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The Baby Ruth made its debut in the 1920s, quickly solidifying its place as one of America’s favorite candy bars. Throughout the 1940s, its popularity surged—particularly among GIs fighting overseas during World War II, who longed for a taste of home. The candy bar became so integral to military life that a recipe for baking Baby Ruth cookies was featured on the back of its wrappers, helping soldiers connect with their roots from afar.
But What’s in a Name?
The controversy surrounding the Baby Ruth name stems from its origins. In the early 1920s, Otto Schnering, founder of the Curtiss Candy Company, renamed a previous product, the Kandy Kake, to Baby Ruth. He avoided using Babe Ruth’s name directly to bypass royalties and instead chose a name that seemed innocent yet catchy.