What Is California's Most Popular Christmas Candy?

Don't let the wrapping paper, tinsel and sparkly ornaments fool you. Christmas is all about candy. From candy canes, to gingerbread house trimmings, cookies and even sugar plums dancing, confections are ubiquitous with holiday festivities.

The sweet stuff is big business, too. U.S. consumers are expected to spend almost $2 billion on holiday candy in the eight weeks leading up to Christmas, according to the National Confectionary Association. When you break that down per person, you might just get a tummy ache. According to the National Retail Federation, the average consumer will spend about $110 on candy and food, which is twice what they're projected to spend on decorations.

But what types of candy should you be stocking up on? According to online candy distributor Candy Store, it all depends on where you live. In California, the big holiday winner is Peppermint Bark, followed by M&M's, and Hershey Kisses.

The candy company polled 50,000 customers, as well as candy makers and distributers and rounded up the top three best-selling candies in every state.

Here is the list of most popular holiday candy in each state:

Alabama
Most Popular: Reindeer Corn
Runners Up: Candy Canes, Skittles
Alaska
Most Popular: Hershey Kisses
Runners Up: Candy Canes, Reese's Pieces
Arizona
Most Popular: Pez
Runners Up: Skittles, Hershey Kisses
Arkansas
Most Popular: Starburst
Runners Up: Candy Canes, Skittles
California
Most Popular: Peppermint Bark
Runners Up: M&M's, Hershey Kisses
Colorado
Most Popular: Hershey Kisses
Runners Up: Reese's Pieces, Candy Canes
Connecticut
Most Popular: M&M's
Runners Up: Hershey Kisses, Candy Canes
Delaware
Most Popular: Candy Canes
Runners Up: Pez, Hershey Kisses
Florida
Most Popular: Skittles
Runners Up: M&M's, Snickers
Georgia
Most Popular: Candy Canes
Runners Up: Skittles, Starburst
Hawaii
Most Popular: Starburst
Runners Up: Hershey Kisses, Pez
Idaho
Most Popular: M&M's
Runners Up: Hershey Kisses, Jolly Ranchers
Illinois
Most Popular: Jolly Ranchers
Runners Up: Pez, M&M's
Indiana
Most Popular: Snickers
Runners Up: Candy Canes, Starburst
Iowa
Most Popular: M&M's
Runners Up: Reese's Pieces, Hershey Kisses
Kansas
Most Popular: Peppermint Bark
Runners Up: M&M's, Candy Canes
Kentucky
Most Popular: M&M's
Runners Up: Reese's Minis, Starburst
Louisiana
Most Popular: Pez
Runners Up: Skittles, Reese's Minis
Maine
Most Popular: Candy Canes
Runners Up: Hershey Kisses, Chocolate Santas
Maryland
Most Popular: Reese's Pieces
Runners Up: Candy Canes, Pez
Massachusetts
Most Popular: Skittles
Runners Up: Hershey Kisses, Candy Canes
Michigan
Most Popular: Reindeer Corn
Runners Up: Reese's Pieces, M&M's
Minnesota
Most Popular: Jolly Ranchers
Runners Up: Hershey Kisses, Snickers
Mississippi
Most Popular: Snickers
Runners Up: Hershey Kisses, Candy Canes
Missouri
Most Popular: Starburst
Runners Up: Skittles, Hershey Kisses
Montana
Most Popular: Skittles
Runners Up: Reese's Minis, Reese's Pieces
Nebraska
Most Popular: Hershey Kisses
Runners Up: M&M's, Pez
Nevada
Most Popular: Peppermint Bark
Runners Up: Candy Canes, Starburst
New Hampshire
Most Popular: Candy Canes
Runners Up: Reese's Minis, Skittles
New Jersey
Most Popular: Reese's Minis
Runners Up: Pez, Skittles
New Mexico
Most Popular: Pez
Runners Up: Chocolate Santas, Candy Canes
New York
Most Popular: Skittles
Runners Up: Candy Canes, Pez
North Carolina
Most Popular: Pez
Runners Up: Snickers, Starburst
North Dakota
Most Popular: Chocolate Santas
Runners Up: Pez, Reese's Minis
Ohio
Most Popular: Pez
Runners Up: Hershey Kisses, Starburst
Oklahoma
Most Popular: Starburst
Runners Up: Pez, Skittles
Oregon
Most Popular: Reese's Minis
Runners Up: Candy Canes, Snickers
Pennsylvania
Most Popular: Candy Canes
Runners Up: Pez, Reese's Minis
Rhode Island
Most Popular: M&M's
Runners Up: Skittles, Candy Canes
South Carolina
Most Popular: Pez
Runners Up: M&M's, Starburst
South Dakota
Most Popular: Reese's Minis
Runners Up: Reese's Pieces, Hershey Kisses
Tennessee
Most Popular: M&M's
Runners Up: Candy Canes, Starburst
Texas
Most Popular: Pez
Runners Up: Skittles, Candy Canes
Utah
Most Popular: Reindeer Corn
Runners Up: Hershey Kisses, M&M's
Vermont
Most Popular: Candy Canes
Runners Up: Snickers, Pez
Virginia
Most Popular: M&M's
Runners Up: Pez, Candy Canes
Washington
Most Popular: Candy Canes
Runners Up: Reese's Minis, Skittles
Washington D.C.
Most Popular: Jolly Rancher
Runners Up: Snickers, Candy Canes
West Virginia
Most Popular: Peppermint Bark
Runners Up: Pez, Jolly Rancher
Wisconsin
Most Popular: Pez
Runners Up: Jolly Rancher, Starburst
Wyoming
Most Popular: M&M's
Runners Up: Snickers, Reese's Pieces

See Also:

• Holiday Ice Rinks In California: Get Your Skate On
• Hanukkah Happenings & Menorah Lightings 2017 In California

By Kimberly Johnson, Patch Staff

Photo courtesy Pamjpat via Pixabay