I have to admit, I have a serious sweet tooth… and I’m definitely not alone.
Americans love candy — so much so that we spend over $37 billion a year on it! So naturally, someone had to ask the question:
What candy do we love the most?
YouGov released some fresh data (Q1 2025) on the most most well-known and well-liked candy brands in America…
(And surprisingly, while Gummi Bears and Jolly Ranchers made the list, neither took the top spot.)
Here’s the full ranking of the top eight candy brands — starting with #8:
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 44%
Percent of people who know it who have a positive opinion of it: 27%
My take: Milka is a Swiss chocolate brand that’s most recognized in Europe, so I’m not shocked it’s not as well-known here. But if you have had it, you know — this is some of the creamiest, smoothest milk chocolate out there. I think the best thing about Milka is all of the different flavors – the hazelnut chocolate bar is one of my favorites, but Milka Noisette is absolutely to die for.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 76%
Percent of people who know it who have a positive opinion of it: 41%
My take: Red Vines are polarizing. You either think they’re soft and nostalgic or you’re 100% team Twizzlers and want nothing to do with them. Personally, I think Red Vines deserve some love — they have a delicious, fruity flavor and a better texture than Twizzlers.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 78%
Percent of people who know it who have a positive opinion of it: 51%
My take: There’s just something so satisfying about snapping off one of those little chocolate triangles, right? Like delicious mini mountains of bliss. The mix of milk chocolate, nougat, and honey are perfection!
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 93%
Percent of people who know it who have a positive opinion of it: 59%
My take: Are they candy? Are they mints? Are they oddly fizzy science project materials? Trick question — they’re all three. Mentos will always hold a special place in my heart, having grown up eating the chewy fruit mints and watching those ridiculous Mentos commercials.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 84%
Percent of people who know it who have a positive opinion of it: 60%
My take: It’s true — Godiva is one of the most well-known chocolate brands, and it used to be premium quality. But these days? It’s just… alright. Still decent, and if someone gifts it to me, I’ll happily eat it, but I’m probably not going out of my way to buy it for myself.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 95%
Percent of people who know it who have a positive opinion of it: 64%
My take: Who hasn’t heard of Jolly Ranchers? Honestly, I haven’t eaten a Jolly Rancher in years, but suddenly I’m craving one… green apple, blue raspberry, grape, cherry, and watermelon (the best flavor — don’t argue).
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 96%
Percent of people who know it who have a positive opinion of it: 69%
My take: Gummi Bears are a classic — and they nearly snagged the #1 spot! I firmly believe that gummy candies > hard candies. They’re chewy, fruity, and just plain fun to eat. Haribo is the gold standard, of course, but honestly? Even the off-brand ones are good. You can’t really go wrong.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 97%
Percent of people who know it who have a positive opinion of it: 74%
My take: No surprise here — Peanut M&M’s are elite. A crunchy shell, real peanuts, smooth chocolate — it’s a perfect trifecta. If I had to pick one candy for the rest of my life…this would be way up there.
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So there you have it — according to the data from YouGov, America’s 8 favorite candy brands.
Did your favorite make the list? Or are you now quietly judging the nation for its candy choices?
Let me know in the comments!
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