Goo Goo Cluster and Nashville Sweets: A Short History

The Goo Goo Cluster and Nashville sweets go together: this caramel, marshmallow and peanut candy, covered in milk chocolate, has been made in the city, and it sits beside banana pudding, pecan pie and cobbler on a Southern dessert list. Here is the story, and how to rate a sweet when you taste one.

What is the story of the Goo Goo Cluster and Nashville sweets?

The Goo Goo Cluster was created in Nashville in 1912 by the Standard Candy Company. Its founder, Howell Campbell, is credited with the idea, and the company bills it as the first combination candy bar: a mix of caramel, marshmallow nougat and roasted peanuts, hand-dipped in milk chocolate, at a time when most bars held a single filling.

It was sold unwrapped at first, for a nickel, and wrapping came later. The name's origin is told in several ways, and none is settled. The charm of the story is that nobody quite knows.

Why does Nashville candy matter to a food traveler?

Because a candy is a souvenir you can eat. It travels, it keeps and it tells a story in two bites. Nashville candy has a particular place in the city's life, and visitors often take a cluster home to someone who asked what Nashville tastes like. Locals call the Goo Goo Cluster a Nashville classic.

A candy is also a good test of your own taste. Do you like the chew of caramel, the soft marshmallow or the crunch of peanuts? Rate it by the dish and write which part you liked best.

How do you taste a Standard Candy Company cluster properly?

Slowly. Break one in half and look at the layers. Smell the chocolate. Take a bite with all three parts at once, then another with just the nuts. A cluster is best at room temperature, when the caramel has softened a little and the chocolate has not melted. Cold from a fridge, it is hard. Left in a hot car, it is a mess.

The company also makes versions with other nuts and fillings. If you find a flavor you have not tried, rate it separately and name it. A note on texture is more useful than a note on sweetness.

Which Nashville desserts to try beyond candy?

Southern dessert menus follow a pattern: banana pudding with wafers, pecan pie, peach or blackberry cobbler, caramel cake and a scoop of ice cream. Many are made from family recipes, and most are served in large portions that two people can share. A slice of pie at the end of a plate lunch is a Tennessee habit.

Order one dessert for the table and pass the forks. If you have eaten a very large dinner, take the dessert to go. A good pie travels well in a box.

Banana pudding in particular has local champions in every county of the state, and a separate guide may follow. For now, treat it as a dish to rate wherever you find it.

Where did the Goo Goo Cluster get its name?

Nobody has settled it. One tale says the name comes from a baby's first sounds, another from a remark a passenger made on a streetcar, and the story gets retold with a wink. What is certain is that the name stuck, that it is easy to say and that it is on a good many souvenir shelves. If a shopkeeper tells you the true story, enjoy it and keep a pinch of salt handy.

The shape matters too. A cluster is a rounded mound rather than a flat bar, which is why it is called a cluster, and each one is slightly different. Look for peanuts poking out of the chocolate and a glossy top.

Can you take Nashville sweets home?

Yes, with a little care. Candy keeps well in a cool bag, but chocolate softens in a warm car. Wrap clusters in paper, avoid the dashboard and keep the box out of the sun. Pies and cakes are better eaten the same day. If you are flying, put the candy in your carry-on and eat the pie before the airport.

How do you rate a sweet fairly?

In the Mosey app, a dessert gets its own rating by the dish, so a Goo Goo Cluster, a wedge of pecan pie and a bowl of banana pudding never blur together. Keep the ones you loved in a list and send it to anyone planning a Nashville trip.

Judge the thing in front of you. Is the crust crisp? Is the custard smooth? Is the cake moist at the edges? Give stars you would stand behind and add a word on size, because a dessert meant for two is a different dish from one meant for one.

Tags such as Dessert, Bakery and Great Value can help the next person. If a friend shared the plate, tag them, and they can add their own rating of the same dish. Tags are notes from diners, not promises from the kitchen.

Where does a sweet tooth lead in Nashville?

Around the city: to bakeries in the neighborhoods, to dessert counters in restaurants and to candy shops that sell the local bars. For a morning start, the biscuits and country ham guide covers the savory side of breakfast, and the barbecue guide covers a plate that ends well with pie. The Food in Tennessee guide lists every Tennessee page, and the US food guides cover the rest of the country.

What should you take home?

A box of clusters is the simple answer. Keep them cool and dry, and share them at once or save them for a day when someone needs cheering up. A list of the desserts you tried is the other souvenir, and it costs nothing.

Open the Mosey app after your next Nashville dessert, rate it by the dish and save the place to a list for the friend with a sweet tooth.