As Halloween rolls around again, kids all over are already thinking about the candy they will receive when trick-or-treating. Every kid will agree that some candy given out excites them, and some miss the mark. Here is my ranking of the top three best and top two worst Halloween candies.
When you ask someone what their favorite peanut butter candy is, most will say Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. However, in my opinion, they don’t hold a candle to Butterfingers. It consists of a crisp peanut butter core with a chocolate covering, which creates a perfect sweet and salty combination that is simply irresistible.
Nerds Gummy Clusters, a candy that has risen to fame in recent years, certainly lives up to the hype it receives. Nerds Gummy Clusters are poppable gummies covered in several flavors of Nerds, offering a crunchy, sweet, tangy, delectable blast of flavor. They find a way to elevate the taste of original Nerds while also eliminating the messiness that comes from their original packaging.
The familiar brown packaging, the luscious chocolate, and the classic debate over whether or not each color tastes the same all make M&M’s an iconic candy. Personally, I’ve always felt a little underwhelmed by M&M’s, but ever since they’ve added new flavors, I’ve been thoroughly impressed. Other than peanut, new M&M’s flavors such as pretzel, caramel, brownie, and peanut butter have been introduced. These new options elevate the candy to a whole new level. My personal favorite of the new variations is pretzel because it adds a crunch and a delightful sweet and salty combination.
There are no words to describe my disappointment as a child when an Almond Joy was dropped into my pillowcase when trick-or-treating. I usually ended up throwing them away or begging to trade them for any other candy. One problem with Almond Joys is the texture; the stringy coconut and crunchy almonds do not make a pleasant combination. Not to mention, the sweet chocolate with the even sweeter coconut is simply too much.
Speaking of texture, no one wants to eat a candy that is rock hard and causes the risk of breaking a tooth, yet Dots are a candy that does just this. They were created to be a candy that all can eat, being gluten-free, nut-free, and kosher, but their lack of flavor negates this appeal. All the flavors taste the same, even though there is barely a flavor at all. The combination of the rock hard texture and underwhelming flavor make them a candy not worth eating. No kid should have to have Dots dropped in their candy bag on Halloween night.
When it comes to trick-or-treating, not all candy is equal. Some feature interesting flavors and satisfying textures, while others have unpleasant tastes and textures. This Halloween, I’ll be excited to eat my favorite candies again, but I’ll most likely be disappointed once more when I’m forced to try candy that pains me to eat.