When spooky season rolls around, one tri-colored treat stands out: candy corn! Whether you adore its waxy sweetness or find it a bit mystifying, this iconic Halloween candy boasts a history as rich and colorful as its layers. Americans gobble up over 35 million pounds of it each October, but there’s so much more to candy corn than meets the eye. Did you know it’s been around for over a century? That’s right, this sweet staple isn’t much younger than Necco Wafers!
From its humble beginnings in the late 1800s, thanks to George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company, to its journey with the Goelitz Candy Company (now Jelly Belly), candy corn has cemented its place in sweet history. Love it or debate its merits, let’s unwrap ten fascinating facts you probably don’t know about this classic autumn delight.
10. Candy Corn Production Was Hard Work
Long before machines took over, making candy corn was a serious workout! Imagine this: giant pots of melted sugar, corn syrup, and other ingredients, bubbling hot. Workers, known as “runners,” would lift these heavy buckets filled with the scalding liquid. They’d then carefully hand-pour it into tiny, kernel-shaped molds. Since candy corn has three distinct colors—white, orange, and yellow—this pouring process had to be done three separate times for each batch! It was such back-breaking labor that candy corn was typically only made for a few months each year. Thankfully, automation has made things much easier, and now this sweet treat can be produced year-round.
9. Candy Corn Contains Bug Secretions
You know candy corn has sugar, corn syrup, and maybe some artificial flavoring. But did you know it might also contain something a bit… buggy? That shiny, smooth coating on your candy corn often comes from lac-resin. This resin is a secretion from lac bugs, tiny red insects found in Asia. They produce the resin to protect themselves, and it’s then scraped off trees and processed. Don’t worry, it’s not the bug itself! On ingredient lists, you’ll usually see it listed as “confectioner’s glaze.” It’s a common food-grade coating used in many candies and even some fruits to give them a nice sheen. So, while it sounds a little wild, it’s perfectly safe and widely used.
8. Candy Corn Has a Variety of Interesting Flavors
Most of us know candy corn for its classic sweet vanilla and honey taste. But in over 100 years, candy makers have gotten pretty creative! You can find familiar twists like S’mores Candy Corn, Harvest Corn (often with a hint of chocolate), and Caramel Apple Corn. But then things get adventurous. Companies like Brach’s have released some truly eyebrow-raising flavors, such as Tailgate Candy Corn featuring hot dog, hamburger, and popcorn notes. And for the brave, there’s even Thanksgiving Dinner Candy Corn, with individual kernels tasting like turkey, green beans, cranberry sauce, and coffee! One reviewer famously said the green bean flavor was “like mowing the lawn with your mouth open.” If you’re a fan of daring jelly bean flavors, these candy corn varieties might be your next challenge!
7. You Can Make Your Own Giant Candy Corn
People love making giant versions of things, from rocking chairs to frying pans. So why not a giant candy corn? While there isn’t an official Guinness World Record for the largest candy corn (yet!), that hasn’t stopped creative folks. You can find DIY tutorials online showing you how to make your own super-sized candy corn at home with a whole lot of sugar and patience. If you’re up for a sweet challenge, you could try to set that record! If DIY isn’t your style, Jelly Belly offers a “Giant Candy Corn” for purchase. It’s about three times the size of a regular kernel and comes in tasty chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon flavors.
6. Candy Corn Caused the Biggest Candy Factory Fire Ever
Believe it or not, 1950 was a tough year for candy corn. On September 9th, as the Goelitz Confectionery in Midland Park, New Jersey, was gearing up for the Halloween rush, disaster struck. One of the large kettles used for heating the candy corn ingredients burst into flames. The fire quickly spread, leading to what’s considered the biggest candy factory fire in history. Thankfully, all 12 workers on site managed to escape without harm. However, the factory, which spanned an entire block, burned for days. Nearby residents had to continuously spray their homes with water to keep them from catching fire. The Goelitz company tragically lost about 2,000 pounds of candy corn in the blaze.
5. Kids Fell Ill after Consuming Candy Corn in 1950
The year 1950 brought another scare related to Halloween treats. Across the country, children started experiencing unpleasant symptoms like severe diarrhea and skin rashes after indulging in their Halloween candy. Since kids were eating more sweets than usual, it took a bit to pinpoint the cause. Eventually, health officials linked these illnesses to Orange Dye No. 1. This dye was a common food coloring at the time, used in candy corn and even products like hot dogs. Orange Dye No. 1 was a “coal-tar” dye, meaning it was derived from byproducts of processed coal and contained benzene, a toxic substance. Understandably, the FDA later delisted this dye, removing it from approved food colorings.
4. There’s Candy Corn Flavored Beer and Pizza
Move over, pumpkin spice! Candy corn is making its way into some unexpected places. Several breweries have experimented with candy corn-flavored beers. For instance, Urban Growler Brewing in Minnesota once brewed their Candy Corn Imperial Cream Ale using 65 pounds of the actual candy! And Mason Jar Brewing Company in California cheekily named their version “Candy Cornholio.” For beer enthusiasts looking for seasonal fun, it’s a novel idea. But candy corn on pizza? That’s a different story. In 2017, a Twitter user’s photo of a pizza topped with candy corn went viral, sparking a debate even more intense than pineapple on pizza. Several celebrity chefs even tried it, and the general verdict was a resounding no. Most people agree: let’s keep candy corn off our pizzas!
3. Generation X Loves Candy Corn the Most
Ever wonder which generation appreciates candy corn the most? According to a 2020 report from the National Confectioner’s Association, that title goes to Generation X – those born between 1965 and 1980. The survey found that 58% of Gen X’ers enjoy candy corn. They’re closely followed by Baby Boomers, with 56% professing their fondness for the tri-colored treat. And which U.S. state buys the most candy corn? That would be California! So, if you’re a Gen X’er living in California, there’s a pretty good chance candy corn is one of your go-to Halloween candies.
2. Candy Corn Has Been Deep-Fried
If you’re not a fan of plain candy corn, perhaps you’d prefer it deep-fried? Yes, you read that right! Just like Twinkies, Oreos, and butter, candy corn has also received the deep-fried treatment. You don’t even have to wait for the state fair; there are plenty of recipes online. Some call for wrapping the candy corn in crescent roll dough, while others use Bisquick or even Funfetti pancake mix as a batter. The original viral creator of this gooey, sugary invention is Amy Erickson from the blog “Oh, Bite It.” She came up with the idea to use up leftover candy corn. As with all things candy corn, reactions were mixed. Some found it delightfully decadent, while others thought it was a step too far into sugary chaos.
1. Candy Corn Wasn’t Always Associated with Halloween
It might be a quintessential Halloween candy now, but candy corn wasn’t originally created for spooky season. When it first appeared over 130 years ago, it was marketed as “Chicken Feed” and sold as a penny candy. At the time, a large portion of America’s population lived in rural, agricultural communities. To appeal to this demographic, candy makers often shaped their treats like farm-related items such as pumpkins, turnips, and, of course, corn. Fun fact: if you stack candy corn pieces correctly, they actually resemble an ear of corn! Because it was so labor-intensive to make by hand, “Chicken Feed” was typically only produced in the fall months. It wasn’t until after World War II, when sugar rations ended and trick-or-treating became a widespread tradition, that candy corn truly became a Halloween staple. Its festive orange, yellow, and white colors, plus the ease of pre-packaged individual servings, made it a perfect fit for the holiday.
Today, candy corn consistently ranks among the most popular Halloween candies. Whether you love it or debate its very existence, it’s a nostalgic favorite that’s deeply woven into the fabric of autumn celebrations.
From its surprisingly tough beginnings and unusual ingredients to its starring role in factory fires and culinary experiments, candy corn is clearly more than just a simple sugary triangle. It’s a treat with a rich, colorful history, evolving from “Chicken Feed” to an undeniable Halloween icon over the past century. Whether you’re a devoted fan or a curious onlooker, these sweet secrets hopefully add another layer of appreciation (or at least conversation!) to this beloved, and sometimes debated, confection. One thing’s for sure: candy corn’s legacy is here to stay!
What’s your take on candy corn? Do you have a favorite fun fact we missed, or a unique candy corn creation to share? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
