Creating Christmas traditions is a special way to make the holiday season even more meaningful. In Prescott, Arkansas, Farmers Bank & Trust Branch Manager Carrie Jones has an old-fashioned sweet tradition 10 years in the making – homemade cinnamon candy.
“I went to a church Christmas party and the music director’s wife made some, and it’s my husband’s favorite,” Jones said. “I love to bake so I knew I needed to perfect my own recipe.”
A Perfect Balance
There’s an exact science to making candy, and Carrie has perfected it to a T. Her cinnamon candy is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Family, friends, Bank employees, and customers alike request a bag, or two, or six, every year.
“It really has just been word of mouth in southwest Arkansas,” she said. “I love making it because you don’t get homemade candy very often. I enjoy seeing the smiles on people’s faces.”
Because her children are grown, Carrie said it gives her something to do to pass the time when she’s not at the Bank. She looks forward to making it during Christmas and even Valentine’s Day. This year, she made almost 90 bags just in one week.
At the Bank Window
“I am her candy peddler,” laughed Teller Lupe Petit. “So many people come to pick up her cinnamon candy at the Bank window. A lot of people even get it for gifts. It’s very addicting and great for the cold weather. I buy it every year for my husband and little boy.”
If you’re interested in trying to whip up your own batch of hard candy, Carrie’s recipe is under wraps, but HERE is one similar to get you started.
If you’d like to place an order to try it out for yourself, stop by the Farmers Bank & Trust branch located at 103 E 2nd St. South in Prescott, AR.
To find a branch near you, visit HERE.
For more Christmas fun happening at Farmers Bank & Trust, visit our blog post on events HERE.
Cara is a graduate of Arkansas State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Prior to joining the Bank in 2019, Cara worked as a news reporter/anchor in Tyler, TX. She has a passion for visual storytelling and is the host of Farmers Bank & Trust's Right at the Heart Podcast. She lives in Central Arkansas with her husband, Jordan, and daughter, London.
