Serious Chocolate: Understanding Necco Wafers
See that brown chalky disc second from the bottom? That is a chocolate Necco Wafer, aka the Kevlar vest of candies. Virtually indestructible, the Necco Wafer was sent into battle with troops during World War II because it wouldn't melt or break during transit. Packs of Neccos have traveled with Admiral Byrd to the South Pole and with Donald MacMillan to the Arctic. It can withstand extreme temperatures and harsh terrain. It is, perhaps, our nation's greatest militarized fat free wafer.
You either love 'em or think they taste like a chalky hot mess.
Which is why, I think, there are two distinct thoughts regarding Necco Wafers: You either love 'em or think they taste like a chalky hot mess. I used to be firmly in the latter camp. After all, according to company history, the treats have been used as communion wafers, poker chips, and even as bulls-eyes at a target range.
To me, that didn't sound appealing.
Until recently. I was making chocolate cupcakes and wanted to give them a tiny crunch. Not too much—but enough to provide a slightly different texture. So I smashed some Chocolate Neccos between two pieces of wax paper (with a hammer) and then stirred them into the batter before baking. I knew they wouldn't melt in the oven and I wanted to see what would happen.
The answer was amazing. The wafers provided just a tad of texture without being overwhelming and the chocolate taste melded perfectly with the cake batter. To top it off, I smashed some more Neccos and stirred them into the icing. Yum.
Even those in the anti-Necco camp might be surprised by this approach. Has anyone else tried it before? Or have another Necco tip?
About the author: Melody Kramer is a chocoholic living in Philadelphia. She writes for a variety of publications in order to fuel her sweet tooth.
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24 Comments:
Interesting...one thing I've never desired is a "crunchy cupcake". Growing up in New England not too far from the Necco factory I could smell the sugar cooking for years...the smell was unmistakable. I always rather liked them. They aren't my candy of choice, for sure, but they definitely remind me of my childhood, in a good way.
juliebugsmama at 1:52PM on 11/04/09
I love neccos although they just changed the recipe:
http://wbztv.com/food/necco.wafer.change.2.1272436.html
bobbob at 1:55PM on 11/04/09
I love Necco wafers! We used to get little packs from a family friend every New Year's.
I've never really wanted a crunchy cupcake either, juliebugsmama, but I have baked them with whole wheat flour, which makes them a little gritty...
PrettyNicola at 1:56PM on 11/04/09
Do you have any pictures of the cupcakes?
droostring at 2:00PM on 11/04/09
I love Necco wafers - glad I'm not the only person out there!
virgogrrl at 2:04PM on 11/04/09
I love Necco wafers and when I was a kid, they were my movie candy of choice. My mom always took us to CVS or Walgreens to get candy and soda before the show, which we'd then sneak into the theater. No overpriced theater concessions for us, thank you. So Neccos still remind me of going to the movies.
emgroff at 2:13PM on 11/04/09
I love necco wafers but when I eat a whole package I feel slightly sick. But how can I not eat the whole package? I especially love the "black" ones.
Trilby at 2:37PM on 11/04/09
My dad's family is from New England so I've always had a soft spot for Neccos. My husband and I have a theory, though, that all of the Necco wafers were made before 1930 and are just routinely shipped from some warehouse.
acumen at 3:38PM on 11/04/09
We used to use them instead of quarters to pass through the highway toll booths in Chicago. If you slid them in carefully instead of tossing them in like coins they worked every time!
I doubt that works anymore - those things probably don't even take real change now.
arwenb at 4:28PM on 11/04/09
I don't think I've ever eaten a Necco wafer without someone saying "body of christ" beforehand.
eeels at 5:40PM on 11/04/09
I regularly eat whole packages of Neccos. I just love them. It has to be a childhood thing, since I'm quite sure that if I were introduced to them now, I'd never understand why anyone would eat them.
baboo at 5:48PM on 11/04/09
I love Neccos. They completely remind me of my father...his other favorites were jujubees, orange circus peanuts and dots. Strange. Even though he has been gone for a few years I still look between the cushions on the side of the couch where he would "store" his stash.
PoorOldMama at 6:00PM on 11/04/09
neccos rule - especially the licorice ones. that is all.
franko at 7:22PM on 11/04/09
Love necco wafers. (also Canada mints, which necco makes). Do not like what they've done to the flavors though. They're missing something - haven't figured out which yet (they've changed to all natural). I think they might be missing cloves? Lime? At any rate, there's not as much variety now. Hope they correct this.
lemonfair at 7:26PM on 11/04/09
PoorOldMama - my dad too. (I loved the name of jujubees.) Dad also loved Jordan Almonds, and Peach Blossoms.
lemonfair at 7:28PM on 11/04/09
Grew up with Necco wafers and Canada mints. Do they still put Necco's in a wax paper wrapper?
chanterelle at 8:28PM on 11/04/09
Oh I love these things!
Yes to favoriting the licorice ones--those are fantastic.
I love all those chalky dry candies...nom.
Don't think I want them in a cupcake, but I love to eat them plain. In color order, by favorites, best for last.
sadiepix at 9:23PM on 11/04/09
Necco wafers were actually carried by Civil War soldier's.
You should definitely check out the new all natural and all natural chocolate roll (it has four flavors in it now). There was also some mention on the package of some Superfruit Necco Wafers.
Cybele at 11:05PM on 11/04/09
I eat them, yes I do.
They make wonderful pretend communion wafers. I used to humor my little brother when he played priest. Hey, don't laugh. . .this was back in the day, a few years before Barbie and GI Joe were invented and there wasn't much else to do except pretend.
They also make beautiful roofing shingles on gingerbread houses.
betteirene at 1:05AM on 11/05/09
The intersection between Catholicism and Necco Wafers in this threat is fascinating--perhaps receiving communion makes people more apt to like them? ;)
I used to WANT to like them as a little girl, because of Sweet Tarts and the lovely little sayings on them. Cupcakes with Sweet Tarts 'round Valentine's Day were adorable--but as for the taste? BLECH!
HeartofGlass at 8:57AM on 11/05/09
I wish Necco would make an all-clove roll - those are my favorite. The licorice ones are pretty awesome, too.
Bakerloo Line at 2:50PM on 11/06/09
I loved the clove, licorice the best but actually enjoyed all the flavors. Didn't know about Neccos being the candy for the soliders..interesting. I lived on an army base when I was a teenager, we would go to the show and throw jujubees at each other...was weird going to the show all the soliders that lived on the base would stand up and cheer when my sister and I walked in, not just for us, they cheered for all young girls age 15, 17 years. Was very strange but I never felt scared, they probably knew who my Dad was!
dawna at 3:29PM on 11/06/09
I like to use them as shingles on my annual homemade gingerbread house for the holiday season but that's it. I personally fit them into the 'chalky' category and I am quite surprised at all the necco lovers out there! I had no idea they actually had flavors! I thought they were all the same...probably because I can't bring myself to actually eat one. I made that mistake as a child and haven't looked back since.
violetcassis at 5:53PM on 11/06/09
@eeels ROFLMAO!
Reminds of of a conversation recounted by a friend this Halloween. Upon meeting a toddler Yoda, she said, “May the force be with you”.
He responded, immediately, “And also with you”.
KTempesta at 11:07AM on 11/08/09