How to Make Homemade Candy Corn

A Delicious Fall Recipe that Has Been a Tradition for Over 100 Years

© Denise Oliveri

Sep 8, 2008

Candy corn is believed to have originated in lllinois in the 1880s by the Goelitz Candy Company. Some people think it may have been homemade before its introduction to a candy factory, while others maintain that it has always been processed in a factory. Regardless, these homemade recipes below will make about a pound of candy corn. The recipes take a while to make and can be tedious. Have a candy corn making party.

Traditional Candy Corn

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 cups of powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup nonfat powdered milk
• 1 cup regular sugar
• 2/3 cup corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 5 tablespoons of salted butter
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• Yellow and red food coloring

Directions

1. Bring the regular sugar, corn syrup and butter to a boil over medium high heat in a large heavy saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium and continue boiling for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat.
2. While boiling the above, put the powdered sugar, powdered milk and salt in a large bowl and set it aside.
3. Add the vanilla and powdered mixture into the hot mixture in the saucepan. Be sure and mix it well. Then let the mixture sit for about 20 minutes or so until the mixture is slightly warm.
4. Divide the dough into 3 equal parts and put one in each of a small mixing bowl. Add orange (mix red and yellow together) food coloring to one part and yellow food coloring to another. Knead the dough until the color is well blended. Also knead the white dough until smooth. You may want to put on plastic gloves or a zip-loc bag to protect your hands from the food coloring.
5. Roll each piece into a thin rope of equal length. Press the three ropes together to make a long rectangle. Using a sharp knife, cut the ropes into triangles and shape with your fingers. You will have some with white tips and some yellow tips.
6. It is best to store between layers of waxed paper so they do not stick together.

For those of you who are into organics and natural foods, here is a recipe for candy corn just for you.

Vegan Candy Corn

Ingredients

• 1 cup of sugar
• 2/3 cup of organic or low fructose corn syrup
• 5 tablespoons of vegan butter (like Earth Balance)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 2-1/2 cups of powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup of powdered soy milk
• just a pinch of sea salt
• Red and yellow food coloring

Directions

1. Bring the regular sugar, corn syrup, vanilla and butter to a boil over medium high heat in a large heavy saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium and continue boiling for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat.
2. Mix the powdered sugar, powdered milk and salt together in a bowl, and then add this to the hot mixture. Stir well. Let it all stand for about 20 minutes to cool down to just warm.
3. Divide the dough into 3 equal parts and put one in each of a small mixing bowl. Add orange (mix red and yellow together) food coloring to one part and yellow food coloring to another. Knead the dough until the color is well blended. Knead the white dough until smooth. You may want to put on plastic gloves or a zip-loc bag to protect your hands from the food coloring.
4. Roll each piece into a thin rope. Press the three ropes together to make a long rectangle. Using a sharp knife, cut the ropes into triangles and shape with your fingers. You will have some with white tips and some with yellow tips.

All these candy corns will be larger than what you get in the store. It would take forever to make them that small. Enjoy these homemade candy corns and don’t forget to share.

Find more Fall Recipes on Suite101, as well as Fall Recipes for kids to make.

Homemade Candy Corn

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