Favorite Easter Candy: America's Top Five and Why Candy is Part of Every Holiday Season

By Kathryn Simmons on March 13, 2013

Photo Courtesy of 123rf.com

Sharpen those pencils, boys and girls. It’s time for a pop quiz! Which holiday is the leading seller of candy in the United States? Christmas? Easter? Valentine’s Day? Actually, it’s Halloween. One quarter of all candy sold in the States is purchased for the sole use of trick-or-treaters and ghoulish partying. The holiday following close behind, however, is Easter. My Easter basket was my favorite part of the holiday as a little girl, and I could never wait to rummage through it to see what the Easter Bunny brought me. Thinking about the wide variety of sweets available, I’ve composed a list of the top five, in no particular order, for the Easter holiday.

1. Cadbury Crème Eggs

Ok, so maybe I was a bit premature when I said these were listed in no particular order, since Cadbury Crème Eggs are my favorite. They have a chocolate creme filling that is simply divine. Chocolate eggs date back to the early 19th century in Europe. However, the egg itself has been a long-standing Easter tradition, symbolizing new life and Christ’s resurrection. Grab some Cadbury’s and even some Malted Robin Eggs, another Easter favorite, and move on down to number two on the list.

2. Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs

Although these could potentially go under the “egg” category as well, I feel they deserve some special attention. Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs come in milk chocolate as well as the less traditional white chocolate. I’m not a huge fan of Reese’s and much rather prefer an off brand with a creamier center; yet the white chocolate version of this Easter treat has me reconsidering that each year. The peanut butter eggs certainly beckon a category of their own.

3. Marshmallow Peeps and Eggs

For the child at heart, Peeps are a huge favorite since they are simply adorable; and they so happen to be the top selling non-chocolate Easter candy. The original Peeps were handmade, marshmallow-flavored yellow chicks that were first sold in the 1950s in a candy manufacturer based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The manufacturer, Just Born, was founded by Russian immigrant Sam Born.

4. Jelly Beans

Another Easter favorite is the jelly bean. This classic has origins that date back to Biblical times. (See Turkish Delight.) Nevertheless, they became associated with Easter in the 1930s when the Great Depression made national headlines. Today there is a wide selection to choose from, including my favorite as a kid, the Jelly Belly.  For the more adventurous and for the Potterheads out there, give Bertie Botts Every Flavour Jelly Beans a shot as well. I know I will.

5. Milk Chocolate Bunny

We’ve talked about the various kinds of egg-shaped candies, peeps, and jelly beans. That leaves only one main Easter treat—the classic chocolate bunny. There is some debate on whether the solid or the hollow bunnies are better, but, really, it all depends on the person. For the sake of the article I just linked, I would say in order to not disappoint those little ones, give them a giant hollow bunny, but add some small solid ones in their basket as well. Why not have the best of both worlds? Easter is a celebration of life and Christ, and the holiday is celebrated only once a year.

These Easter favorites are symbolic and representative of the life and the resurrection of Christ, but they are also rooted in tradition, just as many other holidays are that place a huge emphasis on candy. There’s no one specific reason why sweets are such a huge part of the holiday season. They each have their own customs, and rituals—especially Halloween—and our ancestors passed these traditions down to us. Like all traditions, the details slowly change and become altered, but the overall concept still remains. So take a lesson from those whom came before us, and rack up on your favorite Easter treats this year. But just remember—all good things must be enjoyed in moderation.

 

 

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