Here are the best and worst Halloween candies based on a poll of 30,000 people

Assorted candy including Snickers, Milky Way and M&Ms
Adobe

If you have not yet bought your stash of Halloween candy, you might want to read this first. Nobody wants to become known as the house that gives out unwanted treats (or end up at the receiving end of some All Hallows’ Eve tricks because of it).

The sweet folks at CandyStore.com (see what we did there?) compiled a massive collection of data to come up with the top 10 favorite Halloween candies as well as the 10 most despised treats handed out by well-meaning adults to trick-or-treaters.

Adobe

History Of Handing Out Treats

Although Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, trick-or-treating as we know it didn’t become mainstream in the United States until the middle of the 20th century.

Even then, costumed children were likely to receive anything from nuts and fruit to coins, toys or cookies in their buckets when they rang their neighbors’ doorbells.

But by the 1970s, there seemed to be an unspoken rule that candy was the treat of choice, in large part because pre-wrapped, commercial goodies were deemed the safest option.

trick or treat photo
Getty Images | Jemal Countess

The Best Halloween Candy

This list was created by putting together the results of surveys by a dozen reputable websites along with CandyStore.com’s own survey of more than 30,000 people. According to this data compilation, the top 10 candy brands kids hope to receive when trick-or-treating are the following.

10. Hershey Bars

The simple chocolate bar, which has been available since 1900, remains a favorite.

9. Skittles

The colorful, fruity treats are ideal for Halloween, even if they contain a gross, seasonal flavor.

8. Sour Patch Kids

They’re a little sour, a little sweet, and a whole lot popular.

7. Butterfinger

Nobody better lay a finger on these, unless they’re passing them out to kiddos.

6. Nerds

The tiny boxes of sugary pebbles made the list.

Mars Announces World-Wide Recall Of Chocolate Bars
Getty Images | Matt Cardy

5. M&Ms

There are many flavors of the candies available now, but you might want to stick with plain or peanut.

4. Kit Kats

Some even have glow-in-the-dark wrappers.

3. Twix

Right or left is fine.

2. Snickers

Keep those kids from feeling hangry.

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

The chocolatey, peanut buttery confections topped the list.

Halloween Candy To Avoid

It is just as important, if not more so, to know what trick-or-treaters definitely don’t want. According to CandyStore.com, you shouldn’t waste your money on these unwanted sweets.

Adobe | Michael Gray

10. Bit-o-Honey 

They can range from super-sticky to too hard to bite.

9. Good & Plenty

Black licorice is a polarizing flavor, for sure.

8. Licorice

The list is clear that this does not include Twizzlers — black licorice is what trick-or-treaters don’t want.

7. Smarties

The chalky candies are not well-received.

6. Tootsie Rolls

They’re classic, affordable and overused, which might be why they made the list.

5. Necco Wafers

These sweets, which have been around since the 1840s, might be past their prime.

4. Wax Coke Bottles

They might be nostalgic for parents or grandparents, but kids are not loving them.

3. Peanut Butter Kisses

These tacky, taffy-like treats in orange and black wrappers seem to show up this time of year, but children don’t look forward to them.

2. Circus Peanuts

The marshmallow candies, which (oddly) come in flavors like cherry, lemon, vanilla and banana, topped last year’s list.

1. Candy Corn

It might be a fall staple, but pass on picking up candy corn to hand out at Halloween.

candy corn
Adobe

Do you agree that candy corn is the worst candy? Personally, we’ll take a little bit of everything on the “best” list.

Curiosity, Holiday & Seasonal

About the Author
Tricia Goss
Tricia Goss is a Texas-based writer and editor with nearly two decades of experience. She is passionate about helping readers improve their skills, gain knowledge and attain more happiness in life. When she’s not working, Tricia enjoys traveling with her husband and their dog, especially to visit their five grandchildren.

From our partners