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.
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I really can’t believe that Peeps are the favorite candy for so many states. They are disgusting.
Cream Egg when I ate that stuff ,yum
Ohio = Sconza? I’ve never even HEARD of Sconza? What’s a “Sconza”?
Agree on the Peeps! This ‘study’ must be funded by their manufacturer. ;)
I only like them if they are stale and crunchy, so if I’m given some, they sit out until summer when they’re finally RIPE enough to eat.
They ARE good melted into Hot Chocolate, though. I’ll give them that. Plus it’s fun to watch them struggle while they’re sinking into the murky depths, LOL!
I’ve lived in Florida for 15 years and literally never heard of Sconza.
Husband waits for Peeps every year and buys them out when Easter comes.
Evidently the study was conducted by Sconza, which we neither one ever heard of. To try to get the name out there.
Maple walnut cream egg. So then I could never find that kind again.
Whoppers are a poor man’s version of a real chocolate covered malted milk ball.
I miss the old Brach’s Malted Milk Balls.
Sconza Chocolate (Sconza Candy Company) is a family-owned, California-based confectionery company founded in 1939 that specializes in premium chocolate-covered nuts, fruits, and panned candies.
Famous for Lemoncello Almonds and Jordan almonds, Sconza products are popular at retailers like Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club.
A brand of Jordan Almonds, I think.
What the hell are "swedish fish" anyway? Sounds gross!!
I have stuffed over 100 Easter baskets in my time. Jordans nuts have never been in a single one.
Remember when you could buy Brach's Pick-a-Mix by the pound? Grandpa would indulge us once in a while. So much fun to pick out what you wanted - though set aside a good HOUR for two little girls to decide, LOL!
He was a Saint! :)
Swedish Fish are a soft chewy fruit flavored candy. Kind of a licorice texture. Actually more like gummibears.
They are quite common at grocery and convenience markets. Kids particularly like them.
I first heard of them about 2000 when a friend of a friend requested us to bring some to them in a region where they were not yet readily available.
Sconza?????
My SIL loves PEEPS. YUK.
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