We’ve heard of some downright disgusting foods from the past, but many modern desserts are just as horrifying.
You’re in the right place if you’re looking for confections to nauseate your friends and send shivers down your spine.
Join us to look at five types of creepy candy and gross goodies that aren’t what they seem.
Let’s dig in!
These Horrifying Desserts Might Surprise You
In the 21st century, most of us indulge in palatable foods that make our mouths water for the right reasons. But that hasn’t always been the case.
Take the ancient Romans, for example. They filled their bellies with stomach-churning dishes like dormice, a whole dormouse stuffed with minced pork and rodent meat. These warriors also flavored many meals with garum, a sauce made from fish intestines that fermented in the sun for months.
Vikings also had a few traditional recipes to make the toughest among us gag. They’d eat sheep’s head jelly with bread and butter and choke it all down with a side of pickled ram’s testicles.
Today, you can probably assume the creepy candy you find on grocery store shelves has an outlandish name for shock value alone. Things like Lime Spider Candy and Alien Body Parts Gummies don’t actually contain arachnids or extraterrestrials. Right?
Before you head out to restock your candy jar, check out these five horrifying desserts to add to your plate.
#1 Chicken Bones
Head to the Canadian province of New Brunswick around Christmas time, and there’s a good chance someone will offer you a Chicken Bone. Fortunately, this holiday tradition doesn’t come from an animal. Instead, these hard candies contain an outer layer of pink cinnamon-flavored sugar with a center of bittersweet chocolate.
This creepy candy dates back 140 years to the oldest confection in the country. Ganong Brothers Limited still churns out the sweet treats, but only the most experienced staff members are trusted to knead, churn, and pull the sugary substance to perfection.
We hear that Chicken Bones are polarizing items, much like black licorice. If you love it, you really love it. And those who dislike it feel just as passionately.
After munching on some Chicken Bones, explore 7 Must-See Destinations in New Brunswick!
#2 Turkey Joints
You may have thought the Romans left their horrifying foods in the past, but certain desserts simply stand the test of time. Of course, we’re now talking about Turkey Joints from Nora’s Candy Shop in Rome, New York. Because one poultry-inspired confection just isn’t enough.
Turkey Joints are a hard, ribbon-like candy filled with chocolate and hazelnuts. Each long, slender stick resembles a disarticulated bone with chocolatey marrow and nutty knuckles. While it’s hard to beat the original, they also offer peanut butter, chocolate-coated, and dark chocolate cashew versions of the treat.
This is another creepy candy that’s particularly popular around the holidays.
To maintain the integrity of the product, Nora’s only ships their products from October to May, so you better time your order appropriately.
#3 Possum Pie
Before we dig into a slice of possum pie, we should mention that no marsupials were harmed in making this dessert.
However, the treat owes its name to the creature’s ability to “play possum.” In other words, these animals pretend to be dead to evade predators. But looks can be deceiving!
From the outside, possum pie looks like an enormous mound of whipped cream. Many people top it with shaved coconut or chopped pecans. But this fluffy mountain disguises decadent layers of chocolate custard with vanilla pudding, cream cheese, or even sour cream. Each chef has their own unique recipe, and good luck getting any secrets out of them.
Possum pie is a staple in Arkansas. In fact, many locals think of it as the unofficial state treat.
Did we pique your interest with possum pie? Find out if Possums are Safe to Eat!
#4 Pickle Pie
The next item on our list of horrifying desserts is, for better or worse, exactly what it sounds like. Pickle pie is one of the staple menu items for the SunGlow Restaurant in the tiny town of Bicknell, Utah.
Sweet pickles, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon extract, and other ingredients are combined into a traditional pie crust. The result is a tangy confection you’d have to taste yourself to appreciate fully. Many say it resembles a mince pie at first bite, but it becomes more zesty as the flavors settle onto your tongue.
The original chef, Cula Ekker, was the mastermind behind this unusual menu item. Although she has passed, the establishment celebrates her memory with the humble pickle pie. You can order a slice, along with a piece of pinto bean pie, another weirdly wonderful option in the SunGlow lineup.
#5 Hummingbird Cake
We all love catching a glimpse of a hummingbird in flight. The lightning-fast creatures can hover like helicopters and zoom like rockets. Up close, their feathers resemble a kaleidoscopic rainbow. So, the idea of these majestic birds ending up in your desserts is horrifying.
However, hummingbird cake is a vegetarian delight almost anyone can get behind. Pineapples and bananas are blended into a spongy, airy cake with nutmeg, cinnamon, and other spices. It’s usually three layers with tangy cream-cheese frosting between each one. The whole thing is topped with chopped pecans.
Hummingbird cake originated in Jamaica as a nod to their national bird. Today, it’s a popular addition to menus across the Southern US.
Keep the stomach-churning party going with Fried Chicken Flavored Candy!
These Horrifying Desserts Won’t Disappoint
There’s no shortage of horrifying desserts out there. After all, the names alone are enough to make anyone lose their lunch. However, you don’t have to slaughter a chicken or catch a hummingbird mid-flight to enjoy these surprising delicacies.
The next time you see an unusual item on a diner menu, we suggest giving it a try. The flavors of a pickle or pinto bean pie just might surprise you!
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