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Types of candy

Marshmallow and mellowcreme

Circus peanuts, Peeps and candy corn. 3 classics, when each came out and who makes it now.

1888Candy corn Still made 1953Peeps Still made 1800sCircus Peanuts Still made

Every marshmallow and mellowcreme on Original Candy House

  • Circus Peanuts (1800s): Soft, orange, peanut-shaped marshmallow candy, usually banana flavored. Still made.
  • Candy corn (1888): Waxy, honey and vanilla flavored candy in three stripes: yellow, orange and white. Still made.
  • Peeps (1953): Sugar-coated marshmallow chicks and bunnies, the classic Easter candy. Still made.

The oldest here is Circus Peanuts, first made 1800s.

Marshmallow or mellowcreme?

They look alike in the candy aisle but they are made differently. Marshmallow is sugar and corn syrup whipped with gelatin or egg white until it is full of air, which is why Peeps and Circus Peanuts are soft and spongy. Mellowcreme is a dense, fondant-like mix of sugar, corn syrup and a little honey or vanilla that is poured into shapes pressed into trays of cornstarch, then left to set. That is how candy corn gets its three stripes: each color is poured in turn.

Mostly a seasonal candy

This is the one candy type that lives on the holiday calendar. Candy corn and mellowcreme pumpkins arrive for Halloween, Peeps for Easter, and Circus Peanuts are among the few found all year. If you are shopping for an old favorite outside its season, candy shops that stock old-fashioned candy are your best bet.

More marshmallow candies with a long history

  • Valomilk (1931): a chocolate cup with a runny vanilla marshmallow center, first made by Sifers in Kansas City and still made by the Sifers family in Merriam, Kansas.
  • Mallo Cup (1936): a chocolate cup filled with marshmallow, made by Boyer in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
  • Rocky Road: the signature bar of Annabelle Candy Company, founded in 1950, with marshmallow, roasted cashews and chocolate.

Frequently asked questions

What are some classic marshmallow and mellowcreme?

Circus Peanuts, Candy corn and Peeps.

What is the difference between marshmallow and mellowcreme candy?

Marshmallow is whipped with gelatin or egg white, so it is light and spongy. Mellowcreme is a dense sugar and corn syrup mix poured into cornstarch molds, the way candy corn is made.

Are there other old marshmallow candies?

Yes. Valomilk (1931) and the Mallo Cup (1936) are both chocolate cups with marshmallow centers that are still made today.