Everyone knows candy corn is the best part of Halloween. Nine billion kernels (35 million pounds) are manufactured each year, and the majority of candy corn is consumed during the trick-or-treating season, according to the National Confectioners Association. It was first created in the late 19th century, then manufactured and distributed across the country a few decades later. Its orange, white, and yellow stripes are an iconic symbol of Halloween.
OK, maybe not everyone loves these waxy little candies (the treat is famously controversial), but in my opinion, it's the best part of the season. I wait all year for the orange and yellow treats to hit shelves so I can make what we Midwesterners call "fall mix." (I've also heard it called autumn mix or harvest mix, but no matter what you call it, it's delicious.)
If you haven't heard of fall mix, it's a trail mix of sorts made with peanuts and candy corn—and I'm here to tell you it's the best combination on the planet. The salty, crunchy peanuts are a great contrast to the soft, sugary candy corn pieces. And if you throw in a few chocolatey bites, I swear it tastes like heaven.
How to Make Candy Corn and Peanuts Mix
There's no actual recipe for peanuts and candy corn fall mix, per se. I make mine with a 1:1 ratio of candy corn to peanuts, but you can mix it up however you like. I dump one cup of candy corn with one cup of roasted and salted peanuts so that you get three to four peanuts per piece of candy corn in every handful. Honestly, as long as you've got candy corn in there somewhere, there's no wrong way to make the mix. If you're feeling wild, my favorite way to make it is by adding peanut M&Ms or chocolate chips. The more sugar, the better, right?
How to Customize the Fall Snack Mix
The most classic way to make fall mix is with traditional candy corn and peanuts, but you can switch things up even more by using flavored candy corn as your base. There are dozens of flavors of candy corn, so there's something for everyone, even if you don't typically eat it. You can also add things like popcorn, pretzels, candies, and chocolate chips for even more flavor.
If you love fall mix as much as I do, or if I've convinced you to try it out this year (you're welcome), grab a bag (or three), open a jar of peanuts, and start snacking.
How to Store Candy Corn and Peanut Snack Mix
Once you've made a batch of candy corn snack mix, you can set it out in a bowl at room temperature. After about a day, transfer the mix to an airtight container and store on the counter for 4-5 days.