Posted on 04/05/2026 7:39:28 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
With Valentine’s Day chocolates down to the bottom of the box and Halloween candy many moons away, your sweet tooth might be aching a little extra. Luckily, Easter is right around the corner, bringing plenty of beloved springtime sweets to the table—or rather, basket.
Ever wonder how your Easter candy preferences compare to the rest of your state? You might be a Peeps fan, while your neighbors are reaching for Starburst—or perhaps your Easter candy soulmate lives beyond state lines. Either way, America picks favorites, and some are more surprising than others.
Ready to see how your taste stacks up? Using Google Trends data, Innerbody Research analyzed search patterns for Easter candy in the weeks leading up to the holiday to identify the most popular treats in each state in 2026, as shown on the map below.
When it comes to Easter candy, a few favorites clearly stand out in baskets across the country.
At the top of the list are the marshmallow treats everyone loves to debate: Peeps, which draw significantly more interest than any other Easter candy. Whether you love them or leave them alone, they dominate the conversation every spring. Behind the marshmallow chicks, more familiar favorites, like chocolate bunnies and jelly beans, round out the top tier, showing that classic Easter staples still hold strong.
Filling out the top five are a mix of chocolate and fruit-flavored favorites, including Reese’s Eggs and Swedish Fish, reflecting a balance between traditional Easter treats and more modern candy cravings.
Of course, these national rankings only tell part of the story. When you break it down state by state, those candy preferences start to look a lot more personal.
With an average of 5.5 million marshmallow chicks produced each day, it’s no surprise that Peeps take the top spot in many states. But which regions chirp the loudest for this quintessential Easter candy? A total of 17 states pick Peeps as their favorite, with strong pockets across the Midwest and beyond—from Kansas and Oklahoma up through Pennsylvania, where the treats have been made for decades. With their bright colors and unmistakable shape, they remain one of the most recognizable symbols of the season.
But Peeps aren’t the only candy showing up across the map. Jelly beans—both Starburst and Jelly Belly—hold strong in states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Minnesota, offering a fruit-forward option long associated with Easter traditions. Coastal states like Connecticut, New York, and Oregon also lean fruity, showing a preference for Swedish Fish over more chocolate-heavy options.
Chocolate still plays a major role, of course. Classic picks like Reese’s Eggs and Robin Eggs appear across multiple states—including Utah, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri—while Jordan almonds are the top pick in both California and Texas. And while chocolate bunnies rank as the No. 2 Easter candy nationally, only two states—New Jersey and Delaware—crown them as their top pick.
While many states follow broader trends, a few stand out with more unique favorites. From Cadbury Creme Eggs in Maine to Kinder Eggs in Mississippi, these outliers highlight just how much regional preferences can vary when it comes to Easter candy.
Taken together, the map shows that while a handful of candies dominate nationwide, Easter tastes are far from one-size-fits-all. Each state brings its own twist to the holiday, whether it’s a clear favorite or a mix of sweets that reflects local taste.
Our Dollar Tree recently had Dr. Pepper flavored Peeps! A delicacy! We are Peeps fans in this house, or any egg-white confection, like marshmallows, angel food cake, meringue cookies or pie topping, or pavlova.
Swedish Fish?!?!
They got it backwards. If people have to search for it, it's not a favorite. You already know where to get your favorite.
Still remember the shock the year Brach's stopped making cinnamon hearts for Valentine's Day. Not sure I'll ever get over it.
There's a bad word in Italian that sounds a lot like that.
'Scusa me?
But you see, back in old Napoli, that′s amore. 🎵
Great timing, it's even got the Moon in there.
But you really have to watch out for ricochets off the stale ones. That will kill you faster than actually eating one.
There is a Nobel Prize in Chemistry waiting for the first person to accurately determine the ingredients in a Peeps.
Diana,
Yet again you provide us with a timely, informative thread, certain to result in a spirited, thoughtful debate on an extremely important topic.
Nicely done!
LOL! :)
14 Hacks That’ll Make You Wish You Bought More Easter PEEPS
https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/easter/g64438264/peeps-hacks-1744258081/
35 Things To Do With PEEPS Besides Eat Them
https://www.simplisticallyliving.com/35-things-to-do-with-peeps-besides-eat-them/
Make PEEPS Vodka!
https://ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com/what-to-do-with-leftover-peeps-make-vodka/2013/04/04/
Thanks for the chuckle. We're the odd ducks, I guess, as my beloved boss lady and I -- back then -- had a basket of adult beverages. :)
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