What does fall mix taste like?

Fall mix has a chewy, sweet/salty flavor that some compare to a Pay Day candy bar or a Pearson’s Salted Nut Roll.

Is fall mix gluten-free?

Whether your fall mix is g luten-free depends on the candy corn you purchase, so check the label. Some brands contain wheat or—like Brach’s—are made on shared equipment with wheat and other allergens.

No, fall mix is not vegan because most candy corn is made with gelatin and confectioner’s glaze—both of which contain animal by-products. Candy corn also typically contains honey, which is acceptable for some vegans but not all.

Meet the Midwestern “Fall Mix” That Blends Candy Corn and Peanuts

If you haven’t tried candy corn and peanuts, known in the Midwest as “fall mix,” you’re missing out!

By

Emily Williams

Updated on October 4, 2024

Love it or hate it, candy corn is synonymous with fall. Since its creation in the late 19th century, the waxy orange, yellow, and white-striped candy has become a symbol of Halloween. Case in point: Brach’s, America’s top producer of the treat, manufactures about nine billion kernels (35 million pounds) each year. Most of those little kernels are consumed during the trick-or-treating season, but you don’t have to limit yourself to Halloween.

Some candy corn lovers wait all year for the divisive treats to hit shelves so they can make what Midwesterners call “fall mix,” “autumn mix,” or “harvest mix.” Whatever you name it, it’s delicious.

candy corn peanut mix — Credit: Jennifer Photography Imaging/Getty Images

How to Make Candy Corn and Peanuts Mix

If you haven’t heard of fall mix, it’s a trail mix of sorts made with peanuts and candy corn—and that’s it. There’s no actual recipe for fall mix, but most midwesterners opt for a 1:1 ratio of candy corn to peanuts. You can mix it up however you like. Although one cup of candy corn tossed with one cup of roasted and salted peanuts gives you a delicious bowl of snack mix any way you look at it, so do other mix amounts. Use your favorite.

How to Customize the Fall Snack Mix

The classic way to make fall mix is with traditional candy corn and salted peanuts, but you can switch things up by using flavored candy corn as your base. Commonly found seasonal flavors include chocolate, caramel, and pumpkin pie, but there are dozens of flavors of candy corn to try. Add popcorn, pretzels, peanut M&M’s, or chocolate chips for even more flavor.

How to Store Candy Corn and Peanut Snack Mix

Once you’ve made a batch of candy corn snack mix, set it out in a bowl at room temperature. After about a day, transfer the mix to an airtight container and store it on the counter for four or five days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does fall mix taste like?

Fall mix has a chewy, sweet/salty flavor that some compare to a Pay Day candy bar or a Pearson’s Salted Nut Roll.
Is fall mix gluten-free?

Whether your fall mix is gluten-free depends on the candy corn you purchase, so check the label. Some brands contain wheat or—like Brach’s—are made on shared equipment with wheat and other allergens.
Is fall mix vegan?

No, fall mix is not vegan because most candy corn is made with gelatin and confectioner’s glaze—both of which contain animal by-products. Candy corn also typically contains honey, which is acceptable for some vegans but not all.