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Discover Each State’s Favorite Halloween Candy: A Sweet Treat for 2026
Looking to boost your workplace connections? Bringing in candy might just be your secret weapon! Whether it’s morning doughnuts, homemade goodies, or festive treats, sharing food is a surefire way to foster camaraderie at work. After all, who can resist the charm of the “candy person” in the office?
We’ve done the research to help you find the best treats to share this Halloween. Just a heads up: some states have unique tastes when it comes to their favorite candies!
What We Discovered
- Starburst reigns supreme as the favorite among six states.
- The battle between chocolate and non-chocolate candies is a tie, with 25 states leaning towards each category.
- Some surprising favorites include Connecticut’s bizarre preference for the infamous “peanut butter kisses.” Really, Connecticut? You pick those over a classic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup?
- New Hampshire also has an unconventional choice, favoring Circus Peanuts more than anyone else.
- Four states have a sweet spot for candy on a stick.
- Iowa stands out as a candy haven, with Starburst, Jolly Ranchers, M&Ms, and Twix topping the charts.
- As expected, candy searches peak every October.
- Missouri is all about Nerds, while Alaska shows love for Smarties!
How We Gathered This Data
Utilizing Google Trends, we identified the candy preferences of each state, analyzing 50 popular (and some notoriously unpopular) candies, providing a diverse selection that could fill any candy aisle.
In our quest for the ultimate candy rankings, we excluded gum because let’s face it, gum isn’t candy. Similarly, we left out raisins and other snacks that trick-or-treaters dread. After all, there’s a reason some houses get egged on Halloween!
Candy: You Can’t Go Wrong… Mostly
While we may have indulged in a little candy critique (seriously, Circus Peanuts? Peanut Butter Kisses?), the truth is that candy is candy, especially when it’s free. If you enjoy those less popular treats, go ahead and stock up—life’s too short not to enjoy what you love!
However, if you’re handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, consider skipping the peanut butter kisses. Those black and orange-wrapped candies might not only taste bland but could also pose a risk to little teeth. Instead, opt for classics like Snickers or Skittles to ensure a happy Halloween!
And remember, a thoughtful candy choice might just save your house from a surprise toilet paper ‘makeover’ this Halloween!
See Also: National Food Holidays
Each State’s Favorite Candy
| State | Candy |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Starburst |
| Alaska | Smarties |
| Arizona | Mr Goodbar |
| Arkansas | Skittles |
| California | Crunch bar |
| Colorado | Airheads |
| Connecticut | Peanut Butter Kisses |
| Delaware | Twizzlers |
| Florida | Airheads |
| Georgia | Starburst |
| Hawaii | Kit Kat |
| Idaho | Milk Duds |
| Illinois | Kit Kat |
| Indiana | Dum Dums |
| Iowa | Starburst |
| Kansas | Whoppers |
| Kentucky | Heath bar |
| Louisiana | Payday |
| Maine | Liquorice |
| Maryland | Blow pops |
| Massachusetts | Junior Mints |
| Michigan | Junior Mints |
| Minnesota | Snickers |
| Mississippi | Payday |
| Missouri | Nerds |
| Montana | Airheads |
| Nebraska | Twizzlers |
| Nevada | Kit Kat |
| New Hampshire | Circus peanuts |
| New Jersey | Crunch bar |
| New Mexico | Hot tamales |
| New York | Crunch bar |
| North Carolina | Crunch bar |
| North Dakota | Starburst |
| Ohio | Blow pops |
| Oklahoma | Runts |
| Oregon | Reeses pieces |
| Pennsylvania | Twizzlers |
| Rhode Island | Baby Ruth |
| South Carolina | Starburst |
| South Dakota | Milky Way |
| Tennessee | Blow pops |
| Texas | Starburst |
| Utah | Three Musketeers |
| Vermont | Tootsie pop |
| Virginia | Sour Patch Kids |
| Washington | Kit Kat |
| West Virginia | Tootsie rolls |
| Wisconsin | Reeses peanut butter cups |
| Wyoming | Hershey kisses |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
