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Candy News, Candy Reviews, Hannah Brelsford's Sweet Thoughts

A Review of Hannah’s Favorite M&M’s Chocolate Candies Flavors!

May 26, 2023 by

As a candy lover, there should be no doubt that I have my own opinions about candy, and over the past year and a half, I have fallen in love with reviewing candies and offering my perspective.

I realize that many other people have different opinions than me. My favorite candy is Reese’s, and I will always go for chocolate.

However, I understand that many people do not share this same opinion. 

 I have always loved M&M’s too, which made me want to create this ranking of some of their current flavors on the market. 

If I ranked these flavors only based on my tastebuds, it might not be as accurate as most people would like. So I did what I could to gain many opinions, I asked some of my family members to create their rankings of the flavors, and then I took the average of the scores and ranked them. 

Here is the ranking I found through this experiment of these M&M’s flavors. 

In the FIRST place – drum roll please – came the ever-so-popular M&M’s Peanut with their classic yellow packaging. 

Is it any wonder that M&M’s Peanut came in first place?

This colorful and oversized M&M’s offers a rich chocolate flavor while adding a solid peanut that cuts into the sweetness in the best way. Think sweet yet ever so slightly salty.

M&M’s Caramel offers a new twist to an old favorite@

SECOND place went to M&M’s Caramel, which adds richness and texture to a classic M&M’s with its soft caramel that flows into your mouth when you take a bite. 

M&M’s Caramel Cookie takes these beloved milk chocolate candies to a new level!

THIRD place goes to M&M’s Crunchy Cookie, which we now offer. Its sweetness will overtake you, making you think you are biting into a cookie instead of a piece of chocolate. 

Who said that BIG things don’t come in small packages? M&M’s Minis proves this to be true!

The FOURTH place goes to M&M’s Mini. While I would’ve rated these little guys higher, they are still delicious and horrendously underrated. While they don’t taste different from original M&M’s, they add an irreplaceable texture.

M&M’s Peanut may not be our blogger Hannah’s favorite candy, but there is no disputing that they are delicious.

The FIFTH place is M&M’s Peanut Butter (my least favorite). While many people love these, I don’t, and I’m not sure why. It could be because Reese’s has set my chocolate and peanut butter standards so high.

M&M’s Milk Chocolate may be considered the “Original OG” of M&M’s Chocolate Candies.

Last but certainly not least, in my family’s ranking is the original M&M’s Milk Chocolate. Many think they are plain, but there is greatness in simplicity as the great American composer Aaron Copeland shared in his song “Simple Gifts.”

While rankings can offer recommendations, everyone has their own opinions, especially when it comes to sweets. We would love to hear yours, so please share your M&M’s ranking below!

Candy in Pop Culture, Candy News, Hannah Brelsford's Sweet Thoughts

Why Pixy Stix may soon be impossible to find!

May 15, 2023 by

Recently we heard a rumor that Pixy Stix could be discontinued shortly.

While we are still determining the validity of this rumor or what is happening with them, we will continue to update you all as we learn more. Of course, we will also continue to sell them as long as possible. 

You only know how good you have it once you lose it.

That saying can undoubtedly be true for Pixy Stix and my relationship with the sugary candy. I have never been one to love Pixy Stix because I am much more of a chocolate lover. However, since I heard the rumor, I couldn’t stop thinking about the candy and how much I would miss it if it were discontinued. 

Pixy Stix has a long history in the candy world and is unique. Losing them would be a loss for candy history and the candy industry. The candy started as a drink mix in the 1930s that was called Frutola. 

The sugary mix was intended to be mixed with water to create a sweeter and more enjoyable experience while drinking water. However, kids enjoyed eating the powder straight from the packaging for its strong and sweet flavor instead of being mixed with water. 

The creator, John Fish Smith, noticed the enjoyment kids were getting from the powder, and to encourage this, he added a spoon to the packaging and changed the name to Fruzola.

Before Pixy Stix, there was Lik-M-Aid, now known as Fun Dip. Lik-M-Aid came out two years before Pixy Stix. However, the candy is slightly different, but the good news is that Lik-M-Aid is still available.

Instead of just pouring the flavored sugar in your mouth with Lik-M-Aid and Fun Dip, there is a sugar stick that you lick and dip into the powder to eat it. 

Pixy Stix didn’t come out until 1952 after being invented in St. Louis, Missouri, by Sunline Inc. 

While parents weren’t fond of the sugar tube candy, kids loved it. Its classic flavors include Cherry, Grape, Maui Punch, and Orange

Some additional flavors, such as Cucumber Watermelon – no, not a typo and one of the stranger candy flavors we have come across – and Mango Lime, have been seen since the candy’s debut. 

In addition, the classic paper straws filled with flavored sugar are sold under the Wonka brand, inspired by the beloved children’s story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

Pixy Stix, similar to Sweetarts, has a sweet and tart flavor profile, giving you the best of both worlds. While it is considered a simple candy, it delivers great flavor. 

We hope that this discontinuation of Pixy Stix is just a rumor and nothing more. We have already lost so many beloved candies in the past due to them being discontinued.

To take a walk down Candy Memory Lane, please click HERE.

 So if you are a Pixy Stix lover, I might pick up some extra ones or savor the ones that you have because you never know when they won’t be available anymore. 

Candy Contests, Candy News, Hannah Brelsford's Sweet Thoughts

Want To Win A Box Of Your FAVORITE Candy?

April 27, 2023 by
Share your favorite way to eat candy, and the best entry will win a box of their favorite sweets!

When it comes to eating candy, there are various ways that people enjoy their favorite sweets. 

Many celebrities have their opinions on the issue.

For example, Kourtney Kardashian views the proper way to eat a Kit Kat: to eat all the chocolate from the wafer and then eat the crispy wafer by itself. 

With almost any candy, you can choose to eat it in multiple different ways. 

The standard method is just taking a bite of the candy and throwing it in your mouth no matter what. However, the other ways of eating candy create more of an experience. 

For Kit Kats, like Kourtney Kardashian, you can bite all the chocolate off to reveal the wafer and then eat the wafer after. For Hershey’s bars, you can break apart all the pieces of chocolate and eat each of them individually. 

For M&M’s, some people organize them by color first – one might say that this method favors those who are more compulsive – and then eat them from least favorite color to their favorite, saving the best for last. 

For Milk Ways, some people start with the chocolate and then get to the “good parts” of the candy afterward. For Twix, some people start with chocolate, move on to the caramel and then eat the biscuit individually.

Saving the best candy for last, some people punch the peanut butter hole out of Reese’s Cup and eat that first, then eat the rim. It seems like a bit too much effort, but who are we to judge how people consume their favorite candy?

People eat candies differently because they are bored, want to be quirky, or believe sweets taste better when eaten in segments.

 It makes an experience out of eating candy. There is something sweeter about creating an experience from eating candy. These experiences make the candies taste better and give a candy lover a sense of purpose, if only temporarily. 

However, when you eat candies differently, you may lose some balance between the different flavors, or as the Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “the sum of the parts may not equal the whole.”   

Who said that there isn’t a science to enjoying candy?

This lack of taste balance happens explicitly with Kit Kats, Milky Ways, Twix, and Reese’s. Therefore, when you eat off certain parts of these candies first, you may miss the balance initially created through their perfected recipes. 

I like to mix it up to get the best of both worlds.

Some days I eat M&M’s randomly. On other days, I split up the colors and eat them that way. Sometimes I put an entire Reese’s Cup in my mouth; other times, I eat it in small bites. 

Let us be forthright; there is no right or wrong way to eat candy, which makes candy so enjoyable.

IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW, LET US KNOW HOW YOU ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE CANDY AND WE WILL BE GIVING AWAY A BOX OF CANDY FOR THE MOST CREATIVE RESPONSE!

Candy News, Easter Candy, Hannah Brelsford's Sweet Thoughts

Why we LOVE Marshmallow Peeps Pops

March 16, 2023 by
Marshmallow Peeps come in two flavors – Rainbow and Mike & Ike Flavored

5 Reasons Why Peeps Pops are Just Better 

Although we love all marshmallow peeps, Peeps Pops are the superior candy choice for your Easter baskets this spring for many reasons, but if you don’t believe us, here are five reasons!

1. YOU GET MORE THAN ONE COLOR PEEP.

When you get only one colored Peep, it can get a little old while enjoying them. Even though all Peeps taste the same unless specially flavored, that doesn’t change the fact that Peeps are always better in various colors.   

Variety is the spice of life, especially where candy is concerned, isn’t it?

2. THEY ARE PERFECT FOR EASTER BASKETS.

Since these Peeps are now on a stick, they are perfect for poking into any easter basket and no longer take up as much space as the old Peeps packaging. They also provide festive pops of color while still being functional and tasty. 

Two functions for the price of one!

3. YOU CAN TAKE THEM “ON THE GO“.

With the old packaging of Peeps, you had to open too many at once. Eating them all at once was almost impossible, especially on the go. Peeps Pops are portable and make eating more effortless than ever. 

4. THEY ARE PERFECT IF YOU PREFER FRESH MARSHMALLOW PEEPS OR DON’T.

Although this has long been a topic of debate, our humble opinion is that Marshmallow Peeps are better fresh, and it’s hard to keep them fresh in their typical packaging. 

With the Peeps Pops, you get just the right portion so that nothing gets stale or goes to waste.   

If you prefer your Peeps stale, you should omit this section.

5. YOU GET EITHER RAINBOW-COLORED, OR MIKE & IKE-FLAVORED PEEPS… YOU CAN’T LOSE!

With Peeps Pops, you get a rainbow of Peeps or different colored Mike & Ike’s flavored ones. Whichever you get, it won’t be boring and will surely be delicious! 

LET US KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT MARSHMALLOW PEEPS AND IF YOU INCLUDE THEM IN YOUR EASTER CANDY LINEUP THIS YEAR!

Candy News, Candy Trivia, Hannah Brelsford's Sweet Thoughts

It’s Time for Tuesday Candy Trivia!

January 24, 2023 by

CALLING ALL SELF-PROCLAIMED CANDY EXPERTS!

We love anything retro, so we thought a fun trivia game would be to match some of America’s favorite candy bars with the year they were introduced!

Over the years, our wholesale company, McKeesport Candy Co., was among the first candy companies to offer all of these products!

SHARE YOUR COMMENTS OR MEMORIES AND LET US KNOW HOW YOU DID ON THE QUIZ!

Candy News, Easter Candy, Hannah Brelsford's Sweet Thoughts, Wholesale Candy News

Is there a Jelly Bean Shortage in 2023?

January 23, 2023 by
It would be hard to imagine Easter without Jelly Beans….but it is possible!

Each candy has a time in the year when it’s “in season,” almost like fruit. Instead of growing conditions, we have taste bud conditions. 

While every candy can be eaten in any season and still be delicious, there are certain times of the year when the candy tastes even better. 

For example, it might feel odd to eat a candy cane in the summer unless you are celebrating Christmas in July, and while eating jelly beans in any other season than spring wouldn’t feel wrong, it just wouldn’t feel right. 

Jelly beans are a symbol of spring, a symbol of growth, Easter Bunnies, and sunshine. Unfortunately, as we wrote in many recent blog posts, although supply chains are returning to normal, we still face shortages often of products that we take for granted!

Unfortunately, for this upcoming spring season, we may face a shortage of our beloved jelly beans because of a shortage of starch. Due to the war in Ukraine, which supplies a large portion of the world’s wheat supply, starch is in very short supply. Who knew?

Brands such as Just Born will not be making pectin Teenie Beanies.  We couldn’t believe this either.

Sunrise Confections, one of the largest confectionary producers, will not be making more of their beloved jelly beans – Black, Fruit, and Spice – once their initial batch is gone and Brach’s Jelly Beans, like all of their products, have become increasingly hard to find!

While we are just as disappointed as our jelly bean-loving customers, we have a limited supply, so we encourage you to scoop them up while supplies last!

This upcoming spring season, we will have almost every “other” kind of candy egg to offer, except the ones you have to keep in the fridge. 

There are eggs filled with Swedish Fish, Cadbury Creme Eggs in many variations, Twix Eggs, and even Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs. There will be Peeps of all colors, and we even have chocolate-covered Peeps. 

We will also have chocolate bunnies of all different shapes, sizes, and flavors. In addition, many different Easter candy mixes are delicious and festive. 

However, there is no need to fear.

We will still have many other delicious spring candies in stock, ready to be eaten! So there will still be a sweet spring even when faced with a short supply of jelly beans

Candy News, What's New

Kidsmania Dino Doo, Llama Doo, and Unicorn Doo are truly unique!

January 5, 2023 by

CandyFavorites is proud to present three fun and whimsical products from Kidsmania, one of our favorite novelty candy manufacturers – Llama Doo, Unicorn Doo, and Dino Doo.

These three candy “poopers” are perfect for a conversation starter or for someone who is looking for a good laugh, as the creatures are as adorable as the candy is delicious. They surely offer a new take on a candy dispenser!

A Llama with a rainbow mane is a rarity, but that is just. one more reason why Llama Doo is a winner.

Llama Doo is an adorable tan llama with a rainbow mane that has the unique ability to “poop” yummy candy pellets with a simple twist of its elongated neck! 

Unicorn Doo is as cute as it is whimsical. A true conversation starter!

Unicorn Doo’s rainbow-colored design makes it look magical, and as you pull it’s tail, candy pellets will come out of its bottom , only adding to one’s sense of wonder – or bewilderment or perhaps disgust.

We admit that a purple dinosaur is pushing the limits , but Dino Doo is adorable!

Finally, Dino Doo’s prehistoric-resembling creature, in colors never before seen in nature, will produce an absolute “poopload” of candy with every squeeze. After all, dinosaurs were massive creatures!

These candies make for fun gifts and lighthearted conversations and combine a childlike fascination with an adult-sized portion of candy. Unlike so many other novelty candies these days, they are in stock too.

Who could ask for more? 

Candy News, Hannah Brelsford's Sweet Thoughts

Our Candy Blogger Hannah’s Unique Take on Candy

January 3, 2023 by

My Controversial Takes on Candy

As a candy blogger and self-professed lover of almost all things sweet, I have my takes on what candy bars are “good” and which are “bad.” Still, of course, these opinions are my own, as candy is very subjective!

People can be chocolate lovers, gummi fanatics, or just love a mix of everything. I am a chocolate lover, but not exclusively. 

Of course, occasionally, I enjoy an excellent gummy or sour treat. My favorite candy is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, precisely their Big Cup

Throughout my life, I have learned that some of my takes on candy are controversial because my opinions aren’t commonly held.

Having Reese’s as a favorite candy is not a controversial take; it’s a popular one considering that over 200 Million – yes, 200,000,000  – are sold yearly. 

To go through my controversial takes on candy, let’s start with my “likes.”

 These are candies that I find to be delicious, but they are less popular with other people. 

First off, I love Baby Ruth bars. I fell in love with them when their miniature version appeared in a candy bowl on my mother’s desk in the lower school at Winchester Thurston, one of the oldest schools in Pittsburgh, where she works and where my sister and I went to school. 

Although this candy bar isn’t nearly as popular as its competitors, it should be. 

My next take is that Mr.Goodbar is also incredibly delicious.

Unfortunately, this candy bar gets hidden in the candy world. However, it is highly prevalent in Halloween fun-sized mixed bags. This is a shame since the peanut adds so much texture to this highly underrated candy bar.

My final take is on the 3 Musketeers bar. It is my second favorite candy of all time!

 Every year on Halloween, when I was younger, I would end up with many 3 Musketeers bars because many of my friends wanted to get rid of them.

  Now time for my even more controversial takes on candy.

I don’t want to come across as being negative, but as any candy lover knows, we have our favorites…

Many people would assume that because I love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, I would automatically love Butterfingers. After all, they both have a delicious base of peanut butter. However, I am not fond of the texture of Butterfingers. 

I recently wanted to try them again to see if I still didn’t like them. So let’s say I won’t be opening another Butterfinger again soon. 

Finally, my last two takes are certainly the most controversial, but I must say them. Finally, I prefer something other than Starbursts or regular Skittles Fruit Chews. Of course, I will eat them both, but let’s remember that I am a chocolate lover at heart. 

 Some people dislike chocolate – I have difficulty comprehending how this can be true – while others dislike fruity tastes. However, this may be why thousands of candy bars exist, and here’s a fun fact.

Did you know that 65 percent of all American Candy Bars have been around for over 80 years?

The beautiful thing about candy is that there is one for everybody. 

So the New Year is a perfect time to try new things and, in this case, SWEETEN your horizons! This is undoubtedly one resolution that will be easy to keep!

Share your controversial takes on candy below!