Most people would probably assume that Charles Schulz named Peppermint Patty after the candy. It would make sense. After all, Peppermint Pattie candies predate the character by 22 years. Peppermint Patty’s full name was Patricia Reichardt, and Schulz introduced her to the Peanuts strip on August 22, 1966. Meanwhile, Henry C. Keesler invented the candy in 1940. Many have assumed, therefore, that Schulz named the character after the product. Despite the dates working, he did not! Peppermint candy was involved, however.
Peppermint Patty vs. The Candy: Quick Summary
If you’re looking for the short version of how these two icons compare, here are the essential facts:
- The Candy (1940): The York Peppermint Pattie was invented by Henry C. Kessler. However, it was only a regional product in the Northeast and Midwest for decades.
- The Character (1966): Peppermint Patty (Patricia Reichardt) debuted in the Peanuts comic strip on August 22, 1966.
- The Name Origin: Despite the candy being 22 years older, Charles Schulz did not name the character after the York candy.
- Schulz’s Inspiration: The name actually came from a dish of peppermint candies Schulz saw in his home; he likely hadn’t even heard of the York brand yet because it didn’t go national until 1975.
- Fun Fact: Peppermint Patty was actually the second Patty in the strip. The original “Patty” debuted in the very first Peanuts strip in 1950.
It’s quite true! Peppermint Pattie candies existed long before the Peanuts comic strip. However, Charles Schulz is unlikely to have known about the candy until well after he introduced the character.
The History of the York Peppermint Pattie (1940)
The York Peppermint Pattie’s history began in 1940. That year, Henry C. Kessler developed the candy for the York Cone Company. During that time and beyond, York was a regional operation out of Pennsylvania. The company only distributed to its home state, the New England Region, Ohio, and Indiana. The York Peppermint Pattie did not become a nationally distributed brand until 1975. Schulz, based in California, probably would never have heard of it until then.
How Charles Schulz Named Peppermint Patty (1966)
Charles Schulz did not get the name for Peppermint Patty from the York candies. However, he was certainly inspired by some sweet treats! The author himself said that he got the idea for the name from a dish of peppermint candies, almost a year before he used the name. Schulz felt that his new character could probably carry another strip by herself. He had originally planned to write a separate series of children’s books. However, since he never had the time, Peppermint Patty joined the Peanuts cast instead. Her best friend Marcie, who always called Patty “Sir,” came along for the ride.
Breaking the Peanuts Mold: What Made Patty Different
Patty stood out from the other girls in the strip. It wasn’t just because she didn’t wear dresses. Besides the fact that she behaved like a tomboy and was an excellent athlete, her home life was also revealed more than that of other characters. Revealing her as a girl being raised by a single father was quite unusual!
She appeared in the longest series of strips that the author ever wrote, in which she entered an ice skating competition with her partner Snoopy, an ice skating pro, to find out, after much hard work, that it was a roller skating competition. 1Schulz, Charles M., and M. Thomas. Inge. My Life with Charlie Brown. Jackson: University of Mississippi, 2010.
The “Other” Patty: Meet the Original 1950 Character
Long before the athletic, sandal-wearing Peppermint Patty arrived, there was actually another girl in the neighborhood sharing the same name. This original Patty was a founding member of the Peanuts cast. She appeared in the very first comic strip on October 2, 1950. Her full name was Patricia Swanson, whom Schulz named after his cousin.
She became less prominent as the strip went on, being overshadowed by other characters, but you may remember her as a snobbish girl who, along with her best friend, Violet, was cruel to Charlie Brown. She was also the character who constantly asked Pig Pen why he was so dirty. This Patty appeared in the very first strip, on October 2, 1950, but was not named until October 26 of that year. 2Michaelis, David. Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography. New York: Harper, 2007.,3“Patty.” Peanuts Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <https://peanuts.wikia.com/wiki/Patty>
From Regional Treat to National Icon: The Rise of York
While Schulz was developing his characters in California, the candy that shared Patty’s name was undergoing its own major transformation. In 1972, the Peter Paul Candy Company acquired the York Cone Company. This set the stage to take the regional treat national just three years later.
Cadbury bought the company in 1978 and in 1988, sold the Mounds, Almond Joy, and York Peppermint Patties (the Peter Paul products) brands to the Hershey Company, which still makes them all today.
💡Hungry for more? Discover the full timeline of the York Peppermint Pattie’s invention and its journey from a local candy shop to the Hershey Company.
Before York: The History of the “Cream Wafer”
York is the most famous brand today. However, it did not invent the mint-filled chocolate. The candy was actually part of a long-standing tradition of ‘cream wafers’ or ‘cream patties’ that local confectioners had been whipping up for decades before the first Peanuts strip was ever drawn. Such candies were also flavored with wintergreen, lemon, orange, maple, chocolate, or even nuts like pistachios.
Other “Peppermint Pattie” candy brands were Pearson’s Peppermint Pattie and Curtiss Peppermint Pattie (famous for the Baby Ruth bar). This type of candy recipe existed long before the Peanuts cartoon.
These candies are similar to and based on cream fondant, like that used to make Bon Bon chocolate creams and many other fondant based treats. (Additional sources: 4Smith, Andrew F. The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2007.,5Lehman, Eric D., and Amy Nawrocki. A History of Connecticut Food: A Proud Tradition of Puddings, Clambakes and Steamed Cheeseburgers. Charleston, SC: History, 2012.,6Smith, Andrew F. Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2006.)
👽 Did You Know? Peppermint Patty isn’t the only candy with a famous Hollywood connection. Check out the story of how Reese’s Pieces landed a starring role in E.T. after M&M’s turned down the offer!
Conclusion: A Sweet Coincidence
Whether it’s the accidental marketing of Reese’s Pieces or the shared name of a Peanuts icon, the history of our favorite treats is often stranger than fiction. While Peppermint Patty the character and the York Peppermint Pattie share a name and a refreshing reputation, they followed completely separate paths to becoming American icons. One was born in a Pennsylvania candy shop, and the other in the imagination of a legendary cartoonist—proving that sometimes, a great name is just too good not to be used twice.
Peppermint Patty Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Marcie call Peppermint Patty “Sir”?
Marcie began calling Peppermint Patty “Sir” from her very first appearance in 1971. While many fans speculated about the reason, it was simply a character quirk. Charles Schulz intended it to be a sign of Marcie’s admiration and slightly misguided respect for Patty’s authority as the leader of their group.
Did the candy company ever sue Charles Schulz?
No. There was never any legal conflict between the York Cone Company (now owned by Hershey’s) and Charles Schulz. Since the character was not a competitor in the confectionery market and the name was a common phrase, there was no trademark infringement.
Was Peppermint Patty based on a real person?
Schulz often drew inspiration from his own life, but Peppermint Patty wasn’t based on one specific person. Schulz created her to represent a more modern, boisterous girl. She was a ‘tomboy’ who was also deeply human and prone to unrequited crushes
