Candy Corn Desserts For Those Who Don’t Like Candy Corn
It’s probably the most heated debate of this time of year: are you a fan of candy corn- or not?
I personally love candy corn, but I realize there are many who don’t quite feel the same way. But whether you like the flavor or not, you can’t help but embrace the festiveness of candy corn! And let’s be honest- they are super cute.
So maybe you don’t love candy corn, but you can still embrace the spirit of the season and utilize the candy corn color scheme to help you make some delicious, darling desserts- without having to eat or taste actual candy corn!
Chocolate covered marshmallows. Using white, yellow, and orange candy melts, you can layer three big chocolate-covered marshmallows on skewers to create your own “candy corn” marshmallows.
Layered Jello. Lemon and orange jello with white gelatin would be super easy to make and would be an adorable tribute to candy corn (without the flavor of actual candy corn!).
Cupcakes with layered frosting. You can dye the cupcakes or leave them as is, but with a swirl of orange, yellow and white frosting you can easily create a candy corn effect on top!
Cake layers. You can also make a triple layer cake, and dye the layers orange and yellow (with the original white for the third layer). You can decorate the outside to match the layers, or frost it all one color and leave the candy corn for an inside surprise!
Candy corn fudge. Take your favorite white fudge recipe, and just split it into three- leave one part white, dye the other parts yellow and orange and layer them (letting each layer set a little in-between) to make delicious non-candy corn flavored fudge.
Rice Krispie candy corn. With the help of a little orange food coloring, you can make orange Rice Krispie treats and shape them into triangles. Dip the tip into white candy melts, and the bottom into yellow candy melts to create the candy corn color scheme. These would be super tasty and so cute!
Sugar Cookies. A triangular cookie would easily be turned into a giant candy corn with the right colored frosting! And you can flavor it in any way you want that’s not candy corn ;).
Candy Corn Marshmallows. Homemade marshmallows are such a cool dessert- and you can make them even cooler by making them candy corn colored!
Candy Corn Marshmallows
Prep time:
Cook time:
Serving size: 36
Calories per serving: 82
Ingredients:
Cook time:
Serving size: 36
Calories per serving: 82
3 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup invert sugar syrup (170 grams)
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
15 3/4 teaspoons gelatin (7 packets, one packet is 2 1/4tsp )
1 cup water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract (optional)
food colors: orange, yellow gel colors
4 teaspoons meringue powder
4 tablespoons warm water
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
Directions:
Spray a 9×9 ich pan with a non stick spray. Set aside.
Into a small dish measure Vanilla Extract (2tsp), Almond Extract (1/4tsp) and Lemon Extract (1/4tsp). Almond and Lemon are optional.
Marshmallow Mixture
Into a bowl of your stand mixer pour cold water (1cup). Sprinkle gelatin (15 and 3/4tsp / 7 packets) over water. Let it bloom while sugar syrup is cooking.
Into a 3 quart stainless steel pan measure invert sugar syrup (1/2cup/170grams), water (1cup), sugar (3cups), and salt (1/4tsp). Stir to combine. Heat the mixture on low heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is homogeneous. Cover the pot for 4-5 minutes and cook until sugar is dissolved.
After all of the sugar is dissolved increase the temperature to medium and bring mixture to boil. Don’t stir. You may notice sugar particles sticking to the sides of the pan. Take a pastry brush and wash the sugar down with a pastry brush dipped in water. Or alternatively cover the pan with a lid and let the syrup cook for 2-3 minutes. Condensation will wash down the sides of the pan clean. Attach the candy thermometer inside of the pan. If you notice any sugar crystals on the sides of the pan while sugar syrup is cooking be sure to wash them down with a pastry brush dipped in water.
Once sugar syrup reaches 240F immediately remove pot from the heat. Pour hot mixture down the side of the bowl into the bloomed gelatin. Mixture will foam up. Stir it with a wooden spoon until gelatin is completely dissolved. About 60 seconds.
Fit a mixer with a wire attachment. Start beating hot mixture on medium speed. Be careful not to touch the bowl at this stage. It will be hot. Once mixture starts to turn opaque increase speed to high. Beat until tripled in volume.
Egg Whites
In a small dish combine meringue powder (4tsp) and warm water (4tbsp). Whisk till foamy and white.
Once the bowl is lukewarm to the touch on the outside and marshmallow mixture tripled in volume gradually beat in soft peaks egg whites and extracts. When layering different colors it is important not to let the marshmallow mixture beat till cold. It will start to set up pretty quickly and you won’t have enough time to color and layer it into the pan. Look for a ribbon stage and then turn off the mixture.
Divide white marshmallow mixture evenly into 3 bowls. Color marshmallow mixture quickly with yellow and orange gel coloring, leaving one portion uncolored.
Layer Colored Marshmallow Mixtures
Starting with yellow mixture, pour it into a 9×9 inch pan sprayed with a nonstick spray. Immediately, over yellow layer pour orange mixture. Don’t pour all of the orange mixture in one spot. Instead pour it over yellow layer in a ziz-zac pattern. Then use a small spatula sprayed with a nonstick spray and spread it so it covers the whole surface. Lastly, layer white mixture and repeat spreading white mixture with a small spatula into those hard to reach places. Let marshmallows set for 5-6 hours or overnight.
Coating Mixture
In a bowl combine powdered sugar (1/3cup) and corn starch (1/3cup). Set aside.
Cut Marshmallows
Dust a large cutting board with coating mixture. Invert set marshmallow slab onto sugar/starch dusted surface. Generously dust the top of the marshmallow slab. Divide marshmallow into strips. I used a ruler and a toothpick to mark the strips sections.
Butter or spray a blade of a sharp knife with a nonstick spray. Cut the marshmallows strips into cubes.
Coat Marshmallows
Coat marshmallows with powdered sugar/corn starch mixture. Then place coated marshmallows into a fine mesh sieve. Shake it to remove residue from the marshmallow cubes.
Source: shanielas.com
Into a small dish measure Vanilla Extract (2tsp), Almond Extract (1/4tsp) and Lemon Extract (1/4tsp). Almond and Lemon are optional.
Marshmallow Mixture
Into a bowl of your stand mixer pour cold water (1cup). Sprinkle gelatin (15 and 3/4tsp / 7 packets) over water. Let it bloom while sugar syrup is cooking.
Into a 3 quart stainless steel pan measure invert sugar syrup (1/2cup/170grams), water (1cup), sugar (3cups), and salt (1/4tsp). Stir to combine. Heat the mixture on low heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is homogeneous. Cover the pot for 4-5 minutes and cook until sugar is dissolved.
After all of the sugar is dissolved increase the temperature to medium and bring mixture to boil. Don’t stir. You may notice sugar particles sticking to the sides of the pan. Take a pastry brush and wash the sugar down with a pastry brush dipped in water. Or alternatively cover the pan with a lid and let the syrup cook for 2-3 minutes. Condensation will wash down the sides of the pan clean. Attach the candy thermometer inside of the pan. If you notice any sugar crystals on the sides of the pan while sugar syrup is cooking be sure to wash them down with a pastry brush dipped in water.
Once sugar syrup reaches 240F immediately remove pot from the heat. Pour hot mixture down the side of the bowl into the bloomed gelatin. Mixture will foam up. Stir it with a wooden spoon until gelatin is completely dissolved. About 60 seconds.
Fit a mixer with a wire attachment. Start beating hot mixture on medium speed. Be careful not to touch the bowl at this stage. It will be hot. Once mixture starts to turn opaque increase speed to high. Beat until tripled in volume.
Egg Whites
In a small dish combine meringue powder (4tsp) and warm water (4tbsp). Whisk till foamy and white.
Once the bowl is lukewarm to the touch on the outside and marshmallow mixture tripled in volume gradually beat in soft peaks egg whites and extracts. When layering different colors it is important not to let the marshmallow mixture beat till cold. It will start to set up pretty quickly and you won’t have enough time to color and layer it into the pan. Look for a ribbon stage and then turn off the mixture.
Divide white marshmallow mixture evenly into 3 bowls. Color marshmallow mixture quickly with yellow and orange gel coloring, leaving one portion uncolored.
Layer Colored Marshmallow Mixtures
Starting with yellow mixture, pour it into a 9×9 inch pan sprayed with a nonstick spray. Immediately, over yellow layer pour orange mixture. Don’t pour all of the orange mixture in one spot. Instead pour it over yellow layer in a ziz-zac pattern. Then use a small spatula sprayed with a nonstick spray and spread it so it covers the whole surface. Lastly, layer white mixture and repeat spreading white mixture with a small spatula into those hard to reach places. Let marshmallows set for 5-6 hours or overnight.
Coating Mixture
In a bowl combine powdered sugar (1/3cup) and corn starch (1/3cup). Set aside.
Cut Marshmallows
Dust a large cutting board with coating mixture. Invert set marshmallow slab onto sugar/starch dusted surface. Generously dust the top of the marshmallow slab. Divide marshmallow into strips. I used a ruler and a toothpick to mark the strips sections.
Butter or spray a blade of a sharp knife with a nonstick spray. Cut the marshmallows strips into cubes.
Coat Marshmallows
Coat marshmallows with powdered sugar/corn starch mixture. Then place coated marshmallows into a fine mesh sieve. Shake it to remove residue from the marshmallow cubes.
Source: shanielas.com
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Candy Corn Pretzels. These are adorable- and would be a fun activity to do with kids, too!
Candy Corn Pretzels
Ingredients:
stick pretzels
white candy melts
orange candy melts
yellow candy melts (i used wilton brand for all 3 colors)
vegetable shortening
bottle squeeze or similar method to get the colored chocolate in place
sheet baking
wax paper or a silicone baking mat
Directions:
In a small pot over low heat on the stove, combine the the yellow candy melts and about 1 tbsp of vegetable shortening. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Repeat these steps with the white and orange candy melts.
While the chocolate is melting set up your decoration station. Place a baking sheet (or multiple) on the counter, line those with wax paper or a silicone baking mat. Then set up the candy corn pretzel outlines. You’ll use 2 regular pretzels for the sides and a broken pretzel for the bottom.
Once the chocolate is melted and smooth, transfer each color to a squeeze bottle or other similar device. Add the chocolate to the outline, I found it easiest to start with yellow, then orange and white.
Be sure that the chocolate goes up the sides of the pretzels a bit to ensure that the pretzels won’t fall off after they harden. You can use a toothpick to help get the lines straight and to smooth out any chocolate bumps. Once they are all filled in, you could let them harden on the counter or place the baking sheet in the fridge to speed up the process.
After they harden carefully remove the candy corn pretzels from the wax paper. Store leftovers in an air tight container.
Source: sthefirstyearblog.com
While the chocolate is melting set up your decoration station. Place a baking sheet (or multiple) on the counter, line those with wax paper or a silicone baking mat. Then set up the candy corn pretzel outlines. You’ll use 2 regular pretzels for the sides and a broken pretzel for the bottom.
Once the chocolate is melted and smooth, transfer each color to a squeeze bottle or other similar device. Add the chocolate to the outline, I found it easiest to start with yellow, then orange and white.
Be sure that the chocolate goes up the sides of the pretzels a bit to ensure that the pretzels won’t fall off after they harden. You can use a toothpick to help get the lines straight and to smooth out any chocolate bumps. Once they are all filled in, you could let them harden on the counter or place the baking sheet in the fridge to speed up the process.
After they harden carefully remove the candy corn pretzels from the wax paper. Store leftovers in an air tight container.
Source: sthefirstyearblog.com
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Candy Corn Swirl Cookies. These are just too cute! Such a fun way to use candy corn colors!
Candy Corn Swirl Cookies
Yield: 2 dozen
Serving size: 24
Calories per serving: 141
Ingredients:
Serving size: 24
Calories per serving: 141
2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
food coloring in yellow and orange
Directions:
This recipe is super easy, but keep in mind that it needs at least an hour for refrigeration. To start, cream the butter in a large bowl until it’s soft and creamy. Add the granulated sugar and mix until the sugar is completely integrated with the butter. Add the egg, baking powder, and vanilla extract. Mix until creamy and all ingredients are combined. One cup at a time, add the flour, mixing between each new addition. The dough should be pliable but not sticky once you’ve added all the flour. If the dough is still sticky, add more flour (about 1/4 cup at a time) until the dough is no longer sticky. Separate the dough into three even parts, and color one yellow, one orange, and leave the other plain. Once you’ve gotten the dough the shades of orange and yellow you want, allow all three to firm up in the refrigerator for at least 15-20 minutes.
Once the dough is firm, roll each color out to about 1/2? thick. Stack the doughs on top of one another with orange on the bottom, yellow in the middle, and white on the top. I like to trim mine down with a pizza cutter so the edges are a little straighter. Starting on one of the long sides, roll the dough all the way to the other side to form a log. Wrap in plastic wrap and allow the dough to set for about 40 minutes in the refrigerator. You want it to be nice and firm before you cut it.
Preheat your oven to 350* Fahrenheit (175* Celsius) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove the dough from it’s plastic wrap and cut it into 1/2? thick cookies. I like to use thread to cut these cookies since it keeps the log of dough from getting misshapen by the pressure. To do this, simply slip a piece of thread under the log of dough, pull it up around the sides and over the top so that the ends are facing away from each other, and pull to slice through. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are no longer shiny on top.
Source: sthesimplesweetlife.wordpress.com
Once the dough is firm, roll each color out to about 1/2? thick. Stack the doughs on top of one another with orange on the bottom, yellow in the middle, and white on the top. I like to trim mine down with a pizza cutter so the edges are a little straighter. Starting on one of the long sides, roll the dough all the way to the other side to form a log. Wrap in plastic wrap and allow the dough to set for about 40 minutes in the refrigerator. You want it to be nice and firm before you cut it.
Preheat your oven to 350* Fahrenheit (175* Celsius) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove the dough from it’s plastic wrap and cut it into 1/2? thick cookies. I like to use thread to cut these cookies since it keeps the log of dough from getting misshapen by the pressure. To do this, simply slip a piece of thread under the log of dough, pull it up around the sides and over the top so that the ends are facing away from each other, and pull to slice through. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are no longer shiny on top.
Source: sthesimplesweetlife.wordpress.com
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Even if you don’t like candy corn, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this sweet candy without having to actually taste it!
Source:
- https://www.twosisterscrafting.com/candy-corn-marshmallow-pops/
- https://abeautifulmess.com/candy-corn-jello-shots/
- https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/halloween/g1231/candy-corn-desserts/?slide=27
- https://pintsizedtreasures.com/chocolate-dipped-candy-corn-treats/
- https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/easy-candy-corn-fudge/?epik=dj0yJnU9ZkRvcFhxU0dESkhaM1VoOEZEN3BNZ3RZS1dha054czgmcD0wJm49WG9sSWtWT2Vmdjkwc09EWUo2ZGhIUSZ0PUFBQUFBR0ZxTWhr
- https://javacupcake.com/2013/10/candy-corn-mummy-sugar-cookies/
- https://www.hanielas.com/candy-corn-marshmallows/
- https://thefirstyearblog.com/candy-corn-pretzels/
- https://thesimplesweetlife.wordpress.com/2013/10/05/candy-corn-swirl-cookies/
- https://pixabay.com/id/photos/permen-jagung-permen-halloween-3723068/
Camille Hoffmann
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
Email the author! camille@dvo.com