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Ahhh, good ol' candy corn: Love it or hate it, the iconic Halloween treat is the most-searched-for sweet on Google.
In the realm of trick-or-treating, apples are lame and Necco Wafers are even lamer. (What are those things, anyway — sugared cardboard?)
So what should you hand out to trick-or-treaters to assure your house doesn't land on the egging list? We've consulted the Internet and some candy stores in order to help you hand out the treats children want.
Based on sheer volume of Facebook likes, Skittles are the most popular candy, with 23.55 million people giving it the thumbs up. Starburst (11.5 million likes), Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (10 million likes), Kit Kat (9.4 million likes), and Twix (5.16 million likes) round out the top five most drooled-over treats on Facebook.
Google searches also shed light on people’s sugary cravings and curiosities. Candy corn, Gummy Bears and Snickers are the top three most-searched-for sweets overall. Interestingly, trick-or-treaters in Colorado might enjoy their Halloween hauls more because residents there really research their candy — the state boasts the highest number of Google searches for Halloween treats.
Californians should be prepared to bring home lots of organic candy because that state ranks highest in Google searches for such healthy treats. And kids in Washington should brace themselves: their state has the highest number of Google searches for sugar-free candy.
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Internet searches and Facebook likes indicate what sorts of treats are on people's minds this Halloween season.
Kristi Holmes, owner of The Confectionery in Seattle, said she doesn't think the Google search results accurately depict what Washingtonians want: “We do have sugar-free [candy], but it is more people who are diabetic and who are eating sugar-free [and low-carb diets] who buy it.”
Holmes noted that candy corn remains one of the most popular seasonal items at her store. “Our store sells almost 600 pounds [of candy corn] in two months,” she said.
Meanwhile, chocolate-loving Ohio residents search for candy bars more often than people in other states, while Wisconsin residents tend to search for gummy worms and North Carolina residents love researching jelly beans — a year-round favorite across the country thanks to gourmet options.
“We've had a ton of people come in for the Jelly Belly [candies],” said Hailey Buehler, an employee at Blickenstaff's toy and candy store in Provo, Utah. “The orange has been quite popular and other fall colors, as well.”
Want another reliable way to predict treat trends? Consider the weather. The worst U.S. drought in more than 50 years has caused the price of corn oil and high fructose corn syrup to spike this year, increasing candy costs by about 3 percent from last year — so it should be no surprise if the kids’ Halloween plunder looks smaller on Oct. 31. And forget about handing out apples or enjoying a glass of apple cider; apple prices have increased between 20 and 30 percent over last year.
Here are the full lists of popular candies on the Internet this year:
Facebook results for candy
Here are the top 10 most-liked treats on Facebook:
1. Skittles, 23.55 million likes
2. Starburst, 11.5 million likes
3. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, 10 million likes
4. Kit Kat, 9.4 million likes
5. Twix, 5.16 million likes
6. Snickers, 4.8 million likes
7. M&M'S, 4 million likes
8. Sour Patch Kids, 3.89 million likes
9. Life Savers Gummies, 3.28 million likes
10. Hershey’s Kisses, 1.97 million likes
Google results for candy
The top 10 hottest candy searches on the Google search engine are:
1. Candy corn
2. Gummy Bears
3. Snickers
4. M&M’S
5. Reese's
6. Milky Way
7. Twix
8. Lollipop
9. Twizzler
10. Peanut M&M'S
What's your all-time favorite Halloween candy? Tell us in the comments!
More:
- Hot new Halloween candy to help you one-up the neighbors
- Healthier Halloween candy that won't ruin your reputation
- What's the most hated Halloween candy?
- Video: Scariest of all: Which viewer's Halloween costume is best?
TODAY diet and nutrition editor Madelyn Fernstrom gives a lesson on Halloween candy, sharing five fun facts, including the most popular candy and which candy does not cause weight gain.
Leave a Comment:
Perfect.
Year after year, the kids come and want airheads! We gave them out a few years ago and the next year kids asked if we had airheads again. Now we get mostly those. I'd love to give out JellyBelly's but I'd hoard them and eat them all!
A "like" on Facebook doesn't necessarily represent a favorite candy. Many likes are come by due to promotions -- and frankly, most people will "like" anything if there's some opportunity to win a prize or get a discount/coupon, etc. I liked Walmart once... shudder... I later unliked it because it was too icky for me (I felt so dirty hahaha). So I'm not sure Facebook is the way to determine favorites. Seems like retails sales data would be the "newsy" way to go.
But I'll throw in my vote for all the weird candy that no one else seems to want -- Necco waffers, Jujubes, weird coconut things. Give me your rejects and you can have my chocolate candies. :-)
Snickers, Twix, and Reese's. Everything else is just filler.
Sometimes, the best thing to give out on Halloween isn't candy. My mom started giving out Play-Doh a few years ago and now the whole neighborhood knows her house as "the Play-Doh" house. It's been a huge hit. I plan on giving out Play-Doh myself this Halloween.
The newest M & M's candy corn flavor! ...and for cute Peeps now has Halloween candy, if you can find the chocolate cats they are very cute.
And every single one of those on the top 10-Made ...NOT... in the USA!I am done handing out candy that is supporting someone in another country,not hard working workers here.People who most likely are not making a ton of money-maybe just getting by,and are really dependent on the Halloween boost of candy sales.So this year it's Dum-Dums,Tootsie Rolls& Pops,Goetz's cowtales and caramels.For more ideas check this list.https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.427364057309711.94659.173241696055283&type=3
Sad to say, as a handicapped senior I no longer have the stamina or motivation to jump up and answer the doorbell for four or five hours. The end of an era for me! I remember trick-or-treating as a kid and my favorite candy was anything chocolate. My sister would trade me for whatever I collected that WASN'T chocolate (licorice, Lemonheads, JuJubes, etc.).
I always keep an ice chest full of mini soft drinks and water to hand out to the parents. People seem to enjoy it. Chocolate for the kiddos...Reese's PB cups, cookies & cream bars...all the stuff I won't mind eating if there are leftovers.
Great idea thinking of the parents. My boyfriend was telling me of a house in his Phoenix neighborhood that passed out liqueur filled candies for the adults... very nice!
Oswillshopping is the mega online store to buy branded confectionery products all over Australia, with a large variety of sweet candies, lollies and confectionary items to choose from.
Hey Bella I today only order some packs from Oswill Shopping...
They have so many variety of candies. Look at the following it made me just show my teeth to my friends...
You can't go wrong with little Ziploc bags of asparagus.
Sadly, we get no trick or treaters...but I keep a supply of mini Twix bars just in case we get a few.