Quick answers to the most common questions about candy corn: where it came from, what is in it, how it is made and more.
What is candy corn?
Candy corn is a small, tri-colored candy shaped like a kernel of corn: a yellow base, an orange middle and a white tip. It is a mellowcreme candy made mostly from sugar and corn syrup, and it is one of the best-known Halloween treats in the United States. See how candy corn is made.
Who invented candy corn?
Candy corn is credited to George Renninger, a candymaker at the Wunderle Candy Company in Philadelphia, in the 1880s. The exact year is not documented, and some sources give 1888. Read the sweet history of candy corn.
What was candy corn originally called?
It was sold as “Chicken Feed.” In 1898 the Goelitz Confectionery Company, now Jelly Belly, began making it and sold it in boxes with a rooster on the front, a nod to the fact that corn was mostly animal feed at the time. Read the history of candy corn manufacturing.
What is candy corn made of?
Recipes vary by brand, but candy corn is typically made from sugar, corn syrup, salt, honey, gelatin, confectioner’s glaze, artificial flavor and food coloring.
Is candy corn vegan?
Most candy corn is not vegan. It usually contains gelatin, which comes from animals, and confectioner’s glaze, which is made from lac resin, a secretion from insects. Always check the label of the brand you buy.
How is candy corn made?
Candy corn is made with a method called corn starch molding. A cooked sugar and corn syrup slurry is poured one color at a time into kernel-shaped molds pressed into trays of cornstarch. Workers once poured each layer by hand. Today machines do it. Take a closer look at the process.
How much candy corn is made each year?
The National Confectioners Association has reported that about 35 million pounds of candy corn, roughly 9 billion pieces, are produced each year. Brach’s is the largest maker.
When is National Candy Corn Day?
National Candy Corn Day is October 30, the day before Halloween.
How many calories are in candy corn?
A serving of about 19 pieces has roughly 140 calories and 28 grams of sugar. Check the label, since serving sizes vary by brand.
Can you make candy corn at home?
Yes. Homemade candy corn needs basic pantry ingredients like sugar, corn syrup, butter and powdered sugar, plus food coloring for the three layers. Try our homemade candy corn recipe.