What is candy corn and what is candy corn made of? Wax? Corn? Some sort of mysterious substance mined from autumnal mountains? We’ll answer that question and more in this article all about the mysteries of candy corn.
What is candy corn?
Candy corn is a small, corn kernel-shaped candy. It’s hard on the outside, and chewy on the inside. And each piece is usually three colors: orange, yellow, and white. Candy corn was invented by a dude named George Renninger back in the 1880s. About 20 years later, candy corn (it was called Chicken Feed at the time) was first mass-produced by the Goelitz Confectionery Company, which eventually became Jelly Belly Candy Co.
Is candy corn made of wax?
Yes, candy corn contains carnauba wax, a natural plant-based ingredient that helps candy corn achieve its unique texture, which transitions from firm to creamy as you chew. Candy corn is also polished with edible wax and glaze to give it a shine.
What is candy corn made of, besides wax?
According to Better Homes & Gardens, candy corn (the good stuff, at least) is made of sugar along with fondant, vanilla flavor, food coloring, marshmallow creme, and (drum roll) corn syrup! So yes, technically, candy corn has a corn product in it.
Confectioners melt all those ingredients (besides the coloring) into a slurry, then add coloring, and shape the goo into candy corn kernels using cornstarch-dusted wooden molds. Each color is added separately, starting with the yellow. Then, the candymakers let the kernels cool in the trays, fusing the three layers together.
The candy corns are then polished with edible wax and glaze to make them all purty and shiny. Now you know not only what candy corn is made out of, but also how candy corn is made. Aren’t you going to be a hit at all the Halloween parties?
Is candy corn made from bugs?
Yes, candy corn does contain ingredients made from bugs. It contains confectioner’s glaze. And confectioner’s glaze, which sounds like it should just be sugar, is actually made with lac-resic, which is a bug secretion. Lac are a type of bug. Don’t look them up. The secretion makes the candy’s hard coating. I just hope these bugs are paid accordingly.
Is candy corn vegan?
Sadly, no, candy corn is not vegan. It’s usually made with gelatin plus there’s that bug secretion, which is also not vegan.
What are the flavors of candy corn?
Not content with resting on the laurels of the simple, original candy corn flavor, confectionary companies have offered variations on the classic. Candy corn has come in flavors like caramel apple and green apple, s’mores and pumpkin spice, carrot cake, and birthday cake. There’s even been hot dog flavored candy corn. Pretty soon, all meals will be candy corn-ized, and we won’t have to do all that cooking to make a pot roast, we’ll simply buy a bag of pot roast candy corn!
How many candy corn in a bag?
According to someone on Amazon, the standard 16 oz bag of Brach’s candy corn contains approximately 225 pieces. Oh, actually, 224 now, I just ate one.
What do candy corns taste like?
Candy corn typically has a flavor based on honey, sugar, butter, and vanilla, but some say it also has notes of marshmallow and fondant. No actual corn to speak of, but that’s probably for the best.
Why is candy corn so hated?
A polarizing figure in the snack world, those who hate candy corn typically reference its plastic or wax candle-like texture and the overwhelming sweetness the product packs. Since candy corn has no contrasting flavors, it can end up just tasting intensely sweet, not unlike just eating a big bag of sugar. But for some folks, that’s what they’ve always wanted.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!