Whatchamacallit (candy) facts for kids
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| Type | Crisped rice candy bar |
|---|---|
| Owner | The Hershey Company |
| Country | U.S. |
| Introduced | 1978 |
| Markets | U.S. |
Whatchamacallit is a popular candy bar sold in the United States by The Hershey Company. It's known for its unique mix of flavors and textures.
Contents
The Story of Whatchamacallit
The Whatchamacallit candy bar first appeared in 1978. A creative director named Sallie Grayson came up with its fun and unusual name. She was working for an advertising company at the time.
Early Whatchamacallit Bars
From 1978 to 1987, the Whatchamacallit bar had a peanut-flavored crisp inside. This crisp got its taste from peanut butter. A thin layer of chocolate covered the whole bar.
Adding Caramel to the Mix
In 1987, the candy bar got a new addition. Besides the peanut-flavored crisp, it also got a layer of gooey caramel. This new version, with crisp, caramel, and chocolate, stayed the same until 2008.
Whatchamacallit in Recipes
Many people enjoy using Whatchamacallit bars in their baking. You can find them in recipes for delicious treats. These include pies, cookies, cheesecakes, and cupcakes.
Advertising and Popularity
The Whatchamacallit candy bar was very popular in the 1980s. During that time, The Hershey Company ran many advertisements for it. Even though Hershey's now advertises it less than other candies, Whatchamacallit is still made today.
Whatchamacallit's Canadian Cousin
In Canada, Hershey's sells a candy bar that is almost the same. It is called Special Crisp. However, it is not as widely available in Canada as the Whatchamacallit is in the United States.
Changes to Ingredients
Around 2008, The Hershey Company started changing some ingredients in its products. They began using cheaper oil substitutes instead of more expensive cocoa butter. This helped them lower production costs. It also helped them avoid raising prices for their candy.
How Ingredients Affect Labels
Because of these changes, Hershey's also updated the product description. They changed the packaging slightly too. Even though the new recipe still has chocolate, it cannot be called "milk chocolate." This is due to United States Food and Drug Administration rules. Products without cocoa butter are often called "chocolate candy" instead.
Other Candy Bars in the Family
The Whatchamacallit has had a few "cousins" over the years. These related candy bars shared some similar features.
The Thingamajig Bar
In 2009, Hershey's launched a new bar called Thingamajig. It had chocolate, cocoa crisps, and peanut butter inside. It was brought back in late 2011. However, by 2012, the Thingamajig candy bar was no longer being made.
The Whozeewhatzit Bar
In 2021, Hershey's introduced the Whozeewhatzit bar. This bar brought back the chocolate, cocoa crisps, and peanut butter from the Thingamajig. Hershey's held a contest to name this new bar. The person with the most creative name won $5,000 and a year's supply of candy. Over 43,000 people entered the contest. The winning name was Whozeewhatzit, submitted by Lisa M. from Framingham, Massachusetts.
