We’re just one day away from Halloween—the ultimate binge-eating candy event—so to celebrate, we’re channeling our kid-at-heart mentalities and lining up our sugary favorites that we must devour even if we’re too old to go trick-or-treating.
With chocolate being the forerunner of all Halloween candy (USA Today reports that 72% of all Halloween spending is on chocolate) and since Pennsylvania houses the nation’s oldest and largest chocolate producer in the country, this candy raid we’ll throw our old-faithful, Hershey’s chocolate, in the limelight.
Before you nibble facts:
The Hershey Company is more than 100 years old, with current revenues nearing $6.6 billion. More than 80 brands live under the Hershey umbrella, including classics like Reese’s, Hershey’s Kisses, Kit Kat, Twizzlers and Jolly Ranchers, they are always able—through the work of 14,000 employees in Hershey, Pa.—to provide a satisfying candy fix (always consistent, always delicious). In particular, 2013 was the year of the Kit Kat for Hershey’s, with its sales increasing by 22 percent, which happens to equate to over $300 million.
Top Hershey’s Halloween Candies:
Reese’s® Peanut Butter Pumpkin
Hershey’s has been stocking candy aisles with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups since 1928, giving the classic peanut butter-packed, milk chocolate-coated treat a pumpkin face-lift each Halloween season. Interestingly enough, Reese’s performs higher than Mars’ M&Ms each spooky holiday, ranking as the top candy choice for trick-or-treaters annually (official market research reports here).
But honestly, what’s not to love about Reese’s October release? You actually score more peanut butter with the pumpkin-shaped variety while still devouring the same great, familiar taste of Hershey’s peanut butter cup.
If your kiddos’ trick-or-treating proves successful on the Reese’s Pumpkin front, consider getting crafty in the kitchen by creating these fun eight-legged spider desserts.
Cadbury® Screme Egg™
Cadbury® Creme Eggs undergo a ghoulish transformation for the limited-edition Halloween release, with their creamy white interior pumped with a sugary green ooze—spooky, surprisingly, and of course, dangerously delicious.
Rolo® Caramels in Milk Chocolate
New for this year’s spooktacular season, Hershey’s unwraps their chewy caramels in a milk chocolate shells in snack size version! Particularly perfect for trick-or-treating candy bags, the classic roll of Rolos are thrown on the backburner with this bag-sized, individually wrapped offering.
Snag your share and be sure to consider whipping up this easy-as-pie recipe for Rolo Pretzel Delights. They’re certainly a pop-in-your-mouth pleaser at holiday parties. Rolos also act as great accessories when creating edible masks (how-to here).
York Peppermint Patties
The classic peppermint-pumped, dark chocolate-drenched patty arrives dressed in Halloween packaging—and really, that’s all you need. Like the Reese’s Pumpkins, these handheld mints’ shape are influenced by the big orange gourd, and we love them even more because of it. Signature bat-shaped patties are stocked on shelves pre-Oct. 31 too.
Jolly Rancher® Caramel Apple-Flavor Lollipops
Brand-new for 2013’s Halloween season are caramel apple-flavored Jolly Rancher pops, available for a limited-time only.
Honorary Candy Spotlight: Hershey’s Pumpkin-Spiced Flavored Kisses
Pumpkin spice-flavor anything—you know you love it. It’s necessary for you to snag a bag or two of these beauties. Better yet, incorporate them into harvest-themed desserts and you have yourself a crowd-pleaser.
Are you a Hershey’s fanatic? Hunger for more candy discussions? Share with us in the comments. Also, be sure to sound off about your go-to confection making our Halloween cut—or if it did not.
Hershey’s Halloween offerings can now be found at retailers nationwide. For more information on products, as well as costume ideas, spooky screen savers, delectable recipes and more, visit CelebratewithHersheys.com.
