Jelly Beans

Jelly beans/Jelly eggs - made of sugar, corn syrup, food starch, and flavoring, as well as small amounts of lecithin, anti-foaming agents, wax and confectioner's glaze. Jelly beans take 6-10 days to make. The jelly interior probably originated from the ancient confection Turkish Delight and is made in a mold, while the outer shell is a hard sugar coating like that of Jordan Almond candies, made in a process called "panning", where the candy is rocked or rotated in a large pan or drum filled with sugar and syrup. Flavors and colors are also added, as well as a confectioner's glaze to give a shiny look, and finally, the beans are polished.

Gourmet Jelly Beans

Jelly Belly jelly beans are a brand of gourmet jelly beans that come in 50 official flavors and a wide range of colors, as well as several sugar-free flavors. The first (1976) gourmet jelly bean, they are made by Jelly Belly Candy Company, whose corporate headquarters are in Fairfield, CA.

The Jelly Bean Factory/The Jelly Bean Planet jelly beans are gourmet, handmade jelly beans which are gelatin and GMO free, and come in more than 34 flavors. They are made by Aran Candy, the head offices of which are located in Dublin, Ireland.

Jelly Bean Trivia

• April 22nd is National Jelly Bean Day
• Jelly beans are one of the most popular candies at Easter, becoming part of the Easter tradition in the 1930's, probably due to their resemblance to eggs.
• Jelly beans were the favorite candy of President Ronald Reagan.

Did you Know...
Jelly beans make great party or wedding favors, decorations for cookies, party cakes and gingerbread houses, can be used to fill glass bowls and dishes for colorful centerpieces, and make sweet and tasty gifts.

Coconut Jelly Bean Nests

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg white
1 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. milk
2 cups shredded coconut
5 oz. jelly beans, assorted flavors

Cream shortening and sugar. Beat in egg white and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder and salt, and stir until well-blended, then add coconut.

Shape into balls about 1" wide, place on ungreased cookie sheet and push your thumb into the center of each to form nests.

Bake at 375* F for 6 minutes. Take out of the oven and fill nests with jelly beans (about 4). Bake for 5 more minutes. Cool on wire racks.