet and add Brach’s Candy Corn. You don’t have to stop there, either! Feel free to add pecans, peanuts, pretzels, cranberries, or sprinkles for more flavor. Once you’ve let the bark cool, cut it into squares and put it in clear plastic bags to create the perfect party favor or handout for trick-or-treaters!

Candy Corn Cookies

Want to stand out at all of your fall parties this year? Try a new twist on a classic by combining sweet Candy Corn kernels and white chocolate chips with your favorite buttery cookie dough. This unique candy combo will result in a delicious cookie that will undoubtedly become a favorite in your house for seasons to come.

Candy Corn Garland

For those that don’t necessarily love the taste of Candy Corn, you can still use it to accentuate the Fall atmosphere in your home! Thread monofilament fishing line (find it at your local hardware store) through a needle and poke it through candy corn. Just be careful that you don’t thread it where the yellow, orange, and white colors meet — the candies break apart easily at these points. Hang the garland out of the reach of your pets and small children for a festive look.

For millions, it wouldn’t be Fall without Candy Corn. So for all of your candy needs (Candy Corn included), check out our website for a full selection of Fall’s favorite candy.

 

Candy News

Love/Hate Relationships

October 20, 2005 by

You’ve all been there. That person that you just want to kill sometimes, but you still love them. Ok well I’m applying this concept to candy. Not just any candy. I’m talking about THE candy. You see this candy and the first thought in your head is Halloween. With Halloween fast approaching, I thought this would be a good topic to discuss. So without further ado (drum roll please)…

Candy Corn!!! Yes I’m talking about the tiny yellow, orange, and white candies. I love them, I really do. Not only are they yummy, but they really put you in the Halloween spirit! I used to love getting little packages of candy corn when I would go trick or treating as a child (ok and as a teenager).

But as much as I love candy corn, there are times, like in those love/hate relationships with celebs nudes that I can’t stand them. If you’ve ever had slightly stale candy corn, you know what I’m talking about. The sweetness is gone, and bitterness fills you up (much like those relationships!). However, unlike relationships, with candy corn, this can be avoided. Simply, don’t let your candy corn go stale! And if you are the one handing them out to the kids on Halloween, make sure they are not from last years stash. Save the kids from the bitter candy corn. The world will be a better place.

Until next time, this is Kandy K … stay sweet!!