With just a few days until Easter, it’s officially time to get those baskets ready. From chocolate bunnies to jelly beans, Easter isn’t complete until you have some candy — $5 billion dollars worth, if you’ve ever wondered. Outside of the cost, though, have you ever wondered how many Peeps are made each Easter? How to properly eat a chocolate Easter bunny? Here are 11 fun facts about Easter candy and springtime treats that prove this holiday might just be the sweetest of them all.
1. Americans spent over $3 billion on Easter candy last year.
In 2024, Americans spent an estimated $3.1 billion on Easter candy, which is an increase from the $3 billion spent in 2023 and almost $1 billion more than a decade before in 2014. The increase in spending on candy has been attributed to a slight increase in overall Easter spending as a whole, reaching a grand total of $22 billion in 2024.
2. Americans consume roughly 16 billion jelly beans at Easter.
Yes, that’s billion with a “b.” As in 16,000,000,000 jellybeans. With nine zeroes. If you lined them up from end to end, they would circle the world nearly three times.
3. Cherry is the most popular jelly bean flavor.
You’ve probably tried a wide variety of jelly bean flavors, but did you know red jellybeans are the most popular flavor among children? According to InfoPlease, a majority of children name cherry (20%) and strawberry (12%) as their favorite jelly bean flavors, with grape (10%), lime (7%), and blueberry (6%).
4. Kids prefer to eat jelly beans one at a time.
Studies show that 70% of kids aged 6 to 11 say they prefer to eat Easter jelly beans one at a time, while 23% report eating several at once. When it comes to eating jelly beans, boys are 29% more likely to eat a handful than girls (18%) are.
5. 90 million chocolate bunnies are produced each year for Easter.
Chocolate bunnies are an Easter staple and a delicious way to spruce up a basket, and it seems like most of the world agrees. According to InfoPlease, nearly 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are created each year.
Many brands offer a variety of flavors beyond the classic milk and dark chocolate , including Lindt’s Salted Caramel Bunny and Hershey’s Cookies & Cream Bunnies.
6. Chocolate bunnies should be eaten ears first.
Just like gummy bears, some fans also debate how chocolate Easter bunnies should be eaten — but the method is clear. According to InfoPlease, surveys show that 89% of Americans believe that chocolate bunnies should be eaten from the ear first, and only 5% believe the tail should come first.
7. Cadbury Mini Eggs are only available during Easter.
Start building your stash of Cadbury mini eggs now, because the popular pastel colored chocolate mini eggs with a crisp sugar shell are only available during the Easter season. Since it’s so easy to devour a whole bag of these eggs, you should consider grabbing a few next time you hit up the grocery store.
8. Americans buy more than 700 million Peeps each Easter.
When you walk into a grocery store in March and April, you’ll probably see bright colored Peeps marshmallows stacked on the shelves. According to InfoPlease, Americans buy hundreds of millions of Peeps each Easter season, and 5 million marshmallow chicks and bunnies are made daily in preparation for the holiday.
9. Yellow is the most popular color of Peeps marshmallows.
Not only are Peeps delicious, but the vibrant colors — including pink, blue, purple and yellow marshmallow treats — make them an Easter icon. According to InfoPlease, yellow is Peeps most popular color.
10. Peeps have a two year shelf life — but they’re virtually “indestructible.”
Several studies have tested the shelf life of Peeps, and some have concluded that the marshmallow candy has an alarmingly long life span. For example, a study at Emory University tested the durability of Peeps in a number of substances (including tap water, boiling water, acetone, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide) to see how they would hold up. The researchers determined that, regardless of substance, Peeps remain indestructible for up to two years. Whether you stock up for this Easter or want to wait until next year to eat these fluffy treats, the brand has you covered.
11. Peeps only take six minutes to make.
If you spend lots of time in the kitchen, then you know that some of the best treats take a long time to make. However, over six decades of business, Peeps has expedited the process: in 1953, it took 27 hours to create a single marshmallow Peep, but today, it only takes six minutes.