The 10 Best Halloween Candies, Hands Down

While we can all appreciate the ghosts, witches, and the fear that your car might get egged – let’s face it. The best part of Halloween is the candy. And while we might be greeting our little ghosts, goblins and Katy Perry’s at the door instead of seeking for treats on our own, we can still appreciate a quality chocolate at any age. If you want to prep and be the coolest neighbors on the block (or if you want to hoard some of the good stuff yourself, for November and December) here’s what you need to know about the ten best Halloween candies this year.

10. Tootsie Roll Pops (preferably chocolate)

There’s something so classic about the Tootsie Roll Pop. Most people are familiar with their one iconic commercial, and many have attempted to figure out how many licks it truly takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhjb4P_jnKk?rel=0

A group of engineering students from Purdue University reported that its licking machine, which is modeled after a human tongue, took an average of 364 licks to get to the center. The University of Michigan reported 411 licks, in a similar study.

Back to the fun stuff. Lollipops in general are a great treat based on how long they last, and Tootsie Roll Pops have a lot of gusto. The one negative about handing out this classic is their somewhat flimsy wrapper.

9. 3 Musketeers

I think the 3 Musketeers bar is underrated. The 3 Musketeers got its name because it used to come in three flavors (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry), but we now know this famous bar from the 1930’s in its standard chocolate form. For those who might be counting their calories, this treat boasts that it has 45% less fat than other chocolate bars. Also, while it’s kind of simple, it’s still delicious. Sometimes you just want some chocolate without all the fuss.

8. Pop Rocks

In short, Pop Rocks are awesome. And don’t believe the myth – you won’t die if you eat them with soda. Created in the 70’s, these fizzy candies are like no other. They’re also a Halloween rarity, so you’ll be creative if you choose to throw these in pillowcases and plastic pumpkins this year.

These candies are made by mixing ingredients into a syrup, and then exposing the syrup to pressurized carbon dioxide gas before cooling. When you put them in your mouth, the gas dissolves and causes the fun pop and crackle effect.

7. Nerds

Nerds are just fun. Created under the Willy Wonka brand, they’re goofy little sugar bits that are kind of similar to rock candy. While the small fun-packs don’t offer two flavors at once like the big boxes, it doesn’t mean that one can’t get creative and mix-and-match on their own. Coming in a variety of original flavors (no Snozzberry flavor as of yet), the one negative thing about Nerds is the fact that they can get a bit messy if you spill them. Please tell me I’m not the only person whose had a “Nerds All Over The Living Room Floor” moment. (Seriously. Please.)

6. Goetze’s Caramel Creams

Hear me out! These things are a hidden gem. While they look totally unappealing, they taste absolutely amazing and deserve a spot on the list. And sure, they might be most well known for being in your Grandmother’s candy dish, but your Granny knew what she was talking about.

If you’re a fan of caramel, you’ll be in heaven. Also known as Bull’s Eyes based on the way they look, the Goetze family has prided itself on always using a low fat, low sodium, no cholesterol recipe. Another acceptable #6 on the list are Cow Tales, which are pretty similar (besides the shape) and from the same company.

5. Kit Kats

Originally created by Rowntree’s of York, England, the Kit Kat has had a pretty long and successful life. And honestly, you can never go wrong with a Kit Kat. Unless you’re Andy Bernard, you’ve probably memorized the jingle by heart – in fact, the jingle was cited in a study by University of Cincinnati researcher James A. Kellaris as being one of the top ten “earworms”, which is a fancy way of saying “songs that will get stuck in your head, and refuse to leave.”

It is rare to find someone that’ll turn down a Kit Kat. It’s darn impossible to find a kid who’ll trade a Kit Kat for a Starburst. I welcome all opportunities to prove me wrong.

4. Snickers

Snickers has become a national treasure. Consisting of nougat topped with caramel and peanuts with a milk chocolate exterior, you may have seen Snickers take on a few forms in recent years – as ice cream, peanut butter, and even a chocolate spread. Snickers isn’t leaving anytime soon, you guys.

Back in my trick or treating days, Snickers were gold. They were never traded, and often separated into their own special pile while sorting out all of the unwrapped Dum Dum pops, raisins, and apples with razor blades inside.

3. Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkin

Surely any Reese’s product could be put on this list, but I chose the pumpkin form based on my attempt to be seasonal. Plus, we all like a rare candy – a candy that can’t be found after the Halloween stash leaves the grocery store. The Reese’s Christmas trees are available in November and December, so let’s enjoy one holiday at a time.

The only reason that I can see someone hating a Reese’s product is based on a peanut allergy. There’s something about the chocolate and peanut butter combination that is just perfection. Hear that, jelly? Watch your back.

2. Krackel

The Krackel bar is Hershey’s attempt to outshine Nestle Crunch, and I have to say – it’s #2 on this list for a reason. For one, while full sized bars did exist, they were discontinued in 2008 and now only exist in miniature form. They can be found exclusively in the mixed bags, so your chance of getting a Krackel is quite rare.

1. Take 5

Guys, the Take 5 has got it all: Milk chocolate covering pretzel, caramel, peanuts and a peanut butter-filling. In the words of Stefon from SNL, this candy bar has everything. It’s a taste explosion. Creative individuals have even morphed the amazing Take 5 into brownie recipes, and I want to be friends with these individuals because I ruin all baking. Also, cooking. I’m just terrible in the kitchen.

Take 5 combines the perfect salty and sweet combination you love, and these things are so good that I had no hesitation with naming it #1 on the list.

But obviously, all of us candy fanatics have varying tastes. Do you have a favorite that you think should have made the list? What candy will you be representing this Halloween?

Image Credits: thegreenists.com (Pop Rocks) luminomagazine.com (Nerds) candyblog.net (Goetze), wikipedia.org (Snickers, Take 5), motivationbychocolate.blogspot.com (Reese’s), Shutterstock (featured)