"new candy" news and stories

Hard candies don't get enough credit. While they are small enough - and heat resistant enough - to fit into your pocket, they are also large enough to satisfy a craving for sweets with only a piece or two. Hard candy aficionados and grandparents will almost always tout Werther's Originals as the cream of the candy crop, but Creme Savers are certainly front runners. Made by Wrigley's, they candies have been on the market for several years now and set themselves apart by having an unusually smooth and buttery taste to go along with their bright, realistic flavors.

While the flavor of a creamsicle is an easy one, Creme Saver's newest offering, a Desserts line, accomplishes a more difficult task by reproducing the tastes of desserts like Apple Pie, Cinnamon Buns and Strawberry Cheesecake. Fans won't be let down by these candies as they are excellent. The Cinnamon Bun has a strong and very buttery cinnamon flavor, the Apple Pie a la Mode has a strong vanilla flavor with a hint of cinnamon that backs up a very bright Granny-Smith apple, and Strawberry Cheesecake tastes just like the real thing. With only 45 calories and 1 g fat per 3-piece serving, these are a good choice not just for hard candy fans, but for those who are looking to keep cravings for real cheesecake at bay.

I would like to thank Hershey's for finally deciding that filled Kisses were a good idea. Over the past year or so, they have released many varieties of the tiny treats, including Caramel and Dulce de Leche, in addition to special edition Kisses, which have included Cherry Cordial and the excellent Toffee and Almond. But I must say that the new Peanut Butter filled Kisses might just be the best of the bunch, particularly for peanut butter fans. The peanut butter is incredibly creamy, without being gooey or granular and overly sweet, as it is in Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. The ratio of chocolate to filling is just right and the size of the Kiss makes it perfect for grabbing by the handful for an afternoon treat. Overall, these are an exceptional variation of the original Kiss and I, for one, hope that Hershey’s keeps them around for a while.

[Photo by Nicole Weston]