Archive for July, 2020

When talking about candy and someone mentions PEZ, chances are you think about the dispensers first and the candy second. After all, the unique PEZ dispensers are what makes this candy, that dates back to the 1920’s, still popular today.

Eduard Haas III invented PEZ back in 1927 as a peppermint candy in Austria. The name PEZ comes from the German name for peppermint, “PfeffErminZ.” We capitalized the P, E and Z so you can see just how the candy’s name came about.

Originally intended to be a substitute for smoking, these peppermint candies were first sold in tin boxes until 1949 when the dispenser that we know so well today was invented.

It wasn’t until 1952 that PEZ made its way to the United States and became an instant hit with kids, and later with collectors, clamoring to get the fun dispensers that featured heads of favorite comic book characters, cartoon favorites, and more.

Collecting PEZ dispensers turned into a hobby for people around the world with the first PEZ Convention in 1991. Some rare dispensers are worth quite a bit of money and turned out to be a pretty good investment!

PEZ continues to manufacture billions of candy pieces a year and along with special limited edition dispensers that sell out quickly. Over the years famous characters from Star Wars, Orange County Choppers, and everyone’s favorite – Mickey Mouse – have found their way on a PEZ dispenser.

Collectors turn to us when a limited release is coming out and here are some of the more popular ones that are available right now:

PEZ Harry Potter Collectable Gift Tin
The PEZ Harry Potter Gift Tin Features four Harry Potter PEZ Dispensers: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and gift tin exclusive Dumbledore. This is a perfect gift for any Harry Potter fan!

PEZ Crayola Gift Set
This may look like a traditional Crayola crayon box, but inside you’ll find four real crayons, a coloring sheet and four all new Crayola PEZ Dispensers in Blue, Green, Yellow and Red along with eight PEZ Candy refills.

Scooby Doo PEZ Dispensers
With the new Scooby Doo movie now available, these PEZ dispensers are selling faster than Scooby can eat a bag of Scooby snacks! Each pack may include all or some of these characters: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, or Fred.

Peppa Pig PEZ Dispensers
The popular children’s cartoon character, Peppa Pig, is joined by a cavalcade of friends in their own PEZ collection. Each pack may include all or some of these characters: Peppa, George, Princess Peppa, or Pirate George.

Whether you’ve been collecting PEZ dispensers for decades, or just getting into it, you can count on us to have all the latest releases as they become available, plus a full collection of classics. Be sure to check out our complete selection today.

For candy lovers, being on a restricted diet doesn’t mean you have to give up a satisfying treat every now and then. We recently shared some of our favorite (and delicious) sugar-free candy and today we’re going to talk about gluten-free / gluten friendly sweets.

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who need to abide by a gluten free diet, there are a variety of candy choices available including some favorites that you may be surprised to learn are gluten free!

First up, candy that is specifically designed for those on a vegan or gluten free diet. These sweets are clearly labeled so there’s no mistaking that these contain ingredients suitable for restricted diets.

Twilight Gluten-Free Vegan Candy Bar
This gluten-free candy bar reminds us of a Milky Way. It has a rich, chocolate nougat thats topped with a caramel and rice-milk chocolate coating. To make this bar even better, there’s no artificial ingredients and it contains no trans fats.

Cleo’s Gluten-Free Vegan Peanut Butter Cups
We’re a sucker for chocolate and peanut butter and when we tried Cleo’s Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cups, we were hooked! Creamy peanut butter is covered in a rice-milk chocolate coating to make these a delicious treat or for an afternoon snack.

For fans of Almond Joy, you’ll want to check out the Mahalo Gluten-Free candy bar while those who enjoy Butterfinger will certainly want to order some of our Thumbs Up bars!

If you’re craving chocolate but you just ate your last Cleo’s or Twilight bar, have no fear! Many well-known brands are gluten free even though they don’t mention it on the packaging, including:

Hershey’s Chocolate Bars
Yes, the king of chocolate is gluten free! Hershey’s Chocolate bars in milk chocolate, special dark, and milk chocolate with almonds are a true classic and you may have one in your cupboard or desk drawer right now.

Snickers Candy Bars
When the after-lunch-but-not-time-for-dinner hunger pains start, the craving for a Snickers bar kicks in. Chocolate, peanuts, caramel and nougat come together to create the perfect candy bar that is gluten free and holds you over until supper.

York Peppermint Pattie
We tend to enjoy a York Peppermint Pattie after dinner. Yes, we know a huge hot fudge sundae would be much better, but sometimes you just want a little something sweet to cap off a great meal. Peppermint Patties are gluten free as well and don’t contain nearly as many calories and fat as that sundae!

Of course, this is just a small sampling of what we have available. We’ve put together a whole section of gluten free candy including candy bars, gum, gummy candy and more, for you to browse and find an old favorite or try something new. If you need help choosing candy that meets specific dietary requirements, don’t hesitate to contact us, our candy experts are here to help as we’ve been for over 75 years.

Ask a party planner what’s a hot dessert for bridal showers, birthday parties, corporate events, or even weddings and without hesitation they’re bound to say, “cupcakes!”

The simple cake desert has been reinvented and today they’re tastier, more complex, and far more decadent than a simple vanilla cupcake with chocolate icing that may have been one of your favorites as a child.

Professional bakers and home chefs have embraced the cupcake much like an artist embraces a blank canvas –  only the cupcake is an edible masterpiece – one that sometimes looks too good to eat.

When creating fanciful dessert cakes, candy is often used as an ingredient in some form, either as a topping or tucked away inside waiting to be discovered with the first bite.

One example where candy is used as an unexpected surprise is with a Pinata Cupcake. Like the name implies, the cupcake itself is like a pinata where the inside is filled with delicious sweets.

To make a pinata cupcake, whip up a batch like you normally would and bake them all the way. Once they’re cooled, carve a center section of the cupcake out and put in some candy treats. Cover the hole up with a piece of the cake you cut out, then seal it all up with some frosting and some decorations if you want.

When someone takes their first bite or cuts into it, surprise!

Photo credit: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/

There are different types of candy you can use as filler for pinata cupcakes. Rainbow sprinkles are a favorite, as are M & Ms. For kids parties, we even have dinosaur sprinkles that are sure to be a hit either inside the pinata cupcake or sprinkled on top of the frosting.

Step-by-step instructions for pinata cupcakes, can be found here.

Another example of how to use candy in your cupcakes is to literally put a candy bar inside! Well, not a full candy bar, but the snack size mini versions.

For Candy Bar Cupcakes, you’re actually baking the candy bar with the cake, unlike how candy is added for the Pinata Cupcakes. By following this recipe, you’ll whip up your batter, fill your cupcake liner about ⅓ full, add your snack size candy bar, then fill the rest of the way with batter.

Once they’re baked, you’ll decorate them with frosting and sprinkles. When you bite or cut into them you’ll get a delicious bust of unexpected flavor thanks to the melted chocolate bar.

Photo credit: https://life-in-the-lofthouse.com/

The best candy to use for these Candy Bar Cupcakes include the snack size variety of Milky Way, Twix, Snickers, and Rolo.

These are just two examples of how you can take your next batch of cupcakes to the next level. So next time you’re in the mood to do some baking, don’t hesitate to incorporate candy into your recipe.

Those with special dietary needs don’t have to feel left out when it comes to enjoying a sweet snack. Many favorite candies – from hard tack to chocolate – are available in sugar free and gluten free options.

Today, we’re taking a closer look at some of our most popular sugar-free candy, including:

Jolly Rancher
Jolly Rancher hard candies are hard to resist but you don’t have to, since they are also available in a sugar-free version. Yes, the delicious watermelon, apple, grape, and raspberry flavors we all love are yours to enjoy with all the flavor but none of the sugar.

Werther’s Original
When it comes to caramel flavored candy, there’s one that instantly comes to mind – Werther’s. Werther’s Original Sugar Free candy uses the same “Old World Recipe” that generations have enjoyed and you’ll be surprised how much these taste just like the regular version.

Life Savers
Check your purses, duffel bags, and backpacks we bet there’s a Life Saver or two in there! Great for giving your breath a little refresh after lunch, or anytime during the day, Sugar Free Life Savers are available in Wint-O-Green and Pep-O-Mint and are individually wrapped making them easy to take with you wherever you go.

Hershey’s Sugar Free Chocolate
If you’re looking to satisfy a chocolate craving but need to do it without the sugar, don’t worry… it’s Hershey’s to the rescue! Whether you’re a milk chocolate lover or dark chocolate fan, Hershey’s Sugar Free Chocolate bars available in miniature and individually wrapped.

Orbit Sugar Free Gum
No list of sugar free candy would be complete without mentioning gum. We picked one of our favorites, Orbit, not only for its great taste but also for the variety of flavors this sugar free gum is available in. Choose from seven different flavors from bubblemint to cinnamon all without added sugar!

Be sure to check out our complete selection of sugar free candy to see what else is available. For those with special dietary restrictions, we also carry gluten free candy as well as vegan candy.

Back in the 1950’s science fiction movies were all the rage with tales of aliens from other planets traveling to Earth in space ships to either wreak havoc or satisfy their own curiosity for seeking out other beings.

Curiously, we were enamored with these stories of unidentified flying objects and little green men from Mars. Even today, we’re still chasing the stars to see what else is out there!

Around the same time we were fascinated with UFO’s and what may lie in outer space, a candy was born that retains its popularity today – Flying Saucers, or more commonly known as Satellite Wafers.

Nostalgic candy fans rank these wafer treats high up on the “Must Try Classic Candy” scale. Born in the same decade as our favorite sci-fi flicks, Satellite Wafers were originally manufactured by a Belgium company famous for making, of all things, communion wafers.

When orders started to decline for communion wafers, they set their sights on using their expertise to make a candy wafer – behold the Flying Saucer!

These melt-in-your-mouth candies are filled with delicious candy beads that have an instantly recognizable taste that will transport you back to the days of visiting the corner candy store to buy a bag full of them.

Satellite Wafers are still a popular classic candy that’s a bit on the unique side. Besides the original version, they also come filled with a sour powder, instead of candy beads, for those who like their candy a little on the tart side.

While the debate rages on as to whether or not we’ve been visited by real flying saucers, there’s no doubt that the candy version has been a hit for nearly 75 years. Satellite Wafers continue to delight fans while gaining popularity among those trying them for the first time.

Looking to try a few other classics?  We have the largest selection of nostalgic candy including some classic treats that have been satisfying candy cravings for over a century.

If you’re old enough to remember penny loafers, sock hops, and peddle pushers you probably remember Black Jack, Necco Wafers, and Baby Jane. Whenever you sit back and recall the “good old days,” you can’t help but think about some of the candy that was around back then.

But did you know that some of your favorite old time candy is still around?

Nostalgia is hotter than ever with a whole new generation digging into the past and learning about what the trends were “back then.” Candy manufacturers have brought back many of the classic candies you may have grown up with but thought were long gone. These confectionery delights are now being introduced to a whole new audience with nostalgic candy making a comeback.

Let’s take a walk down Memory Lane and take a look at some old time candy that’s still around today.

Candy Cigarettes
Candy Cigarettes have been around for over a hundred years! You probably remember the packaging that was designed to look just like a real pack of smokes, but inside was a chalk-like sugary stick with a pink “lit” end. Other varieties included bubble gum and chocolate. As time went on, a push was made to ban Candy Cigarettes, however, since these treats did not contain any tobacco, candy companies changed the name to Candy Sticks and redesigned the packaging to avoid the link to smoking. If you were a fan of their unique taste, Candy Cigarettes, or Candy Sticks, are still sold today!

Clove Gum
History says this classic chewing gum was introduced in 1914 by the Thomas Adams Company and as the name implies, was flavored with cloves giving it an unforgettable unique taste and smell. Rumor has it that during prohibition, Clove gum was a favorite of those who imbibed at speakeasies as it supposedly masked the smell of alcohol! Clove, Black Jack and Beeman’s gum disappeared for a while until all three were brought back in 2018 and have gained new found popularity.

Sugar Daddy
No not that kind! We’re talking about another sweetheart of a candy that’s been around since 1925. This hard caramel candy on a stick was originally called the Papa Sucker, but was renamed Sugar Daddy in 1932. Over the course of its history, the candy was made by several different companies before finding a permanent home with Tootsie Industries in 1993. Today, those who crave a simple caramel candy scoop ‘em up by the box!

Abba-Zabba Candy Bar
In 1922 the Colby and McDermott candy company had the idea to create a different type of candy bar – one that had a peanut butter center with a taffy coating. The Abba-Zabba bar was born and it was an immediate hit! Besides its unique makeup, there’s no mistaking an Abba-Zabba bar. The yellow and black checkerboard wrapper has remained unchanged since the bar first made its appearance nearly a century ago.

Necco Wafers
No discussion about nostalgic candy is complete without mentioning Necco Wafers – the candy you either love or hate! Necco Wafers date back to 1847 and were made right up until 2018 by the now defunct New England Confectionery Company (NECCO). The nickel size wafers of varying flavors were rolled up into a wax paper package and have become the symbol of classic candy and it’s usually the first one that comes to mind. When NECCO went bankrupt, fans banned together hoping that another company would come to rescue their favorite nostalgic treat. Spangler Candy Company heard their cries and the candy is now in production and slated to arrive this summer. Be sure to sign up for an alert when it comes in, so you’ll be one of the first to experience it all over again.

Well, there are a few of our favorite old time candies, we hope this brought back some memories for you. If it did, be sure to check out our selection of nostalgic candy and order some to try all over again.