NATIONAL BUTTERCRUNCH DAY
National Buttercrunch Day on January 20th recognizes the flavorful toffee candy that comes in several varieties.
#NationalButtercrunchDay
Buttercrunch is a combination of toffee, covered with chocolate. It has a crunchy texture and a caramel flavor. Variations on the recipe include toasted almond sprinkles.
Making buttercrunch calls for a good candy thermometer and some cooking experience. Creating the toffee involves caramelizing sugar at high temperatures, which requires precision, timing, and the right tools and safety techniques for a successful outcome. Follow recipes closely. The stage the sugar is supposed to reach (usually the hard-crack stage) will determine when you remove the sugar from the heat. You also have to move quickly and safely. Sugar burns at 300°F + leave blisters and scars.
When you’ve mastered candy-making skills, the results are delicious and definitely worth sharing. Buttercrunch and other candy treats make terrific gifts during the holidays and throughout the year. It also stores well for a time. Keep it to serve over ice cream or add as a garnish to cakes and cookies.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BUTTERCRUNCH DAY
On January 20th, make up some buttercrunch to share with your friends and family. Sprinkle some over your favorite desserts, or look for a buttercrunch-flavored creamer for your morning coffee. Mmm! We bet you can taste it now! We even have a buttercrunch recipe for you to try. Who makes your favorite buttercrunch?
Use #NationalButtercrunchDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL BUTTERCRUNCH DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this sweet and tasty food holiday.
Buttercrunch FAQ
Q. Are some buttercrunch candies topped with chocolate?
A. Yes. Chocolate is an excellent topping for buttercrunch.
Q. Does buttercrunch contain butter?
A. Most recipes call for butter. Others call for margarine. In either case, that’s where buttercrunch gets its buttery flavor.
January 20th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) History
1870
Sisters Victoria Woodhull and Tennessee Clafin open the first woman-owned brokerage firm in the United States.
1887
The United States Senate amends and extends the 1875 reciprocity treaty with Hawaii securing a lease to Pearl Harbor as a Naval Base.
1920
Irwin W. Cox registers the trademark for the steel-wool product called “SOS.” The initialism for the shaved steel wool saturated with soap stood for “Save Our Saucepans.”
1964
The Wisconsin Cheese Foundation sponsors the making of the world’s largest block of cheese ever made. At midnight, the process began at Steve’s Cheese in a factory near Denmark, Wisconsin.
1998
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts and Advanced Cell Technology announced the successful cloning of calves that may have produced medicinal milk.
2009
The inauguration of the 44th President of the United States takes place. President Barack Obama becomes the first African American to serve as a U.S. president.
January 20th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) Birthdays
Harold Lincoln Gray – 1894
The American cartoonist created the well-known comic strip Little Orphan Annie. It first appeared in the Chicago Tribune on August 5, 1924.
Eva Jessye – 1895
During the Harlem Renaissance, Jessye earned international recognition as the first African American woman to direct a professional choral group.
George Burns – 1896
The legendary actor and comedian earned critical and commercial success during a career that spanned more than six decades.
Joy Adamson – 1910
The conservationist lived and worked in the Kenyan wilderness. After raising a lion cub to be released back into the wild, Adamson wrote Born Free. The book was made into an Academy Award-winning film in 1966.
Federico Fellini – 1920
One of cinema’s most celebrated filmmakers, Fellini brought the world La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life), 81/2, and Ginger e Fred (Ginger and Fred.) Fellini’s final work was La Voce Della Luna (The Voice of the Moon) which starred Roberto Benigni.
Edwin Buzz Aldrin – 1930
On July 16, 1969, the decorated Army pilot joined Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins aboard Apollo 11 for a historic launch from Cape Kennedy. Four days later, Aldrin would be one of only two people to set foot on the moon, the first being his Commander, Neil Armstrong.