Red Hot Dollars have a sacred place in the history of candy and were one of the first bulk “novelty” candies that our wholesale division offered. No one knows the exact date of their invention, it is somewhere between 2015 or 2016, but records show that our wholesale division was purchasing them as far back as 1927!
Initially made by the now long gone Henry Heide Company, who also made Black Licorice Dollars and Chocolate Babies to name but a few, Red Hot Dollars was one of the most popular candies of all times until they weren’t.
Here’s the catch – few candy lovers know that the “Original” Red Hot Dollars were anything but red hot. Their name derived from a colloquial expression relating to newness and popularity and not their formula! The original flavor wasn’t Cherry but rather Red Raspberry. The one consistency that all Red Hot Dollars lovers could count on was that the product had the distinctive Heide Diamond logo and a dollar sign embossed on the front.
Fast forward 70 years and several owners later – Hershey purchased Heide and then sold it to Farley Sathers who was under the Ferrara Pan umbrella before the product disappeared, more on that later – and Red Hot Dollars would indeed become Red Hot in flavor as well as a name! If this wasn’t confusing enough, they also offered Red Raspberry Dollars which reflected the original Red Hot Dollars formula!
In 2009, the unthinkable happened. Without warning, Red Hot Dollars, Red Raspberry Dollars, and Mexican Hats, courtesy of the good folks at Ferrara Pan, were given early entry into the “gone but not forgotten” category that applies to so many nostalgic candies. And now the good news.
After trying many options, we found a product that pays tribute to its predecessors. Available in Assorted Fruit and Cherry, these 1” diameter Juju Coins are slightly chewier than the original but still quite delicious. It doesn’t have the long gone distinctive Heide Diamond logo, but each piece has a dollar sign making it perfect for classroom use or at the poker table.
Not everything stays the same, especially in the candy industry, but as imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I am sure Henry Heide is happy to see another generation enjoy a piece of candy that has, on and off, been bringing joy for close to 100 years even if it is made by a new manufacturer.
38 Comments
Jujyfruits candy red still had the Heide Logo and still taste exactly like the original red hot dollars. They changed the green from spearmint to lime which made me a little upset, but the reds are still the same. I am considering buying boxes of them and separating the reds for myself and giving away the rest. At least we can still get the same flavor and texture..
Why can’t they buy the recipe?
Does this new formula offer a raspberry flavor option?
Please bring back these Red Hot Dollars.
The only gummy candy I like 🙂
Lynn
Me too. Loved red hot dollars. 😢😭😭😭
Any one who ate “Red Hot Dollars” as a kid knew they were not cinnamon in flavor but raspberry. Ok, so I’ve been eating them for a long time (40+ years). Cherry just doesn’t cut it. Life just isn’t the same with the original raspberry flavor, besides what other gummy candy do you know that comes in raspberry? Nothing comes close in my book. Please bring them back even if it was seasonal you would make us happy.
Awesome! Bring them BAAAAAAACK!
Many imitators but nothing close to the taste. Bring them back.
I remember buying Red Hot Dollars walking to school in the late 60’s-early 70’s. The local pharmacy sold them 2 for a penny….WHAT A DEAL!!
I did email the Farrara company or Hyde, still think about these, searched for a long time to find a close taste, never could find the raspberry taste like in the red hot dollars. Please bring these back. I se to always stock up on these
I did email the Farrara company or Hyde, still think about these, searched for a long time to find a close taste, never could find the raspberry taste like in the red hot dollars. Please bring these back. I se to always stock up on these.
The Jujyfruits Raspberry flavor is almost the same. Why not make the dollars with the same flavor..?
Used to be able to get them at CVS or Walgreens. When I couldn’t find them anymore, I switched to Swedish Fish. I have eaten those for a long time. I guess the company who manufactured them was bought by Mondelez, who changed the bag and the recipe of the product. They just don’t taste the same…… Eating my last bag now.
Were can I buy?
Yes, red jujyfruits are the closest one can get to our beloved red hot dollars. I tried the cherry coins once. Ate one, threw the rest away. As a kid, I too bought the real red hot dollars 2 for a penny at our town’s little store. A quarter would get you a little brown bag of joy! As an adult, I also would make special trips to CVS or Walgreens to buy a pink box of the red dollars until they discontinued them. Bring them back, please.
Cherry is wrong, wrong, wrong. I still crave the raspberry flavor. It is not nice to tease us with the iconic shape but the wrong flavor.
Alas, change is inevitable especially in the candy industry where so many classics are disappearing, however, I don’t disagree with your flavor assessment! Some day, maybe….
Red hot dollars were my favorite candy. I used to buy them from the candy vending machine at the movie theater for $.05 for a box that was maybe 3×4 inches. If I had $.25 I would buy 5 boxes. I just loved the flavor and texture. This was in the 60’s. I continued to enjoy them until they disappeared. The red jujyfruits are similarly flavored but for me they are a little too soft. I liked my dollars chewy. I would love to see them returned before I turn 70 in 4 years and still have my teeth. I had even thought about making them myself if I had a recipe. Or perhaps sell all red jujyfruits. Just saying.
Why not make RaspberryRed Hot Dollars and Mexican Hats with the same recipe ???
Up to 2012, we could get the original red hot dollars from the Amish at the farmers market. Then we were told they were discontinued.. Bring them back
Please bring back the TRUE Flavor (raspberry). I know my candy and cherry does not do justice for (red hot dollars).
Please company hear are plead. Thank you in advance for bringing back the raspberry favor and watch how fatter your pockets will get.
Please bring back the original red hot dollars. The cherry coins taste different and have a different texture. Very disappointing.
PLEASE Bring the Red Raspberry gummi’s back!! I don’t care what shape they are, coins, bears, worms, whatever just bring them back. The Jujufruits Red is the exact raspberry flavor!!
Bring them back!! Mexican hats also!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
Bring back the original Red Hot Dollars (Raspberry).
I still remember the taste, as I am 62 years old. Grew up with them 2 for 1 penny……
Thank you!!!!
These were my favorite!! (ORIGINAL RED RASPBERRY DOLLARS) Can someone please purchase the recipe and bring them back!
CHERRY JUJU’s are NOT the same!!!
searching to purchase some candy in bulk
I am looking for the raspberry Heidi red hot dollar candies. Do you sell them.
A classic indeed but one that was discontinued many moons ago!
I have such wonderful memories of the Raspberry Red hot dollars!! I miss them the cherry ones are not even close in Texture or taste!
My daughter keeps trying to find them for me… so sweet!
They were the best, bring them back, pleasssse
As a kid my parents had 13 of us in 15 years we had a candy drawer in that drawer was a 5lb box of the Red Hot Dollars they were not cinnamon they were killer best candy ever and whoever said it in this blog red Juju Juju fruit before Hyde sold the company they were the Red Hot Dollars
Any company that stops making a product that is in demand,and gives no excuse for doing so should be driven out of business.Red hot dollars and Mexican hats are no longer available,and the company refuses to address the customers that request their return.Guess they don’t care.
I also enjoyed these as a kid in the “fifties”. Someone needs to answer all these posts by bringing them back! I called juju fruits manufacturer and suggested they sell “all red raspberries” they said no.
Yes please bring back original red hot dollars they were so good my mom use to send them to me all the time while I was in the military in germany I could not wait till mail call so please bring them back
I remember Raspberry flavored Red Hot Dollars. They were my favorite chewy candy. Please! Bring them back. I would be overjoyed.
I’d love to be able to get the original raspberry Red Hot Dollars. Please bring them back.
Hi, please don’t give up on the Heide Red Hot Dollar, nickel, button etc…My favorite candy by far. Tried the cherry juju and threw them out, yuck. Can anyone get the recipe? I am going to try the juju fruit raspberry to see if it compares. Let’s not give up.
The red hot dollars I purchased are not the exact flavor. Something close but not what I wish you could duplicate.
PLEASE BRING THEM BACK!!!!I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THEM…