Believe it or not, Halloween is just over ten days away. Cute costumes, spooky decorations, and festive fast food menus are great, but let’s be real — we’re all most excited for the sweet treats. There are so many that if we tried to rank every single candy, we’d be here all day.
Still, as someone who’s gone trick-or-treating for as long as I can remember, I’ve developed some opinions about certain types of candy. What makes me qualified? I’ve done research every Halloween for years, I have a massive sweet tooth, and I eat a lot of candy. A LOT.
10. Smarties
Most of this list includes candy categories, not particular candies. But honestly, no matter how hard I tried, I could not fit Smarties into one of those categories. I still think they deserve last place. Smarties are the candy always left in the bowl. No one ever wants to take them. Despite all the Smarties I’ve had over the years (precisely because they were the only option remaining), I still can’t describe what they’re supposed to taste like. Chalk? Dust? Ironically, they’re so disappointing they’re in a category of their own.
9. Lollipops
Lollipops are great as a concept but usually fall through in execution. It’s candy on a stick. What’s not to love? The reason I say this, though, is because Dum Dums, the most common Halloween lollipops, are nothing to write home about. And I’ve never been a huge fan of Tootsie Pops. Something about fruit and chocolate in a lollipop does not mix. Just pick one!
8. Candy that comes in a box
This is a broad category — think Milk Duds, Nerds, Whoppers and the like. Based on taste alone, all of these examples are entirely average candies (though Nerds Gummy Clusters are another story). But something about candy in a box feels whimsy. Maybe it’s the fact that you can shake them. That rattling sound alone puts them up a notch.
7. Chocolate
It’s what you see when you think of Halloween candy: Hershey’s Kisses, Tootsie Rolls, and the classic Hershey chocolate bar. They’re for the milk chocolate lovers especially, yet regardless of your cocoa preferences, you’ll probably eat at least one of these after trick-or-treating. But beyond the nostalgia element, chocolate bars with no filling are just average.
6. Candy that comes in a tiny bag
Taste-wise, these candies are usually pretty good. Skittles do the rainbow concept best and, in my opinion, are what Smarties are trying to be. You can’t go wrong with M&Ms, especially the peanut butter-filled ones. What docks points is the quantity, or lack thereof. I’m most content with a big bag of M&Ms from the airport. The tiny Halloween packages unfortunately don’t do the trick.
5. Chewy unwrappables
Again, this is a broad category, but stick with me. I define an unwrappable as a bite-sized candy you unwrap. Think Hi-Chews, Starburst, Laffy Taffy, and so much more. These candies are like breaths of fresh air, adding pops of color to a basket of chocolate. They’re small but mighty. Also, special shout-out to Jolly Ranchers, which aren’t exactly chewy but are incredibly underrated nonetheless.
4. Gummies
I LOVE GUMMIES. Some may agree, and some may not. But how can you not smile when you see a Haribo bear smiling at you from the bag? And if Haribo’s not your thing, there are Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish, and the variety of fruit snacks that take you back to elementary school recess. Eating gummies makes me feel like a kid again, and that’s exactly what Halloween’s about.
3. Chocolate with filling
Trust me, I would never slander chocolate bars even though I placed them at number six. I was only saving the stars of the show for the top three. Chocolate bars filled with caramel, peanut butter, or nougat are where it’s at. Snickers. Milky Way. 3 Musketeers. The list goes on. And my personal favorites: Twix and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. If this list ranked every single candy, these two would come first.
2. Food-shaped gummies
Did I mention I love gummies? And that I also love fast food? Well, these are gummies but shaped like fast food menu items. The highlights of my trick-or-treating bucket are always the mini gummy burgers and hot dogs. In fact, I find them so adorable I can never eat them first, but when I do, they’re delicious. I promise, if you hand these out during Halloween, you’ll be an instant neighborhood favorite.
1. Homemade treats
Sure, Halloween spotlights dozens of iconic candy brands, but at the end of the day, there’s nothing sweeter than receiving a homemade baked good from your neighbors during trick-or-treating. And they always taste the best out of everything in the bucket. Always. A Definitive Ranking Of Halloween Candy Types