Using vintage molds and classic ingredients, Dandies Candies creates a variety of nostalgic, toy-shaped lollipops! Based on the Pennslyvania-German tradition of Clear Toy Candies, Dandies Candies brings these unique confections to Central Florida through website sales, Farmer’s Markets, conventions, and other pop-up events throughout Orlando.
We recently met up with Dan (company owner) at the Kissimmee Valley Market, and he told us all about his delicious lollipops and unique products. He even let me try one of the candies! Thank you, Dandies Candies, for chatting with us!
Dandies Candies History
During his childhood, Dan’s mother worked at a New England sweets store. Fascinated by their in-house, candy-making process, Dan would often visit the facility to watch the sugary toys/treats come to life before his eyes. After the store’s closing in the early 80’s, the classic molds used to create the candies were stored away in his mother’s kitchen – seemingly never to be seen again.
But last year, all that changed! The molds made their way from frosty New England to sunny Florida, and Dandies Candies was born!
Current Products
Using five simple ingredients (water, sugar, corn syrup, flavor oil, and a drop of coloring), Dandies Candies creates an ostensibly infinite variety of lollipop flavors and shapes. Flavor highlights include: blueberry cheesecake, peach mango, cake batter, bourbon, sour lemon, pumpkin spice, and strawberry lemonade. Some of my favorite shapes include: a wizard, bunny, giraffe, elephant, several types of Santas, pumpkins, and dinosaurs. While there are many other potential flavors and shapes, there are simply too many to name them all in this article. For a complete list, visit their website and scroll down the home page to find the “More About Us” section.
If you can’t visit the booth at one of their local events, try ordering their lollipops online! You can request a custom order or a multi-pack with a variety of shapes and/or flavors!
My Experience
After our recent chat, Dan encouraged me to sample one of the whimsical candies for myself. I chose a Christmas tree-shaped, bourbon-flavored treat and brought it home!
While I’m not generally a hard candy person, these lollipops are an entire experience! The shapes include impressive details (like the ripples in my three-dimensional Christmas Tree), and the mild yet definitely noticeable flavor was really tasty! Thank you again, Dandies Candies!
How to Try Dandies Candies
The best way to sample these unique treats is to find Dan and his team at various local events, such as Farmer’s Markets, conventions, festivals, and more. For regular updates on their event schedule, follow their Instagram and Facebook accounts!
If in person visits aren’t your thing, check out the Dandies Candies website to learn more about the company and peruse their available lollipop multipacks!
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