- Find out which candies will make the kids love or hate you, whichever you prefer.
Halloween is just around the corner, and that means trick-or-treaters are about to start a-knocking on our doors. Few of us are ready to risk getting our houses TP’d so it’s best to have something available for handing out.
But a disappointing Halloween offering might get your porch egged or car beaned anyway. So, what exactly should you offer to the ghosts and goblins that show up at your door?
There are a lot of opinions on the matter, and there are a few generally safe choices. But if we applied statistical data to find out what treats are the best for avoiding tricks?
Thanks to an extensive survey carried out by CandyStore.com, we now have scientific proof of what trick-or-treaters like and don’t like. So, here they are — the worst and best Halloween candies, at least for this year.
The 10 Worst Halloween Candies
10. Black Licorice
You’d imagine licorice as black as a tainted soul would be the perfect candy for Halloween. But apparently, kids these days don’t think so. This author, for one, can’t comprehend why — black licorice is delicious.
9. Good & Plenty
It shouldn’t really come as a surprise that Good & Plenty follows black licorice. After all, what is Good & Plenty is not black licorice, just wrapped in the hollowed-out shell of a better candy. Kids don’t think it’s good, and there’s plenty for them to hate.
8. Tootsie Rolls
A lot of people will choose to hand out Tootsie Rolls, if only because they’re cheap. It seems kids don’t really detest them on a principle, they’re okay. They just get so many of them that the novelty wears off.
7. Mary Janes
Kids probably rejoiced when Mary Janes went out of production in 2018. But in 2020, they came back. Hooray for the continuation of classic candy, we suppose, but don’t give them to kids.
6. Wax Coke Bottles
It’s no wonder these things are on this list. You bite into a nasty wax shell for a couple drops of warm sugary water. What’s not to hate?
5. Necco Wafers
Like Mary Janes, Necco Wafers disappeared in 2018 and made a comeback in 2020, to the horror of trick-or-treaters everywhere. They’re like Valentine’s candies. Is there anyone who actually likes this chalky garbage?
4. Smarties
This is a repeat of all the complaints about Necco Wafers. Might as well chew on classroom chalk.
3. Peanut Butter Kisses
The distaste for these things probably isn’t about the flavor, unless you just don’t like peanut butter. They’re just such a hassle to eat that most kids just throw them away.
2. Circus Peanuts
They’re not even candy. Enough said.
1. Candy Corn
Candy corn might be the most divisive candy ever. You either love it or hate it. Kids overwhelmingly seem to hate it, though, so don’t choose this.
Honorable Mention: Fruit
Honestly, fruit is probably the best thing to hand out on Halloween — in theory at least. It’s healthy but still sweet. But try telling that to the kids.
The 10 Best Halloween Candies
10. Nerds
What in the world are Nerds doing in the top ten Halloween candies. There must’ve been some kind of a mistake. But the numbers don’t lie — a box of Nerds is a solid choice.
9. Butterfingers
Unlike Nerds, this one isn’t a surprise. Butterfingers are a crunchy classic that’s sure to please.
8. Hershey Bars
Hershey Bars are an interesting case, since according to CandyShop.com data, they also almost made the worst candies list. We’ll leave it up to you if you want to give them out.
7. Twix
There’s little to not like about Twix. The only question is whether you should hand out the full bars, the one-stick version, or the “fun-sized” ones. Here’s a pro-tip: the right choice isn’t the no-fun size.
6. Kit Kats
These guys should be higher on the list if you ask this author. You’d imagine the kids would think that too, since you get half a Kit Kat even with the smaller version. But is that the Kit or the Kat half?
5. Sour Patch Kids
Honestly, this only makes sense. Most of the other candy you’ll get is so sickly sweet that Sour Patch Kids probably feel like a breath of fresh air when devouring your haul.
4. Snickers
It’s Snickers, what’s there to say. You get chocolate, caramel, and even some peanuts. Satisfying, even as a fun-sized bar.
3. Skittles
Kids apparently like tasting the rainbow. This year, at least. Skittles have historically bounced up and down the top rankings, so they’re not exactly the safest choice.
2. M&Ms
An age-old fan favorite. But which of the billion different kinds of M&Ms should you go for? Any, if you go by the data.
1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
These things have been the #1 choice for Halloween candy for years and probably always will be. So, if you want to be popular with the kids in your neighborhood, here’s what to give them.
On the other hand, if you want to be left alone forever on Halloween, hand out candy corn. And remember to be generous with it, reputations aren’t easy to build.