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Candy Corn History

The History of Candy Corn

Candy corn has a legacy that goes back over a hundred years.  The Philadelphia-based Wunderlee Candy Company's George Renninger, invented this popular candy back in the 1880's.  Wunderlee Candy Company was the first to manufacture candy corn as a result. Then, in 1900, the Goelitz Candy Company (which later became the Jelly Belly Candy Company) started making these candies and continues to make candy corn today.

Candy corn's introduction gained instant popularity among farmers due to it's appearance of an actual piece of corn. Additionally, the three color on a single candy was revolutionary in its day - the masses went bonkers for candy corn.  However, since there manufacturing wasn't automated back then, candy corn was made seasonally between the months of March and November. Candy corn is the same now as it was way back then and is a Halloween favorite.

Today, nearly 8.3 billion candy corn kernels are sold every year - 80% of which are sold during the months of September and October!

How is Candy Corn Made?

Back in 1900, it took quite a few workers to make candy corn eight months out of the year.

The corn syrup, sugar, and other candy corn ingredients were cooked together in massive pots, producing a watery mixture . A thick, creamy sugar paste and marshmallow are mixed in to provide a smooth texture and kick. Then, the 45 pounds molten hot candy were transferred into smaller buckets referred to as runners. Workers called stringers then emptied the candy into cornstarch molds which gave the candy corn their kernel shape. Three passes were needed to layer the white, then orange, then yellow colors.  Back then, candy corn was carried in wagons, packed in wooden crates and barrels.

Today, the process by which candy corn is made remains very similar.  Nowadays, machines do the bulk of the work.

Candy makers use a process called corn starch molding. Corn starch is used to fill a tray, creating candy corn shaped indentations. Candy corns are built from the top to the bottom in three waves of color. First, the indentation is partially filled with white syrup. Next, when the white is partiall set, they add the the orange syrup. The creation is then finished up by adding the yellow syrup and then cooled. The candy starts fusing together while it cools. After cooling the candies, the trays are dumped out, the corn starch is sifted away, and the candy corn is ready to be sent out to a store near you.