Candy bars are a classic and beloved treat that people of all ages enjoy. With so many different candy bars to choose from, it can be hard to know which ones are the best. But don’t worry; we’ve done the hard work for you and compiled a list of the best candy bars of all time.
Let’s face it: we don’t need a special occasion like Halloween or Christmas to enjoy our favorite candy bars. We all need a little self-indulgence from time to time, and let’s be honest; there are far worse things to indulge in than your go-to candy bars.
Speaking of Halloween, a recent survey shows that adults enjoy Halloween candy just as much as kids. Among 2,000 American parents and their children, nearly 66 percent of respondents report having taken some of their kid’s Halloween candy that was collected while trick-or-treating. It’s okay, parents, we understand. There’s no shame in snagging a piece of candy from your kids’ Halloween bucket, especially with all of the walking you have to do that particular night of the year. Chances are you’re only taking certain types of candy, anyway.
A recent poll of 2,000 Americans inquired about their favorite candy and the ways their preferences have changed over the years. The study found that most of us choose our favorite candy around age 11 and stick with that as we age into adulthood. The same survey found that 40 percent of respondents prefer “snack-sized” or “fun-sized” candy while 35 percent say “chewy” candy is the best.
Whether you are guilty of stealing Halloween candy or are sitting out this year, we searched for the most favored sweet treats across the board. StudyFinds did the digging, consulting 10 foodie and snack review websites in an effort to find the best candy bars of all time. As always, feel free to drop your recommendations for your favorites in the comments section below!
The List: Best Candy Bars Most Recommended By Experts
1. Snickers
Topping the list is the Snickers bar. No surprise here, Snickers routinely was named number one across the reviews we examined. Fun fact, when it was introduced to the country, Snickers cost nearly four times the amount of your average candy bar. Although consumers and candy bar lovers were outraged at the cost, Snickers quickly became the most beloved candy bar in America.
“If we’re talking about the best candy bars, we can’t have a list without Snickers. It’s chocolate, it’s caramel, it’s nougat and it’s peanuts. It’s literally impossible for it to be bad,” writes Guilty Eats.
Snickers marketing campaigns are some of the most iconic in history, too. From lavish Super Bowl commercials to short, quippy catchphrases, Snickers is as synonymous with America as baseball and apple pie.
“While Snickers certainly is a satisfying snack, you have to commend their clever marketing techniques and advertising campaigns as well, which undeniably plays a role in this candy bar’s popularity. When Halloween rolls around, there’s hardly a candy bar in existence that is as universally loved by children and adults alike as a Snickers,” explains Mashed.
The question still remains, “how do you like to eat your Snickers?” For a lot of Snickers lovers out there, the answer is “straight out of the freezer, of course.”
“First, it capitalized on the popular combination of peanuts, caramel, and nougat and formed it into a delectable chocolate-covered treat. Second, its slogan might be one of the best food slogans of all time. Third, when put in the freezer, this candy bar becomes a completely new treat that stimulates the taste buds,” adds Old Time Candy.
2. Twix
Next up on the list of the best candy bars of all time is Twix. These delicious bards were routinely placed in the top five across foodie lists and for great reason, too. This simple classic is chocolate, caramel, and cookie – there’s also the peanut butter version that swaps caramel for peanut butter. Regardless of which one you choose to comfort your sweet tooth, Twix never disappoints.
“Between the caramel layer that lies just underneath the silky milk chocolate and the shortbread biscuit that holds it all together, it’s hard to beat the crunch and creamy combination Twix delivers. Plus, have you ever thought about stirring one into your coffee? Trust me when I say it can change your life,” explains Old Time Candy.
If stirring a Twix into your coffee doesn’t get you going in the morning, perhaps nothing will. Morning rush aside, Twix is one of the best candy bars of all time in large part due to its fun and whimsical marketing campaigns.
“Twix is a crunchy classic that totally holds up. Their recent left bar vs. right bar marketing campaign is totally lost on me, but I’m incapable of resisting the combination of a crisp cookie and chewy caramel,” adds Sporked.
One of the best parts of eating a Twix bar is there are two of them to enjoy. “The reason that there are two Twix per package is because immediately after finishing one, you NEED another instantaneously,” writes Huff Post.
3. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Coming in third on the list of best candy bars of all time is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a simple combination of chocolate and peanut butter – that’s it. These iconic favorites have been gracing store shelves since 1928, and have a long-standing place as one of the best candy bars of all time.
There’s an ongoing debate in candy communities regarding whether or not Reese’s “cups” are candy bars. Regardless of their shape, they consistently rank in the top five of the best candy bars of all time, and some are even adamant that Reese’s belongs in the category.
Although they are not technically bars, “You’ll find Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups right next to all the other candy bars at the store, so it’d be completely unfair if they weren’t allowed to make the cut,” writes Mashed.
“Reese’s Cups may not be considered candy bar material because they come in cup form, but who’s going to argue about their taste? Peanut butter and chocolate always reigns supreme,” adds Spoon University.
Whether or not Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are candy bars in the purest sense is clearly debatable. One thing that’s not up for question is the popularity of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
“Currently, the candy is manufactured by the Hershey Company. Reese’s peanut butter cups are the best selling candy bars by Hershey and generate more than two billion dollars in annual sales,” explains Snack History.
4. Reese’s Take 5
Reese’s has tried its hand at many other types of candy bars but none of them have been as successful as the Take 5. Reese’s Take 5 offers an interesting combination of peanut butter, caramel, chocolate, and pretzels. You read that right, pretzels in a candy bar. Reese’s definitely goes out on a limb with this blend of candy bar fillings.
“If you’re sick of typical candy bar fillings, Take 5 feels you. Take 5 bars have caramel, peanut butter, and pretzels. Yup, salty pretzels with caramel and peanut butter. I don’t need to take five minutes to eat this bar, I only need one,” raves Spoon University.
The Take 5 bar offers that signature Reese’s flavor, too. Despite being filled with unusual Reese’s fillings, you realize the Take 5 bar is a Reese’s product as soon as you bite into it.
“Though the Fast Break was their first bar to market in 2001, it was the Take 5 that took the candy world by storm in 2004. Not only did they find a way to take the classic Reese’s flavor we all loved and put it inside a candy bar, but they also added pretzels! Talk about innovation at its sweetest,” adds Old Time Candy.
“Every bite is crunchy, salty, sweet, and chewy. Everything you want in a candy bar! If you’ve never tried a Take 5, what are you waiting for? Change up your candy bar habits by giving this relatively new bar a try,” adds Mashed.
5. Kit Kat
Rounding out the list of the best candy bars of all time is the Kit Kat bar. Just reading the words “Kit Kat bar” probably sparks the jingle to start playing on an endless loop in your head. Kit Kat offers a much lighter candy bar than some of the others on this list. The ingredients are simple – chocolate and wafers.
“Standard Kit Kat bars have two or four pieces in the package that you need to snap apart. Each piece features three wafer layers separated by chocolate, and of course, the whole thing is covered in more chocolate. The result is a wonderfully light, yet absolutely delectable treat,” explains Mashed.
Although the original Kit Kats are simple, the candy bar has evolved over the years. Today, Kit Kats can be found in seasonal flavors in America and a wide variety of other flavors worldwide.
“KitKats have found their own category of candy bar to play in and best believe they dominate. Whether it be the classic milk chocolate and wafer mix, or one of their seasonal flavors like white chocolate and pumpkin, they know how to please the members of candy nation. Did I forget to mention that in Japan, they’ve done over 300 different flavors of KitKat? Crazy, right!?,” asks Old Time Candy.
And it’s so satisfying to break into one of these candy bars and snap off a couple of pieces. “But besides the way you can break up a Kit Kat bar, there is also the chocolate and three layers of crispy wafers. Yum! It’s the perfect thing for a weekday afternoon when you’re about to pass out in front of your computer and need something to get you to the end of the day,” adds Guilty Eats.
You might also be interested in:
- Best Halloween Candy
- Best Chocolates
- Best Vegan Chocolate Brands
- Best Coffee of 2023
Sources:
- Mashed
- Spoon University
- The Top Tens
- Old Time Candy
- Guilty Eats
- Money, Inc
- Huff Post
- Snack History
- Go Puff
- Sporked
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Tags: candy, chocolate, Halloween
