This recipe for candy corn simple syrup is one of the best ways you can create flavored beverages that will wow (or disgust) your guests during the Halloween season! It’s great for all ages and makes any beverage so much more fun!
As a certified candy corn enthusiast, it is my honor to showcase ways you can incorporate this polarizing holiday candy into any beverage of your choosing. This simple syrup was inspired by my candy corn infused vodka, which caused nothing short of chaos among my social media followers. While it is fun and festive, not everyone can enjoy it.
I knew I had to create something that candy corn lovers of all ages could enjoy, so this simple syrup was truly a calling I was born to answer. 🤣 Use this syrup to create a homemade candy corn soda, or a candy corn latte to get your day started with a festive touch!
why this candy corn syrup recipe works:
🎃 festive & fun. This syrup is made from dissolving candy corn into water. The vibrant colors and flavors of the candy corn become a syrup once melted, and that syrup is perfect for adding to all of your beverages throughout the month of October (and beyond)!
🥳 party perfect. Talk about a conversation starter. Candy corn is super polarizing— people seem to love it or hate it, so imagine the commotion at your next holiday party when you whip out a bottle of this candy corn simple syrup!
🥹 nostalgic. There’s nothing like the sweet taste of candy from your childhood to whisk you back to simpler times. Try it in your morning coffee to remind you of the days before your Outlook inbox was overflowing.
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
1: Pour 1 cup of water into a 1.5-quart saucepan.
2: Heat the water over medium heat until warmed, and add in 1 cup of candy corn.
3: Continue to heat the mixture over medium to medium-low heat.
4: Stir the mixture as it heats to evenly distribute the candy corn as it melts. This will take about 5 minutes. Burned candy corn can absolutely ruin your day!
5: Once the candy corn is melted completely, remove the pan from the burner and allow it to cool slightly, for up to 30 minutes.
6: Next, strain the simple syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove any candy lumps that didn’t dissolve.
7: Finally, pour the mix into a storage bottle.
8: Store your finished candy corn simple syrup in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze it for longer-term storage.
Hint: I love dividing this syrup into two smaller squeeze bottles and freezing it all month long.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
cocktails
Use this in place of regular simple syrup in any cocktail recipe. It works especially well in rum, vodka and tequila-based recipes! If you want to go the extra mile, whip up a batch of candy corn infused vodka!
- candy corn vodka sodas – add this simple syrup to a classic vodka soda for a fun and flavorful twist!
- candy corn margaritas – you read that right! Try this simple syrup in place of agave in a margarita recipe for a Halloween margarita everyone will remember for years to come.
- candy corn mules – candy corn and ginger beer go very well together! Try adding this syrup to a mule for a sweet take on a classic cocktail.
non-alcoholic drinks
In addition to cocktails, this simple syrup works perfectly in mocktail recipes too! I love using it in iced coffee.
- homemade candy corn soda pop – if you remember the tiny Jone’s sodas that used to be available during the Halloween season, you’ll know my inspiration for this homemade soda!
- candy corn lattes – add candy corn simple syrup to your morning latte for a festive pick-me-up!
- candy corn milkshakes – add this simple syrup to a blender with vanilla ice cream and milk for a seasonal milkshake!
cooking & baking
- keep baked goods moist – use this simple syrup to brush layer cakes and keep them moist between layers! This candy corn simple syrup would be so tasty on a vanilla cake with marshmallow cream filling! 🤤
- homemade shave ice topping – this syrup works very well as a homemade shave ice topping. Get extra festive by topping it with whipped cream and candy corn!
- make extra as gifts – buy a set of 8-ounce glass bottles and make a double or triple batch of this syrup to gift to family and friends! It also makes a great hostess gift or party favor! Can you imagine sending your guests home from a Halloween party with a little bottle of this candy corn syrup?! How cute! 👻
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- sweetness level – taste your finished syrup to make sure it is sweet enough for you. If you need a little more of a sugary kick, add it back to a saucepan to dissolve some sugar into it. You can add in sugar or honey, 1 TBSP at a time, until it gets to your desired sweetness level.
- thicker syrup – if you want a thicker syrup, use 1/4 cup less water, or let the mixture simmer a bit longer. The resulting syrup will be more like a rich syrup than a simple syrup, and it also won’t totally harden in the freezer.
⚖️ scaling tips
Can it scale?
🔆 top tip
Gift this candy corn simple syrup at your Halloween gatherings. Then, watch the faces of joy, surprise, or even disgust on your guest’s faces!
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♻️ substitutions & variations
Are you missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot! Keep in mind, changing the candy corn out for another variety of candy will change the final color of your syrup. However, the flavor will be similar.
- candy pumpkins – if you can’t find candy corn near you, you can substitute candy pumpkins (sometimes called mellowcreme pumpkins). They are made from the same ingredients as candy corn.
- seasonal candy corn – in addition to using candy pumpkins, you can also use other seasonal candy corn flavors, like the fall mix, for this recipe.
- vanilla – add in a teaspoon of vanilla extract to play up the vanilla flavor of candy corn in this simple syrup.
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
Check out a complete list of my favorite tools to use for making homemade syrups!
🫙 storage tips
Store your finished candy corn simple syrup in the fridge for up to two weeks.
If you want, you can freeze it for longer term storage. As with other simple syrups, it will not freeze completely solid, but instead remain kind of “gel-like” in consistency.
💬 q+a
What flavor is candy corn?
I used to describe candy corn as a warm vanilla honey flavor. After extensive research, apparently, the flavor profile is supposed to be fondant, marshmallow, and vanilla. 🤷🏻♀️ Fondant is used mainly as a cake decorating alternative to buttercream. It’s soft, chewy, and sometimes….not great. So I guess it is similar to candy corn after all! 🤣
How long does this simple syrup last?
When stored properly in the fridge, you can keep your simple syrups fresh for up to 2 weeks, sometimes longer. If you store it in the freezer, you can keep them up to 3 months. If you ever see any cloudy-looking particles or dots of dark material in your thawed syrups, throw them out.
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Candy Corn Simple Syrup
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Equipment
- 1 1.5-quart saucepan
- 1 glass measuring cup 2 cup capacity
- 1 fine mesh sieve optional
Ingredients
- 1 cup candy corn
- 1 cup filtered water
Instructions
- Pour 1 cup of water into a 1.5-quart non-reactive saucepan.
- Heat over medium heat until warmed.
- Add 1 cup of candy corn and reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Cook until the candy corn is dissolved, stirring occasionally to keep the candy corn from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Once the candy corn is melted completely, remove the pan from the burner and allow it to cool slightly, up to 30 minutes.
- Pour the mix into a storage bottle.
- Store your finished candy corn simple syrup in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze it for longer-term storage.
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
