Halloween Candy Throwdown Poll: What Trick-Or-Treaters Really Want

ACROSS AMERICA — When kids in costumes parade up and down your street with their buckets and bags on trick-or-treat night, do them a solid and put plenty of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in your candy bowl. But don’t be stingy with Snickers, M&Ms and Kit Kats, either.

We suggested nine popular candies and included a space for write-in votes in our informal, just-for-fun Halloween Candy Throwdown Poll answered by 544 Patch readers from across America. Also, again just for fun, we invited readers to celebrate the season by using their Halloween alter egos. Thanks for playing, Cavity Carl, Princess Leia, Cruella di Vil and all you other enthusiastic “Halloweenists.”

Here are the results:

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (152 votes, 27.9 percent)
2. Snickers (67 votes, 12.3 percent)
3. M&Ms (61 votes, 11.2 percent)
4. Kit Kat (54 votes, 9.9 percent)
5. Butterfinger (34 votes, 6.2 percent)
6. Milky Way (31 votes, 5.7 percent)
7. Candy corn (28 votes, 5.1 percent)
8. Twix (22 votes, 4 percent)
9. Sour Patch Kids (12 votes, 2.2 percent)

Almond Joy, Baby Ruth, Heath Bar, Hershey bar, Heath Bar, Mr. Goodbar, Mounds, Skittles, Smarties, Take 5, Three Musketeers, Twizzlers, and 100 Grand Bar got write-in votes among brand candy. Some readers suggested Rice Krispie treats or popcorn balls, stickers or inexpensive toys. Even bottled water got a mention. Exclamation points and all-caps were copious in readers’ treat defenses.

What Cavity Carl Doesn’t Say

Cavity Carl, who reads Midtown-Hell’s Kitchen Patch in New York City, drilled a hole in all of that. The best Halloween treats are Tootsie Rolls, candy necklaces and root beer barrels. Why? “Because,” Cavity Carl said.

Cavity Carl didn’t say this, but someone has to: Brush your teeth after you’ve devoured all those treats, kids.

And Across America Patch reader Princess Leia added this PSA: “Skittles are delicious and fun and safe for kids with nut allergies.”

If allergies are a concern, don’t count out M&Ms, the plain, not the peanut, variety, said a Lower Providence (Pennsylvania) Patch reader whose Halloween alter-ego is Daniel LaRusso from “Karate Kid.”

“It’s universal,” the reader said. “They come in small, fun-sized packages, the perfect serving size. Also great for allergies — no nuts to worry about. Lastly, they just taste great.”

Peanuts, though, make the M&Ms especially delicious, Royal Oak (Michigan) Patch reader Dee said.

‘White Tip Or Yellow Butt’ First?

Candy corn didn’t land anywhere near the top of our poll, but because it seems to be the candy to bully and beat up, we thought we’d share from some of the wax-coated, tricolored sugary treat’s most ardent defenders.

Marilyn, a Glen Ellyn (Illinois) Patch reader, ahem, waxed:

“Candy corn is a celebration of fall, of harvest, of grandpa, of tradition, and of delicate complexity as you make the ever-personal decisions: what to bite off first? White tip or yellow butt? Then what? Turn it around to bite off the end or munch through the middle? Candy corn is a personal ritual, bite by bite, kernel by kernel. A slow harvest.”

San Diego Patch reader Nancy, effused praise: “There are lots of iconic foods that represent a holiday or event — candy canes, ribbon candy, pumpkins, fruit cake, marzipan, minced pie — that you may insist on in stockings, on tables, or as gifts, but never eat. Candy corn, or as we called it in my youth, chicken corn, falls into that category. Little individual packets are a must, not scoops from a bowl into the collection bag.”

“Candy corn comes but once a year whilst Snickers are forever,” said Pooch, who lives in New York City and reads Upper East Side Patch and Grammercy-Murray Hill Patch.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood (New Jersey) Patch reader Allison had an interesting take on candy corn.

“It's a seasonal candy, and there aren't many of those — candy canes, candy corn, Peeps. It's a short list,” Allison said. “Since it really only appears in fall, I feel like it's the pumpkin spiced latte of candy. Also, it's so good you eat too much of it, and then you don't even want to look at it for another 11 months.”

Hotatcong-Sparta (New Jersey) Patch reader Andy Corn said the reason the tricolored treat gets so little respect is that people put candy corn in a bowl because they look pretty and allow them to dry out. Store them in a zipper-lock bag instead and “and they are super sweet and fun to eat!”

“The colors ARE autumn!” the reader said. “Fresh out the bag they are soft and almost juicy.”

Amy, an Ashburn (Virginia) Patch reader, begs to differ. She’s all about Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups. “Candy corn sucks,” she said. “It’s the worst.”

Across Florida Patch reader Elvira picked Kit Kat as her No. 1 choice. Why? The hits keep coming at the quintessential yellow, orange and white Halloween candy.

“Candy corn in the candy dish,” Elvira said.

‘The Best Marriage Ever’

Phoebe, who reads Oak Lawn Patch and Orland Patch, both in the Chicago suburbs, chose Twix as her favorite. But, she said, “there are some heavy hitters on this list” that also won her Halloween seal of approval.

“I know Reese’s cups are gonna do big numbers and are an excellent option,” she said. “As for non-chocolate options, Sour Patch Kids is a stellar choice. It really is a tough contest but personally, I am going to go with that chocolate, caramel, and cookie crunch combination in Twix.”

Phoebe wasn’t wrong. The sugarey praise showered on Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as the ultimate Halloween comfort food was universal. Who, after all, doesn’t love chocolate and peanut butter, many readers asked.

“What can I say?” said Illinoisan Vader, an Elmhurst Patch and Naperville Patch reader who spoke for many. “Chocolate and peanut butter is the best marriage ever, and they have yet to divorce.”

Science Princess, who reads Trumbull (Connecticut) Patch, stands in solidarity with candy corn fan Marilyn in Glen Ellyn on eating the treat deliberately.

“It’s a taste bud delight! Eat the light chocolate edges first, then the PB center,” Science Princess said.

‘Granddad Stashes Them Like A Pirate’

Adults secretly hope their kids will get Snickers and then not eat them, according to Headless Horseman, who reads Nashua (New Hampshire) Patch, who said the candy bar “never disappoints.”

And Snickers, because “after Granddad evacuated them all out of the mix, and stashes them like a pirate, they’re a treasure prized for being so hard to find,” said Dub, a grandmother of twins who reads Geneva (Illinois) Patch.

In California, Snickers got a big endorsement from a Laguna Beach Patch, Aliso Viejo Patch and Mission Viejo Patch reader.

“It has awesome yum factor,” the reader said. “Melts all chocolaty in your mouth complemented by the marvelous blend of nougat/caramel, and finished with a crunch of always good peanuts. Heaven for your senses. It is always a ‘winner winner, chicken dinner’ kind of experience.”

Really?

When she raids her kids’ Halloween candy bags, New Jersey mom Hagatha W. Itch is looking for a Baby Ruth.

“I have to dig through 10 Snickers bars before finding one Baby Ruth,” the Edison-Metuchen Patch and East Brunswick Patch reader said. “I don't understand why they are in such limited supply. They’re so, so yummy, and this may even be compounded by their scarcity.

“This is one special candy bar!” Hagatha continued. “Snickers will always play second fiddle when Baby Ruth is around.”

M&Ms: The Tidy Treat

Waukesha (Wisconsin) Patch reader Glenda, the Good Witch, said M&Ms are the perfect Halloween candy because they have a long shelf life, are colorful and can easily be used in cookies. “I want the leftovers!” she said.

The choice of an Enfield (Connecticut) Patch reader who plans to dress up as an M&M at midnight should come as no surprise. The great thing about M&Ms is their versatility. “You can share the bag, or keep it all for you,” the reader said. “You can bake with them, play games with them, or just eat them.”

In New Jersey, Sandy, who reads Bridgewater Patch and Manchester Patch, offered this about M&Ms: “You get lots of little candies, and it seems like more if you just eat one at a time.”

Falmouth (Massachusetts) Patch reader Hocus Pocus said M&Ms are a fun and responsible choice. “M&Ms are fun to eat and share,” Hocus Pocus said. “You can’t share a single Twix or chocolate candy bar cleanly, just saying.”

A Forest Hills (New York) Patch reader whose alternative self at Halloween is Cruella de Vil, is all about that. “I like the old slogan, ‘melts in your mouth, not in your hands’ because it’s not a ‘messy’ treat.” Cruella said.

Another Cruella de Vil, this one an Edina (Minnesota) Patch reader, thinks Nerd Ropes candies are the bomb diggity at Halloween because “kids go nuts at the door and shriek.”

‘Only Communists Don’t Like Milky Ways’

Wilmette-Kenilworth (Illinois) Patch reader Ken, who seems to know his candy, is all in for Butterfinger.

“Crunchy peanut butter and chocolate, what more need be said,” Ken said. “Certainly, M&Ms are cuter, but nowhere near as good. Reese’s are good, but no crunch. Kit Kat got crunch and is a good No. 2, and Snickers are good for a meal replacement. But Butterfingers are good every time.”

In Georgia, Diane, who reads Snellville Patch and Loganville-Grayson Patch will settle for a Snickers, but would rather have a Payday. Here’s why: “You can declare it a protein snack because of the peanuts!”

Wayne, a Paramus (New Jersey) Patch and Montgomeryville-Lansdale (Pennsylvania) Patch reader, defended his vote for Milky Way as the candy of choice at Halloween.

“It’s the old reliable. It’s all-American, and only Communists don’t like Milky Ways,” Wayne said. “Or maybe they DO, and won’t admit it!”

Amy, a Columbia (Maryland) Patch reader, approved of everything on the list, except for candy corn, but feels slighted her favorite candy wasn’t among the pre-selected poll choices.

“I know Almond Joy is not a fan fav, but I LOVE it, so not surprised it’s not on this list,” Amy said.

“Best chocolate bar ever!” Janet, who reads Doylestown Patch and Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch in Pennsylvania, declared of Almond Joys.

Tricking Kids With Oatmeal

Forget candy, Lemont (Illinois) Patch reader Bee said. Give kids quarters instead. That’s what she got as a trick-or-treater when the candy supply ran low.

“When I was a kid, there were so many in our neighborhood that houses sometimes ran out of candy,” Bee recalled. “At that time, [a quarter] was still enough to buy a candy bar. With so many allergic reactions possible today, it may be the way to go.”

East Haven (Connecticut) Patch reader Cookie Lady plans to switch up what’s in her candy bowl — and no, not to cookies but to potato chips, Cheez Doodles, popcorn and other snacks. “The kids’ faces light up when it is chips,” she said.

Cranford (New Jersey) Patch reader Morticia doles out pretzels, chips and Cheez Doodles. Though questioning whether they’re healthier, she said the provide an alternative that “stands out from all that candy!”

Another Patch reader, The Thirst Quencher, hands out 8-ounce bottles of water decorated with Halloween stickers. “All trick-or-treaters of all ages need to quench their thirst to keep going,” the reader said. “And it is healthy!”

Frankenstein gives kids unique treats that give back the next day in “lunchbox clout” and treat trading leverage.

Just don’t make the surprise the most un-Halloween treat ever — oatmeal packets. That’s according to ScaryBooB, who reads Newport (Rhode Island) Patch and Annandale (Virginia) Patch.

ScaryBooB swears this happens. And ScaryBooB would much rather bite into an M&M.

And a reader who prefers Kit Kat offered an “offense”

Rather than defend the choice of Kit Kat, one Patch reader offered “an offense, i.e. when you get a sugarless health food treat in your bag from the health-food nut in your neighborhood, that’s an offense.”