Chuckles
Chuckles is a brand of bite-sized, sugar-coated jelly candies known for their chewy texture and tart-sweet fruit flavors.[1] The candies are produced in five varieties—cherry (red), lemon (yellow), lime (green), orange, and licorice (black)—and are typically sold in mixed packages that highlight their colorful, rectangular shapes.[1] Manufactured by the Ferrara Candy Company, a subsidiary of the Ferrero Group, Chuckles remains a nostalgic staple in American confectionery, fat-free and portable for snacking.[2] Introduced in 1921 by Chicago-based marshmallow maker Fred W. Amend, Chuckles pioneered the category of jelly confections by developing a formula that prevented the candies from sweating, ensuring durability and consistent flavor retention.[1] The product quickly gained popularity during the Roaring Twenties, with its original factory located in Danville, Illinois, where the candies were initially hand-wrapped and sold in linked strips resembling old-fashioned string licorice.[2] Over the decades, the brand has undergone several ownership transitions, including acquisition by Nabisco in 1970, followed by sales to Leaf Inc. in 1986, Hershey Foods in 1996, and sale to Farley's & Sathers in 2002, which merged with Ferrara Pan in 2012 to form the current Ferrara Candy Company.[3][4] Chuckles has maintained cultural relevance through appearances in popular media, such as episodes of the television series Seinfeld and Night Court, and by sponsoring high-profile events like daredevil Evel Knievel's 1974 Snake River Canyon jump.[4][5] Despite competition from innovative gummy and jelly trends in the 1980s, the brand experienced a revival in the mid-1980s under independent management, boosting sales through expanded marketing and product experimentation, and it continues to be celebrated for its century-old legacy in the candy industry.[6]Product Description
Flavors
Chuckles candy features five core flavors, each distinguished by its color and taste profile: cherry (red), lemon (yellow), lime (green), orange (orange), and licorice (black).[1][7][8] The cherry, lemon, lime, and orange flavors offer a tart and fruity sensation, balancing sweetness with a zesty tang that contributes to the candy's chewy appeal.[9][10] In contrast, the licorice flavor provides a distinct anise taste, setting it apart as a bold, herbal option among the assortment.[9][10] This combination of profiles has made Chuckles a varied treat, with the sugar coating enhancing the overall texture without overpowering the individual flavors. Each standard package of Chuckles contains exactly one piece of each flavor, totaling five pieces per pack, ensuring consumers experience the full range in every serving.[7][8][11] These flavors have remained unchanged since the candy's introduction in 1921, maintaining the original recipe that has defined the brand for over a century.[12][13][14]Ingredients and Nutritional Information
Chuckles candy is primarily composed of corn syrup, sugar, cornstarch, and modified food starch (corn), which form the chewy jelly base.[1] Natural and artificial flavors provide the taste profiles corresponding to its five varieties, while artificial colors such as Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Caramel Color contribute to the visual distinction of each piece.[15] Additional elements include confectioner's glaze and carnauba wax, which create a light sugar coating that enhances texture and aids in preservation.[15] The product is packaged in a facility that also processes milk, eggs, almonds, coconut, peanuts, and soy.[1] The candy contains no preservatives, relying instead on its formulation to maintain quality.[16] A standard serving consists of one package (approximately 57 g), containing five pieces. The nutritional profile per serving is as follows:| Nutrient | Amount per Serving | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 180 | - |
| Total Fat | 0 g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g | 0% |
| Trans Fat | 0 g | - |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 25 mg | 1% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 44 g | 16% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 g | 0% |
| Total Sugars | 36 g | - |
| Includes Added Sugars | 36 g | 72% |
| Protein | 0 g | 0% |
| Vitamin D | 0 mcg | 0% |
| Calcium | 0 mg | 0% |
| Iron | 0 mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 0 mg | 0% |