Halloween Candy: Top 3 For 2024 in Florida

Butterfinger, Hershey's Chocolate Bars and even candy corn made the Top 10. But the big 5 Halloween candy choices for Florida trick-or-treaters lines up pretty closely with the national picks this year.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups took the top spot for Florida. No shock there right? The chocolate and peanut butter combo has been the winner since we were kids. I'd always remember which house had the Reese's cups and head there first. There's now Reese's Cup cereal... even the peanut butter aisle at Publix often has Reese's peanut butter. I've never brought myself to actually buy it though.

You would think given Florida's heat and humidity that M&M's would have cracked the top 3. The Halloween candy that melts in your mouth but not in your hand didn't take the gold, silver or bronze surprisingly.

The runner up Halloween candy for Florida in 2024 is the one with that tangy sweet and sour combination: Skittles. Taste the rainbow. Love cinnamon? Hot Tamales rounds out the top 3 in Florida.

Nationally M&M's took the top spot with Reese's Cups at #2. Sour Patch Kids, Skittles and Starburst also placed in the top 5. Sour Patch Kids had the biggest jump year over year. The most surprising stat to me that they found was a resurgence in the popularity of candy corn. It landed at #7 nationally this year on the favorite Halloween candy in America list.

The new Halloween candy in the top 10 this year is an old favorite. Bart Simpson was a Butterfinger fan and so am I. Butterfinger ranked #1 in South Carolina and Oklahoma.

The biggest snub? That would be Snickers. Nowhere in the top 10! Snickers easily makes my top 5.

Their other research found that households will spend about $31 on candy this year. Most Halloween shopping is done in the first 2 weeks of October. And over half of parents admit they stash some Halloween candy away to enjoy for themselves.

The numbers were compiled by candystore.com.

Halloween is the time of year when spookiness takes center stage, and creative costumes rule the streets. It’s also the day of the beloved tradition, trick-or-treating. Whether you're a kid dreaming of a candy jackpot or an adult admiring the neighborhood's costume creativity while handing out treats, it's a highlight of the year.

However, you'll always find that one neighbor who likes to shake things up by handing out something other than candy. It's not always a bad thing, though. Some people do it for a good reason, like considering kids with dietary restrictions. But if you're considering going outside the box, you should avoid certain trick-or-treat handouts.

Let's talk about the Halloween horrors, the stuff no one wants in their trick-or-treat bag. First on the list are those infamous toothbrushes or dental floss packs. Halloween is the one night a year when kids can indulge in a sugar frenzy, and suddenly, you're handed a dental hygiene product. It's like being told to eat your veggies at a birthday party. Then there are the homemade treats. While some homemade goodies can be delicious, receiving unlabeled, homemade treats can make even the bravest trick-or-treater think twice; also, most parent's won't feel comfortable with that and may dispose of them. All of your hard work will go to waste! Safety is paramount on Halloween, and unwrapped or unlabeled edibles can raise concerns.

Another item to avoid is pennies. They're not even worth the trip to the store, and they make you question if you've accidentally stumbled into a time machine back to the 1950s. If you’re going to give out money on Halloween, make it worthwhile if you can swing it. While Halloween is all about surprises, pennies are definitely not the kind of surprises anyone hopes for.

Take a look at some of the worst trick-or-treat handouts for Halloween.

Keychains are handy, but they're not exactly the kind of treasure kids hope to find in their candy haul. They want stuff that's sweet, not stuff for keys they don't have. Save yourself some money and pass on key chains.

We all know cleanliness is important, but getting soap, shampoo, or hand sanitizer in your treat bag on Halloween is not what kids look forward to. It's a treat, not a trip to the pharmacy. It's like getting socks for Christmas. While practical, it's not exactly exciting.

Coins may have been an acceptable treat decades ago, but nowadays, they're seen as disappointing. Kids prefer candy. Or maybe small toys (if they're exciting/cool enough). Unless, you're giving away the big bucks, steer clear of this one.

Healthy snacks are great, but Halloween is all about the sugar rush. Kids aren't exactly thrilled to find a mix of fruit and nuts in their bag. They're hoping for chocolates and gummies, not something they associate with after-school snacks.

Adults may appreciate coupons for discounts at local businesses, but they don't make for a fun Halloween treat for kids. Saving money is cool, but Halloween is all about instant gratification. And coupons for discounts don't really make the cut.

Halloween is not the time to distribute religious or informational materials. Kids are looking for fun and treats, not pamphlets. Consider giving those away another day that's not Halloween.

Halloween is all about the candy, right? So, if you toss a toothbrush or dental floss into a kid's stash of treats, you're basically inviting disappointment. Plus, it's safe to assume that the trick-or-treater already has a toothbrush. Do they truly need another one?

Throwing unwrapped candy into a plastic pumpkin? That's just asking for a sticky mess. Plus, it's not the cleanest option. And given the concerns these days, it's just another worry for parents who fear someone might mess with their child's candy.

Those fancy homemade snacks that look like they came straight from Pinterest can be cute, but if you don't really know the kids or their parents, they might wonder about your intentions. Sticking to pre-packaged treats is your best bet on Halloween, especially if you're trying to keep trick-or-treating simple and sanitary.