![]() Scotch Kisses, a variation of the Modjeska, made by See's Candies | |
Place of origin | Louisville, ![]() ![]() |
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Region or state | Bluegrass region |
Created by | Anton Busath |
Main ingredients | marshmallow dipped in caramel |
A Modjeska is a confection consisting of marshmallow dipped in caramel. It was created in the 1880s in Louisville, Kentucky by confectioner Anton Busath (1845–1908)[1][2] to honor Shakespearean actress Helena Modjeska, who was performing there in the US debut production of Ibsen's A Doll's House.[3][4][5] After Modjeska granted Busath permission to use her name for the candy, she sent him an autographed portrait, which he hung in his shop.[4] Other Louisville shops began to make versions of the candy, which continues to be popular in the region today; in particular, Bauer's Candies in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky renamed their own "caramel biscuit" the Modjeska in tribute to Busath after his family's store was destroyed by a fire.[3][4][5] Muth's Candies[3] and Dundee Candy[6] in Louisville, and Schimpff's Confectionery in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in the Louisville metropolitan area,[6][7][8] also sell the candy.