As the leaves begin to change and the air gives you a chill, excitement builds for one of America’s most popular holidays: Halloween! This day brings out spooky decorations, costumes ranging from creepy to cute, and of course, candy!
While the practice of gifting food on this day dates back centuries, the modern “trick or treating” as we know it started around the 1930s. Homemade treats were popular up until the 50s when store-bought candy began being marketed for the occasion. Due to safety concerns, by the 1980s, it became standard practice.
Candy bags are filled with a little bit of everything for everyone on this day: sour gummies, chocolate wafers, fruit flavored taffy, and naturally, candy corn and candy pumpkins! If you’re a candy manufacturer, Jedwards supplies many of the ingredients that go into these sweets!
- Sugar and Sugar Alternatives
Sugar is the backbone of all things sweet. Halloween candy is most often made with table sugar, though those who follow low to no sugar diets may opt for candy sweetened with alternatives such as naturally derived erythritol and sorbitol. Honey and agave syrup are other popular natural sweeteners with a distinct flavor.
- Cocoa Powder & Chocolate Chips
Chocolate bars can’t exist without cocoa! Cocoa powder is used in anything chocolate, while chocolate chips are added on top or inside confections.
- Waxes and Lecithins
Carnauba wax is a staple in many candies. It’s in candy-coated chocolate, gummies, and the iconic candy corn. It protects against melting, provides texture, and gives that shiny waxy finish. Lecithin, derived from sunflower and soy lecithin, emulsifies chocolate by binding fats to non-fats.
- Extracts & Acids
Citric acid is a highly praised ingredient in gummy candies as it provides a very sour, fruity taste while also preserving freshness. Vanilla extract complements many flavors, often found in caramels and chocolates.
- Butters & Plant Carrier Oils
Chocolate bars’ creamy texture is due to cocoa butter and palm oil. It is typically made with one or the other, though they can be used in tandem. They promote bar stability at room temperature while melting in your mouth. Both raw materials contain antioxidants which contribute to a longer shelf lives, though one may be preferred over the other depending on texture preference.
Halloween or year-round, Jedwards is your go-to source for chocolate and confection formulations. Satisfy your sweet tooth by shopping at bulknaturaloils.com today!
