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| Vintage Marshmallow Fluff Ad |
Marshmallow Fluff plus Peanut Butter creates a sandwich that was a must have for many lunchboxes back in the 50s and 60s mine included. Of course that would be the "Fluffernutter", gooey sticky and oh so sweet - I remember mine being made on Wonder Bread, something my husband and I now laughingly refer to as "Gumball Bread" - fluff was also great plopped into a cup of hot chocolate.
Well if you have memories of this culinary delight you might be interested to know that Marshmallow Fluff turned 100 this year and it's still be produced today in the same plant and by the same family as when it started.
Archibald Query of Somerville Ma actually invented fluff in 1917, he made it in his kitchen and started selling it door to door, however due to WW1 and the shortage of sugar he was forced to shelve his product. In 1920 he sold the formula for $500 to H.Allen Durkee and Fred Mower who began marketing it under the name "Toot Sweet Marshmallow Fluff".
The recipe which by the way has not changed still consists of corn syrup, sugar syrup, dried egg whites and vanillin - vanilla extract alternative - has stayed with Durkee Mower Inc. and is the only product the family-owned company makes. The company moved into a factory in East Lynn Ma. in 1929 and they are still there today.
Of course as with any product advertising and marketing is the key to success and it was no different for Fluff. In fact the popularity of fluff is the direct result of Durkee Mower's clever strategies often thought to border on brilliance. Ads in newspapers and magazines was a given but it was the 1930s radio show they sponsored - starring a group they called "The Flufferettes" - that brought them into so many homes.
Even with newspapers, magazines and a radio show probably the best advertising was in 1950 with a campaign that introduced the now classic Fluffernutter sandwich. Think about it this way, it's been 67 years since that campaign and chances are if you were to ask someone today what's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Marshmallow Fluff most people will say Fluffernutter.
The Fluffernutter Song:
Oh you need fluff, fluff, fluff
To make a fluffernutter
Marshmallow fluff
And lots of peanut butter.
First you spread, spread, spread
Your bread with peanut butter
And marshmallow fluff
And have a fluffernutter.
When you enjoy, enjoy, enjoy
Your fluff and peanut butter
You’re glad you have enough for another fluffernutter.
To make a fluffernutter
Marshmallow fluff
And lots of peanut butter.
First you spread, spread, spread
Your bread with peanut butter
And marshmallow fluff
And have a fluffernutter.
When you enjoy, enjoy, enjoy
Your fluff and peanut butter
You’re glad you have enough for another fluffernutter.
So if after reading this you have that uncontrollable urge to make a fluffernutter just make sure you've got a big glass of something handy to wash it down with and a big box of face wipes.
