Thaddeus Sawyer’s Point:
While candy corn can be a polarizing topic this time of year, let’s take a step back. Is it the best Halloween candy out there? Probably not. Is it the worst? I see your candy corn and raise you Milk Duds.
It is hard to complain about a candy that is essentially pure sugar. Maybe nostalgia is influencing my feelings on the iconic Halloween staple. It could be my refusal to force-hate an undeniably unoffensive candy. Either way, I view candy corn as a delightful and rather whimsical treat.
There is nothing that quite replicates the texture or flavor of a piece of candy corn. If you have Hershey bars and Snickers, do you really want another piece of chocolate-based candy packed with something random like coconut or almonds? Many of the most popular candies suffer from a lack of originality, unlike candy corn.
The aspect of candy corn that I appreciate most is the fact that you can consume a piece in thirds, almost like a slice of pizza. Eating candy corn one color at a time makes it last longer and makes it a far more interactive candy than most. For someone who chronically eats meals in front of a phone, watching videos on either YouTube or Instagram Reels, I value the fact that a piece of candy the size of my thumbnail can keep me entertained on its own.
Even if you don’t like candy corn, you can’t deny the potential for quantity over quality. For those of you who counted your candy after trick-or-treating, how many Kit Kats did you have in your pillowcase by the end of the night? For most, double digits would be hard to attain. What if you counted how many pieces of candy corn are packed in a bag? Halfway through, you’ll probably be eating it just to bring an end to that counting. For every fun size candy bar you consume, handfuls of candy corn could be substituted.
Not only is candy corn iconic, but it is also unique and abundant. While it might not be the superstar of Halloween candy, it’s the type of role player/glue guy every team needs.
Alex Klanko’s point:
Candy corn is among the worst Halloween candy out there. Not only does it taste like chalk, it just isn’t appealing in any way.
Halloween is supposed to be about dressing up and eating amazing candy, which candy corn is not. Plus, candy corn is not exclusive to Halloween anymore; there are also Thanksgiving and Christmas versions.
I get that candy corn is iconic, though. It was created in the 1880s and has been associated with Halloween since, but it doesn’t taste good. It is very powdery and tastes bland, which is why it is one of the worst candies ever created. There are much better options for Halloween, like Reese’s, Hershey’s, Nerds or M&M’s. Each of those has a lot more flavor and looks more appealing than candy corn as well.
I will say candy corn isn’t the worst Halloween candy. That title would go to every saltwater taffy in existence. But still, candy corn isn’t appealing. I would personally rather eat drywall than candy corn, because at least the drywall would have flavor from some sort of finish or paint. I’d also rather eat chalk, because if I am going to eat something with its texture, I’m going to eat the real thing.
Also, why is candy corn made in that shape? What is it supposed to be? Sure, it is orange and brown, which are Halloween colors, but why is it a triangle? It doesn’t make much sense. And I know there is pumpkin-shaped candy corn, but the majority is not.
As someone who works at CVS, candy corn never moves off the shelves until after the holiday is over. I don’t think in my three years working there I have ever seen someone buy candy corn once. So, who is buying it? Every year, the stock room is lined top to bottom with that wretched food, disguised as candy. And I have never heard a single person say, “You know what I would want right now? Candy corn.”
The demographic shift in attitudes toward the candy across generations also says something about who really likes the devilish candy. According to CandyUSA.com, 56% of boomers, 58% of Gen X, 46% of millennials and 49% of Gen Z like candy corn. There is about a 10% difference between boomers and millennials, and Gen X and Gen Z. Hopefully the next generations will like candy corn even less so it can eventually be eradicated from the shelves for good. Because if I know anything about candy, it is that candy corn is bottom two in an all-time list.