Celebrate Candy Corn

One of my favorite ways to celebrate fall is by buying and eating candy corn. It is also a sweet and nostalgic treat that tastes like vanilla frosting. Candy corn has an irresistible aroma and resembles tiny witches' hats.

I will suggest many ways to celebrate National Candy Corn Day, give you a brief history of candy corn, share a simple candy corn craft I created myself, and present a recipe for delicious and captivating cookies.

National Candy Corn Day

Be sure to celebrate National Candy Corn Day on Oct. 30 in one of the following ways:

- Watch Candy Unwrapped on Food Network, since they take you inside a candy corn factory.

- Top cake or cookies with frosting and candy corn.

- Wear a candy corn T-shirt.

- Make a card with a candy corn rubber stamp, card stock, and stamp pad.

- Burn a candy corn candle.

- Make a candy corn wreath.

- Help your kids with a candy corn craft.

- Buy a limited edition Candy Corn Teddy from Build a Bear. Hurry, while they are half off at $8.

- Read a candy corn book.

- Paint a candy corn kernel online.

- Print a candy corn coloring page.

- Make your own candy corn.

- Read my candy corn haiku or make up your own. Teach your kids how to write a haiku too, here's how.

- Let your kids play a candy corn math game.

History of Candy Corn

Candy corn has been around since the 1880s, when George Renninger of the Wunderlee Candy Company invented it. In 1900, the Jelly Belly Candy Company began making candy corn and they are still producing it today. Today, almost 8.3 billion kernels are sold each year, most being sold in September and October. Workers used to make candy corn by hand, but today machines do most of the work.

Nutrition Per Kernel

- 4 calories

- 0 grams of fat

For 26 Pieces

- 150 calories

- 0 grams of fat

Simple Craft: Jack-O-Lantern Witches

Simple supplies:

Cotton balls

Orange glitter glue

Candy corn

Craft glue

Simple steps:

1. Push in the top of the cotton ball gently to make a small indentation. Add craft glue to the indentation, followed by one piece of candy corn. Push the candy corn hat forward just a bit, adding balance to the jack-o-lantern.

2. Use the glitter glue to make the jack-o-lantern's eyes, nose, and mouth.

3. Allow to dry.

Cookie Recipe: Candy Corn Surprise

Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus extra for topping

Candy corn

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl, beat butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Add flour and salt, beating well with egg beaters.

Wrap about a tablespoon of dough around 3-4 pieces of candy corn, covering them completely.

Shape into balls.

Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes or until set.

Allow to cool.

When cool, roll in powdered sugar.

I've already purchased my candy corn. How about you? At 4 calories per kernel, you can nibble on them all day without feeling too guilty.

More from Rebecca:
The Magical Avocado
The Many Facets of the Pumpkin
5 Things to Make With Ice Cream
Celebrate Love: 3 Cookies From 1 Recipe
World's Largest Fortune Cookie

Jack-O-Lantern Witches is an original craft creation of the author, Rebecca Bardelli. Hidden Candy Corn Cookies is a variation of Hidden Hugs Cookies, also created by the author.