51 Popular Candy Types: Chocolates, Gummies, & More

When it comes to candy, the flavors and styles are endless. There are so many kinds to satisfy every sweet tooth. Whether you prefer chocolate or hard candy, this list has something for you. We’ve rounded up some of the most well-recognized candies and organized them by type, including chocolates, gummies, caramel and toffee, and so many more.

Types of Candy

Popular candy categories include chocolates (Snickers and Twix), hard candies (Jolly Ranchers and Life Savers), gummies (Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids), and caramels and toffees (Goetze's Caramel Creams and Sugar Daddy). Flavors and textures also range and can be sweet, sour, chewy, soft, or rich.

Section 1 of 7:

Chocolate Candy

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Reese's Peanut Butter Cups While this candy is a mix of chocolate and peanut butter, it’s unmatched when it comes to chocolate sweets. It’s not only a top-selling candy worldwide, but in 2020, an estimated 42.8 million Americans consumed Reese’s. The peanut butter cup was created in 1928 by H.B. Reese, who was working for the Hershey Company. What a legacy to leave behind!^{[1]
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Snickers Snickers is a classic that has never fallen out of favor (or flavor) since first coming onto the candy scene in 1930. It consistently ranks high on lists of candy favorites in the U.S., and with a mixture that includes peanut butter nougat topped with caramel and roasted peanuts and covered in chocolate, we’re not surprised.^{[2]
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Twix Twix proves two is better than one. The candy comes with two cookie sticks that are just the right amount of crunchy. Topping the wafers is a layer of chewy caramel. The finishing touch is a coating of chocolate. The hardest part is deciding whether to start with the left or right bar.^{[3]
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M&M’s M&M’s are bite-sized chocolate candies that come in a variety of colors. But did you know they were initially invented for soldiers fighting in wars? The candy coating was a way to get the candy to soldiers without it melting. M&M’s were such a hit that they became mass-produced.^{[4]
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- The name M&M’s stands for its creators: Forrest E. Mars, Sr. and Bruce Murrie.
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Hershey’s Kisses One of the best parts of eating a Hershey’s Kiss is unwrapping it. You know underneath the silver foil is a morsel of chocolate goodness! Besides the classic milk chocolate flavor, other variations have been created, like almond, dark, cookies and cream, and the white chocolate-swirled “Hug.” Even the foil comes in different colors.^{[5]
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Milky Way The Milky Way bar consists of a chocolate malt nougat layered with caramel and covered in milk chocolate. Contrary to what some may believe, the candy bar wasn’t named after the space galaxy. The name was actually inspired by a milkshake that was popular when it was created in 1923.^{[6]
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Kit Kat Kit Kats are tasty wafers coated in milk chocolate. They’re crispy, crunchy, and oh-so good! What makes this candy fun to enjoy is breaking apart the individual wafer bits. Plus, the interior is not only filled with chocolate but ground Kit Kat bits, as well.^{[7]
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100 Grand This candy bar contains a soft, caramel core mixed with crispy rice and a milk chocolate outer shell. No wonder its slogan is “That’s rich!” The candy was originally called “The Hundred Thousand Dollar Bar.” Since that was a mouthful to say, it was eventually shortened to “100 Grand.”^{[8]
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Crunch If you could’ve sworn the full name of this candy was Crunch Bar, you’re not wrong. The name was shortened at some point to “Crunch,” but don’t worry because the name change didn’t affect the taste. The chocolate bar is instantly recognizable for having one flat side that shows its name and a textured side that reveals the crispy rice filling.^{[9]
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Butterfinger Chocolate and peanut butter are a classic combination! If you really like peanuts, this is the perfect candy bar for you. It has a flaky, crisp texture with a peanut butter center that’s covered in chocolate. Some say the peanut butter flavor overpowers the chocolate, but to each their own.^{[10]
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Section 2 of 7:

Hard Candy

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Jolly Ranchers The exciting thing about Jolly Ranchers is the variety of flavors you can pick from. There’s green apple, watermelon, cherry, grape, and so many others. Plus, new flavors have been added over the decades, like blue raspberry. The mouthwatering taste makes getting bits of the candy stuck in your teeth worth it.^{[11]
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Life Savers Life Savers deliver sweetness with a touch of tartness. They’re fruity, bright, and easy to enjoy. Their circular shape is part of their appeal. Who hasn’t had fun poking their tongue through the hole in the middle?^{[12]
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Dum Dums Dum Dums are one of the most popular brands of lollipops. They’ve been around since 1924 and originally came in flavors like butterscotch, cherry, coconut-pineapple, grape, lemon, lime, and orange. Since then, more delicious flavors have been added, including a mystery flavor. No one's been able to figure out what the flavor is!^{[13]
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Runts Runts have a hard shell but a chewy inside and come in vibrant colors. They come in different fruity flavors, such as banana, cherry, strawberry, orange, mango, and more. One big appeal is that the candies resemble the fruits they’re named after.^{[14]
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Charms Blow Pops Not only do you get to enjoy a lollipop, but you can also look forward to the bubblegum center. The assortment includes 16 fun flavors, like watermelon, strawberry, and sour apple. There are full-size and mini-size versions, and these lollipops are popular candies for fun occasions, like Halloween and birthday parties.^{[15]
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- Take our quiz to find out what your favorite candy says about you!
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Lemonheads Lemonheads have an iconic look and flavor. They’ve certainly become a nostalgic candy that can take you back to your youth. They’re sweet and tart with a crunchy texture. When you’re craving a lemon drop, this is a top pick.^{[16]
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Dad’s Root Beer Barrels You have to like root beer to enjoy this candy because that’s exactly the taste you’ll get when you pop one of these into your mouth. It has a distinct root beer soda flavor with hints of vanilla, spice, and sweetness. It’s not your typical hard candy flavor, but it’s definitely unique and pretty true to the authentic flavor of root beer.^{[17]
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Warheads Warheads were a candy that was popular with kids on the playground during the 90s. They’re still around, and children and adults continue to enjoy them. These candies tested your tolerance for sourness. If you’re really daring, an extreme sour lemon Warhead is the way to go.^{[18]
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- If you love sour, learn how to make sour candy at home!
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Atomic Fireballs Atomic Fireballs are aptly named since they deliver a dose of cinnamon heat. They’re nicely spiced, which balances the sugary taste. You’ll appreciate an Atomic Fireball if you want a bold flavor that’ll awaken your taste buds.^{[19]
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Zotz Zotz is your classic hard candy that comes in a range of fruity flavors. You can choose from cherry, watermelon, orange, and several others. However, the big draw is the fizzy center that makes the candy pop in your mouth. A blend of malic acid, tartaric acids, and baking soda is used to create the fizzy effect.^{[20]
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Section 3 of 7:

Gummy & Chewy Candy

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Haribo Goldbears When you think of gummy bears, or gummies in general, you probably think of Haribo Goldbears. They were invented in 1922 by Hans Riegel. They’re soft and chewy and come in a wide range of colors and flavors. They’re an iconic candy that’s stood the test of time.^{[21]
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Starburst Starburst is soft and taffy-like. The candy is well-known for the square-shaped pieces that are individually wrapped in colorful paper. The chewy snack is made with real fruit juice to give an authentic fruity taste.^{[22]
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Albanese Gummi Bears This is another gummy bear candy that’s worth the hype. Haribo may be the OG gummy bear, but Albanese perfected the taste. They have a bouncier texture and richer flavors, like pink grapefruit and mango.^{[23]
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Swedish Fish Swedish Fish taste sweeter than the name implies. They originally came from Sweden, where fishing is a big industry, thus the name. They’re firmer than a gummy and aren’t made with gelatin, which makes them a vegetarian candy.^{[24]
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Sour Patch Kids Sour Patch Kids were born in 1985 and are still popular with the younger crowd. The slogan “sour than sweet” perfectly sums up what you can expect when you put one in your mouth. They’re shaped like little humanoid figures and give a great citric acid and sugary taste.^{[25]
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Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers If gummy bears aren’t your thing, try gummy worms instead. Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers may be inspired by creepy, crawly bugs, but they’re fun to eat! They’re chewy and become softer as you let them linger in your mouth. And, each worm has a two-toned color.^{[26]
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Favorite Day Peach Rings There are many varieties of peach rings, but the ones by Favorite Day are a top choice with candy lovers. They have a prominent peach flavor that’s not overwhelmed by the sugar. When you want to actually taste peach, these gummy rings are one of the best choices.^{[27]
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Nerds Gummy Clusters These are a 2-in-1 candy. A gummy center is covered with little bits of sour Nerds candies! Talk about getting the best of both worlds. This gummy delivers a crunchy and pillowy texture. Plus, the coating is super colorful.^{[28]
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BUBS Goody Sour Ovals BUBS Goody Sour Ovals are another candy that originally hails from Sweden. They’re perfect for the sour and tart candy lover. As the name suggests, the pieces are oval-shaped. They have a pillowy texture and come in interesting flavor combos like banana-caramel and strawberry-pomegranate.^{[29]
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Hi-Chew Hi-Chew are tasty gummy squares that are infused with fruitiness. The candy contains fruit concentrates to deliver a more authentic fruit flavor. They’re sweet and rich with a refreshing taste.^{[30]
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Section 4 of 7:

Caramel & Toffee Candy

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Werther's Original Caramel Hard Candies This candy has been around for over a century and has proved it has staying power. Werther's Original Caramel Hard Candies are made using the famous Butter Candy recipe created by the inventor, Gustav Nebel. The recipe is a mix of refined white sugar, brown rock sugar, fresh cream, and a bit of salt. It’s what gives the candy its inimitable taste.^{[31]
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Goetze's Caramel Creams Goetze's Caramel Creams are also known as Bulls-Eyes. They’re chewy caramel pieces with a flavored cream in the center. The filling is why so many people love this candy, and it’s supposedly made using a secret recipe.^{[32]
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Sugar Daddy Sugar Daddy candies are milk caramel pops. They’re simple in how they look and taste, which is ideal when you just want to enjoy pure caramel flavors. Before it was called Sugar Daddy, these pops went by the name “Papa Sucker.” Either way, both are pretty attention-grabbing labels.^{[33]
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Cow Tales Cow Tales are basically sticks of caramel with a soft cream filling. The elongated shape brings to mind a cow’s tail, and the packaging features a cow. If you’re a true caramel lover, then you’ll enjoy the richness of this candy. Other flavors are available, like vanilla and caramel brownie.^{[34]
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Turtles In the confectionery world, “turtles” refers to chocolate with caramel and pecans. George DeMet is the person credited with creating this treat in 1916. When he made it, it was said that the cluster resembled the shape of a turtle. Today, Turtles continue to be a favorite caramel candy.^{[35]
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Heath Bar When it comes to toffee candy, the Heath Bar is one of the first that likely comes to mind. It consists of toffee, almonds, and milk chocolate. Originally, it was just a small square. It became the candy bar length we know today when Hershey bought the company.^{[36]
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Almond Roca Almond Roca is a decadent treat. It’s buttercrunch toffee covered in chocolate and coated in ground almonds. It’s a delightfully nutty concoction that has inspired coffee syrups and has become popular to gift during the holidays. Who wouldn’t want to find Almond Rocas in their stocking?
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Caramel Apple Pop The Caramel Apple Pop was introduced by Tootsie. It’s sort of a play on the classic caramel-covered apple. The base is a green apple-flavored hard candy covered in a sticky caramel. You can choose from Green Apple, Golden Delicious, and Red Macintosh.^{[37]
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Kraft Caramels Kraft may be known for its cheese, but it’s also behind these caramel squares. Kraft Caramels are chewy, bite-sized squares that can be enjoyed on their own or used in dessert recipes. Since they melt quickly, they’re often used for dipping apples or mixing into cookie dough.
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Cadbury Caramello The Cadbury Caramello is a chocolate bar with a decadent caramel filling. The candy originally hails from the UK and Canada and was introduced in the U.S. in 1988 under the Hershey brand. People love biting into the solid chocolate exterior and creamy caramel center. There are even other variations, like dark maple and cappuccino.^{[38]
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Section 5 of 7:

Licorice Candy

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Red Vines Twists Red Vine Twists look like hollow, ridged cylinders. They don’t have the typical licorice root extract taste. Instead, the flavor is more of a berry blend, which makes it great for those who don’t really care for the traditional licorice taste. They’re a fat-free candy and a go-to movie theater snack.
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Red Vines Black Licorice Twists If you like anise flavor, then you have to go with Red Vines Black Licorice Twists. While the anise flavor is prominent, it’s not overpowering and is balanced by molasses sweetness. Plus, these have a soft bite.^{[39]
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Twizzlers These spiral licorice sticks were introduced in 1929 but didn’t gain notoriety until the 1960s. Twizzlers are a licorice candy that doesn't contain any licorice. The only exception is the black licorice flavor. They’re chewy and come in various flavors, like cherry, strawberry, chocolate, and mint.^{[40]
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Good & Plenty Good & Plenty is a black licorice candy that isn’t long and rope-shaped. It looks like a pill and contains licorice root. It has a crunchy, chewy exterior and is enjoyed by anyone who’s a fan of licorice flavor. It’s been around since 1893, making it America’s oldest candy brand.^{[41]
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Section 6 of 7:

Mint Candy

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Altoids When you want fresh breath instantly, you pop an Altoids. During the late 1700s, these mints were initially created as a medicinal lozenge to alleviate stomach pains, much like Tums. They became a candy during the 19th century, but it wasn’t until later in the 20th century that Altoids turned into the breath mints you know and enjoy today.^{[42]
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Tic Tac You can’t miss the compact, clear plastic container these mints come in. Tic Tacs originated in Italy in 1969 and were made to be “refreshing mints.” They get their name from the sound the little boxes make when you open and close them. How cute!^{[43]
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Ice Breakers Ice Breakers are the new kid on the block when it comes to mints. They were introduced in 1990 and put a fun twist on mints. They’re the perfect balance between a mint and chewing gum and come in neat flavors, such as cool mint, cinnamon, and fruit varieties.^{[44]
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Section 7 of 7:

Pop Culture-Inspired Candy

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Wonka Candy Brand It’s no surprise that an iconic book and movie about candy would spawn a candy line. Roald Dahl’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as the 1971 film adaptation that followed, inspired the Willy Wonka Candy Company. The brand launched just a month before the 1971 movie. Some of the first candies the company offered included the Super Skrunch Bar and the Peanut Butter Oompas. Now, their selection has expanded to include all sorts of goodies.^{[45]
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Harry Potter Candy There was some really cool candy featured in the Harry Potter books and movies. To capture the magic of these sweet treats, several types of candies inspired by the franchise have been released over the years. Some of the most well-known are Jelly Belly’s Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, the Chocolate Frog, and the Hogwarts Express Ticket candy bar.^{[46]
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Chupa Chups Spice Girls Lollipops If you were around during the heyday of the Spice Girls era in the 90s, then you likely remember these candies. Chupa Chups released a limited edition line of Spice Girls Lollipops. The lollipops had a bubblegum center, and each Spice Girl got their own lollipop that had their face on it. Plus, the lollipops came with a collectible sticker.^{[47]
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Death Star Lollipops Star Wars fans went wild when Death Star lollipops came out. They were released in 2013 by Designer Lollipops. The suckers had a marshmallow flavor and looked exactly like a mini Death Star. To say the least, the candies were out of this world. Variations of the candy can still be found, but they may be a bit tricky to order online.^{[48]
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- Discover more discontinued candies.