Hot For Red Hots!

by Laurnie Wilson

Red Hots Rule

We know that spicy sweets aren’t for everybody, but some people just have to have them! It seems that there’s quite a cult following around some of the classic kicked up candies.  Take, for example, Red Hots. These little guys have been around forever, and they have quite a fan base! Are you one of those fans? Think you know all there is to know about your favorite little snack? Well read on to find out!

If you feel like Red Hots have been around since Jurassic times, it’s probably because they have! Okay, that’s an exaggeration. In reality, Red Hots were introduced to the public in 1932. So they’re not quite prehistoric. But they have been around for a very long time, wouldn’t you say?

Red Hots Renamed

Ferrara Pan Candy Company was the first and continues to be the only company manufacturing these small, cinnamon-flavored gems. And while the company hasn’t changed over the years, the name certainly has!

Would you believe that Red Hots were originally called Cinnamon Imperials? That’s right! But, we suppose something about the royal name didn’t quite fit. After all, there’s certainly nothing regal about the way your eyes water from the heat! Thus, the name changed to one that embodied both the flavor and the appearance! Needless to say, the rest was history.

Red Hots Reinvented

Today, Red Hots fans consume the candy in a myriad of ways. While it is perfectly acceptable to enjoy the candy in its natural state, serious spice lovers don’t stop there! Instead, they put their Red Hots into applesauce and Jell-O! This gives both the applesauce and the Jell-O a spicy cinnamon flavor. One can also decorate cakes and gingerbread houses with these attractive little jewels. The possibilities are endless!

So, however you decide to enjoy your Red Hots, just know that they’ve been spicing it up for a very long time.

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