No tricks, just treats: America's favorite Halloween candy

BY ANNABETH JOHNSON / Multimedia Journalist

With Halloween creeping upon us, candy isles are becoming empty, and plastic bowls are about to be piled high and sit out on front porches. 

According to CBS News, after reviewing thousands of Instacart orders, these 10 Halloween candies were ranked the most popular in America. 

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: These candies are a common favorite for many. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a chocolate shell candy with a peanut butter filling that does not deserve rank #1. 

Peanut M&M’s: They are another highly favored candy that is overhyped. These are a spin on the classic M&M candies that include a peanut in the center of the crunchy chocolate shell. 

Regular M&M’s: The classic M&M candies will always have a spot on the leaderboard for some of the best candy out there. The creamy milk chocolate center is coated in a crunchy chocolate shell. 

Tootsie Pops: Tootsie Pops are a spin on regular Tootsie Rolls. While Tootsie Rolls are just chocolate-flavored chewy candy, Tootsie Pops include that chewy goodness that is encased in a hard candy lollipop. Tootsie Pops will always be a staple in the Halloween season. 

Twizzlers: These candies can be controversial as delicious or disgusting. There is an equal 50/50 love-hate relationship with these candies among many. They are good, not great, and sit at the right ranking within this list. 

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate: A delicious milk chocolate candy that should be ranked second on the favorites list. 

Sour Patch Kids: These are arguably some of the best sweet, chewy candies that are coated in a sour citric acid powder. 

Candy Corn: The greatest candy to be ever made. Candy Corn is a sweet treat that resembles a soft, marshmallow texture compacted in a colorful corn-shaped shell. 
KitKat: The original crunchy wafers layered in between milk chocolate which deserves to sit higher on the list of favorites. 

Starburst: These chewy fruit-flavored candies are perfect to eat by the bunch or by little at a time. Starburst also deserves more credit as one of the greatest candies ever. 
With all of these sweets being ranked by how much was sold, does Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups really deserve to be sitting at the top?

In order to appreciate this candy, one must enjoy the flavor of peanut butter in general. A food that I, personally, do not.

The candy combines sweet milk chocolate with a peanut butter center which some individuals enjoy enough to make it America’s favorite candy. 

Nonetheless, I disagree with this ranking as the peanut butter is often gritty and the chocolate shell is disproportionate to its internal peanut butter filling. 

I have never had one Reese’s cup that maintained the same texture and consistency between the chocolate and peanut butter ratio; never have I enjoyed one either.

Personally, I argue that the candy sitting at the eighth rank should be replaced by that of the first.

Candy Corn has been a staple in the Halloween season since the 1950s and is often an indicator that cooler weather and treat or treating is just around the corner. 

Candy Corn is a sweet made of mostly sugar which gives it a soft texture and a satisfying taste. 

This candy also has white, orange and yellow stripes that we all know are nibbled off and enjoyed in a certain order making it only more fun to eat. There is no specific or fun way to eat a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. 

Candy Corn simply tastes better, is more appealing to the eyes, and is more enjoyable to eat rather than a plain regular Reese’s. 

As I am entitled to my own opinion on Candy Corn, so are those who enjoy Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. 

In the end, the best part of candy during Halloween is bartering with others and trading what you don’t like to get all the sweet treats that you enjoy. 

Happy Halloween and whatever you do, reach for the Candy Corn first.