These Are the Most Popular Halloween Candies, According to Instacart

With Halloween just weeks away, shoppers are already stocking up on candy to enjoy and hand out to trick-or-treaters. While some candies are Halloween favorites year in and year out, others are a bit newer to the (costume) party. Per data from Instacart, which examined the top 10 most popular candies sold from Halloween 2022 to get a glimpse of what would be at the top of consumers’ shopping lists this year, both chocolate treats and fruity confections struck a chord with customers.

“Comparing this list of the top 10 Halloween candies to last year reveals some exciting changes. We've got three newcomers … which tells us there’s a delectable blend of nostalgia and contemporary flavors showing up in candy bowls,” explained Laurentia Romaniuk, Instacart’s Trends Expert.

Curious to see the most popular Halloween candies sold via Instacart? Keep reading to find out!

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

In a surprise to pretty much no one, these classic chocolate and peanut butter creations snagged the top spot, edging out a variety of other beloved sweets to take first place. While Reese’s Cups are typically crowned no. 1, they have swapped spots with the second and third place candies on this list in the past.

Peanut M&M's

Speaking of second place, that slot belongs to none other than Peanut M&M's. Delicious in their own right, Peanut M&M's also shine when baked into cookies, brownies, or even sweet and salty popcorn balls. 

Regular M&M's

This classic candy rounds out an all-chocolate top three, proving that Americans prefer chocolate treats to fruity morsels. In fact, either Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Peanut M&M's, or regular M&M's were named the top candy across all 50 states. If you find yourself with some leftover M&M's on November 1, don’t toss ‘em. Instead, use the colorful candies in the place of chocolate chips in a cookie recipe, or add them to a batch of rice crispy treats.

Tootsie Pops

The lollipops, which nabbed a spot on this list for the first time, come in a myriad of fruit flavors. They also managed to break the chocolate streak set by the first trio of candies. Residents of Louisiana, Missouri, and New Mexico buy more Tootsie Pops than the national average.

Twizzlers

Though Twizzlers can be a polarizing choice, Americans’ love of the licorice candy propelled them to the fifth spot on this list. Inhabitants of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York buy more Twizzlers than the national average, proving that the treat has a stronghold on much of the East Coast.

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate

Sure, this plain chocolate option isn’t the most exciting Halloween choice, but it’s a solid pick that trick-or-treaters always enjoy, which is why it came in sixth.

Sour Patch Kids

These newcomers made quite the debut, clocking in at no. 7 on this list. Residents of Rhode Island have really taken a liking to these sour morsels, seeing as they purchase more Sour Patch Kids than the national average.

Candy Corn

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying candy corn made the cut. In fact, the controversial confection is the third and final newcomer to this list. If you’re not a fan of eating candy corn solo, use it to adorn a batch of Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting.

KitKat

It’s hard not to love these chocolate-covered wafer bars, which is probably why they edged out the likes of Almond Joy and Butterfinger to take ninth place. 

Starburst

Last but certainly not least, these fruity candies are rounding out the rear. Save any leftover Starbursts to enjoy solo, or take a cue from TikTok and use ‘em to garnish an interesting cocktail!