Candy corn: the not-so-sweet truth why it’s not vegan

Candy corn is a classic Halloween treat that many people enjoy. However, if you’re vegan, you may be wondering why candy corn isn’t vegan.

Ingredients in Candy Corn

Candy corn is made with a variety of ingredients, including:

• Sugar
• Corn syrup
• Water
• Salt
• Yellow 5
• Red 3
• Blue 1

Why Isn’t Candy Corn Vegan?

The main reason why candy corn isn’t vegan is because it contains a non-vegan ingredient called confectioner’s glaze. Confectioner’s glaze is a type of food additive that is used to give candy a shiny, glossy finish. It is made from shellac, which is a resin that is secreted by the lac beetle. Lac beetles are insects that live in Southeast Asia.

Shellac is not vegan because it is an animal product. It is also not considered to be kosher because it is not derived from a kosher animal.

Other Non-Vegan Ingredients in Candy Corn

In addition to confectioner’s glaze, candy corn may also contain other non-vegan ingredients, such as:

• Carmine is a red food coloring that is made from crushed cochineal beetles.
• Beeswax is a wax that is produced by bees. It is used to give candy corn its smooth texture.
• Gelatin is a protein that is derived from animal collagen. It is used to give candy corn its chewy texture.

Vegan Alternatives to Candy Corn

If you’re looking for a vegan alternative to candy corn, there are a few options available. One option is to make your own candy corn at home using vegan ingredients. Another option is to buy vegan candy corn from a store.

How to Make Vegan Candy Corn

To make vegan candy corn, you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of corn syrup
• 1/4 cup of water
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon of yellow food coloring
• 1/4 teaspoon of orange food coloring
• 1/4 teaspoon of red food coloring

Instructions:

1. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly.
3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened.
4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Divide the mixture into three equal parts.
6. Add the yellow food coloring to one part, the orange food coloring to another part, and the red food coloring to the remaining part.
7. Pour the mixtures into three separate molds and let them cool completely.
8. Once the candy corn has cooled, remove it from the molds and enjoy!

Where to Buy Vegan Candy Corn

If you don’t want to make your own vegan candy corn, you can buy it from a store. Here are a few brands that sell vegan candy corn:

• Annie’s Homegrown
• Brach’s
• Jelly Belly
• Surf Sweets
• YumEarth

The Bottom Line

Candy corn may be a classic Halloween treat, but it’s not vegan because it contains non-vegan ingredients like confectioner’s glaze, carmine, beeswax, and gelatin. If you’re looking for a vegan alternative to candy corn, there are a few options available. You can make your own candy corn at home using vegan ingredients, or you can buy vegan candy corn from a store.

Basics You Wanted To Know

Is all candy corn not vegan?

No, not all candy corn is not vegan. There are a few brands that sell vegan candy corn, such as Annie’s Homegrown, Brach’s, Jelly Belly, Surf Sweets, and YumEarth.

What is confectioner’s glaze?

Confectioner’s glaze is a type of food additive that is used to give candy a shiny, glossy finish. It is made from shellac, which is a resin that is secreted by the lac beetle.

Is carmine vegan?

No, carmine is not vegan. It is a red food coloring that is made from crushed cochineal beetles.

Is beeswax vegan?

No, beeswax is not vegan. It is a wax that is produced by bees.

Is gelatin vegan?

No, gelatin is not vegan. It is a protein that is derived from animal collagen.