Aside from Halloween and Easter, Christmas is the season with a lot of candy lying about. Last night, for some reason I was thinking about candy I like and candy I don’t like. Starting with candy that I find to be inedible, two come to mind: orange circus peanuts and Milky Way bars.
Worst
Orange Circus Peanuts
One site lists orange circus peanuts’ ingredients as sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, pectin, soy protein, food coloring and artificial (banana) flavor. Is it any wonder I literally vomited after eating one of these as a kid? Believe it or not, circus peanuts have been around since the 1800s!
Milky Way Bars
Milky Ways, which have been around since 1923, aren’t all bad. I like the chocolate and the caramel layer; it’s the “nougat” that makes them inedible for me. Looking at a few recipes out there, the nougat part is marshmallow fluff and nutella. Interestingly I like both of those, but when mixed, and to have the nougat be such a large percentage of the bar, it becomes overwhelming.
Best
Brach’s Maple Nut Goodies
My grandpa had a sweet tooth and made a habit of buying candy when he went shopping. Brach’s was a popular brand at the time. He bought Bridge Mix and Maple Nut Goodies a lot. I inherited my grandpa’s sweet tooth. Even though I haven’t eaten one of these in forever I still salivate at the thought of them. The Internet Candy Society waxes poetic about them here. The Brach’s site describes them as, “These goodies feature roasted peanuts nestled in crunchy toffee. But it’s the maple coating, made with real maple syrup and added flavors that make this candy so special.” The combination of flavors is just right.
Russell Stover’s Mint Dream
This is another one I haven’t eaten in years but salivate at the thought of. Again I was introduced to it when I went grocery shopping with my grandpa at Plumbs as a kid; then reintroduced to when my mom and us kids moved to a new neighborhood when I was 10, and a nearby restaurant sold them at the check-out area. There is double magic in this heavenly treat. The chocolate shell is hard. It takes a bit of jaw strength to bite through to the perfection of the creamy mint center. Ahhhhhh! Trademarked by Russell Stover Candies in August of 1961, the ingredients of the inside are Invert Sugar, Sugar, Tapioca Flour, Egg Albumen, Honey, Salt, and Peppermint Oil.
OK, your turn! Your thoughts on my selections? What are your favorite candies? Your most despised?
Tao Talk 
haha! I don’t think I’ve met any candy I didn’t like! As for your selections, I love circus peanuts and milky ways. I do remember the maple goodies and yep they were good. Don’t remember the mint, but it’s a great company for their chocolates, I even like their sugar free candies.
I can’t really eat any sweets now, and I miss it. I might take a nibble once in awhile though. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry to hear you can only nibble candy now. I also had to give it up because my teeth are very fragile these days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Milky Way is at the top of my favorites! As is Snickers and anything Reese’s. I hate licorice though and those peanuts look disgusting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
For me if they could double the chocolate and halve the nougat I would love it. I love Snickers and Turtles and Reeses also. Yum on licorice. Yes the pnuts are more like house insulation than candy 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Werther’s Original. They’re so milky and yummy. I am also a fan of peppermint candy. Pop it into the freezer for summer days. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yum I like both of those. Good idea on the peppermint in the freezer!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Favorites: Pearson’s Nut Goodie (no relation to Brach’s) and Pearson’s Salted Nut Roll — both of them Minnesota favorites. But those were for when I was a kid. Now I just chow down on dark chocolate. Worst: Hmmm. Pretty much anything that doesn’t have chocolate… or, barring that, nuts.
Jilly says, “If it hadn’t been for Milky Way, I wouldn’t have made it through college.”
Your post was entertaining, and a great discussion starter, Jade!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Charley, I think I’ve had both those Pearson’s candies, something about nuts, sugar, and salt that tastes so good! Dark chocolate with pepper is one I like, forgot the brand, but the heat with it makes it so yummy. I am beginning to see I’m in the minority with Milky Way. I do love its cousin, Snickers. Glad you two enjoyed this post 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I lived on Snickers, in part, through college.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You could do worse. I lived on MD2020 and 7UP for awhile…
LikeLike
😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thankfully I am not into candy! I like intense orange by Lindt. It’s dark chocolate with a hint of orange. And I liked Russel stover sugar free chocolate too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the combo of dark chocolate with orange. Milk chocolate with orange is also good. I buy my sons each a Terry’s chocolate orange every Christmas. Haven’t tried the sugar free chocolate yet — but I should 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The sugar free chocolate can give you loose tummy because of the sugar substitute in it. But it is good to have one piece to satisfy the sweet craving.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the warning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never could understand those peanut thingies. And candy corn. Ugh.
Faves? Hmmm… difficult as I don’t have any one that I would go out of my way for. Not that I’ll refuse if offered, mind you! I do like most things mint.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dale, try one of those mint dreams, you may have a favorite after that 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I dunno. Anything too sweet, I have trouble with now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL…I like circus peanuts!!! Jen hates them like you do.
As far as candy bars…my favorite is Snickers and Heath bars. I also like the maple nut candy you have there..
I also like chocolate covered cherries…I really like those.
My worse? I don’t like candy corn…it’s way too sweet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s the banana flavoring that is so offputting with those circus peanuts. I love Snickers and Heath bars, although I’m afraid the toffee in Heath will pull my fillings out these days lol. I’m glad you’ve had the maple nut candy, it’s so good! My dad *loved* chocolate covered cherries. He used to have boxes of them on standby lol. Candy corn should be called cavity corn it’s so sweet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yea my weakness is not sweets or bread…it is steaks and potatos…
I do like sweets though once in a while. Oh yea I like those maple nuts. People use to give me the chocolate covered cherries every Christmas…in fact I have a box I haven’t started yet.
Yea Jennifer hates those circus peanuts…when I like is their texture…and I don’t know why!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I go dark chocolate these days. I’ll still eat milk chocolate candy from time to time, but it doesn’t do it for me the way dark chocolate does. Anything fruity and/or not chocolate is on my least favorite list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have you tried dark chocolate with chili pepper in it? I bought some on a whim awhile back and loved that flavor combo.
LikeLike
Wow, approaching your post from the music side makes me think of, “Sugar/Oh, honey, honey/
You are my candy girl/And you got me wanting you…” Forgive my silliness!
I haven’t really thought about the fundamental question which candies I like and which not so much.
To start with, I rarely eat candy these days. When I was a child growing up in Germany, I loved Nutella, the chocolate spread. I can still enjoy it but in moderation since I now find it very sweet!
Ferrero Rocher and Duplo (also a Ferrero product) are two favorites. I also like Milka chocolate from Switzerland, especially with hazelnuts, and Ritter Sport, also from my home country. Did I mention the best chocolate comes from Germany and Switzerland, in my completely unbiased opinion? 🙂
I’ve never been a fan of marshmallows and also can do without gummy bears! Reese peanut butter cups aren’t my thing either. There you have it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christian I’m glad you injected a musical flavor into the post. I have no reason to disbelieve that Germany and Switzerland have the best chocolate. If their cows are up in the mountains eating the most tender tidbits it makes their milk produce the best chocolate. Gummy bears or gummy anything is yukky to me. I do love Reeses peanut butter cups though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So funny how so many love circus peanuts. I never figured out their allure myself, either, haha. Totally feel the same way about Heath Bars and peanut brittle in general: love it so much, but gotta be careful now with caps.
Which reminds me, speaking of teeth, why is that something we need in order to eat and live (teeth) are covered like with $5 coupons, basically, and a hope and a prayer in most insurance?! Arrrghhh!
Same issue with Butterfingers, which I love–so good but so dangerous.
The ingredients for Russell Stovers in 1961 warmed my heart. So basic and simple, no chemicals or long, weird names. Are they still like that to this day?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stacey you’re my sweet tooth twin. And you’re right about how little insurance if any there is for keeping teeth healthy. I rarely go to the doctor yet am visiting the dentist with dreaded regularity just to hold on to the ones that are left. About the ingredients on Russell Stover, not sure. Maybe time for an expedition to the store to find out? Will let you know if I do 🙂
LikeLike
Exactly! Twice a year, minimum, to the dentist, even during the pandemic!
And if I get there first, to CVS, and happen to read the back of the Russell Stover box, I’ll let you know what I find, hahaha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol! 🙂
LikeLike
Turkish Delight is my least favourite. My favourites are the sour watermelon flavoured gummies. 😋
As for circus peanuts. There’s got to be someone out there who loves them. Not me either but somebody. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Turkish Delight but it’s been too long since having any. Gummies aren’t my favorite but I like those hard watermelon candies, yum! You’re right, logically speaking, they wouldn’t keep making those circus peanuts if someone wasn’t buying them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
With Turkish Delight, I think it’s the peculiar seemingly floral flavour that doesn’t sit well with my palette. I’ll let you know if I ever meed a fan of circus peanuts. Unlikely, but never say never. 🤓
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t like butterfingers. Even as a kid the thick crunchy center was annoying. Black liquorice just taste like wax.
My best would be Ghirdelli chocolate squares with caramel, because they are soft and sweet. Gertrude Hawk white chocolate bars. Each little rectangle has a layer of soft white chocolate in the center. I used to buy these from friends selling them in High school.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Patricia, my teeth shudder at the thought of butterfingers anymore. There probably is wax in the licorice.
Yum on the Ghirdelli. Never tried the Gertrude Hawk bars, but now I want to 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person