Bulk Candy

Are you planning a Christmas function and need to purchase a large volume of candy for the event? Maybe you are throwing a graduation party for your son or daughter? Do you need a variety of wholesale candy for students in your class on Valentine's Day? Planning to supply the candy for a corporate party at work? These are just some of the examples where having bulk candy available would be just the thing to make these special occasions go smoothly or add a little flair.

Early on, most candy companies realized that the need large quantities of candy rather than individual pieces would become more and more of an issue as the economy grew and more and more businesses set aside time for special events where having party favors might include having candy on hand.

Being able to purchase bulk candy at lower or wholesale prices prompted many of these companies to expand their operations to cater to needs. You could purchase big bags of bulk candy in your local supermarket or order them direct from the companies if the quantities needed were especially large.

As the years went by and technology improved, methods of purchasing bulk candy changed as well. With the emergence of the worldwide web, the bulk candy markets received a big boost.

Not only did established companies like Brach’s and Hershey’s have new ways to both attract the attention of customers surfing the net, they seized the opportunity to create online bulk candy distribution centers. Now you could actually order candy online and have it shipped directly to your house or business. It has been a remarkable innovation, certainly.

Following these big players, smaller independent candy distributors posted websites offering wholesale bulk candy as well. Today, the internet hosts thousands of these kinds of sites. Each one offering deals on either the types of candies they have available or the prices they sell them for.

This is the perfect avenue for small businesses that have candy displays or for refilling vending machines. Often, rather than going the local market to find the normal run of bulk candy, consumers are looking for specialty items or bulk candy that can be augmented with personal touches.

No matter what you need bulk candy for, you can be sure to find plenty of it online for the taking.

Candy Apples

Whether served fresh at carnivals or packaged in the local grocery store, the candy apple has been a tasty treat that scores people, children and adult alike, have savored for many years. In fact, some research has suggested that the methods employed in the making of candy apples date back into ancient times where the practice of coating fruit in sugar syrup for preservative reasons was common.

Furthermore, food historians generally agree that the existence of what we currently call candy apples and caramel (toffee) apples probably date to the late 19th century, although this is difficult to prove in print. Both toffee and caramel are traced to the early decades of the 18th century. Inexpensive toffee/caramels became available by the end of the 19th century. Culinary evidence confirms a variety of recipes, from simple candy to creamy toffee/caramel coating.

The Oxford English Dictionary gives on quotations relating to toffee apples earlier than the beginning of the 20th century. However, the use of the term as a soldier's slang for a type of bomb used in World War I suggests that they were already well known, and probably have a longer history than the quotations allow.

In the phrase toffee apple the word toffee means simple boiled sugar, not the mixture of sugar and dairy produce which is what the word normally refers to. This may be another indication of an older origin. There is some similarity between toffee apples and the Chinese dessert items which consist of pieces of banana or apple fried in batter and then coated in caramelized syrup. Whether there is any historical connection is not clear.

In order to make candy apples, first, you need to remove stem from each apple. Wash and dry each apple. Insert wooden stir stick for holding in the center of stem end then set them aside. Now you are going to grease a baking sheet, then set this aside for later as well.

In 12-cup heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, water and corn syrup; cook, stirring, over medium-low heat for 8 minutes or until sugar has dissolved. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to boil, brushing down side of pan occasionally with brush dipped in hot water to prevent crystallization. Boil, brushing down side occasionally but not stirring, for 15 to 25 minutes or until at soft-crack stage of 290 degrees

Fahrenheit on candy thermometer, or until half a teaspoon of syrup dropped into cold water separates into hard but pliable threads. Then remove syrup from heat; very quickly stir in red food coloring. Immediately plunge bottom of pan into ice water and hold for about 15 seconds or until sizzling stops. Holding each apple by wooden stick and tilting saucepan, swirl each apple in candy syrup until well coated all over. Lift apple and quickly swirl over pan to allow excess to drip off. Place on prepared baking sheet; let stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or until hardened. Now you have fresh delicious candy apples to enjoy.

Peanut Candy

For more than 100 years, the peanut has enjoyed a prevalent place in the United States for its great taste and versatility. One of the more delicious uses of the peanut is for making candy. In fact, more than 20% of the total peanuts used are set aside strictly for processing in candy of one form or another. Other than strictly sugar-based hard and soft candy, you will be find peanuts, in one form or another, whether it is whole nuts or merely trace amounts on the ingredient label.

Some the earliest, and most classic, forms of peanut candy include peanut brittle, peanut squares, butter toffee peanuts, and the incomparable chocolate covered peanuts. Beyond these simple favorites, peanuts clusters, with their blend of chocolates and nuts (sometimes caramel) make a lasting impression. M&M’s peanut candy is simple a whole peanut covered in a thin candy shell.

Most of these kinds of peanut candy incorporate the entire nut into their recipe, though, at times, they were chopped up before being added to the candy mix.

Around the time of World War II, a new form of candy became extremely popular and has remained so until the present. The candy bar is at the top of the list for most Americans’ favorite candy. Peanuts have had their own place in the candy bar realm with brands like PayDay, Snickers, and Planters. In lean times, and during WWII when much of candy production was halted or at least curtailed, most peanut candies remained at full production due to the abundance of raw materials.

When it comes to peanut candy, it should be noted that a large percentage of the peanuts used are actually in the form of peanut butter. Many snacks and candies are used with peanut butter. A quick list of examples may include peanut butter fudge and the Reece’s brand candy line (ex. Peanut butter cups, Reece’s Pieces), the Peanut Butter Bar, and the Take 5 Bar.

Some peanut companies have selections of peanut candies among their other products which candy be purchased online and which are more exclusive than other commercial candy brands.

Peanut candy, along with chocolate, has remained the most desirable candy available.