Americans have a serious sweet tooth.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups rank as the country’s top Halloween candy, with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars and M&M’s close behind, according to DoorDash.
Yet candy preferences vary sharply from state to state. In some parts of the country, shoppers favor Laffy Taffy and Red Vines, while others reach for nostalgic Circus Peanuts or Sour Patch Kids.
DoorDash analyzed its delivery orders to identify the most popular sweet in every state. Reese’s led the rankings in 17 states, including Washington, Oregon, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maine and both Virginias.
Laffy Taffy claimed five states—North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin. California, meanwhile, showed a clear preference for Red Vines.
In the South, seven states named Dollar General’s budget-friendly Sweet Smiles assortment as their favorite Halloween candy.
Classic candies also remain popular. Circus Peanuts topped the list of old-fashioned favorites, followed by Bit-O-Honey, Lemonhead and Dum Dums.
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Then there is candy corn.
Though the Halloween staple is often described as the candy people love to hate, DoorDash reported that orders have risen 30% from the previous year.
“Little treat culture has made snacking indulgent every day of the week, whether that’s a random Swedish candy haul on a Tuesday or ice cream delivered on a whim,” Cristen Milliner, a consumer brands expert at DoorDash, said. “So when a holiday built entirely around candy comes around, it has to bring something bigger.”
Raisins, which were not included in DoorDash’s state-by-state candy survey, are also gaining ground. Orders increased 60% year over year, the company said.
“Raisins have been the most maligned Halloween treat for decades, the one everyone claims to hate, and yet they keep climbing every year without fail,” Milliner said. “At this point, I don’t think it’s a fluke. There’s a real shift toward parents wanting to offer something that feels like a treat without going all in on sugar, and raisins check that box.”
Candy may dominate Halloween, but pizza is the dinner winner. DoorDash said pizza orders climb 20% on Halloween night, even as orders for most other dinner categories fall.
“Halloween is one of the only nights all year when dinner takes a back seat to everything else going on, and the data backs that up—most dinner categories actually decline on Halloween night,” Milliner said.
“Pizza is the exception. It’s fast, it feeds everyone, and it doesn’t get in the way of trick-or-treating.”
