Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Every State’s Favorite Easter Candy in 2026, Mapped
Mental Floss ^ | April 5, 2026 | Mental Floss Staff

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.


TOPICS: Conspiracy; Food; Society
KEYWORDS: candy; easter; favorites; mapped
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-93 next last
To: Diana in Wisconsin

California should have been pot brownies.


41 posted on 04/05/2026 8:25:11 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dowcaet
I believe anything made from Hersheys is truly America’s favorite Easter candy.

Ghirardelli's chocolate beats Hershey's, big time.

42 posted on 04/05/2026 8:28:31 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Carry_Okie
Ghirardelli's chocolate beats Hershey's, big time.

You ain't lying!

I personally don't consider anything from Hershey's labeled as chocolate to actually be chocolate.

43 posted on 04/05/2026 8:30:01 AM PDT by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

You need help lol- j/k


44 posted on 04/05/2026 8:31:59 AM PDT by Bob434 (NYWAYS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

just bought some dr pepper flavored peeps- not bad-


45 posted on 04/05/2026 8:34:25 AM PDT by Bob434 (NYWAYS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Beer and wine. Sometimes a cocktail.


46 posted on 04/05/2026 8:34:38 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mmichaels1970
I'm glad I'm not the only one with that reaction. A lot of these favorites polls are not the absolute favorites, but rather the furthest from the national average. If 1% like Sconza, but 2% in Ohio do then Sconza wins with double their average.

And Peeps are nasty everywhere.

47 posted on 04/05/2026 8:36:15 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Dept. of Education should teach about Nietzsche: DOGE didn't kill it and now it's stronger than ever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
Amendment for explanatory purposes....

“Everyone else serves his best wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then he serves that which is not so good; but you have kept back the good wine until now.”

48 posted on 04/05/2026 8:37:33 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: x

“A lot of these features are just faked. With AI people will be doing more of them with less effort and a clearer conscience.”

I’m 100 percent convinced of that. There’s a local radio station that has them every once in a while. Also Whatfinger has links to them. They are more often than not, just kind of random looking. Like somebody just made them up on the spot based on nothing at all.


49 posted on 04/05/2026 8:41:18 AM PDT by John Milner (Marching for Peace is like breathing for food.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Opinionated Blowhard

Right. This whole map is BS.


50 posted on 04/05/2026 8:51:14 AM PDT by enumerated (81 million votes my ass)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Matt Mitchell - How Southeners Celebrate Easter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04CPPcOj7BQ


51 posted on 04/05/2026 8:53:01 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Peeps? The only good use for Peeps is for target practice.


52 posted on 04/05/2026 8:55:07 AM PDT by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Peeps rule! 😉


53 posted on 04/05/2026 8:55:14 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Cool, I’m on the border of Reese’s and Jelly Bellies!


54 posted on 04/05/2026 8:56:00 AM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Thank you, Lord. Every day. (@FeistyFed on TS) 🐝.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Peeps are indeed better when aged into chewiness. I like to toast them on the gas stove, too.


55 posted on 04/05/2026 9:05:56 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: mmichaels1970
What’s a “Sconza”?

It's a flakey growth that forms on the scrotum. Sort of like a girl with a nose ring.

56 posted on 04/05/2026 9:09:12 AM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Not A Snowbird

No one asked my family about favorite Easter candy! Starburst would definitely not be a contender for us. Chocolate covered peanut butter eggs are a strong leader, followed closely by Cadbury Creme eggs. A personal favorite is definitely Robin eggs. As a child, I learned I could lick the outside and use them as lipstick. Malted milk balls get an upvote and of course, a milk chocolate bunny.

But, Peeps? I can eat one but I’d rather put them in the microwave and watch the carnage first.

Peach


57 posted on 04/05/2026 9:15:58 AM PDT by CarolinaPeach
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Opinionated Blowhard

They have Sconza for Forida and Texas.

Have lived many years in Texas and Florida and can’t recall even seeing Sconza’s.


58 posted on 04/05/2026 9:37:06 AM PDT by TexasGator (-11..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Sorry, Google search data is not the same as most popular.

Also, the company claims it analyzed search patterns for Easter candy. How did they determine that Jordan almonds or Swedish Fish are Easter candy?


59 posted on 04/05/2026 9:55:41 AM PDT by clockwise
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

It would be more meaningful to present a survey of generic candies like jelly beans, chocolate eggs/bunnies, and the like based on a survey of actual kids.

This is just a big advertisement.


60 posted on 04/05/2026 10:09:35 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (I voted for Trump the Fighter, not a wussified wimp!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-93 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson