YumSugar

Candy Corn: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:28 -0700

Even though it's not my favorite holiday, there are several reasons I look forward to Halloween, and one of them is candy corn. I can find only less-than-positive words to describe the waxy, cloyingly sweet, unnaturally butterscotch-y neon-covered morsels, yet once I get started, I can't stop eating them. How do you feel about the seasonal confection?

Source: Flickr User Juushika Redgrave

Happy Hour: Candy Corn Cordials

partysugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:00:43 -0700

Are you ready to get in the Halloween spirit? Then I have a spirit for you, candy corn-infused vodka! Don't be afraid, the candy corn slightly sweetens the vodka and gives it a vibrant orange color. Use the candy corn vodka to make a cocktail by combining with orange liquor, lemon juice, and an egg white. The egg white is necessary; it provides a rich frothiness to the drink. The candy corn cordial ends up tasting like a sophisticated orange soda. It's not cloying, but rather smooth, drinkable, and slightly potent. To get the recipe for this festive cocktail, read more.

Candy Corn Cordials
From Food Network

Ingredients

For the infused vodka:
1/2 cup candy corn
1 1/2 cups vodka
For the cordials:
2 ounces orange liqueur
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 large egg white
Candy corn, for garnish

Directions

Infuse the vodka: Combine the candy corn and vodka in an airtight container; set aside for at least 3 hours, then strain.
Make the cordials: Add 4 ounces of the candy corn vodka, the orange liqueur, lemon juice and egg white to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Strain into 2 chilled martini glasses and garnish with candy corn.

Makes 2 drinks.

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Candy-Off: Hershey's vs. Brach's Candy Corn

YumSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:00:42 -0700

Happy National Candy Corn Day! This Halloween, grocery aisles have been stocked with two distinct types of my favorite seasonal candy: the traditional version made by Brach's, as well as a newer Hershey's rendition.

Last year, when I first tried the Hershey's candy corn, I thought it had a cloying aftertaste, and despite giving them a second chance, I still didn't care for them. Just to make sure I was giving the candy a fair assessment, I sought out some other Sugar gals for a second opinion. To see what they had to say, read more.

"Candy corn is not allowed to have a wrapper!"
"Hershey's tastes more artificial, if that's possible."
"The candy corn lost something in the texture . . . just not right!"

While both are overly sweet, the Hershey's Kisses version lacks the wonderfully waxy, granulated texture that makes candy corn so addictive. Instead, it has the creaminess of white chocolate and a rich, butterscotch-y aroma. Many of us agreed that had Hershey's simply not labeled it candy corn, we would have preferred it.

The bottom line? When something is labeled as candy corn, there are expectations in taste. Candy corn may taste plastic-y, but an artificial rendition of it tastes even worse. There's one attribute, however, that both share in common: too much of either, and you'll be left with a belly ache.

Yummy Link: DIY Candy Corn - Vegan or Regular

YumSugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:43:19 -0700

Halloween is just around the corner, and that means it's time for candy corn! This time it's DIY vegan candy corn, but you can always make a more traditional version if you'd prefer. - The Urban Housewife and Epicurious

Think You Know Candy Corn?

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:01:33 -0700

Hershey's has just released a new seasonal kiss flavor: Candy Corn. I saw some in the Halloween display at Target and picked them up for the office to try.

The first thing I noticed was the smell: an overpowering in your face butterscotch-caramel odor, or as YumJimmy put it, "it smells like old people candy." The smell should have been a hint, the candy is as overpowering as its odor. It's like an overly sweet white chocolate laced with butterscotch, heavy on the butter. I personally found them to be adorable, but way too sweet.

All of this candy corn coloring got me wondering about candy corn in general. So I looked up a few things and put it all together in a fun quiz! Think you know candy corn?

Take the quiz

Candy Corn Cordials

partysugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:33:05 -0700

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Must Read: Field Guide to Candy

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:30:04 -0700

With tomorrow being Halloween, we've unofficially opened the Pandora's Box that is Fall sweets season. That's why the Field Guide to Candy ($16) couldn't have come at a better time. Pastry chef Anita Chu, who authored the Field Guide to Cookies, has come out with a second book, which promises to teach you "how to identify and make virtually every candy imaginable." Does it live up to its promise? To find out, keep reading.

10 Nostalgic Candies to Remember

YumSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:50:31 -0700

This time of year, it's impossible to walk into any office or store without candy bowls full of M&M's, candy corn, or homemade candy begging to be eaten. Skittles and Starburst may dominate doorsteps today, but that wasn't always the case; an entirely different subset of confections were popular in the first half of the 20th century. Although many of them have faded into oblivion, a few old favorites can still be found on candy shelves today. Here are a handful we can't resist reminiscing about.

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Come Party With Me: All Hallow's Eve - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:15:05 -0700

So you've just decided to host a Halloween party and you've got no time to plan. No matter. On Saturday afternoon, before you put on your costume, you can throw together some festive yet uncomplicated snacks and make these cupcakes. Shhh, don't tell anyone: the recipe uses a boxed yellow cake mix, meaning these mini cakes will be ready to bake in minutes. The addition of pumpkin pie spice and canned pumpkin puree, in combination with the smooth cream cheese frosting, will fool your guests into thinking you slaved for hours on these cupcakes. Garnish with a single piece of candy corn and get ready to celebrate! To check out the easy recipe, read more.

Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
From Real Simple

Ingredients

1 18.5-ounce box yellow cake mix (plus the ingredients called for in the package directions)
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
2 8-ounce bars cream cheese, at room temperature
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
24 pieces candy corn

Directions

Heat oven to 350° F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
Prepare the cake mix as directed but with the following change: Add the pumpkin pie spice and substitute the can of pumpkin puree for the water called for in the package directions.
Divide the batter among the prepared muffin tins and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes. Let cool.
Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Spread on the cupcakes and top each with a piece of candy corn.

Makes 24 cupcakes.

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Do You Know What's Cooking This Week?

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:30:31 -0700

It's hard to believe that October is more than halfway over - and that Halloween is just around the corner!

Get riled up for this year's sweet-laced Saturday by making Candy Corn Cordials and picking up a few bags of your favorite Halloween candy (mine is candy corn!).

Curious to know how much you can recall about this week? Do what you do best with our quiz below.

Take the quiz