New studies have named New Jersey's favorite candies, but the results depend on who's counting.\
Italian chocolate brand Kinder took first place in New Jersey in an analysis of Google Trends data conducted by research group Innerbody.
New Jerseyans have also shown an interest in Twizzlers, according to Innerbody, with the licorice candy trending in recent searches.
However, other studies reached different conclusions. CandyStore.com named Tootsie Pops as New Jersey's top candy, while Visual Capitalist reported that Swedish Fish ranked No. 1 in the state.
Both the CandyStore.com and Visual Capitalist studies relied on sales data. CandyStore.com analyzed Halloween-season candy sales in every state from 2008 through 2025 using its own bulk-order sales data, along with figures shared by major candy manufacturers and distributors.
Visual Capitalist's findings were based on October 2025 purchase data from Instacart's 2026 Halloween Sweet Tooth Report.
New Jersey's favorite candies also differed from the national leaders identified in each study.
Innerbody named Sour Patch Kids as America's favorite candy based on Google search interest. Visual Capitalist reported that Reese's Peanut Butter Cups were the best-selling candy on Instacart, ranking first in 40 states, while CandyStore.com named M&M's the nation's most popular Halloween candy, retaining its top spot from 2025.
Both CandyStore.com and Innerbody agree that, despite its controversial reputation, candy corn remains a popular favorite. It ranked No. 2 in nationwide search interest in Innerbody's study and No. 8 in national sales volume according to CandyStore.com.
Do you agree with any of these rankings? What's your favorite candy?