Chick-O-Stick facts for kids
The Chick-O-Stick is a unique candy bar. It has been made by the Atkinson Candy Company since the 1950s. This candy is known for its crunchy texture and peanut butter flavor.
It is mainly made from peanut butter, cane sugar, and corn syrup. It also contains toasted coconut, natural vanilla flavor, and salt. The company does not add hydrogenated oils or artificial preservatives. There is even a sugar-free version available, which uses Splenda® as a sweetener.
Contents
What is a Chick-O-Stick?
A Chick-O-Stick looks like a long, thin stick. It is covered with ground coconut. Inside, it has a special honeycomb pattern. This pattern is made of peanut butter mixed with a hard syrup and sugar.
When the candy is fresh, it is dry and easy to break. But if you leave it out, it can get soft and chewy. It tends to absorb moisture from the air.
A Change in Color
Chick-O-Sticks used to be a bright orange color. This color came from artificial red and blue dyes. However, in 2019, the Atkinson Candy Company made a change.
They decided to use natural ingredients for the color. Now, the candy gets its light-brown color from vegetable juice and turmeric root. This change also meant replacing artificial preservatives and unhealthy oils with better options.
Sizes and Special Qualities
Chick-O-Sticks come in different sizes. You can find them in small sizes like 0.35 oz (10 g) and 0.70 oz (20 g). Larger sizes include 1.0 oz (28 g) and 1.6 oz (45 g). You can also buy bags of small, bite-sized pieces.
This candy has some special qualities. It is Kosher, which means it follows certain food rules. It is also gluten-free, good for people who cannot eat gluten. Plus, it is considered "vegan friendly." This means it does not contain animal products.
The Chick-O-Stick is one of the few full-size candies made by Atkinson Candy Company. Many of their other products are only sold as small, individually wrapped pieces.
The Name and Wrapper Story
The original wrapper for Chick-O-Stick had a fun cartoon. It showed a chicken wearing a cowboy hat and a badge. This chicken is no longer on the newer wrappers.
Some people thought the chicken made the candy confusing. They wondered if it was a candy or a chicken-flavored cracker! The company's website says a sales representative just "came up with the name one day, and well, it just stuck." The company once mentioned that they felt the candy "resembled fried chicken." This might have also helped inspire the name.
