How did candy corn become the Halloween staple?
Every Halloween Candy Corn is extra popular and here is the reason why this became a staple during this time of the year.
Based on the article in Mental Floss, Candystore.com surveyed 20,000 customers in 2020 and their least favorite is this candy shaped from corn kernels. However, in 2017, the same website released a survey stating that this candy is a Halloween candy in six states in the US.
It features a white, orange, and yellow pattern which symbolizes the color of this holiday. The history of this candy is traced back to the 1880s. At that time, George Renninger, an employee of the Wunderle Candy Company in Philadelphia, had the idea to mold so-called buttercream into the shape of a corn kernel.
There is no specific recipe that was known to the public for making this candy but its main ingredients in the buttercream were probably sugar and corn syrup.
The shape of the corn kernel is not the first shape that Renninger created from his buttercream. He made miniature chestnuts, turnips, and peapods out of the confection.
“When the chickens finally started coming after the corn. He knew he had [the perfect shape]. If he had the chickens fooled … then he had the right thing,” Ken Renninger, the grandson of George Renninger, shared as his grandfather had some interesting “market research.”
Trick or treats is part of Halloween and this activity puts a lot of profit for candy companies. Later on, from being a novelty candy, candy corn became a staple candy during Halloween because of its color featuring the hues of fall. It is also the perfect size for handing out to trick-or-treaters. Because of its popularity, it was reported that 35 million pounds or 9 billion kernels of candy corn a year.
Eventually, different versions were made for different holidays, like red and green “reindeer corn” for Christmas and pink and red “Cupid corn” for Valentine’s Day.
Speaking of Halloween, did you know that there are places that go extra in celebrating this holiday? Here are the Best Halloween Destinations In The World.