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What’s the first treat that springs to mind when Halloween approaches? For countless individuals, it’s candy corn. More than 35 million pounds of these sugary triangles are sold just in October, making it a quintessential autumn candy with a history spanning over a century. Interestingly, candy corn isn’t far behind in age compared to one of the oldest candies still around—Necco Wafers.
Since the late 1800s, both children and adults have savored the delightful taste of candy corn. It’s believed that George Renninger, an employee at the Wunderle Candy Company, created this treat in the 1880s. The recipe was later adopted by the Goelitz Candy Company, now known as Jelly Belly Candy Company, and the rest, as they say, is sweet history.
Whether you adore it or can’t stand it, here are ten intriguing facts about this timeless Halloween favorite.
10. Producing Candy Corn Was No Easy Task
Before automation took over, producing candy corn was an incredibly labor-intensive task. The candy features three distinct layers—white, orange, and yellow. Workers would heat the ingredients until they melted, then carry the hot liquid in heavy buckets to pour it manually into molds shaped like kernels. Since candy corn has multiple layers, this entire process had to be repeated three times for each piece.
The process was so demanding that candy corn production was limited to just a few months each year. Thanks to automation, it’s now manufactured year-round.
9. Candy Corn Contains Insect Secretions
While candy corn includes expected ingredients like sugar, corn syrup, and artificial flavors, it also contains something surprising—bug secretions. The glossy coating on the candy is made from lac-resin, a substance secreted by lac bugs. This resin, which the bugs produce to protect themselves, is harvested and used to give candy corn its shiny finish. On ingredient lists, it’s often labeled as “confectioners glaze.”
Don’t let this bother you too much! Lac-resin is used in many products, and consuming insects is actually quite common in various cultures worldwide.
8. Candy Corn Comes in a Range of Unique and Exciting Flavors
While candy corn is traditionally celebrated for its classic vanilla and honey taste, it has evolved over the past century to include a variety of new flavors—some delightful, others quite bizarre.
Classic options like S’mores Candy Corn, Harvest Corn, and Caramel Apple Corn remain popular. However, for those seeking something more adventurous, there are unconventional choices like Brach’s Tailgate Candy Corn and Thanksgiving Dinner Candy Corn. The Tailgate mix features unexpected tastes such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and popcorn. Meanwhile, the Thanksgiving Dinner version surprises with flavors like turkey, green beans, cranberry sauce, and even coffee. One reviewer humorously described the green bean flavor as akin to “mowing the lawn with your mouth open.” If you’re a fan of quirky treats like Harry Potter’s Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, these candy corn varieties might just be your next obsession.
7. Crafting Your Own Giant Candy Corn Is Possible
Human creativity often leads to making ordinary things extraordinary—think of the World’s Largest Rocking Chair or the World’s Largest Frying Pan. Applying this same ingenuity, why not create an oversized piece of candy corn? While records exist for the World’s Largest Chocolate Bar and the World’s Largest Candy Cane, candy corn has yet to claim its place in the Guinness World Records.
Despite the lack of an official record, several YouTubers have taken on the challenge! You can find tutorials online showing how to create oversized candy corn at home. With a generous amount of sugar and a dash of perseverance, you might even attempt to set a world record and wow your friends.
If DIY projects aren’t your thing, Jelly Belly has introduced a giant candy corn option for sale. This larger-than-life treat is roughly triple the size of standard candy corn and comes in flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon.
6. The Largest Candy Factory Fire Was Caused by Candy Corn
The year 1950 was particularly disastrous for candy corn. On September 9, while gearing up for Halloween production, the Goelitz Confectionery in Midland Park, New Jersey, experienced a massive fire. A kettle used to heat candy corn ingredients ignited, sparking the largest candy factory fire ever recorded. Fortunately, all 12 employees escaped unharmed, but the blaze raged on.
The factory spanned an entire city block, and nearby residents had to spray their homes with water to prevent them from overheating. The fire burned for days before being extinguished. Thousands gathered to watch the spectacle, and the Goelitz company lost a staggering 2000 pounds (907 kilograms) of candy corn that year.
5. Children Became Sick After Eating Candy Corn in 1950
During Halloween in 1950, numerous children across the country experienced severe diarrhea and skin rashes. With Halloween festivities in full swing, kids were consuming more candy than usual, but it was making them ill. These symptoms were later traced back to the ingestion of Orange Dye No. 1.
In 1950, Orange Dye No. 1 was commonly used as a food coloring in various products, including candy corn and even hot dogs. This dye, classified as a “coal-tar” dye, is derived from coal processing byproducts and contains benzene, a toxic substance. Due to its harmful effects, the FDA eventually banned its use in food products.
4. Beer and Pizza Now Come in Candy Corn Flavors
Pumpkin spice, step aside—candy corn is making waves! Over the years, several breweries have started experimenting with candy corn-inspired flavors. While pumpkin remains a timeless favorite, candy corn offers a fresh, seasonal twist. For instance, Urban Growler Brewing in Minnesota crafts their Candy Corn Imperial Cream Ale using 65 pounds (29.5 kilograms) of the sugary treat. Meanwhile, Mason Jar Brewing Company in California has introduced their own version, aptly named Candy Cornholio. Combining candy corn with beer? It’s an unexpected but intriguing pairing!
3. Halloween Wasn’t Always Linked to Candy Corn
This iconic Halloween treat wasn’t originally designed for the holiday. Initially named “Chicken Feed,” it was marketed as penny candy. Over a century ago, when much of the population lived in rural areas and worked in agriculture, candies were shaped to resemble farm produce like pumpkins, turnips, and corn. Fun fact: stacking candy corn mimics the appearance of corn on the cob!
In its early days, candy corn was handmade and only produced seasonally, primarily in the fall. Its association with Halloween grew after WWII, when sugar rationing ended and trick-or-treating gained popularity. Prepackaged candy corn became a convenient treat to distribute, and its white, yellow, and orange colors perfectly matched the festive Halloween aesthetic.
Today, candy corn remains a staple of Halloween celebrations. Whether adored or despised, it’s a seasonal classic that continues to hold its place in the candy world.
2. Deep-Fried Candy Corn Exists
If candy corn isn’t your thing, perhaps you’d enjoy it deep-fried and wrapped in crescent dough. After all, everything from Twinkies to Oreos gets the deep-fry treatment, so why not candy corn? While you might expect this treat to be a state fair exclusive, there are actually numerous recipes available for making it at home. Options range from using crescent dough to Bisquick or even Funfetti pancake mix.
The concept was pioneered by Amy Erickson, the creative mind behind the blog Oh, Bite It. Faced with an abundance of leftover candy corn, she decided to transform it into a gooey, sugary, deep-fried delight. As with most things involving candy corn, opinions were divided—some hailed it as a masterpiece, while others considered it a culinary misstep.
1. Generation X Has the Strongest Affinity for Candy Corn
Generation X, encompassing those born between 1965 and 1980, holds the title for the biggest fans of candy corn. According to a 2020 report by the National Confectioner’s Association, 58% of Gen X’ers expressed a fondness for the treat, narrowly edging out Baby Boomers at 56%.
Interestingly, California leads the nation in candy corn purchases. So, if you’re a Gen X’er from the Golden State, there’s a good chance this iconic Halloween candy tops your list of favorites.
