What Does Candy Corn Taste Like
One of my favorite childhood memories involves me standing on a chair with a spoon in hand trying to catch every last bit of candy from a bowl filled with jumbo M & Ms. I’m pretty sure this began when it hit me that they were like baseball cards — except instead of trading them around at school during recess, we’d trade pieces between ourselves.
I don’t know if you’ve ever tried making your own Candy Corn at home, but let me tell you — even though I now have an adult-sized kitchen, this particular memory doesn’t hold up too well. It took me forever to get the right ratio of candy bits to melted sugar because there’s no way to measure out just how much candy per serving is needed — you just need more than you think! And once you actually do get everything mixed together, you can never be totally satisfied because it seems as though each batch tastes slightly different. Not only does it take a while to make, but it’s not really worth your time unless you’re into cooking or baking. So what should you eat instead?
Jelly Bellys’ Candy Corn. That’s right — Jelly Belly’s Candy Corn. If you want a truly authentic version of Candy Corn, without having to spend hours or days preparing it yourself, then this is the one for you. This recipe requires very little effort and takes about 15 minutes start to finish. You’ll also receive a large amount of delicious and fresh-tasting candy corn.
The reason why you are likely unfamiliar with Jelly Belly’s Candy Corn is due to its somewhat limited availability. In fact, it’s been so hard to find that the company had to stop selling it in 2007 and rebrand it as “Candy Cane”. But fear not, Jelly Belly’s Candy Corn has returned under new management and is far easier to obtain these days. However, finding it in stores isn’t always easy — it usually shows up around Halloween and Christmas. While some retailers stock their shelves year-round, many will run out before the holidays pass. To avoid missing out on this yummy treat, check online first.
So what exactly makes up Jelly Belly’s Candy Corn? First off, it’s made up of three different components: chocolate cake flavored fondant, marshmallow creme, and hot water extract. All of these ingredients come from trusted sources and have been used for years to manufacture other types of confections. They work together to create a mouthwatering combination of sweet, spicy, and nutty tastes. On top of all that, it’s absolutely bursting with vibrant colors and bright flavors, which add to the fun experience — plus it comes in several different varieties, including classic red, white, and blue.
Now that you know what goes into Jelly Belly’s Candy Corn, read on to learn how to prepare it.
Preparing Your Own Candy Corn
To whip up your own homemade version of Jelly Belly’s Candy Corn, you will need a few things:
a double boiler
parchment paper
marshmallows (any size)
kitchen scissors
2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Step 1: Set aside 2 cups of the sugar and place the rest of it in the bottom of a double boiler along with 1/4 cup of corn syrup. Heat over medium heat until all of the sugar has dissolved. Do not stir! Be careful, as this mixture could spit or boil over. Once completely dissolved, remove from heat.
Step 2: Place a piece of parchment onto the stovetop. Line the parchment with waxed paper and set the pan underneath it. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and bring to a simmer. Stir constantly using a whisk or spatula. Once the sugar reaches temperature, reduce heat to low and cook undisturbed for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let cool for 30 minutes.
Step 3: Melt 4 ounces of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. When melted, carefully pour into a separate mixing bowl and allow to cool.
Step 4: Using clean hands, mix the melted butter with the sugar until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue beating until fluffy and cooled.
Step 5: Beat in the vanilla extract. Transfer mixture to another bowl lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until firm enough to cut, about 45 minutes.
Step 6: Cut the candy into squares and lay flat to dry. After half an hour, turn the pieces over and repeat drying process.
Step 7: Enjoy immediately or store airtight at room temperature for up to two weeks.
In addition to the above steps, here are a couple extra tips to keep in mind:
Make sure you use real vanilla extract and not imitation vanilla extract. Most grocery stores carry both and sometimes they look identical. Real vanilla contains vanillin, which gives it its characteristic aroma. Vanillin is found naturally in vanilla beans, whereas imitation extracts contain synthetic vanillin. Also, when purchasing jelly bellies, you may notice that they sell the product in bulk containers containing multiple bags. Each bag contains approximately 16 servings. If you plan on making a lot of candy corn, try splitting up the purchase among friends or neighbors.
If any of the ingredients listed above seem foreign to you, visit your local supermarket or online retailer to familiarize yourself with them. Many companies offer free delivery and a return policy, so chances are good you won’t incur any additional costs.
On the next page, you’ll discover what you need to do to transform this basic recipe into a colorful masterpiece.
Making Colorful Homemade Candy Corn
Colorful, flavorful Candy Corn is simply one of those treats that brings families together and creates lasting memories. There are plenty of ways to customize this recipe to suit your personal preferences, whether you prefer to enjoy it straight from the pot or on the go. For instance, you can incorporate your favorite color scheme into your masterpiece by adding colored sugars. Or, if you desire a super sugary treat, you can skip the step where you combine the fondant with the marshmallow creme.
When it comes to choosing colors, you have an endless array of options available. Some favorites include traditional red, white, and blue, as well as green, orange, purple, pink, yellow, brown, black, and lavender. Additionally, you can choose one or all of the following colors: burnt orange, coffee bean, fuchsia, grape, lemon drop, mango, mint chip, pomegranate, pumpkin spice, raspberry, sea foam green, tangerine, teal, tomato, turquoise, violet, and zebra striped.
You can also add sprinkles, coconut shreds, mini pretzels, coconut shavings, nuts, seeds, raisins, dried cranberries, etc. If desired, you can even sprinkle your finished product with edible gold glitter or cinnamon sugar.
Here’s our final tip for creating your custom masterpiece: Use clear cellophane or waxed paper. This method allows the flavors to shine through, rather than being hidden behind a shiny layer of fondant.
And finally, if you still aren’t convinced that you need to make your own Candy Corn, read on to discover why this simple treat deserves a spot on everyone’s holiday table.
Candy Corn Recipe Tips
While this recipe is great for beginners, there are a few extra tricks to remember if you are looking to make the most perfect batch possible. Here are a few tips to help ensure the best results:
Use high quality ingredients. As mentioned earlier, Jelly Belly’s uses only the highest quality ingredients. Therefore, you shouldn’t shy away from spending money on premium products.
Be consistent. With any type of food preparation, consistency is key. Take note of the ratios and guidelines provided in the recipe and follow them closely.
Don’t overcook the fondant. The fondant needs to be cooked for only five minutes. During that time, it will increase in volume dramatically, so pay close attention to prevent burning.
Add a pinch of salt. Salt helps the fondant retain moisture, so if you are interested in keeping a chewy texture, consider adding a pinch of kosher salt to your mixture.
Store leftover Candy Corn properly. Unlike M&Ms, which must be stored in an airtight container, you can store Candy Corn in the refrigerator or freezer. Just leave it sitting out for about 10 minutes before eating. If you wish to keep it longer, pop it back in the fridge overnight.
Enjoy responsibly. Remember, the whole point of making your own Candy Corn is to satisfy your cravings for something fresh and tasty. Don’t feel guilty about enjoying your creation!
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