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Candy Corn

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Candy Corn is a favorite fall treat and is often hard to find during other times of the year. Here’s a simple, do it yourself recipe for making your own (Flavorful!) candy corn.

What is Candy Corn?

Candy corn was originally produced by a company called Goelitz Confectionary (now known as Jelly Belly), and it wasn’t called candy corn at that time, it was actually called Chicken Feed.  It wasn’t even produced for Halloween or fall, it was seasonally produced from March to November.

The candy was a type of mellow-cream, which was made from corn syrup, and sugar that had been enhanced with marshmallow flavor. Another fun fact, candy corn is made from bottom to top. The yellow is actually the top and the white bit is actually the bottom. This fun confection was advertised for Halloween for the first time shortly after WWII.

candy-corn-2

In addition to munching on this interesting tri-color candy as it is, it makes a nice addition to snack mixes made with popcorn, mini-pretzels and nuts. If you’d like to make your own copycat Butterfinger bars, here’s a 3-ingredient recipe that uses candy corn!

How to Make Candy Corn

You’ll Need:

1 C sugar
2/3 C white corn syrup
1/3 C butter

Combine in a pan, bring to boil stirring CONSTANTLY. Turn heat low and boil
5 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat and add:

1 tsp vanilla
several drops food coloring (optional)

Meanwhile, combine:

2 1/2 C powdered sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 C powdered milk

Add all at once to mixture in pan. Stir until cool enough to handle. Knead until stiff enough to hold its shape. Shape into triangles, or any shape desired.

If you want 3 different colors, divide the syrup mixture into evenly 3 different bowls and then add the coloring, divide the powdered sugar/salt/milk mixture evenly into the three bowls of colored hot syrup. You’ll need a helper, it can harden quickly.

A note about the ingredients, corn syrup is used in many recipes to prevent the other sugars from crystallizing, while you can substitute using homemade “corn” syrup, the texture may be slightly different.

how to make candy corn

© Can Stock Photo Inc. / HHLtDave5

Melissa 'Liss' Burnell, Founder of Budget101

👩‍🍳 About the Author

Melissa “Liss” Burnell is the founder of Budget101.com, a trusted frugal living resource online since 2001. With over 25 years of hands-on experience in meal planning, debt reduction, and DIY homemaking, she’s helped millions of families live well for less.

A mother of two, Liss first made waves by cutting her family’s grocery bill to under $200/month—then teaching others how to do the same. She is the author of two bestselling ebooks on feeding a family on a tight budget, available on Amazon.

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4 thoughts on “Candy Corn”

  1. Your recipe looks wonderful. I am guessing if I wanted different flavored candy corn. I would add what ever flavor say root beer and make them brown.

    Maybe vanilla for the white and root beer for brown and a yellow stripe. Like a root beer float flavor. Do you think that would work ok?

    Thanks for the recipe. :lets-eat:

    Reply

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