Favorite Halloween Candy

[alkapal]

Nutrageous candy bars are the best in the miniature-Halloween size; better chocolate to filling ratio than the full size. The minis are ONLY available at Halloween. Why?
I also like Almond Joy miniatures.

What do you buy for Halloween? Enough to ensure leftovers?
How many weeks before Halloween do you start indulging?
(The official beginning of the end-of-the-year fattening season, I believe.)

[PDeveaux]

We buy Snickers and M&M's because we like them and always buy enough to ensure leftovers. We don't eat any of it until after the kids stop coming Halloween night.
I love the term "end-of-yer fattening season"!

[tatertotsrock]

I forgot, my favortite Halloween Candy is:

The candy that is 50% off the day after Halloween at Traget...I've got so much Canydy Corn, Mini Buttterfingers, and mini Baby Ruths...thank goodness for my profession or I'd be as big as a house.

[torta basilica]

I'm kindof freaked out this Halloween - had the usual staples - Snickers, Butterfingers, Reese's, Twix, etc. We get 100's of kids - I bought a (Rite-Aid pharmacy-sized) cart of candy & only have one bag left because we only let the them take one apiece. Guess what was the most popular???? Rice-Krispie Treats! How strange is that - they went nuts over them - kids were yelling, you rock, one asked for a non-nut bar as they were allergic & I brought out the last of the Rice Krispie bars & thought this child was going to cry from happiness. I've never seen so much excitment over a non-chcolate, non-candy, non-Halloween tradition thing in my life. Sheesh... kids these days. I remember lining up pillow case sized bags full of full-sized Hershey bars, then the Hershey with almonds, then the (whatever Mounds were without almonds) bars, then the Mounds, then... we covered our entire large living room floor with organized candy. Now they get these little snack sized candy, which is probably a good thing. Especially healthy if Rice Krispie bars... ugh... times have changed. I know I'm sounding really old!

[tatertotsrock]

I forgot all about LEMONHEADS.
My friend got me some on sat and I had forgotten how much I love 'em.
I also wish I could find CHICK-O-STIX here in LA...anyone know where I could get 'em?

[ArikaDawn]

Don't know about LA, but they have them at Wal-Mart. Don't know if they are good enough to go to Wal-Mart for though, that place is a madhouse.

[chocchipcookie]

I got a bag of minis at our local Dollar Tree store. I may have to go back and get more-they are so good!!

[shalisah]

Cracker Barrel has an online store now. They sell candy from the 50s-80s. Chick-o-stick is in the 80s one.

[tatertotsrock]

shalisah
I am so excited to red that!
Thanks so much.
I'll be hunting down my Chick-o-sticks soon.
Yippee!

[ArikaDawn]

It would be easier to say what I DON'T like and am not tempted by. So far this year i have been strong and have not bought any candy and I am going to try to wait until a couple days before just to ensure my jeans continue to fit, haha.
I love the mini nestle crunch and only ever have them around Halloween. I find the thickness preferable to that of the full size bar. I also really like caramel apple candy corn, caramel apple pops, peanut butter kisses, the cherry flavored skull pops, Sugar Daddy pops, and Bit-O-Honey.

[alkapal]

i think those mini crunch bars taste like choco-waxy-plastic -- not like in years back.
ah, bit o' honey... i had forgotten that!

[alkapal]

Fun candy blog:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgur...

[Pawsinhand]

I love Halloween ..it's such a fun holiday, especially all the tacky decor! As for candy, I usually give out: Reese's peanut butter cups (milk & white chocolate), snickers, butterfinger and something without nuts (still thinking on that one). I usually buy my candy a week or so before. I'm good about not eating it before Halloween, but if there's any leftovers....it's not pretty. I do try to only buy what I think we'll give out though.

[robertjsweet]

new favorite. Nestle's Crunch with caramel. Best of everything, chocolate, caramel and crunch. What could be better than that.

[veganish]

^Funny you mention that--I was just thinking that my favorite Halloween treats were cupcakes (chocolate) with buttercream icing topped with candy corn!

I guess I have liked cookies, brownies, and cake more than candy as well, but as a child, I wasn't going to turn up my nose at Reeces PB cups, candy corn, or 3 Musketeers, either! And M&Ms...

(American) Smarties and Sweettarts were the worst, and Mr. Goodbars (sorry to the person who liked them)

[piccola]

The only thing I'll eat is M&Ms, and they have to be peanut or almond. And even then, only if someone shoves them in my face - I'm not a candy person at all. (Now baked goods are another story...)

[Louise]

I only buy stuff that I completely hate. Otherwise I will eat -all- of it. So butterfingers and snickers bars are staples, along with tootsie pops. Ick. Ick. Ick. Dead gerbils Dead gerbils Dead gerbils.

[rHairing]

This brings back so many memories....dividing up the candy from best to worst....100 grand bars came first. Anyone remember banana flavored now n laters or zots? Also, didn't Jolly Rancher make sticks as well? I seem to remember a firestick as well as green apple?

I wish I had trick or treaters. I remember coming up to one house. Full size candy bars were in a dish sitting on a table on the porch. The owner had to leave for an emergency and left a sign asking to please just take one. My friend decided to go for broke. As he grabbed for several bars, a hand came up out of the bowl and grabbed him...turns out the owner was hiding under the table......classic trick I would love to repeat!

[amethiste]

Now n Laters or as they were usually called "Nowlaters" were one of my favorites. Even though they were always stale. I remember getting them from the 7-eleven as well as Jolly Rancher sticks. If I really had a lot of money I would get the big Jolly Rancher stick. Always apple. I would occasionally get the fire stick. I also loved Atomic Fire Balls (still do!)

[jme1beachbum]

I keep a fireball in my purse at all times. If you accidently burn your tongue, it actually helps soothe it for some reason. I guess the "fire" takes away the burned feeling.

[amethiste]

I'll have to keep that in mind. Ferrera Pan used to make a candy called Hot Heads that were supposed to be part of the LemonHead family. They were like a round jelly bean and were advertised as having the heat of an Atomic Fire Ball. I loved thosed but they were discontinued. :-(

[dinner belle]

I loved zots! And remember when sprees came in paper packets instead of a roll?

[alkapal]

Jolly Rancher waterrmelon sticks were THE THING in high school (1977 grad), and we would lick them until they formed a point, and then use the point to poke other people for fun. Oh, such good memories. Hope chowboarders don't delete this for being too "Chatty" about non-chow things..

[revsharkie]

zotz, you mean, the ones with the stuff inside that fizzes? I got a strip of them in the gas station here about a year ago. I love them!

[alkapal]

you got zotz recently? wow! that is a blast from the past. where can I look for them? (PS how aout banana flipz)?

[revsharkie]

I don't know what to tell you about finding zotz...I got them at our local gas station, just in the candy display by the counter. Got a blank look from the guy working there when I asked him about them.

As for banana flipz, not familiar with them...but I used to love banana beichs, which I think have been absorbed into the "laffy taffy" family and are nowhere near as good as they were when we used to get them at my grandpa's store.

[chowmel]

My favorite to eat ? Candy Corn - it's addictive

To give ? Individually wrapped packs of Prunes. It's trick or treat after all !

[revsharkie]

I think that's sort of like asking to get your house TP'd...

[rworange]

And to continue the appropriate trick response to the 'treat', the ever-popluar classic glowing bag on the doorstep.

I dunno ... I'd be more worried about the neighborhood kids talking about me the rest of the year ... like the way we'd bad mouth those people who gave out healthy snacks like apples and raisins. That's just worse.

[alkapal]

when i came from trick or treating as a kid, i would spread out all the loot on the kitchen table and separate the "really good" stuff to be eaten first. the second group would last about a week. half the first group was gone in a day!

those were the days when we still got homemade popcorn balls, or caramel apples. it was about when i was 13 or so when the stories of the "apples with razor blades" arose, and innocence was gone.

i had a best friend whose parents were very strict -- one piece of candy per day. i guess they thought that was best. sad....

[brendastarlet]

The greatest luxury of trick or treating when I was a kid was the house that gave out full-sized (not fun-sized) Mr. Goodbars. I thought it was incredibly generous to spend 25 cents a child on Halloween, not go for a sack of Dumbells or Boston Baked Beans which would go farther for your money.

I'm partial to Kit-Kats, Mounds, Almond Joy and Reeses. One year I gave out little bags of Frito's because I had run out of chocolate. I heard the kids yelling, "We got Frito's! Hey, she's got Frito's!" so I guess it was a hit.

[chocchipcookie]

I love all candy except candy corn-BLECH! and white chocolate .I'm a chocoholic so anything with it goes. But my all time favorite would be CLARK BARS. They bring back my fondest Halloween memories growing up in PGH-where they were originally made. Now I think they were taken over by some other company and no longer the same-I don't even see them anymore, but 5th Avenue Bars are a close second. I usually have a candy drawer well stocked throughout the year. I am very bad, I know. My grandma did it, mom still does. But when you have it around, you don't want it as much. I usually buy Reeses and Snickers even though we only get maybe 2 trick or treaters-sad!

[Jen_in_NJ]

Oh yea Clark Bars!!! I remember Zagnuts too....I don't think you can get those anymore

[Shayna Madel]

Oh yes you can...Enjoy!
http://www.oldtimecandy.com/zagnut.html
http://www.candydirect.com/bars/Zagnut.html
http://www.candyfavorites.com/Zagnut-pr-328.html?gclid=CMb9iLHIuY8CFQdEFQodFUL3cw
http://www.candywarehouse.com/zagnuts.html
http://www.metrocandy.com/PEANUT-BUTT...

[javaandjazz]

I'm a chocoholic and buy Hershey's, Snicker's,Kit Kat's, and so on but I polled a few of the neighborhood kids and they like Twizzler's and Starburst, along with chocolate. I usually go to BJ's or Costco and buy the real full size candy bars cause that's what I would want if I was Trick or Treating. I also eat my share while passing them out! Richie

[wino22]

I like Nutrageous in the fun-size too, based on chocolate to filling ratio. Other favorites? Twix, 3 Musketeers, Kit Kat, Milky Way Midnight, Mr. Goodbar, plain Milk Chocolate Hersheys, the one with almonds, Mounds, Almond Joy, mini Reeses peanut butter cups, Peanut M&M's, Peanut Butter M&M's... the list goes on..........

I always buy enough for plenty of leftovers and I stock up the day after!

I always gave/give away Snickers, Baby Ruth, Crunch bars, and Butterfingers - so if those are your faves, we'll have to make some kind of exchange!

[Shayna Madel]

Ahh, I forgot about the all-important 50% off of holiday-wrapped candy the day after the holiday shopping spree!

[chef4hire]

BABY RUTH, baby

my husband loves those nasty orange, puffy, peanut shaped things you always got and threw away...he only eats them stale- gross

[alkapal]

oh yeah, those were "circus peanuts"! what mad scientist created those -- and for what alien circus?

[diablo]

I hate to admit it, but I am a closet Circus Peanut fan. I used to buy them all the time as a kid. Haven't had them in years. I think they still sell them in the drugstore with the "2 for a dollar" bags of candy. Same company that sells candy buttons, licorice ropes,etc....

[alkapal]

Diablo, maybe we ARE a match made in heaven (from the other post). Do you squish the Circus Peanut before biting it, or go for the doughy experience? Or do you do BOTH with the SAME Circus Peanut?!

BTW, is there ANYthing "real" in a Circus Peanut?

[diablo]

LOL. I think I did both as I recall. And if there's anything real in a C.P. I'd love to know what it is. I do wonder why they chose the peanut shape, though, since there is absolutely nothing about the taste that is even slightly peanutty. A strange candy indeed.

[alkapal]

i'm going to do some research now. ah, the internet!
maybe i'll find a tome on "Obscure Candy Origins"

oh, looky here:
http://www.candyfavorites.com/Circus-... (but STILL no explanation for peanut shape and strange -- they say faintly banana -- flavor

)

interesting fact: leftover "peanut" pieces (peanut droppings, shall we say?) were used to enhance breakfast cereal, hence: Lucky Charms!

[rworange]

According to wikipedia they are made from sugar, corn syrup, gelatin (made from pork skin[1]), soy protein, food coloring and artificial flavor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Peanuts

Who knew they weren't vegetarian?

Seems like even the three major companies that make circus peanuts don't know much about who invented them or why the name or shape. One mystery about the color/flavor might be that they were orange because that was the original flavor.

This article says "One theory is that they originated with the traveling circuses where vendors sold salted peanuts and candy. "
http://www.candyfavorites.com/shop/article-circuspeanuts.php

They were a seasonal spring-time candy until the invention of the polyethylene bag which kept them fresh longer.

Learned that CIrcus peanust were the origin of the "marbits" (marshmellow bits) in Lucky Charms. Someone cut up a Circus Peanut, added it to cereal and liked the taste ... well, I guess I like bananas in cereal ... so why not phony banana-flavored Circus Peanuts.
http://www.madison.com/tct/features/index.php?ntid=12034&ntpid=2

Also you folks mention CP-eating methodology. Seems some people like them stale, eschewing the fresh CP.

This link from CP haters has some funny stuff in it with this description giving a good CP to circus analogy ...

""I think they are the horror that is the circus, that flat tin taste of fear and clowns and little lost children amid the cotton candy stink and the piles of elephant doo-doo and the clamor of the midway and the tinny sound of the circus band endlessly wheezing its way through yet another soulless circus fanfare."
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_222b.html

I dunno ... I always liked them too. They should make licorice CP for Halloween so there would be a color theme.

Tho ... this recipe for a gelatin salad with Circus Peanuts is just sick
http://www.spanglercandy.com/spangler...

7 ounces (about 30) of Spangler Circus Peanuts
1-6 oz package of orange flavored gelatin
1-16 oz can of Mandarin oranges, drained*
2 cups of boiling water
1 3/4 cups of Mandarin orange syrup and cold water
2 cups of whipped topping

* You may substitute 16 oz of canned crushed pineapple,

[dinner belle]

Just saw an article somewhere about someone who put circus peanuts in vodka to flavor it. Think he was unhappy with the results and still experimenting.

[janethepain]

Haha I'll admit I eat them too, even though I DO think they look ridiculously nasty. I also prefer them stale.

[alkapal]

stale lets some of the aroma dissipate?. makes their texture change too.? query: how do you really know it is stale? ;-)

[janethepain]

haha it's all about the texture: instead of being all mushy and stretchy, they're a bit harder and chewier, on their way to becoming like those marshmallows in Lucky Charms.

[Shayna Madel]

We don't have a lot of kids in the apartment building where I live. For security reasons, the only kids who are allowed to trick or treat in the building are either residents or friends of residents, who are put on a list. And, so as not to inconvenience the cranky people and the infirm, trick or treating is limited to about 3 hours in the evening and the kids are only supposed to ring the bells of people who have put little signs on their door (the building supplies them). Having grown up on suburban Long Island where we got tons and tons of candy, it's sorta discouraging to see that healthy, middle-aged people, and those who work with kids or have grandchildren don't hang up the signs.

That said and remembering what I liked when I was a kid, I typically go to BJ's or Costco and buy one or two of those jumbo bags of assorted Nestle, Hershey or M&M/Mars chocolate products. I don't buy too early and I don't open the bag(s) until the night before Halloween, as I have very little self-control and do not want to succumb to temptation. I probably need no more than half a pound of anything, but then there would not be any leftovers.

The kids usually are pretty polite and take one or two little things, but I tell them to take as much as they want. They love it. When it's over, I dump the leftovers into a zip-loc bag and put it in the freezer, like that will keep me from eating it any faster than I do.

I tried the Hershey candy corn and agree that it pretty much tastes like white chocolate with a strong candy corn scent. I think it could be fun to use as the center of cookies baked for a halloween party. Now that someone mentioned it, I am going to have to get some Mary Janes and candy corn for my halloween candy dishes. I can't wolf that stuff down half as fast as the Kit-Kat bars or the Nestle's Crunch or whatever else is my obsession of the year...

[charlesbois]

current fav "normal" candy: Take5
fav "esoteric" candy: Sixlets

[revsharkie]

Palmer's (based in Sioux City, I think) makes these chocolate "eyeballs" that are really good. There are chocolate-filled, caramel-filled, and peanut butter-filled ones. (I like the peanut butter ones best.) They don't get into the trick-or-treating dish, though, because they usually don't last long enough!

[coney with everything]

IIRC, Palmer makes chocolate "flavored" candy. I bought some when my son was little because we were poor and they were cheap, but you could really taste the difference.

[revsharkie]

They're bettter than they used to be. I remember that chocolate-flavored wax, too.

[adventuresinbaking]

I bought those last year for the pure novelty factor. Now they make different parts (eyes, ears, lips, toes) and are filled with different things.

Not the best chocolate, but a lot of fun!

[amethiste]

Candy corn and mallow pumpkins (they're pumpkin shaped candy corn) are my seasonal crack. I get 0 trick or treaters so I have absolutely no alibi for my purchase.

[Squint]

"My seasonal crack" LOL...that's what I call it too! And my local supermarket is selling the bags 10 for $10. So far I have only bought two bags at once...one candy corn and one pumpkin...don't dare buy 10 bags at once.

Have you tried mixing candy corn with peanuts? I was introduced to this mixture where I used to work. It tastes just like PayDay candy bars. Plus then you get a little protein with your sugar :-))

Oh, I have no trick or treaters either..it's all for me.

[amethiste]

That sounds like a great combo. Kind of like Boston baked beans maybe? That's another favorite of mine. Especially when they are fresh.

[Squint]

I remember Boston Baked Beans but can't really remember the taste. The candy corn and peanuts together is like a mixture of nougat and peanuts. I really like the sweet/salty combo together. I've tried it with the pumpkins too but it's not the same...I think maybe too much pumpkin overwhelms the peanut taste. Now I have to go to the store and get more candy corn and some Boston Baked Beans to compare!

[amethiste]

I see a bag of candy corn and a can of peanuts in my near future :-)

[hipchick47]

I just ate 2 mini Snickers bars, my fav. My daughter is allergic to peanuts, so at Haloween when she was little, she had to come home and seperate all her candy into two piles, peanut and non peanut. I ate the peanut stuff. Please be aware of peanut allergies. We all go to my daughters house that has millions of kids trick or treating. Its awsome..............however, last year 2 teen girls dressed as dominatrix and slave. A little different then when I was a kid and dressed up as my mother in her high heels.

[marmite]

<< A little different then when I was a kid and dressed up as my mother in her high heels.>>

A few years ago my mother had teenage trick or treaters who were standing at the door smoking. Unbelievable.
I always buy the mini boxes of Nerds, eat all the strawberry boxes, and save the grape for the trick or treaters. This year I also got 100 Grands (anyone remember when they were called $100,000 bars?) and Goetze's caramel creams, which my ferrets have been stealing and hiding under the couch. Is Halloween over yet? :)

[jme1beachbum]

'DEM BONES

If anyone anywhere stumbles on my favorite Halloween candy that I scour the shelves for every year please buy them and ship them to me. I'll pay you double the receipt price and shipping!!! I haven't had them in about 3 or 4 years and they are my favorite (obviously). And FYI- none go to the kiddies!

I like to get mixed bags of mini-chocolate bars (snickers, kit kat, etc) and mini-hard candies (spree, sweet tarts, etc) to give out so theres a good selection for kiddies.

[Honey Bee]

Sad, but it looks like these candies were discontinued in 2006.
http://www.candyfavorites.com/Dem-Bon...

[jme1beachbum]

Sigh...thanks for the info...the hunt for dem-bones ends. Haha

[tatertotsrock]

CANDY CORN
Yes, I know...gross.
I have no idea why I can't resist them when I see them at Target at this time of year.
I have already bought and consumed my 1 bag for the year...I bought the totally ghetto-Target-Brand kind and they were amazing...the bag was gone in 3 days.
mmmm.

[alkapal]

candy corn. yes. it's ok. we all love it.

[verily]

Indubitably. I like to get candy corn and the mellowcreme pumpkins every Halloween. I don't do the Brach's Harvest Mix though because the indian corn just tastes wrong (like fake chocolate).

As for treats for kiddies, Twix and Kit Kats are usually the candy bar options I like the best. Twix are awesome when you freeze them.

[rworange]

Have you tried the banana and strawberry flavored candy corn Target is selling?

I love candy corn too. I think each color has a different flavor and texture starting with the more delicate icing-like white tip to getting chewier toward the top. Must eat each color separately.

[alkapal]

too funny. yes, eat each section separately!

[amethiste]

I do that too! I always thought that the white was the top. Now the 'corn' part makes sense. The yellow part is my favorite. It tastes more buttery to me.

[Shayna Madel]

Just great--so now I have to stop on the way home from work and buy a bag of candy corn to eat it section by section...

[alkapal]

i start with the white tip!

anyone else eat the chocolate "rim" around the hershey's reese's cup first?

[tatertotsrock]

No no no, alkapal...you have to eat the peanut butter first and leave a bit on the edges and have the chocolatey edges last..gollly.
How funny is it to see how we all eat our treats in strange ways....I sometimes separate the colors of my m&m's then eat them by my least favorite color...strange thing is, some days I'll prefer one color over another, then the next day it changes...like an m&m mood ring of sorts.

[alkapal]

how do you eat the peanut butter first, tatertotsrock? you must have a dexterous tongue!

[mordacity]

I eat peanut M&Ms by biting down just hard enough to separate the chocolate from the peanut, eating the chocolate first and the peanut after. I'm such a freak.

[tatertotsrock]

I'm beginning to find this thread to be mighty therapeutic... mordacity, I totally do that too, but I thought if I fessed up to something that crazy, people would really think I am insane...it's so rewarding/satisfying when you can do it perfectly "in half", isn;t it?
Could this be an OCD thing? I don't always eat them taht way...only when I am alone and have the time to savor the moment.

[wino22]

I do this too! Everone thinks I'm bonkers! Actually, sometimes I save the half with no peanut in it and use a butter knife to fill the peanutless half with peanut butter. Weird. Too weird. And yes, I think it has to do with OCD.

[revsharkie]

You are aware, I trust, that you can buy M&Ms with peanut butter already in them...

[wino22]

Yes, I know... and trust me, I like those too... :)

[LeslieB]

It IS weird. My strange candy compulsion is "skinning" things with a thin outer chocolate layer -- like 3 Musketeers bars and Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls. I'll peel/nibble all the chocolate off and then eat the nougat or cakey filling.

[mamamia]

We just may have been seperated at birth.

I do this with Snickers. I also strip the chocolate/carmel off of Twix. Oh yeah, and I also eat Kit Kats in layers - you can actually split the cripsy layers with your teeth.

It's sad that I never eat candy anymore, due to my slowing metabolism and spreading hips. But when I was a kid, I had lots of tricks like this.

[adventuresinbaking]

I do start with the white tip, but prefer to bite directly into the PBT cup.

Now for propper pop tart consumption, I used to eat the "crust" first. If I had the time the sides w/out frosting and eventually consume the filled part.

[Olallieberry]

Yup. No other way to eat em.

[tatertotsrock]

rworange,
I totallt eat them by layer...my brother always made fun ofme for that...he has no clue that I even eat them now-a-days, much less savor each color.
I don't care much for the "flavored" ones..I like my corn simple...the old fashioned way.
Now, I always considered the little white tip to be the top...hmmm.

[rworange]

Ooohhh ... I just learned a new use for the white tips ... some people attach them to their teeth to create candy fangs. There's an idea that will make your dentist scream in terror.

[hotteacher1976]

yes, Candy Corn for sure. I love this time of year b/c I tend to eat them more this season than any other. I load up on bags of them.

[mamamia]

Pure heaven in a bowl:

Mix 1 bag of candy corn with 1 jar of dry roasted peanuts.
Consume en mass.

It tastes just like the center of a PayDay bar, and we can't get enough of it this time of year.

[rworange]

I tried Brach's caramel candy corn this year. I like candy corn classic a lot, but this was really good. It might be great with the peanuts ... caramel flavor with the candy corn and peanuts.

I put together the halloween bowl of treats today and took my one little piece of each type. Man, I forgot how good plain old brand name supermarket candy tastes ... snickers, mars, twxt, etc. The only thing I didn't care too much for was Reese;s peanut butter cup with caramel. You would thing that would work but it is too much of a good thing.

[mamamia]

We're on our second bag.

*bows head in shame*

[AnneInMpls]

Curse you, mamamia! I used to be able to stop eating candy corn after 4 or 5 pieces. But I added peanuts, and now I can't quit - I just ate half a bag. This is an amazing combination of flavors!

Anne

[manda]

Faves: Twix, Reese's PB cups (though I really miss the Cookie Cup), Reese's Crispy Crunchy minis, Mr. Goodbars (the only Hershey's miniature I liked), mini KitKats, mini Heath bars.

I make it a point not to give candy I don't like. This year, my goody bags include all of the above plus sour Skittles, Caramel Apple Pops, Hershey's Candy Corn kisses (smells like candy corn, tastes like milk chocolate but the smell is too strong for me), miniatures of Snickers, Milky Way, and 3 Musketeers, and milk chocolate truffle Kisses. I skipped out on the 100 Grand and Nutrageous this year but may pick up a pack or two right after Halloween.

[alkapal]

truffle kisses, did you say?

[sweet ginger]

I tried them and definitely like them better than the regular milk Kisses. They're nice & creamier because of the truffle center than the dark Kisses. There's a bag stashed away in my desk right now!

[rworange]

In addition to chocolate-based candy ... usualy Reese's, Milky way (for me) and Hersey's ... I get whatever is new that year so I can try one.

This year it is the Hershey's with candy corn ... anyone tried those?

There's one company that has flavored candy corn ... banana, strawberry, etc ... but it is in a big bag so probably won't get that. I'll probably buy some of the Jones Halloween soda so I can try one can and give the rest away. Anything else new this year I shoujld look for?

I buy it on sale and don't open it until Halloween when I put together the bowls for kids to select from. Then I hope there are enough kids so I don't have a lot of candy left to tempt me.

And just to be safe ... too many kids ... I have a few rolls of quarters on hand if I run out of candy. Didn't you love people who gave you change when you were trick and treating?

[shalisah]

I always liked Red Hots that came in the orange and black colors, Lemonheads, Sugar Daddies, and of course, all the chocolate!
They had Chick-o-Sticks back then. I still see them from time to time. They taste sorta like the inside of a Butterfinger. Yummy!

[elayne5]

I always get Reeses and hope there are some left for the kids. Good to have on hand are small lollypops. The really little treaters go for those.

[alkapal]

i remember chick-o-sticks! yes, like butterfinger or peanut butter logs! (with the stripes)

[diablo]

My husband's last name is Atkinson---the same name of the comapany that makes Chick-O-Sticks. He buys them everytime he sees them. Not sure if it's out of loylaty to the family name or if he actually enjoys them. As I recall, though, they are not that bad for you as far as candy goes. I don't think they use high fructose corn syrup---a rarity in candy these days.

[tatertotsrock]

Oh yes , diablo,
I love Chick-O-Sticks...forgot all about them since I can't find them anywhere!
Anyone in Los Angeles know where to get 'em?

[cmarie]

they have them at smart n final.

[manda]

Hershey's Kisses (candy corn flavored) smell like candy corn and taste more like white chocolate? The kiss is colored like candy corn (orange, yellow, white) but I felt that the scent was really strong.

[alkapal]

never seen those here in arlington, va.

[Cathy]

My brother (in MIchigan) and I always remembered the people who gave us potato chips, and now as adults, we still do that.

The vendor bags from Costco cost 16¢ each and I can always use leftovers for lunch...

The kids always seem to remember me...

[mark]

were they better mades (the ones in mi, not from costco)?

love those chips!

[Cathy]

My brother does Better Made, of course...I have to do Lays.

Did you know that Wayne County Michigan has the largest per capita consumption of potato chips in the world? I grew up loving salty...

[janethepain]

CANDY CORN!!!!

[itsrob]

amen. every halloween i end up eating enough candy corn to feel sick at least two or three times. it hurts me, and i love it anyway...

[baseballfan]

I can't even have it in the house! I will eat every last one and I have no problem having it for breakfast.

[SonyBob]

The hands down queen of all halloween candy. All hail CANDY CORN!
Bob

[dinner belle]

I always hit the Dollar Tree (or some such) and stock up on the full size bars (100 Grand, Hershey's, Snickers, etc.). They're usually 3 for $1 and the kids love getting the big bars. We don't get all that many trick-or-treaters, so it's not cost-prohibitive.

As far as giving out homemade treats, I think it's frowned upon if the giver and the recipient don't know each other.

P. S. I still love those peanut butter Mary Janes that get stuck in your teeth!

[hpcat]

Oh, how I love those Mary Janes! If you have Rite-Aid, they carry bags of them before Halloween. To my downfall.

I also like Baby Ruths and Oh Henry bars.

Halloween was the best when I was young...much younger. One house gave out ice cream cones...another hot chocolate. We had tons of candy. My youngest sister is allergic to nuts, so I also got about 1/2 her candy!

[diablo]

Anything chocolate. I'm a big fan of the 100 Grand bar. Caramel, crispies, chocolate---what's not to love??

[teamuse]

Hmmm...Diablo, I agree. I love 100 Grand, especially in the 'fun' size bars; any bigger it gets a bit overwhelming. I also love mini Crunch bars and Reese pb cups always remind me of Halloween/youth.

I also like those weird fruity tootsie rolls. i forgot what they're called, but they are the tootsie roll candy consistency, but fruit flavored. I also remember regular Tootsie Rolls being a welcomed treat at the bottom of my trick-or-treating bag after all the better quality chocolate had been eaten by me.

[Emme]

Mmm concur on 100 Grand.

The mini Vanilla Tootsie-ish Rolls

3 Musketeers (melted and slightly burnt in the microwave... otherwise don't bother)

Reese's Pumpkin

Sugar Babies

Those pink white and brown striped cube shaped chews... name escapes me... hounds?

[alkapal]

pink, white, brown are coconut chews by Brach's. I don't know the proper name. yes, those ARE tasty!

What is Reese's pumpkin? Sounds intriguing. I like the Reese's products!

[Emme]

really? they're coconut? ...i hate coconut flavored things and coconut... weird. an exception to every rule, right?

reese's pumpkins are reese's peanut butter cups in the shape of a pumpkin, and the ratio of chocolate to pb filling is different as a result, and much more preferable :)

[alkapal]

i am pretty certain they are coconut.

Re Reese's: ratio is critical. OH, now I remember, yes, they are plumper with the pb filling. SO MUCH better than regular. oh wait, I am thinking of the Reese's PB Easter eggs. same ratio as the pumpkin? i.e., more PB?

[alkapal]

http://www.brachs.com/products/produc...
Brach's Sundaes Neapolitan Coconuts

[Louise]

Aren't those things hideous? And yet I like them. A chowish dark secret.

[LeslieB]

My grandmother used to always have a glass candy dish filled with those things when we'd visit and my mom and I would just decimate them -- we are both coconut fiends, especially her.

[ArikaDawn]

Today at Target I saw they sell bags of just the Vanilla Tootsie Roll Midgies w/o the other fruit flavors. Three bags for $5 and i am set for the year =)

[LindaWhit]

Almost anything chocolate - I always detested Almond Joys. Butterfingers are my favorite. Mom hated it 'cause the nougat crunchy center always stuck in my braces. :-)

Oh - and Necco Wafers. :-)

[MGC]

Two Thumbs Up for Nutrageous! As soon as I find Nutrageous bars in the 'fun' size, they are purchased - in quantity. It's hard enough to find them in a 'regular' size bar at any time of the year. I'd rather have the smaller bars anyway - I can justify eating one or two of them whereas a full-size bar seems like I'm eating way too much candy...

I don't get trick-or-treaters so the purchases are just for me.

Seasons Eatings!

[Honey Bee]

"End-of-the-year fattening season". I like that.

This year is my first real chance to have trick or treaters (first year in a hjouse as opposed to the apartment which never got any). I will make sure I give out the "good" candy-meaning name brand chocolate. I am a Reese's and Twix girl myself (and yes, I'll make sure there are leftovers)!

Maybe someone can help me with this...
Is it accpetable to give homeade items out on Halloween? We are new to the neighborhood and I don't want to freak parents out by offering their little ghosts a cookie in addition to the candy.

[mark]

mini heath bars are my fave.

i suspect most parents won't let their kids accept/eat your homemade treats unless they know you personally. when i was a kid, the bakers on the street would make up goodie bage for the kids/parents they knew well, but buy candy for the masses.

[coney with everything]

Maybe in a small town you could do homemade, but I tossed all the non-packaged stuff when my son came home. I think that this is actually more of an "urban legend" that kids were getting adulterated treats, but most moms would rather be safe than sorry.

I always buy a few bags of non nut, non chocolate candy for the littler kids, and Snickers, M&Ms, Butterfingers, and Almond Joys for the older kids and for leftover purposes! Start cutting out those coupons now!

[Honey Bee]

Thanks, I figured homeade goodies were probably not a good idea. Oh well.