You're not the average dullard on your street and the Halloween candy you hand out doesn't have to be either. It can be as interesting as you are. Sure chocolate and chips are GREAT but if you want to stand out from the crowd I've compiled a list of some really good Halloween candy ideas.
Every year for Halloween I try to get the kids something a tiny bit different in terms of their candy. Because I'm a tiny bit different.
When I was a kid all we got were Rockets and Kraft caramels. And in fact, a lot of houses didn't even give out "Kraft" caramels ... they gave out no name caramels that were definitely used as inexpensive tooth extractors in third world countries.
If we got a teeny, tiny Coffee Crisp thrown into our pillow cases it was like hitting pay dirt. Something to be squirrelled away or mashed into your mouth immediately, depending on what type of kid you were. I was a squirreller. Still am.
One year when I was rolling in the money I gave out full sized chocolate bars. Another year it was Pringles as opposed to regular bags of potato chips (because Pringles are my favourite and that was back in the day when I could eat all the leftover Halloween candy if I wanted to.)
I've handed out mini cans of Play Doh, fortune cookies and those chocolates from Costco that are so, so good.
These days when I peek into the specially made, store bought, pumpkin stencilled, light up, ergonomically correct Halloween bags the kids are carrying around, all I see are chips and chocolate bars. Chocolate bars and chips.
Only getting 2 different items in your Halloween bag makes sitting on the living room rug in your jammies, separating all of your goods kind of anticlimactic.
2 piles does not a good Halloween make. In my opinion anyway.
Sure they can separate the types of chocolate and chips but honestly. Is this what the world is coming to? A world where kids don't even have a BAD candy pile???
So if you're looking to give out something a bit different (but GOOD!) this year I have a list for you.
Halloween Candy Ideas
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Most (but not all) of these things ring it at around .50 per item.
- CANS OF SOUP - no seriously. Give them a choice between the regular candy and a can of soup. There WILL be kids who think this choice is GREAT.
- JUICE BOXES
- LIGHT UP RINGS
- COTTON CANDY - so um, I bought this Cotton Candy machine during the trying times of COVID.
- SLIME - (Canadian link)
- HOT CHOCOLATE PACKETS - (Canadian link)
- MINI PLUSHIES
- GLOW-IN-THE-DARK BRACELETS - (Canadian link)
- PLAY DOH - (Canadian link)
- RAMEN NOODLES - (Canadian link)
- MICROWAVE POPCORN - (Canadian link)
- STICK ON TATTOOS (Canadian link)
- POP TARTS - (Canadian link)
- FORTUNE FISH - (Canadian link)
- HONEY STICKS - (Canadian link)
If I haven't convinced you to move out of your candy comfort zone with those things and you're determined to hand out something more traditional then take a look below at the list of typical Halloween candy listed in order of preference.
In the study that came up with these results, 1002 kids from ages 8-17 were asked what their favourite Halloween candy was.
According to the study on kid's favourite Halloween candy you can't go wrong with the classics.
The Best Halloween Candy
According to kids (who really don't know much of anything because they're kids) in order of preference.
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
- Snickers
- Twix
- Kit Kat
- M&Ms
- Nerds
- Butterfinger
- Sour Patch Kids
- Skittle
- Hershey bar
- Nestle Crunch
- Milky Way
- Starburst
- Smarties
- Candy Corn
- Tootsie Roll
I don't know if you know this about me, but I'm a blogger and part of my job as a blogger is to stay up to date on trends. And this year it looks like this Halloween thing is trending BIG as we all try to make up for the lost year.
The year that wasn't.
The year that was a dullard.
But also the year I bought a full sized professional cotton candy machine and 10 flavours of floss sugar.
So last year wasn't all bad, but there were a few sticky situations for sure.
Connie Soklic
Great ideas , I especially like the cotton candy, pop and hot chocolate packets ! The ramen noodles would be cool too. For years now i've been giving out juice boxes ( my teenagers rolled their eyes and groaned the first year i handed them out ) BUT the little ones luv'd them, they are thirsty by the time they get to our house at the end of a long street .
One year i even gave out calculators that Ikea was clearing out at 10 cents each. They were a big hit too :)
Being "a tiny bit different" has its benefits.
Connie Soklic
Great ideas , I especially like the cotton candy, pop and hot chocolate packets ! The ramen noodles would be cool too. For years now i've been giving out juice boxes ( my teenagers rolled their eyes and groaned the first year i handed them out ) BUT the little ones luv'd them, they are thirsty by the time they get to our house at the end of a long street .
One year i even gave out little calculators that Ikea was clearing out at 10 cents a piece. They were a big hit too :)
Being "a tiny bit different" has its benefits.
Bonnie White
Saw a post on Facebook today that was showing more sustainable choices for Halloween candy with regards to palm oil...please check it out to help support forests not being decimated!
Renee Ryz
Utz makes little bags of pretzels in Halloween shapes. Almost every kid said COOL pretzels! I think packets of cider would be good too! We don't get many kids, and I don't participate anymore, but was fun! When my kids were small we gave out little cans of fruit & pudding cups too.
Lucia Rostirolla
Last year, I gave out homemade face masks that I sewed, along with assorted candies, in a loot bag. I plan on doing the same this year.
Karen Payton
For YEARS one of our neighbours shelled out homemade Popcorn Balls (think Rice Krispie squares, made with popcorn instead) ... and to this day my adult children reminisce fondly about those. We are the house the kids flock to for the full-size chocolate bars, along with the "awards" we give for best costume. (Just ribbons we make up and give to EVERY little person who shows up in costume. They each walk away feeling special.)
Kat - the other 1
The American smarties are good if they have gluten & dairy allergies.
Utz makes tiny bags of tiny cheese ball puffs for Halloween. (gluten free, not dairy free) A different kind of "chip" I suppose. Lol ;)
My parents used my oldest brother's age to determine when "we" were all to old to trick'er' treat. I was 10. *sigh* :(
So until last year I dressed up every year, even if I was just staying in or popping out to the store. lol.
(I always try to stock up on our leftover smarties -b4 mom gets rid of them - to keep some in my purse for low blood sugar emergencies.) I just opened one up from a bag in a jar in a box, several years old, still good! lol
Kerry in Atlanta
Thanks for the ideas! Hot chocolate mix is a good one!
We are lucky to get more than four or five kids. I know who they are and last year I made each one a small trick or treat bag of goodies and left it on their doorstep the day before Halloween.
I missed seeing their costumes and smiling faces. But it was a safer way to go.
Not sure what to do this time
My daughter and son in law made a candy shute with pvc pipe and rope lights wrapped around it! It was a big hit! I may go over there this year to watch the fun.
Ritz
A good list and please check the ingredients list for hydrogenated oils or trans fats (most fortune cookies). Teeth we can repair, but hearts and arteries , not so much.
Randy P
Now MY favs from the list would be in no particular order of devouring - Milky Way, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Smarties and Candy Corn.
Cyd
You are clearly brilliant. Those are my faves, too. Wait, NO M&Ms or Smarties? Who hurt you?! ;)
Randy P
I like the M&Ms too, and do note that Smarties are thirds on my list.
Randy P
And as to being "brilliant"? All I'll say is that it is a blessing and a curse - LOL
Margie
I give out ring pops and Mardi Gras beads. Also chocolate
Susan
Packaged Rice Krispy Treats were always a big hit at our house. Costco has a box of 60 for $13.99.
Terri
It's hard to believe that Smarties is on the list of favorite candies. As kids, we thought homeowners would give out Smarties so we would never visit their house again.
Andrea Berneche
American or Canadian? There is a difference.
Caroline
Here in California,I generally offer a choice of 2 or 3 kinds of candy. American Smarties are pretty popular. I guess a lot of kids enjoy a change from chocolate. Personally I think British Smarties are just inferior M&Ms.
TucsonPatty
I love what I call Smarties - and I’ll go look it up, but I think they are those sweet and sour candies wrapped in the clear cellophane roll. I just looked it up and yes, they are called Rockets in Canada, because of Nestle’s Canadian Smarties. My trick or treaters have always gotten my favorite candies, except for that one allowed I was on Weight Watchers and they suggested doing the exact opposite. I can’t even remember what I gave out that year. They all took it! I always get a mishmash and mix it up and then give out a handful or two. Reece’s are the god of candies! Then Snickers, then American Smarties. This will be the 2nd Halloween that I will be dark - still not gong to help spread that Delta around. I miss my trick or treaters! They miss me, too!
Karen, I thought we would get the recipe for the fortune cookie, but parents don’t like homemade treats anymore. 😢
Amy
One of the most popular houses in our neighborhood gives out cotton candy every year. The hostess dresses up as a fairy with a big tulle skirt and stands behind the cotton candy maker. She has a commercial one. So, yes, that would be one of the most memorable. Kids will be flocking to your house! We have kids who come to our neighborhood from other neighborhoods because we as a neighborhood are very generous ( think the king size bars of chocolate instead of the fun size). We used to have a haunted house, but that neighbor has moved away. I have to plan for 200 kids every year. So it gets pretty expensive. But it's fun!
Mary W
My father-in-law used to give cold cans of soda pop which the kids specifically went to his house to get to drink. Another neighbor forgot it was THAT night and gave out all his dollar bills, then all his change, then all his fruit then started on glasses of milk. Then they quit coming. My daughter rented a cotton candy machine for the kids that came to her wedding reception and had chocolate butterflies made which were a big hit with the kids. She also released butterflies which was a wedding present from someone that knew her well. Everyone enjoyed that part. The cotton candy is still talked about by the kids that came - not even remembering what the party was for but sure remembering the treats. You are a child at heart and precious to all of us that love your posts!
Marie Keller
I've been giving out packets of hot chocolate for a few years now. The kids love them.
Darcy
Karen, I was laughing because right after your lead, “Every year for Halloween I try to get the kids something a tiny bit different in terms of their candy. Because I’m a tiny bit different” a dishwasher tab ad popped up! Whoa, Karen. That IS different.
RandyP
I pretty much agree with that list, here in Chicago we shy away from anything home made, due to safety concerns and random nut jobs, of which we have plenty.
Katie Hughes Murphy
You can't go wrong with glow sticks! Friendship bracelets and still MY all time favourite Bubble Gum!
Colleen
We’ve also given out foam airplane kits, various party favour toys, cans of pop, pencils and erasers. I got a toothbrush in my bag one year and LoVeD it! I like your ideas…maybe ramen this year for us.