What's the Best Halloween Candy for 2024?

There’s so much to look forward to as leaves turn and temps drop, it also means it’s time to start getting excited for the best Halloween candy to stock up on. Whether the candy is for you, your kids or the crowd of trick-or-treaters, you don’t want to be the household that’s stuck with whatever was left on the shelf.

Now when it comes to the best Halloween candy, everyone has a different definition. Some people go nuts for anything chocolate, while others prefer to pursue their lips with a super sour gummy. Some classics will always hit the spot and the latest releases that vie for a top spot. 

Once you’ve secured a bag or two of the best Halloween candy you can find, you’ve got to make sure you have enough for all the little trick-or-treaters that will make their way to your doorstep.

Halloween decoration ideas are just as crucial to the fun of the day. If you live on a quieter street or you are headed to a party elsewhere, take a page out of Martha Stewart’s book with these festive candy displays.

Check out the best Halloween candy tier list below and have fun planning other Halloween food ideas for a party or gathering. 

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• The Best Halloween Candy
• The Worst Halloween Candy
• Can I Make My Own Halloween Candy?

The Best Halloween Candy

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

In case you were curious what’s the #1 Halloween candy sold? In the United States at least, it’s Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. This likely won’t come as a surprise considering it’s a widely loved treat, even by those who might prefer sour or gummy candies over chocolate.

The festive pumpkin shape is debatably better than the original cup and there are several Halloween varieties like a bat and a ghost. With that golden ratio of peanut butter to chocolate, it’s no surprise this is one of the best Halloween candies. 

2. M&Ms

Broadly speaking, M&Ms are one of the most classic candies of all time so it's no surprise that they’re also considered one of the best Halloween candies of all time.

Speaking purely on popularity, they are one of the top sellers every year. It’s unclear whether or not that also includes peanut M&Ms which some would say are even better than the originals.

You can find a festive blend called the Ghoul Blend, which uses the same M&M recipe with purple, green and orange shells. 

3. Milk Duds

Another one of the best Halloween candies is a chocolatey bite, this time filled with a creamy, chewy caramel. The convenient tiny boxes of Milk Duds are ideal for handing out to trick-or-treaters or just portion control when snacking at home. If you're wondering What is the top 10 best Halloween candy then Milk Duds are surely somewhere on that list. 

4. Hot Tamales

Finally, something other than chocolate is on the best Halloween candy list! Hot tamales have the perfect kick; a soft, subtle heat that builds as you eat more.  If you love the heat, Hot Tamales Fire is even spicier. 

5. Laffy Taffy

These colorful and chewy treats are one of the best Halloween candies. Their classic line-up of flavors can be polarizing, with options like banana, grape, apple and strawberry. Adults and kids alike delight in the jokes included on every wrapper. 

6. Kit Kat

Another classic, Kit Kats is definitely one of the best Halloween candies year after year. Switch things up and look out for specialty flavors in your area.

If you live outside the United States, you already have access to some pretty cool flavors. Inside the U.S., if you go shopping at an international market like an Asian Grocery store or World Market, you can sometimes find special flavors that aren’t typically offered here.

Seasonal varieties in the past have included things like Witch’s Brew, Ghost Toast and Breaking Bones. 

7. Snickers

It feels safe to say that Snickers is not only one of the best Halloween candies but one of the best candies across the board. The perfect combination of sweet, salty, chewy and crunchy all in one. Plus, when you’re doing your holiday shopping, there are plenty of sizes available from teensy tiny squares, to mini rectangles all the way up to king size. 

8. Almond Joy/Mounds

You either love or hate coconut but for those who love the tropical, chewy chocolate-covered goodness, Almond Joy and Mounds can be one of the best Halloween candies. One thing is for sure, you or your child are all but guaranteed to end up with at least one in their goodie bag. 

9. Sour Patch Kids

Pretty much all your favorite sweets are available in little snack-size bags, perfect for handing out to trick-or-treaters. Sour and sweet Sour Patch Kids are one of the best Halloween candies and just about everyone loves to receive them. They also have a special Halloween edition multi-pack available that includes Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Watermelon. 

10. Charms Blow Pops

Two treats in one, the Charms Blow Pops have to be one of the best Halloween candies ever. There doesn’t seem to be a bad flavor and you’re left with a solid amount of bubblegum after you’ve worked your way through the sweet candy coating. 

12. Twix

Something about a Twix bar will always hit the spot, so it’s no surprise they’re considered one of the best Halloween candies. Whether in one-bite square form or king size, the crunchy shortbread with milk chocolate and salty caramel is a match made in heaven. They sometimes come out with a ghoulish green color that looks extra festive in your candy bowl. 

11. Nerds Gummy Clusters

Regular Nerds candy might be hit or miss but one thing is for sure: their relatively new Nerds Gummy Clusters are a hit. These aren’t just one of the best Halloween candies but one of the best candies period.

They come in regular and berry flavor varieties, featuring a chewy center with a crunchy, Nerds-coated exterior. Pick up a bag of mini bags to hand out or enjoy yourself. 

12. Skittles

Kids today still love to “taste the rainbow” with mini bags of Skittles. One of the best Halloween candies, their signature chewy consistency and bright fruit flavors hit the spot. Sour Skittles are also popular if you prefer a little pucker.

13. Butterfinger

You know the saying “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”? That seems to apply here with the best Halloween candy. Butterfinger (just like Snickers, M&Ms and Twix) have been around for years and years but they continue to be top-sellers.

Butterfinger has some festive Halloween shapes now like zombie eyeballs or skulls with that same crispy, crunchy center you know and love.  

15. Hershey’s Mini Bars

It’s time once again for that classic bag of miniature Hershey bars to hit the shelves, filled with Mr. Goodbars and Krackels along with regular and dark chocolate Hershey’s. This mixed bag of bite-sized treats is full of several of the best Halloween candies, so you can enjoy a few at once.

The big bag of mixed chocolate bites is one of the best Halloween candies to buy because it has something for everyone, whether milk or dark chocolate lovers.  

16. Swedish Fish

There’s something about the flavor of Swedish Fish that cannot compare to any other red gummy candy. The mini and regular bright red fish are definitely some of the best Halloween candies but for some reason, the multi-colored fish don’t hit the same. 

17. Haribo Gummy Bears

These iconic gummy bears are popular all year round, so you know they’re going to be one of the best Halloween candies. A variety of bold fruit flavors and a soft, chewy texture make them practically irresistible. And if you’ve ever seen the teeny tiny individual serving bags, they’re just too cute to handle. 

The Worst Halloween Candy

18. Runts

When it comes to the best or worst Halloween candy, it’s purely subjective. What one person loves, another turns their nose up at. Runts have been around for a long, long time but many people wonder how and why? The candies themselves have a strange texture. Hard but crumbly at the same time. And the fruit flavors are far from refreshing. If you’ve ever wondered what is the #1 worst candy choice for Halloween, it’s got to be Runts. 

19. Candy Corn

Depending on who you ask, you might hear that candy corn is one of the worst Halloween candies out there. Some love it mixed in a bowl with salted peanuts, while others think it tastes like soap. Whether you love it or hate it, you can guarantee it will be lining the shelves all Autumn long. 

20. Flavored Tootsie Rolls

Another polarizing treat, some would say that the flavored tootsie rolls are among the worst Halloween candies out there. The vanilla ones are okay at best but they just seem like an afterthought. The lime ones are generally considered undesirable and there’s often a big discrepancy between batches. Some are soft and chewy, making them at least palatable, while others are hard as a rock. 

21. Smarties

While sour candy is generally considered amazing, something about Smarties just misses the mark. Their tartness is underwhelming and their dryness just seems to make your mouth water. It’s easy to see why they’re one of the worst Halloween candies. 

22. Good & Plenty

It depends on who you ask but amongst young kids, Good & Plenty is typically considered one of the worst Halloween candies. Adults love that classic black licorice flavor but young kids tend to prefer red Twizzlers or something sweeter. Some people think they taste like soap. 

23. Tootsie Rolls

While the weird, flavored Tootsie Rolls already made the list of the worst Halloween candies, you might as well add the originals, too. There’s nothing inherently wrong with these suspiciously chewy chocolate-flavored cylinders other than the fact that they’re just boring. Tootsie Roll has been around for quite a while now and chances are your kids will continue to get a few handfuls of these chews in their Halloween goodie bags for years to come. 

24. Junior Mints

Lots of people love the timeless combination of mint and chocolate but others think it’s reminiscent of brushing your teeth and eating chocolate. If you’re in the latter group, you probably think Junior Mints are one of the worst Halloween candies. 

25. Whoppers

Delicious malted milk balls sound perfectly delicious and they can be but something about the typical Whoppers brand just misses the mark. They have you cringing as you bite into them, afraid you might break a tooth and after you break up the malted ball, you’re left with a fairly chalky residue. For those reasons, they are considered one of the worst Halloween candies. 

Can I Make My Own Halloween Candy?

If you’re trying to go above and beyond this year, you might be thinking about making your own Halloween candy. While it may be generally frowned upon to hand out your candy to random little kids who ring your doorbell, you can certainly serve it to your family and friends at festive gatherings.

A homemade spicy cinnamon hard candy hits the spot along with some soft Halloween cookies or some salty Halloween snacks. Candy making can be a bit more technical than just baking a cake, so check out online cooking classes or cooking classes near you to learn from an expert.

If you’ve ever tried (and failed) to make something like homemade caramel, you’ll understand why an hour or two with an expert could be a big help. You’ll be expertly heating sugar to achieve the perfect salted caramel sauce or perfectly crunchy hard candies in no time. 

The post-trick-or-treating haul is always an exciting time for kids and parents alike. Looking through everything they collected, dividing them into piles and sneaking a few bites of the best Halloween candy before bed are core memories for many.

The classics will always be a hit but keep your eyes peeled at the store for new seasonal varieties of your favorites. Reese’s is releasing a new “Werewolf Tracks” variety of their classic peanut butter cup that features a white chocolate top and milk chocolate bottom. It’s hard to top perfection but this could just be one of the best new Halloween candies out there.

For even more fun Halloween ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!