Sponge candy's affinity for colder weather

Apr 26, 2023

Sponge candy is a popular treat in Buffalo and other parts of New York State, but the weather may very well play a factor why it's not as well known in other parts of the world.

With Easter right around the corner, some people will be stocking up on sponge candy. There are similar variations that go by other names, like sea foam and molasses puffs, but the story's all the same.

It doesn't thrive very well in certain weather.

Luckily for us here in the northeast, a good chunk of the year is prime for making sponge candy.

Sponge candy is extremely sensitive to heat and humidity. If you’ve ever made the unfortunate mistake of holding a piece of chocolate for too long or forgetting that you put some in your jacket pocket, you know that chocolate quickly melts when it gets too warm.

That's true for sponge candy, as well. Once it gets too hot, that outer, chocolatey layer melts, but the inside is also pretty finicky about its surrounding environment.

Keep in mind, sponge candy is chocolate-covered, crunchy, lightly toasted toffee made from sugar, corn syrup and baking soda. Any heat or humidity will cause the sugars in the spongy part to break down and become gooey.

As a result, some candy makers won't even bother making it during the warmer months since it can break down the same day it's made. For example, Niagara Chocolates will only make it from September through May.

Even if it's not hot and humid enough to break down the sponge candy, it will almost always have a slightly stickier center during the more humid months.

That also makes it tricky to ship out to other areas. A popular sponge candy creator, Watson's Chocolate, may mandate you to purchase a cooler and ice pack if you want to get it shipped.

Easter is the last major holiday before it becomes difficult to find sponge candy because of the return of warm, humid weather. So, make sure you grab some while you can!

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