It’s that day again
[NOTE: Yes folks, time passes swiftly and once again it is (blare of trumpets) National Candy Corn Day! Which means it’s time for a repeat of this post, originally published in 2008.]
No doubt all of my readers, being unusually well-informed people, were already aware that today is National Candy Corn Day.
But did you know it is estimated that in this country twenty million pounds of the classic treat (invented in the 1880s) are sold every year? I personally might be responsible for approximately a ton of that if I gave in to my worst impulses. However, I keep my addiction in tightly-controlled check.
It is part of my penance to confess here that I really like the dreadful stuff and always have. Once I even went to a Halloween party dressed as a piece of candy corn, and believe me I was already a grownup.
Apparently I am not the only adult who has dressed up as candy corn on Halloween. And no, I didn’t look like this—more’s the pity (although to be technical, isn’t she dressed as two pieces of candy corn, the body and the hat?):
I am not alone in my shameful liking for the tricolor tooth-destroyer. I heard on Fox News (can’t give a link here because I was unable to find the information online) that candy corn is the Halloween treat most often stolen by parents from their kids’ Halloween stash. I believe this to be undeniably true. It is a guilty, shameful secret for most, but I am glad this is finally seeing the light of day.
Even some fanatically health-consciously vegans seem to crave candy corn although alas, the treat is off-limits to them because of its animal-related ingredients. Animal ingredients? If you doubt my words, just take a look:
Sugar, Corn Syrup, Confectioner’s Glaze, Salt, Honey, Dextrose, Artificial Flavor, Gelatin, Titanium Dioxide Color, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 3, Blue 1, Sesame Oil.
Gelatin and honey must be the big no-nos. But happily, a thoughtful vegan (are there any other kind?) mother has come to the rescue with a recipe for candy corn so complex and labor-intensive that it undoubtedly reflects a devotion to the stuff even more intense than mine. Try it if you dare—and if you are insane.
There are various gourmet variations on candy corn, and I’ve sampled quite a few in my day. To my mind they can’t compare to good old classic Brach’s. But after watching the following highly informative video, I may just try some Goelitz:
And here’s a burning question I was reminded of by the video: do you eat your candy corn in sections? And, if so, do you consider the top to be the yellow part or the white part? I’ve always seen the little white triangle as the “foot” of the candy corn, but I learned when I designed my costume years ago that most people see it the other way. For those who might be inclined to disagree with me, I offer the following exhibit from the realm of science:
Way too sweet for my taste. I’d much rather drink a glass of milk.
I like the candy pumpkins best.
I am amazed that we have a national day for candy corn and it is not halloween. How does that make sense?
They’re especially good with a tall glass of fresh, ice-cold MILK!
Major sugar overload with those guys.
Dr Oz will not be pleased.
I admit to enjoying a couple of *kernels* now & then.
Major sugar overload with those guys.
I love the candy pumpkins, but I cannot eat more than 2 without feeling vaguely ill the rest of the day. I don’t know what it is, but those are not meant to be eaten in quantity.
It’s a tradition in our house that my wife keeps a bowl of candy corn mixed with salted peanuts on a counter in our home throughout the month of October. The kids and their friends (and sometimes her), grab handfuls whenever they walk by, and based on the amounts of both ingredients I see her purchase they walk by that bowl a lot. In the 10 – 15 years she has done this I don’t recall ever trying even a single piece of candy corn. I must not like the stuff.
I remember it from my childhood, and I must have gotten it often while trick or treating, and I’m pretty sure I ate it as a kid, but I have no memory of eating it, or what it tastes like. Based on my avoidance and complete lack of interest it obviously didn’t make a lasting impression.
I don’t go for candy corn these days, but remember a trip when I was 5 years old, leaving my grandparents for the two day drive back home. My grandmother packed candy corn, among other things, for us to munch on during our trip.
I don’t understand candy corn. Even as a kid, I could take it or leave it. Now, I just leave it. Neo can have my share.
People who don’t think the yellow part is the top must never have seen real corn. But hasn’t everybody seen real corn?
I like candy corn a lot, but it doesn’t seem to be as good as it used to be. I’ve blamed that on the general corruption and decadence of the times, but it’s probably just an old guy’s grumble.
Give me the mellocreme pumpkins over candy corn any day. Softer, sweeter, better taste.
Of course, some nice dark chocolate beats either, hands down.
Tangentially, the candy apple candy corn are decent. The “chocolate” ones are awful, though not as bad as carob. I’m afraid to try the “S’more” candy corn.
candy corn + milk = ?