Christmas isn’t just about candy, of course – the holiday season is so much more. Yet, the presence of candy is undeniable, from baking and decorating to crafting with kids. All these activities often involve a sweet treat or two.
Do candy canes dangle from your Christmas tree? Are candy bars a staple in your stockings? Perhaps you enjoy adorning snowman cookies with colorful sprinkles and peppermint candies? Well, you’re not alone in these festive traditions. 🙂
So, what are the most popular Christmas candies in your area? It’s an interesting mix that differs from state to state.
As an online bulk candy retailer, we’ve tapped into the insights of our CandyStore.com customers to uncover these sweet preferences. This year, we gathered opinions from over 16,000 respondents. Additionally, we consulted with major candy manufacturers and distributors to ensure our findings reflect broader market trends.
The results, showcased in the candy map above, are intriguing.
The latest NRF survey puts food and candy as a top item on consumers’ shopping lists, ranking significantly at 29% (toys came in at 37%). This indicates a strong inclination towards gifting candy and edible treats, reflecting a broader trend in holiday spending.
And now on to the results of our interactive map. Here are a few interesting insights we can gather.
Peppermint Bark Bounces Back
Peppermint bark has rebounded. It dropped a whopping six #1 spots last year after a strong 2021. This year it regained 3, flexing its strength throughout the midwest. Why do the midwesterners love Peppermint bark so much??
And don’t forget, we are not even taking into account the homemade bark made in your own kitchens. You know how midwestern moms love to bake (bake bark?).
Now, the bark has not regained their biggest previous conquests: California and Texas. If they can manage that next year, they will be the clear kings of Christmas candy.
Candy Canes Also Bounce
Candy canes fell last year, and similarly to peppermint bark, they have rebounded this year. Thanks mostly to two New England states, candy canes have made a respectable improvement. Candy canes are newly #1 New Hampshire and Vermont and looking strong going into the holidays.
But candy canes are not the universally-loved Christmas candy you might think. They are often found on the WORST Christmas candy list, in fact. People who don’t like them cite reasons like they can be messy to eat, hard to unwrap in one whole piece and, once sucked on for a while, become sharp and dangerous.
But a lot of people still love them. Me included.
Starburst Keeps Rising
Starbursts don’t seem like a particularly traditional holiday candy, but who knows what those crazy kids are up to nowadays. Starburst didn’t gain any new #1 spots this year, but they did pick up five new overall top 3 spots. This may not seem all that spectacular, but remember we’re talking about Starburst. At Christmas.
Christmas Candy Quick Facts
93% of people gift chocolate and candy for the winter holidays
29% of gift givers plan to give candy.
LEGOs are a top 3 Christmas gift for both boys (#1) and girls (#3).
43% of Holiday shoppers started by the beginning of November.
72% of people eat a candy cane starting on the straight end, the rest start on the curved end. Weird.
Approximately 150 million chocolate Santas are produced annually.
1.76 Billion candy canes are produced every year for the holiday season.
The largest candy cane in the world was made in Switzerland. It was 51 feet long.
December 26th is National Candy Cane Day.
59% of holiday sales are expected to be online.
Which Christmas holiday candy does your state loves the most?
Spices are the key to great cooking year round, but especially during the holiday season. What would apple cider, gingerbread cookies or pumpkin pie be without their distinct spicy flavors? Bland! Spices, whether subtle or bold, make the difference between an average meal and a memorable one. Fall is an earth-toned season filled with a pallet of warm colors, so it’s fitting that we also connect the season with “warm” spices. Warm spices are known for their strong and fragrant flavor and include cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom. Variations of these spices are mixed together and sold as pumpkin spices, gingerbread spices and garam masala. As the weather cools, try combining these warm flavors with another fall favorite—popcorn. Popcorn is a whole grain that provides carbohydrates and fiber to the diet and is naturally low in fat and calories. Consuming at least 3 or more ounce equivalents of whole grains per day can reduce the risk of several chronic diseases and may help with weight maintenance. That’s good news for your waistline. As health- conscious cooks look for ways to add taste appeal to snacks like popcorn, pairing them with warm spices is a great solution.
Combine brown sugar, corn syrup, spices, and margarine in microwave-safe bowl; cook on HIGH heat for 2 1/2 minutes until bubbly hot.
Add Craisins to popcorn; toss with hot sugar mixture until well coated. Cool mixture before serving or store in airtight container. Serves: 4 Maple Pumpkin Spice Popcorn 2 tbsp. brown sugar 2 tbsp. maple syrup 1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin spice mix 1 tbsp. butter or margarine 1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional 5 cups popped popcorn
In a large saucepan or pot, heat brown sugar, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice mix over medium heat. Cook, stirring, 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and mixture is bubbling. Stir in butter until melted and well blended. Add pecans, if desired, and popcorn and stir until well coated.
Allow mixture to cool before serving. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container. Yield: 5 cup
Pop Up a Celebratory Snack Popcorn lovers rejoice: October is National Popcorn Poppin’ Month, a seasonal celebration of one of America’s oldest and most beloved snack foods. As farmers head into the fields to harvest crops, families and friends gather to enjoy this ever- popular treat. Whether it’s prepared on the stovetop, in the microwave or ready to eat from the bag, Americans consume 14 billion quarts of this whole grain each year. Celebrated for its seed-to-snack simplicity, popcorn is also non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, sugar- free and naturally low in fat and calories, which makes it an easy fit for dietary preferences – and it’s budget-friendly. Add in popcorn’s irresistible smell, taste and versatility, and it’s easy to understand its popularity. With so many different ways to eat it –plain, buttered or blended with the irresistible flavors of this French Onion Popcorn recipe – popcorn fits many moods and occasions. Pop up a bowl and join the Popcorn Poppin’ Month celebration with more recipes at popcorn.org. French Onion Popcorn Ingredients
10 cups popped yellow popcorn
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 cup finely grated Gruyère cheese
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese Directions
Preheat oven to 300°F. Line large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Place popcorn in a large bowl, removing any unpopped kernels.
Melt butter in small saucepan or microwave safe bowl. Remove from heat and stir in onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, dried parsley, dried rosemary, black pepper and salt until combined.
Drizzle popcorn with seasoned butter and toss well until evenly coated. Add Gruyère and Parmesan, tossing again to distribute cheese evenly.
Spread popcorn in an even layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake, stirring halfway through, until cheese is melted and popcorn is lightly crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Taste and season with additional salt, if desired
(Feature Impact) When students open up their lunchboxes in the cafeteria, it’s fun to be greeted with something bright, colorful and fresh. Pasta salad is a summer picnic staple, but once the weather starts to cool and kids head back to school, there’s nothing to say you can’t send a taste of summer with them.
The beauty of pasta salad is it’s totally customizable, ideal for eating cold and easy to make ahead of time. That means you can spend the evening before school dishing up jars then pop them in the fridge for a quick morning grab-and-go lunchbox filler. Adults in the household can take one to work while kids have their own at school – and if anyone wants a different dressing or no olives, it’s an easy accommodation.
If you’re making this Pasta Salad in a Jar recipe as the main course instead of a lunchtime side, up the protein by adding beans, chicken or cubed cheese to keep kids energized for the second half of the day. Choose whole-grain or high-protein pasta for an extra nutritional boost, and pack in vitamins and fiber with plenty of crunchy fresh produce, from cucumbers and carrots to tomatoes and olives.
