50 Scary-Sugary Candies for this Halloween
50 Scary-Sugary Candies for this Halloween
For many, the scariest thing about Halloween isn't the ghouls or the goblins, but the amount of sugar in your kids' favorite treats. Refined or processed sugar can lead to tooth decay, obesity, and behavioral issues in children, so it is important to take note of how much sugar you and your kids consume this Halloween.
At Stacker, we used the ESHA's Nutritional database of over 70,000 different food items to rank which 50 candies have the greatest sugar content, as represented by grams of sugar over total weight. For candies with the same sugar ratio, we looked to the total grams of sugar and total calories to break the tie. Homemade recipes, private-label candy brands, and smaller regional brands were removed from the list.
We begin with the fiftieth most sugary candy and work our way to number one. After reading our list, you may be tempted to say, "trick, please!" this upcoming Halloween.
#49 Two-Way Tie: Charms Sour Balls
Maker: Tootsie Roll
Sugar Content: 67%
Weight: 6g
Sugar: 4g
Calories: 20
A hard candy classic, each can comes in six flavors and contain 67% sugar.
#49 Two-Way Tie: Charms Squares
Maker: Tootsie Roll
Sugar Content: 67%
Weight: 6g
Sugar: 4g
Calories: 20
Similar to their spherical cousins, Charms Squares are two-thirds sugar and come in packs of ten individually-wrapped candy squares.
#46. Three-Way Tie: Charms Mini Pops
Maker: Tootsie Roll
Sugar Content: 67%
Weight: 15g
Sugar: 10g
Calories: 50
Although these lollipops have “mini” in their title, Charms MiniPops pack a “mega” sugary punch with flavors like Blue Razz, Pink Lemonade, and Bubble Gum.
#46. Three-Way Tie: SweeTarts Mini Chewy
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 67%
Weight: 15g
Sugar: 10g
Calories: 50
Don’t let their tanginess fool you! SweeTarts Mini Chewys are also part of the two-thirds sugar club.
#46. Three-Way Tie: Original Spree
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 67%
Weight: 15g
Sugar: 10g
Calories: 50
Our first entrant from The Willy Wonka Candy Company, Original Sprees come in five classic flavors and feature 10g of sugar for every 15g of candy. Original Sprees might look like they could be small pills, but their sugar content is anything but medicinal!
#45. Raisinets
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 67%
Weight: 45g
Sugar: 30g
Calories: 200
Introduced to America in 1927 by the Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Company, Raisinets are a classic cinema treat with 67% sugar in every handful.
#44. Brach's Hi-C Orange Slices
Maker: Ferrara Candy
Sugar Content: 67%
Weight: 45g
Sugar: 30g
Calories: 150
First raisins and now orange slices, will the betrayal ever end? Brach’s Hi-C Orange Slices might help protect you from a cold, but they also check in at 67% sugar.
#43. Three Musketeers
Maker: Mars
Sugar Content: 67%
Weight: 60g
Sugar: 40g
Calories: 262
Introduced in 1932, this rich chocolate and nougat fusion originally came in packs of three flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Whether you like your Three Musketeers traditional or fun-sized, you’ll get a mouthful with two-thirds sugar.
#42. Trader Joe's All Natural Fruit Jellies
Maker: Trader Joe's
Sugar Content: 67%
Weight: 43g
Sugar: 29g
Calories: 140
If we’ve learned anything from this list, it’s that fruit candies can have their fair share of sugar. Trader Joe’s All Natural Fruit Jellies round out the tier of candies with a sugar ratio of 67%.
#41. Cadbury Milk Chocolate Mini Eggs
Maker: Hershey Company
Sugar Content: 68%
Weight: 40g
Sugar: 27g
Calories: 190
For those still holding onto their springtime stockpile, Cadbury Milk Cholocate Mini Eggs come in flavors like white chocolate, dark chocolate, and chocolate crunch creme. With a rich chocolate filling and coated in a speckled candy shell, Cadbury Milk Chocolate Mini Eggs contain 68% sugar.
#40. Jolly Rancher Fruit Chews
Maker: Hershey Company
Sugar Content: 68%
Weight: 56g
Sugar: 38g
Calories: 200
Jolly Rancher Fruit Chews are an extravaganza of flavors with 38g sugar for every 50g of candy.
#39. Sunspire Peppermint Pattie
Maker: Hain Celestial Group
Sugar Content: 68%
Weight: 38g
Sugar: 26g
Calories: 170
While they may make your mouth feel fresh, Sunspire Peppermint Patties pack a sugar ratio of 68%.
#38. Giant Chewy Nerds
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 69%
Weight: 51g
Sugar: 35g
Calories: 170
You may think that eating Giant Chewy Nerds is a smart idea, but at 69% sugar, we're not so sure!
#35. Three-Way Tie: Jolly Rancher Lollipops
Maker: Tootsie Roll
Sugar Content: 69%
Weight: 16g
Sugar: 11g
Calories: 60
Dentists may want to think twice before passing out these lollipops to their patients! With flavors like pink lemonade, cherry, watermelon, and apple, Jolly Rancher Lollipops are 69% sugar.
#35. Three-Way Tie: Charms Lollipops
Maker: Tootsie Roll
Sugar Content: 69%
Weight: 16g
Sugar: 11g
Calories: 60
The one thing that isn't charming about these lollipops is the high sugar content. These lollipops are 69% sugar!
#35. Three-Way Tie: SweeTarts Chewy
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 69%
Weight: 16g
Sugar: 11g
Calories: 60
These SweeTarts Chewys are even scarier than their mini SweeTart Chewy counterparts, with 11g of sugar per 16g of Chewy.
#34. Jellybeans
Maker: Starburst
Sugar Content: 69%
Weight: 42g
Sugar: 29g
Calories: 150
Starburst’s JellyBeans have an incredible amount of sugar for such a small package. For every 42g of Jellybean, you can expect 29g of sugar!
#33. SweeTarts Soft Bites
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 70%
Weight: 40g
Sugar: 28g
Calories: 140
SweeTarts Soft Bites are the first candies on our list where the sugar content breaks 70%.
#32. Dark Chocolate Covered Mint Creams
Maker: Trader Joe's
Sugar Content: 70%
Weight: 40g
Sugar: 28g
Calories: 170
Dark chocolate and mint make a satisfying combination, but Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Covered Mint Creams have 28g of sugar for every 40g of candy.
#31. Candy-Coated Licorice
Maker: Trader Joe's
Sugar Content: 70%
Weight: 40g
Sugar: 28g
Calories: 140
Licorice root may be medicinal, but Candy-Coated Licorice from Trader Joe's still makes our list for top sugary candies.
#30. Dark Chocolate Mints
Maker: Trader Joe's
Sugar Content: 70%
Weight: 57g
Sugar: 40g
Calories: 240
These Dark Chocolate Mints round out the 70% club.
#28. Two- Way Tie: Brach's Candy Corn
Maker: Ferrara Candy
Sugar Content: 72%
Weight: 39g
Sugar: 28g
Calories: 140
This classic Halloween treat is 72% sugar. If you’re looking to give a slight break to your teeth, the Indian Corn version of this candy has a 27g of sugar per 39g of Candy Corn (sugar ratio: 69%).
#28. Two- Way Tie: Gumdrops
Maker: Trader Joe's
Sugar Content: 72%
Weight: 39g
Sugar: 28g
Calories: 140
You may want to skip a trip to the Gumdrop Forest. Gumdrops are 72% sugar!
#27. Charms Junior Blow Pop
Maker: Tootsie Roll
Sugar Content: 72%
Weight: 18g
Sugar: 13g
Calories: 70
Charms Junior Blow Pops are 13g of sugar for every 18g lollipop - that is 72% sugar!
#26. Sour Skittles
Maker: Mars
Sugar Content: 73%
Weight: 51g
Sugar: 37g
Calories: 200
Just because these candies bring the sour, doesn't mean that they aren't sweet! Sour Skittles come in at 73% sugar.
#25. Sugar Babies
Maker: Tootsie Roll
Sugar Content: 73%
Weight: 41g
Sugar: 30g
Calories: 160
These candies may not be full-grown, but they pack an adult sugar-punch. Sugar Babies are 73% sugar.
#24. Brach's Cinnamon Imperials
Maker: Ferrara Candy
Sugar Content: 73%
Weight: 15g
Sugar: 11g
Calories: 60
Brach’s Cinnamon Imperials will conquer your mouth… with sugar. Although these candies are small, they are still 73% sugar.
#23. Candied Ginger
Maker: Trader Joe's
Sugar Content: 75%
Weight: 28g
Sugar: 21g
Calories: 100
Ginger may have health benefits, but Trader Joe’s Candied Gingers are three-quarters sugar.
#22. Trader Joe's Jellybeans
Maker: Trader Joe's
Sugar Content: 75%
Weight: 40g
Sugar: 30g
Calories: 150
These tasty Jellybeans are three-quarters sugar! Which flavor will you get?
#21. Hershey's Peppermint Patty
Maker: Hershey's
Sugar Content: 75%
Weight: 100g
Sugar: 75g
Calories: 394
You may be dreaming of peppermint patties as the weather gets colder, but practice moderation with these sugary treats!
#20. Skittles (Fun Size)
Maker: Mars
Sugar Content: 76%
Weight: 100g
Sugar: 76g
Calories: 405
These Skittles may be fun-sized but for every 100g of candy, they pack 76g of sugar. Wild Berry Skittles may sound healthier for you, but they only have 3 fewer calories and the same amount of sugar.
#19. Dum Dums
Maker: Spangler Candy Company
Sugar Content: 77%
Weight: 13g
Sugar: 10g
Calories: 51
After looking at the nutrition facts for Dum Dums, you may start saying “umm umm.” Dum Dums are 77% sugar with 10g of sugar per 13g of weight.
#18. Nerds Rope
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 77%
Weight: 26g
Sugar: 20g
Calories: 90
This skippy candy carries 20g of sugar for every 26g of candy, backing out to 77% sugar.
#17. Spangler Candy Canes, Assorted
Maker: Spangler Candy Company
Sugar Content: 77-80%
Weight: 14g
Sugar: 11g
Calories: 40
For those planning on dipping into last year's winter candy stash for this year's Trick-or-Treaters, Spangler Candy Canes enter our list with a range of sugar content. Their Mini Candy Canes have a sugar content of 77%, while their Jumbo Candy Canes cousins reach 80% sugar.
#16. Chewy Spree
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 80%
Weight: 15g
Sugar: 12g
Calories: 50
These fun, colorful candies are four-fifths sugar, with 12g of sugar for every 15g of Chewy Spree.
#15. Junior Mints
Maker: Tootsie Roll
Sugar Content: 80%
Weight: 40g
Sugar: 32g
Calories: 170
While they may be Junior Mints, they carry a senior load of sugar. Junior Mints have 32g of sugar per 40g of candy.
#14. Saf-T-Pops
Maker: Spangler Candy Company
Sugar Content: 82%
Weight: 11g
Sugar: 9g
Calories: 43
While the fully enclosed candy wrapper and looped handle give Saf-T-Pops their name, these candies pack 82% sugar.
#13. Nips
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 86%
Weight: 14g
Sugar: 12g
Calories: 60
These hard caramel candies are silky smooth, but their nutrition facts may make you balk at 86% sugar.
#12. SweeTarts
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 87%
Weight: 15g
Sugar: 13g
Calories: 50
SweeTarts are tiny, but every bite is 87% sugar.
#10. Two-Way Tie: Bottle Caps
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 87%
Weight: 15g
Sugar: 13g
Calories: 60
While Bottle Caps invoke nostalgia with their old-timey look, these candies have an incredible 13g of sugar for every 15g of cap.
#10. Two-Way Tie: Runts
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 87%
Weight: 15g
Sugar: 13g
Calories: 60
Runts may be the smallest of the litter, but at 87% sugar content, they are one of the sweetest candies in the pack!
#9. Cry Baby
Maker: Tootsie Roll
Sugar Content: 89%
Weight: 5g
Sugar: 4g
Calories: 15
We won’t blame you for weeping after you see the sugar content in these Cry Babies. This treat packs 4g of sugar for every 5g of candy!
#8. Fun Dip
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 92%
Weight: 12g
Sugar: 11g
Calories: 45
With a sugary pouch and famous hard-candy "Lik-a-Stix", it's no surprise that this candy contains 92% sugar.
#7. Candy Blox
Maker: Tootsie Roll
Sugar Content: 93%
Weight: 14g
Sugar: 13g
Calories: 50
Candy Blox offer a fun opportunity to play with your food but still make the top ten of our list with 93% sugar.
#6. Circus Peanuts
Maker: Spangler Candy Company
Sugar Content: 93%
Weight: 42g
Sugar: 39g
Calories: 163
Harkening back to the days of penny candies and classic candy shoppes, these soft marshmallow treats check in at 93% sugar
#4. Two-Way Tie: Nerds
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 93%
Weight: 15g
Sugar: 14g
Calories: 60
Eating Nerds may make you feel smart, but at 93% sugar content, we beg to differ!
#4. Two-Way Tie: Everlasting Gobstopper
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 93%
Weight: 15g
Sugar: 14g
Calories: 60
Famous for their fruity flavors and perpetual pleasure, Willy Wonka's Everlasting Gobstoppers have 93% sugar in every handful.
#3. Pixy Stix
Maker: Nestle
Sugar Content: 94%
Weight: 16g
Sugar: 15g
Calories: 60
With rich sugar cascading from seemingly bottomless paper straws, Pixy Stix surprisingly come in under the 100% mark for sugar content.
#2. Trader Joe's Organic Pops
Maker: Trader Joe's
Sugar Content: 100%
Weight: 17g
Sugar: 17g
Calories: 70
These lollipops may have been grown with organic farming practices, but they are still 100% pure sugar.
#1. Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy
Maker: Tootsie Roll
Sugar Content: 100%
Weight: 40g
Sugar: 40g
Calories: 150
Cotton candy, the fluffy staple of carnivals around the world, is our frontrunner with 100% sugar content.
