The Candy Corn Cocktail That Was Made For October

Candy corn is like the Peeps of Halloween candy. People either seem to love or hate them and often express strong sentiments about it whichever way they may lean. It still remains one of the most popular holiday purchases, placing third behind chocolate and gummy candies among Americans' favorite Halloween treats, according to a 2021 survey conducted by the National Confectioners Association.

The classic candy composed primarily of sugar and corn syrup certainly has its fans, but detractors are vocal as well, whether citing its waxy texture, extreme sweetness, or lack of flavor contrast as reasons for their dislike (per USA Today). When Mashed compiled its list ranking popular Halloween candy from worst to first, candy corn claimed the dubious distinction of coming in dead last as the worst Halloween offering.

However, a candy corn cocktail that was made with October in mind may change the way some people feel about this long-running Halloween staple, which is believed to have been invented in the late 1800s (via History) and has a strange history including once being marketed under the name "chicken feed."

If seeing candy corn still evokes feelings of nostalgia in you, but you've grown out of a willingness to endure the sugar overload and subsequent crash, you may want to sample the cocktail which mimics the aesthetics of the treat without using any of the product itself. The Candy Corn Martini replicates the traditional orange, yellow, and white color scheme of candy corn in glass form (per Insanely Good).

The drink contains a layer of grenadine topped by a layer of vodka and pineapple juice that is crowned with whipped cream. What it doesn't have in it is actual candy corn, not even crushed candies on the rim. So even if you fall somewhere on the hate side of the candy corn debate, you still might want to consider trying this mixed drink. For those who do enjoy the taste of candy corn, another candy corn drink recipe calls for dusting the glass rim with sprinkles and corn syrup (via Mantitlement).

If you need further inspiration you can head over to Instagram and check out the #candycorncocktail thread to explore different iterations including a tropical version featuring frozen pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut cream, and rum. And there are also plenty of options for those who prefer to sprinkle a few candy corns on the top of their concoction.