National Candy Corn Day

The story

Candy corn's history dates back to the late 1800s, crafted by George Renninger to celebrate the beauty of corn and autumn colors. Initially marketed as ”Chicken Feed,“ it gained popularity when the Goelitz Confectionery Company (Jelly Belly) began mass-producing it in the early 20th century. The tri-colored kernels, representing white, orange, and yellow layers, became a visual delight.

Goelitz's embrace of the recipe in 1898 led to candy corn becoming a popular penny candy by the early 20th century. In the 1950s, it became intricately linked with Halloween, solidifying its status as a staple during the spooky season. The rise of trick-or-treating and Halloween-themed media further contributed to its association with the holiday.

Originally crafted by hand, candy corn underwent a transformation in production with machines taking over. The distinctive tri-color appearance, mirroring corn kernels, is created by depositing each color separately into cornstarch molds. The original recipe included sugar, corn syrup, marshmallows, fondant, and carnauba wax.

Modern variations primarily use sugar, corn syrup, confectioners wax, and artificial binders and coloring. Beyond Halloween, candy corn has adapted to various holidays with variations like Indian corn for Thanksgiving, reindeer corn for Christmas, and Cupid corn for Valentine's Day, showcasing its versatility.