Halloween is right around the corner, meaning it’s time for tricks, and more importantly, those sweet, sweet treats.
And it appears that at least in Pennsylvania, the classics are king when it comes to candy.
In the latest ranking from Candy Store, the commonwealth’s favorite candies include M&M’s at the top of the list, followed by Pennsylvania’s own Hershey mini bars, and Skittles.
Not much of a surprise there, as M&M’s was the national favorite for the second year in a row. Across the country, Sour Patch Kids have moved on up to second place, with first place finishes in ten states, including New York and Delaware. Skittles also round out the national top three.
Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop founder and owner Christopher Beers said he wasn’t surprised to see M&M’s top the list, though he felt a few entries were missing.
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“Rounding out the top three, I think they’re missing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, which continue to be a tremendous win, and then Sour Patch Kids or Swedish Fish,” Beers said.
“Chocolate has risen in price here in the last couple years, and so I think gummy candies are more popular than chocolate.”
The rise in chocolate prices can be attributed to extreme weather in cocoa-producing countries, which resulted in cocoa prices quadrupling from January 2023 to January 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Chocolate prices went up an additional 15.5 percent for 2026, as well.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups remaining a staple of the season is an interesting twist, following criticism by the company founder’s grandson that claimed Hershey had altered the classic recipe with cheaper ingredients. Hershey later defended their products, stating minor formula changes for some seasonal releases, eventually promising a return to the classic recipes for those items.
Beers said that the pull away from chocolate could also be attributed to “the younger generation just looking for something different.”
Candies with unique textures, like the popular BUBS, and sweet-and-sour gummies continue to be a popular pick for Halloween treats, with some markets preferring them to chocolate. Part of the selection at Grandpa Joe’s in Stroudsburg is seen on Oct. 12, 2026.
As far as popular new candies, innovative textures and extreme tastes are king: A report from Mars indicates 71% of U.S. adults seek out “highly textural” experiences and 58% look for “extreme” flavors.
As previously mentioned, Sour Patch Kids remain a staple for Halloween season, especially with their seasonal Moster Parts release.
Freeze-dried entries like Skittles Pop’d Creepy Crunch just hit stores this past summer, and their crispy, crunchy texture and mystery flavor may make it one of the standouts for the year, even if it doesn’t come in fun-sized bags.
And brands like BUBS – soft, chewy, Swedish gummies known for their unique shapes – have skyrocketed in popularity across the country thanks to social media, particularly TikTok.
But it’s not all about the new stuff: Beers said there is plenty of interest in some throwbacks from the past as well.
“A lot of folks want nostalgia when they’re passing out candy, and that’s something that we do really, really well,” Beers said.
“We’ve got those wax bottles, Nik-L-Nips, if you remember those, or Zagnut Bars. Those really see a trend here. It’s not every house that hands out the good nostalgic stuff, but the ones that do, it really makes them stand out. It’s a ‘wow’ factor because they’re not expecting something so unique.”
In fact, Beers said he’s most excited about the return of a classic which debuted nearly half a century ago, and was recently re-released.
“My personal favorite for this year, the Clark Bar, has just recently made a return with the Clark Crush Bar,” he said, adding the original Clark Bar was one of the first candy bars produced in the country, right in Pittsburgh.
So what are you going to stock up with this year? Something spicy, sour, sweet, and strange, or maybe a nostalgic blast of flavor from the past?
Brian Myszkowski covers growth, development and business for the Pocono Record. Reach him at BMyszkowski@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Pennsylvania’s favorite Halloween candies are these holiday staples