Squirrel Nut Zippers were introduced by the Squirrel Brand Company in 1926 as a vanilla caramel with peanuts, part of a line of caramel candies. The name, which sounds more like a collection of nouns than an enticing candy, came from a local alcohol drink called Nut Zipper (this was prohibition).
The Squirrel Brand Company or Massachusetts was sold off to Southern Style Nuts in 1999 and moved to Texas. A mere 5 years later, Necco bought the rights to Squirrel Nut Zippers, and the lesser known Squirrel Caramel Chews, and moved production back to the Boston area. In case you’re wondering, the Squirrel Nut Zippers swing band named themselves after the candy (with permission from Squirrel Brand Company).
The candies are a simple format, a little bite sized chew wrapped in wax paper. They’re sold in bulk bins or pre-packaged bags. I found mine at Rocket Fizz, a small chain of candy & soda pop shops that started in Southern California.
Like Mary Janes (also made by Necco now), a good Squirrel Nut Zipper will be slight soft. Don’t be dismayed if you pick some up and they’re hard. The trick is to put it in your pocket or hold them in your palm for a few minutes or someplace slightly warm just before eating. That way the oils rise slightly to the surface to help the wrapper release from the candy and it’s soft enough to chew easily.
A SNZ is an easy to like candy, it’s quite simple. It’s a vanilla caramel with bits of peanuts in it. The flavor of the caramel is mild and sweet, not as earthy as a Mary Jane, which has molasses in it, and not as toffee like as a Sugar Daddy.
I’m sure I’ve had them before when I was a kid, but they didn’t make much of an impression on me. As an adult, well, there are other candies I’d prefer to have, such as a Mary Jane or some Sugar Babies.
I have no clue about possible allergens, but the ingredients show dairy, soy and peanuts.
Related Candies
- Mary Jane & Mary Jane Wicked Mix
- Necco Slap Stix Caramel
- Nips: Butter Rum & Peanut Butter Parfait
- Walkers Nonsuch Toffee
- Sugar Babies
- Necco Mint Julep
- Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews
Name: |
Squirrel Nut Zippers |
RATING:
- SUPERB
- YUMMY
- TASTY
- WORTH IT
- TEMPTING
- PLEASANT
- BENIGN
- UNAPPEALING
- APPALLING
- INEDIBLE
|
Brand: |
Necco |
Place Purchased: |
Rocket Fizz (Glendale) |
Price: |
1.00 (approximately) |
Size: |
1.41 ounces |
Calories per ounce: |
106 |
Categories: |
Candy, Necco, Caramel, Kosher, Peanuts, 6-Tempting, United States |
I recently purchased several pieces of Squirrel Nut Zipper ... and it was TOTALLY differrent that any I have ever had before .... it was like it was a dilute caramel syrup and it had NO nuts of any kind ...
Has the recipe been changed?
The candy was a BIG disappointment ... as I recall as a child it was the BEST ...
Thanks
James
Why can I find no mention of the COCONUT Squirrel Nut Zippers anywhere online? I remember them from my childhood (70’s baby) but no one I talk to seems to remember them either.
I had me some Necco Squirrel Nut Zippers (and yes, that’s where the swing band’s name’s from
as Cybele herself notes, with permission of course) tonight.
Very chewable and tasty. James Scott, I forget if the recipe’s the same.. Cece..I’m not sure if I ever had coconut Squirrell Nut Zippers (though my childhood’s the same era, 70s, and 60s too in my case).Happy neweyear..
does ANYONE remember COCONUT nut zippers (or better still, where i can purchase some)? instead of caramel with peanuts, they were caramel with cocunut. they look exactly like the original except the rapper was clear with GREEN instead of clear with yellow—same size, same shape; the only difference was cocunut in the caramel instead of peanuts
I had a couple tonight….breathing on the candy bars will make ‘em soft EVERY time.
Just looking at Cece’s answer, in case she replies, no, not coconut, just plain peanut butter/vanilla.
What a great site!!! I should be Spring cleaning, oh well. Squirrel Nut Zippers used to have real nuts in them. The last time I purchased them they reminded me of those wax lips that had no flavor after two or three chews. Downer!
I remember the coconut squirrel nuts. They were my favorite. I grew up in New Jersey where we use to buy them from the corner stores by the bag full.
There was a really awesome band named after this stuff from back in the 90’s, they’re pretty cool. Never knew this was a real candy though!
just bought a tub of this candy; couldn’t wait to relive my childhood. this candy had no nuts in it whatsoever!!! so disappointed; why did they change the recipe and still call it squirrel nut zipper. was just a caramel in the squirrel nut wrapper. boo hoo Bought them in an Amish store in Deleware.
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