Oh Henry!
Oh Henry! is a chocolate candy bar featuring a core of chewy fudge layered with caramel and crunchy peanuts, all enrobed in a milk chocolate coating.[1] Introduced in 1920 by the Williamson Candy Company in Chicago, Illinois, the bar was one of the first major American confections combining chocolate, peanuts, and caramel, quickly gaining popularity with production reaching 5 million bars per month by 1922.[2] The origin of its name remains uncertain, with legends suggesting it derived from a flirtatious young man named Henry who frequented the company's factory and prompted exclamations of "Oh, Henry!" from female employees, or possibly from a waiter at Williamson's favorite restaurant.[2] The Williamson Candy Company, founded in 1917 by George H. Williamson, initially produced the bar at a facility on North Ashland Avenue before relocating to a larger plant on West Armitage Avenue in 1924.[2] The brand underwent several ownership changes, including a merger with General Candy Company in 1926, acquisition by Warner-Lambert in 1965, and purchase by Nestlé in 1984, before Nestlé sold its U.S. confectionery portfolio, including Oh Henry!, to Ferrero Group in 2018.[2] Production in the United States peaked in the mid-20th century but declined over subsequent decades, leading to discontinuation of the U.S. version in 2019 shortly before its centennial.[2] A variant continues to be manufactured and sold in Canada by The Hershey Company, featuring a different recipe, including variations in chocolate and structure.[2][1]Product Description
Ingredients and Composition
The Oh Henry! candy bar features a layered composition centered around whole roasted peanuts embedded in a chewy caramel base, topped with a strip of creamy fudge, and fully enrobed in a milk chocolate coating.[1] This structure provides a distinct texture contrast, with the crunchy peanuts suspended within the sticky caramel layer surrounding the softer fudge core.[3] The primary ingredients include sugar, roasted peanuts, modified palm oil, corn syrup, modified milk ingredients, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, and salt, contributing to the bar's sweet and salty profile.[3] The caramel layer incorporates modified vegetable oils (such as shea, sunflower, or safflower) for enhanced stability and extended shelf life in modern formulations.[3] The fudge element is primarily sugar-based with milk derivatives, while the milk chocolate coating consists of sugar, modified milk ingredients, cocoa butter, unsweetened chocolate, and soy lecithin as an emulsifier.[3] Allergen information highlights the presence of peanuts, milk, and soy in the bar, with potential traces of tree nuts due to manufacturing processes.[4] This combination yields a flavor profile emphasizing the nutty crunch of roasted peanuts against the chewy sweetness of caramel, the smooth creaminess of fudge, and the rich melt of milk chocolate, creating a balanced sweet-salty contrast.[1]Nutritional Profile and Packaging
The following nutritional profile pertains to the Canadian version of the Oh Henry! bar produced by The Hershey Company, as of 2023 data. The bar features a standard serving size of 58 g, delivering 290 calories per bar. This makes it a moderate-energy confection, comparable to other chocolate-nut bars in its category.[5] Key nutritional components include a macronutrient profile high in carbohydrates and fats, reflecting its composition of chocolate, caramel, fudge, and peanuts. The bar provides 16 g of total fat (including 7 g saturated fat), 34 g of carbohydrates (with 29 g sugars), 5 g of protein, and 100 mg of sodium. These values position it as an indulgent treat rather than a health-focused snack, with sugars and fats contributing the majority of its caloric content.[5]| Nutrient | Amount per 58 g Serving | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 290 kcal | - |
| Total Fat | 16 g | 21% |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g | 35% |
| Carbohydrates | 34 g | 12% |
| Sugars | 29 g | - |
| Protein | 5 g | 10% |
| Sodium | 100 mg | 4% |