Historical Botanical treats

The Irish are credited with bringing Halloween celebrations to the United States when they immigrated following the Potato Famine between 1845 and 1852. People began dressing in costumes and going door to door asking for treats, but the first candy corn didn’t appear until the 1880s.

Have you ever wondered what sweets and treats were like before Hershey’s chocolate bars and kisses showed up in the early 1900s? My daughter Mycala took me on a field trip to True Treats in Frederick, MD where we had a chance to find out! Sadly, the store is no longer there, but when I returned  I did a two page spread in my illustrated journal while nibbling on the sampling of delights we purchased. 
My descriptions aren’t complete recipes but they’ll give you ideas and you will probably be able to find more information on line. 

Please leave a comment if you try any of these historic treats. I found some to be delicious and others left me craving a peanut butter cup. You decide!