As October 31st creeps up on us, many Nanuet students are anticipating a slew of sweet treats. Be it a delectable Reeses cup, a mouth-watering Snickers bar, or a classic Kit-Kat, there are common favorites that fly off store shelves and right into the mouths of ravenous children and teenagers alike. Reports suggest that the most popular Halloween candy in New York State are M&Ms (although other sources suggest it could be Sour Patch Kids, Kit Kats or even Sweet Tarts). Regardless, some candies are given the short end of the stick in terms of public approval ratings. A 2023 survey of over 1,000 Americans found that 36% disliked candy corn, with Hot Tamales, Jawbreakers and Peeps also having their fair share of condemnation. Hopping on the candy corn hate train may seem like the obvious choice this fall season, but here are some “unpopular candies” I will always have a sweet spot for.
#5 Tootsie Rolls
Lots of children groan when they look down at their Halloween haul and see a sea of antiquated Tootsie Rolls. But I think these tiny candies aren’t just fillers or trade items; they’re perfectly decent sweets in their own right. They’re small enough to be an appetizer for the main course — chocolate bars and peanut butter cups. They’re something you could take out of your bag and snack on as you’re going door-to-door, begging strangers for candy. Are they the best candy? No, but they’re a classic and have stood the test of time because of their smooth, saccharine taste and humble stature. They might be the grandma of the Halloween candy, but you don’t have to be one to enjoy them.
#4: Laffy Taffy
Again, the problem most people have with these artificially-flavored candies is that they taste, well, artificial. It is definitely an acquired taste that a Victorian child or wellness influencer might not be able to handle. But for me, within moderation, artificial banana flavoring just hits the spot.
#3: Almond Joy
Usually seen as the nerdy cousin of Snickers, Milky Way, or even Three Musketeers, the shredded coconut filling of an Almond Joy gives it a fresher, smoother taste than other chocolate bars. The single almond on top adds a unique and crunchy touch. Most opposition dislike shredded coconut as a chocolate bar filling, which is fair, but I feel a similar distaste for nougat and caramel fillings. I guess we’ll agree to disagree.
#2: Peppermint Patties
Most people who dislike peppermint patties just aren’t a fan of mint. But as a mint chocolate chip apologist who has tried toothpaste-flavored shaved ice… I am dependent on peppermint patties. I find it weird that many people love gum but dislike mint chocolate chip and peppermint flavoring; if you like chewing on peppermint flavor, why don’t you like eating peppermint flavoring?
#1: Candy Corn
Notorious, controversial, contentious, and about as classic—and hated—as you can get, there’s candy corn. What’s undebatable is that candy corn is a staple of the season, and even its haters can acknowledge that candy corn is irrevocably associated with Halloween’s image.
The most common complaint is of their artificial sweetness. Would I want to eat a whole bag of these? No, that would probably taste disgusting after a few bites. But what I like about regular and pumpkin candy corn is that they satisfy my sweet tooth with just a few bites. Although they’re packed with sugar, I am less likely to eat pounds of candy if I’m having a bit of candy corn than if I’m eating more mild sweets. I understand the hate, but with America’s food culture of syrupy lattes, I find it hard to believe that most people don’t enjoy super-sweet foods from time to time.
Of course, candy, like all foods, is a matter of personal preference. Some will never get over their loathing of certain Halloween sweets.
Our only goal is to convince people to try different candies instead of blindly taking the word of haters who may not have even tried the candy themselves. Maybe you’d like candy corn if there wasn’t a baseless critic saying they taste like cavities. The only way to know is to give these scorned candies their chance to shine this Halloween season.