While freshly fallen auburn-colored leaves and costumed children filled with joy can bring smiles to all of us on the final day of October, we all know what Halloween is really about. (That’s the treats, and not the tricks, of course.) Bringing home a bucket overflowing with the best Halloween candy in the neighborhood is a must!
It’s no surprise the confectionary market is a $36 billion industry in the U.S., according to the National Confectioners Society. People are passionate about the treats they consume and many consider the act of eating candy an emotional experience. A recent poll suggests that 90 percent of Americans give chocolate and candy to friends on a yearly basis and 75 percent believe it’s better enjoyed with loved ones.
During the Halloween season in particular, it seems that everyone wants in on those loaded sacks of candy. According to a recent survey of 2,000 U.S. parents with children between the ages of 3-15, two-thirds of respondents have stolen candy that their kids collected while trick or treating. Nine in 10 Americans also believe enjoying candy is a treat, so you might as well make it worth it by indulging in the best.
So, which Halloween candy is ranked the very best, according to the “experts?” For our findings, we visited 10 of the leading expert websites to see which Halloween candies were rated the highest. Our list is ranked based on the most-recommended candy brands across these sites.
The List: Best Halloween Candy As Rated By The Experts
1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
For many, Reese’s mini peanut butter cups embody the golden standard for all Halloween candy. “Combined with the crimped black paper nestling each individual cup, it’s the candy that truly exemplifies the holiday. The taste is good too — the grainy, slightly salty peanut butter in each cup comforts in a way normal peanut butter can’t,” The Los Angeles Times writes.
Many “candy experts” rank Reese’s high on their list for their perfect size and packaging. Some may even argue that their individual wrapping allows you to slow down and savor the moment even more.
“When trick-or-treaters are going door to door, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are the treasures they are after,” writes Mashed. “Offer up these goodies on Halloween and the happy recipients will act as if they are being handed the holy grail.”
2. Twix
It’s a cookie, it’s a chocolate, it’s a caramel… Twix bars are everything one could possibly want in one candy. “The ratios between the three main components are simply perfect, striking a balance that makes the intense sugar rush completely worth it,” Thrillist writes.
Texturally speaking, Twix bars hit the right note every time: never too dry, never too chewy and never too creamy. The candy bar is also available in mini size, making it the perfect go-to for trick-or-treaters.
“Twix is what it is, and the company doesn’t spend all its time coming up with crazy flavors they refuse to sell to us. For that, we salute you, Twix,” Mashed writes.
3. Sour Patch Kids
First they’re sour, then they’re sweet… you know the drill. Sour Patch Kids have long been one of the best fruit-flavored sugary sweets for good reason.
“On the one side, you have the watermelon: not very sour at all, fun to suck on until it’s really sweet or just chew up,” The Cut writes. “Then you have the Kids, which you sort through to pick out your favorite flavors (a little brain challenge) and are actually sour. A little something for everyone, eh?”
These tangy gummies also ranked high due to what many candy aficionados consider the perfect texture: palatable chewiness, they but won’t get stuck in your teeth. “I love a fun-size bar as much as anyone, but when Halloween rolls around, I’ll take a little bag of gummies over a single chocolate bar the size of a thumb every time,” writes The Washington Post.
4. Snickers
Similar to Twix, but different – this three-layered chocolate delicacy makes the list every time among top Halloween candy rankings.
“While there are other versions with almonds, hazelnuts or crunchy peanut butter that I certainly wouldn’t turn down, it’s the classic version that holds the key to my heart — and stomach,” The Washington Post writes.
The “fun size” option makes this candy bar an ideal choice for Halloween, giving you that sweet tooth fix without making you feel ill. “It’s easily the heartiest of all candy bars: nougat, caramel, nuts, and chocolate represent pretty much every food group,” writes Thrillist.
5. Starbursts
Starbursts made the cut for the top Halloween candy of all times, but it should be noted that experts are choisy with their flavors. Orange is out of the question, and pink is considered the holy grail.
“Another in the pantheon of candy-based chemistry, Starbursts come in so many flavors, the permutations among flavor combinations are almost endless,” Thrillist writes. “Pink Starbursts are the best, but at least the other flavors aren’t too far off.”
Perfectly sweet, perfectly chewy and just the right size– as far as little squares of fruity chewables go, it doesn’t get much better.
“Chocolate bars might be the most popular kids at the Halloween party, but I’m partial to the overlooked fruity, chewy delights that are Starburst candies,” The Washington Post writes. “When they’re offered up loose, you can see what color you’re grabbing, but those two-fer packages carry an element of risk, since one might end up with the dreaded citrus flavors. But, hey, Halloween is for living on the edge, right?”
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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
