My in-laws K.C. and Judy were here a couple of weekends ago and they were commenting on how, in a recent picture, Henri looks like Urkel because his pants are up to his chin. Only Judy said "Snirkle" by accident and said, "Oh yeah, Snirkles are those candies." My ears perked up. Snirkles? Never heard of 'em. So I did a quick search and, sure enough, they were a caramel candy popular in the Midwest. Apparently they're like those caramel bulls-eyes, only in a spiral. Or perhaps that shaped is called a snirkle. In any event, it's always exciting to learn about a new candy. I guess they're not made anymore, but Judy remembered them fondly. I'm not so much for caramel in that form. I hate those bulls-eye things but some people really love them. They also make the licorice version, too, which is probably the only licorice thing I don't like. Too much like shoe leather.
11 comments:
I have a Snirkle box! Believe it. I was cleaning out some old cases of junk, and found this wonderful box. Alas, it no longer has any snirkles in it. It no longer even has the smell of snirkles in it. It has the smell of musties and dusties in it. They were only 5 cents when this box was made.
My sisters and I used to think Snirkles were the BEST! My parents would go to this resort to dances when we were young and that was one of the candies they sold there. Mom and Dad would bring them home for a treat. I loved the black ones and sure wish I could still get them!!
To the person who has a Snirkles box. Can you post a picture of it online or can you post the candy makers name and address or city and state? I'd like to see what I can find out about who made them and where. I used to buy them at a tacle and bait shop on the outskirts of Minocqua, Wisc back in the mid 1950''s when I was a kid on vacation in Wisc. Thank you.
I belive Snirkles were made by a Milwaukee company. They got bought out and the company (in New England?) that owns the recipe isn't interested in resuming production.
I once worked at the Howard B. Stark Candy Company in Pewaukee , Wisconsin. They started in Milwaukee origionally, and a store window is represented in the Milwaukee Museum's Streets of Old Milwaukke.
I helped make Snirkles and Slap Stix. It is not the same as Bulls Eyes. Their caramel has more flour in it and the white filling is soft and sugarry.
Snirkles nugat had egg white, corn syrup, sugar and starch in it. The caramel was dumped on large cooling tables and spread out. The nugat was spread on top. When cooled it was rolled up and put on a cart and wheeled over to a down sizer. It was a tapered roller machine that stretched it out to the right size and then was sliced and wrapped up.
Necco bought out Stark. They don't make Snirkles anymopre, but they still make Slap Stix, which is the caramel with white (vanilla), red (cherry) and yellow(banana) centers. It is on a sucker stick.
I wish they would bring Snirkles back. I have so many fond memories of sitting with my father and enjoying this sweet treat! I would buy a ton!!
Anonymous said...
You are right - they weren't a bit like Bulls Eyes. They were a million times better. My memories are from an early childhood in Milwaukee, where they cost a nickel. I would love to have them back again. Should we bombard Necco with requests?
I loved snirkles and would most certainly buy them if they were brought back. ! for some reason, I was the only person that remembered them, until I thought to google it.
It's good to know others remember this candy. I've looked for years, but everyone I ever asked didn't remember them and thought I had the name wrong. The black licorice snirkles were my favorite, but I loved the caramel ones as well.
To those who are interested- to this day Snirkles will always be my favorite candy. I used to buy them in a small grocery store on the south side of Chicago for 5 cents. This was in 1968. I think we should bombard Necco with requests to bring them back. Lets start a petition!!!!
Great idea! Let's bring them back!
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