With Halloween just around the corner, one question has arisen: What is NDB’s favorite candy for Halloween? Is it the classic candy corn, spooky gummy candies or another delicious snack? Candy preferences have changed throughout the decades of Halloween. According to History.com, the holiday originated around 2,000 years ago, and candy types have continued to change with the ever-evolving holiday traditions.
Some past popular candies include candy corn, homemade treats, truffles, candy cigarettes, Butterfingers and many more. These sorts of candy have a very retro and nostalgic feel. As the years have gone by, some of the candy choices have changed. Now, typical candies seen during trick-or-treating on Halloween night include Reese’s, Nerds, KitKat and Twix. However, everyone has their own personal favorite.
“My favorite candy is Whoppers. Whenever I get Whoppers in my [trick or treating] pillow case, I’m so happy,” said junior Ari Salerno. “I don’t like Reese’s; I feel like peanut butter in candy doesn’t taste very good.”
According to NBC Los Angeles, the top three most popular Halloween candies in 2024 are M&M’s, Reese’s and Sour Patch Kids. Compared to the past, many different candies used to be more original and homemade, but now tend to be made by bigger brand candies that took over the candy industry.
Despite Halloween treats becoming more commercialized, many people still maintain their own trends and traditions for trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Many people continue adding personal touches to the treats that get passed out, even if they aren’t as often being made by hand.
“My son’s favorite [candies] were the chocolate ones. When he came home with a bag full of candy, he was allowed to keep only as many candies as he was years old,” said Student Services Coordinator Barbara Tauskey. “He left the rest to the ‘Great Pumpkin,’ who always left him a prize, which was usually a Lego.”
With candy trends still changing, the love for chocolate Halloween candies grows stronger, as does the demand for bigger, jumbo-sized candy.
“My favorite Halloween candy is Twix, [and my] least favorite is Almond Joy. I don’t like almonds,” mentioned sophomore Kiki Shah. “Hershey bars, the small ones, [get passed out] a lot when trick-or-treating, but I think bigger candies, like jumbo sizes should be passed out more often.”
As time has passed, Halloween candies and preferences have continued to change. Despite the ongoing shift in treat preferences, Halloween candy is an incredibly adored tradition that will continue to be an aspect of the holiday that trick-or-treaters look forward to.
