Reese's Reigns Supreme, But State Candy Cravings Vary Widely
DoorDash data reveals national favorites and unique state preferences for Halloween treats, with surges in candy corn and raisin orders.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have emerged as the nation's favorite Halloween candy, leading sales in 17 states. However, a closer look at delivery data from DoorDash reveals a more diverse landscape of sweet preferences across the United States.
Nationally, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are followed by Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars and M&M's. But beyond these top contenders, state-specific cravings take center stage. Laffy Taffy has a significant following, being the top choice in five states including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Californians, on the other hand, show a particular preference for Red Vines licorice.
In the Southern states, Dollar General's Sweet Smiles, an affordable candy assortment, emerged as the favorite treat in seven states. Nostalgic candies also retain their appeal, with Circus Peanuts, Bit-O-Honey, Lemonhead, and Dum Dums rounding out the popular choices.
Despite its polarizing reputation, candy corn is experiencing a resurgence. Orders for candy corn have increased by 30% year-over-year. Similarly, raisins, often maligned as a less desirable Halloween treat, have seen a 60% surge in orders, indicating a potential shift towards options that offer a balance between a treat and lower sugar content.
"Little treat culture has made snacking indulgent every day of the week," noted Cristen Milliner, consumer brands expert at DoorDash. "So when a holiday built entirely around candy comes around, it has to bring something bigger." Milliner also observed that raisins' popularity might stem from parents seeking treats that are not entirely sugar-based.
Beyond candy, DoorDash data also indicates that pizza orders increase by 20% on Halloween night, bucking the trend of declining orders in most other dinner categories. "Halloween is one of the only nights all year when dinner takes a back seat to everything else going on," Milliner explained. "Pizza is the exception. It’s fast, it feeds everyone, and it doesn’t get in the way of trick-or-treating."