By: Danielle Modica
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Halloween season is upon us! Bring on the costumes, chilly weather, spooky movies, and treats. But let's face it: not all candy is created equal. There’s the Halloween essentials: the Snickers, Reese’s, and Kit Kats. Then there’s… the candy you give your parents. Below are my top picks of Halloween treats, from the good to the plain-old ugly.
The Good:
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups:
I admit, I’m a peanut butter and chocolate fan. Reese’s are my top favorite candy, and their marketing strategy is amazing. Pumpkin-shaped Reese’s? Sign me up!
Kit Kat & Twix:
These two aren’t quite groupable, but they’re kinda the same idea. Shortbread, caramel, and chocolate or wafer and chocolate, both simple but tasty.
Take 5:
Grown-up version of Twix, simply an elite treat. Quite frankly, my top contender for favorite candy next to Reese’s. Take 5’s ingredients of pretzels, peanut butter and caramel add up to be the perfect mixture of sweet, salty, and crunchy. These don’t come around often, but when they do, you bet I won’t be trading them.
Candy Corn:
I know, I’m bold for this one. Candy corn is one of the most essential parts of Halloween. The colors! The shape! They might not be the kind of candy to eat while watching a movie, but they certainly are great for the season. Plus, I think they taste pretty good.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Skittles:
A classic!
M&Ms:
Another classic! The chocolate version of Skittles, if you will.
Snickers/Babe Ruth/3 Musketeers/Milky Way:
Take it back to basics with chocolate - never fails! However, none of these are distinct enough to be their own candy. My question: does anyone actually know the difference between these? No? That’s what I thought. They’re all good, but if they were unwrapped and mixed in a bowl I couldn’t tell one from the other. No hate, though.
The Bad:
Almond Joy:
Not for me, however I respect you if you do enjoy Almond Joy bars. The ingredient list is appealing, what can go wrong with chocolate and coconut? The execution, however, is not quite as exciting. Kinda dry and gummy, then the crunchy almond hits you. Immediately even drier. Tip to all the people that hand out Almond Joys, do the kids a favor, and add a water bottle to that. They’re gonna need it.
Bit-O-Honey:
Not only does this candy wrapper look ancient, but I’m pretty sure they stopped producing these in the 1930s and have such a small consumer base that they still have enough inventory to ship out to stores 80 years later. This could make it into the “ugly” category, but I have morals. This candy has a nostalgic look to it, when I saw it in my candy bag I would “awe” for a minute and then immediately toss it in the trade pile.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Butterfinger:
Reese’s outcasted little sibling. Once again, an appealing ingredient list. Execution? Crumbly, crunchy, flavorless and somehow, even when it’s freezing out, the chocolate coating will get all over your fingers.
Pixie Sticks:
Just flat-out inconvenient. Who wants to pour a straw wrapper full of loose sugar in their mouth while trekking across town in a costume?
Fun Dip:
Again, flat-out inconvenient. Who wants to lick a stick full of loose sugar while trekking across town in a costume? (I admit this candy was iconic as a child, though)
Sweet Tarts, Necco Wafers & Smarties:
I can’t even take myself to ungroup these three, they’re bad for the same reasons. Chalky. Unappealing. Hard. What more can I say?
The Ugly:
Circus Peanuts:
People like to say candy corn and circus peanuts are comparable and I can not disagree more. Candy corn is a Halloween staple! Circus peanuts aren’t even marshmallows, they are rebranded packing peanuts with no flavor. Even the freshest bags taste like they’ve been sitting in your Mamaw’s pantry since 1985.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Wax Cola Bottles:
WHAT ARE THESE! To this day I don’t know how to approach these. Rip off the top? Chew on the wax? Where is the flavor? I truly do not understand the point of this candy.
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