What Is Candy Corn, And How Is It Made - Vale Middle School (Page 2 of 4) in pdf

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Vale Middle School Reading Article

What is Candy Corn, and How is it Made? (1120L)

Notes on my thoughts,

In fact, October 30 is National Candy Corn Day.

reactions and questions as I

read:

Candy corn has been around for more than a century. George Renninger of the

Wunderlee Candy Company invented it in the 1880s. It was originally very

popular among farmers, and its look was revolutionary for the candy industry.

The Goelitz Candy Company started making candy corn in 1900 and still makes

it today, although the name has changed to the Jelly Belly Candy Company.

Although the recipe for candy corn hasn't changed much since the late 1800s, the

way it's made has changed quite a bit. In the early days, workers mixed the main

ingredients -- sugar, water and corn syrup -- in large kettles. Then they added

fondant (a sweet, creamy icing made from sugar, corn syrup and water) and

marshmallow for smoothness. Finally, they poured the entire mixture by hand

into molds, one color at a time. Because the work was so tedious, candy corn

was only available from March to November.

Today, machines do most of the work. Manufacturers use the "corn starch

molding process" to create the signature design. A machine fills a tray of little

kernel-shaped holes with cornstarch, which holds the candy corn in shape. Each

hole fills partway with sweet white syrup colored with artificial food coloring.

Next comes the orange syrup, and finally, the yellow syrup. Then the mold cools

and the mixture sits for about 24 hours until it hardens. A machine empties the

trays, and the kernels fall into chutes. Any excess cornstarch shakes loose in a

big sifter. Then the candy corn gets a glaze to make it shine, and workers

package it for shipment to stores.

Watson, S. What is candy corn, and how is it made? Available at October 10, 2012.

What Is Candy Corn, And How Is It Made - Vale Middle School Page 2