As Aussies mourn the loss of the iconic Fantales chocolates, a hack has revealed how to secure an unlimited supply.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the Fantale, one of Australia’s most iconic lollies, was being discontinued after more than a century.
Manufacturer Nestle made the shock announcement that the chocolate-covered caramels, named for the movie star stories printed on their wrappers, would stop being produced next month.
The decision followed declining sales and the need for expensive upgrades to continue to make Fantales at Nestle’s Melbourne confectionary factory, the company said.
“We know our decision to stop making Fantales will be sad news for many people,” Nestle oceania confectionery general manager Andrew Lawrey said in a statement.
“Many of us grew up with Fantales and have fond memories of them.
“Despite the sense of nostalgia Fantales evoke, unfortunately people simply aren’t buying them as often as they used to.”
As Aussies mourn the loss of the iconic teeth-tugging candies, Woolworths has released a hack to help shoppers score an unlimited supply.
Shortly after the discontinuation announcement on Tuesday, a familiar string of words appeared on the recipes tab of the supermarket’s website: “Iconic Chewy Chocolate-caramel Lollies”.
“As we farewell Fantales — a classic movie-night favourite — we’ve created a speedy, family-friendly recipe inspired by the iconic Australian lolly,” Woolworths wrote.
The simple recipe calls for a handful of pantry staples and just 25 minutes of cooking time — all for a whopping 100 Fantales-inspired treats.
All Fantales fans need to do is melt together sugar, butter, glucose syrup and condensed milk to make a rich caramel.
Pop the caramel in the fridge for about four hours before cutting it into bite-size squares. Coat with chocolate, allow to set, and enjoy!
The original Fantales were created in 1930, when the golden age of Hollywood had people flocking to the movies.
To ride the wave, the chewy caramels were wrapped with ‘fan tales’ of actors and musicians on its wrappers.
The New York Times once declared it Australia’s most defining lolly.
The equipment needed to make Fantales, however, needs significant investment, Nestle said.
“It’s become increasingly difficult to get the parts we need to maintain it, and with declining sales, replacing it isn’t viable,” Mr Lawrey said in his statement.
The last production of Fantales will be in mid-July, and the lollies will be available for sale while stocks last.