Introduction
Chocolate is a beloved treat for many people, and it’s no surprise that it’s the most popular candy in America. According to new data from Eat This Not That, chocolate is the number one most popular candy in the United States. Whether you’re a fan of classic chocolate bars, chocolate-covered nuts, or something a bit more exotic, there’s something for everyone when it comes to chocolate. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of chocolate candy available and why they’re so popular. We’ll also look at some of the health benefits of eating chocolate and how to make sure you’re getting the most out of your chocolate indulgence. So, if you’re looking for a sweet treat, read on to learn more about the #1 most popular chocolate candy in America.
The #1 Most Popular Chocolate Candy in America, Says New Data — Eat This Not That
Chocolate candy is a favorite treat for many Americans, and now new data has revealed which chocolate candy is the most popular in the United States. According to a survey conducted by the National Confectioners Association, the #1 most popular chocolate candy in America is Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars.
Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars have been a staple of American candy culture since they were first introduced in 1900. The iconic chocolate bar is made with creamy milk chocolate and is a favorite of both children and adults alike. The survey found that Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars were the most popular chocolate candy in the United States, with over half of respondents saying they had eaten the candy in the past year.
The survey also revealed that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were the second most popular chocolate candy in the United States. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a classic combination of creamy peanut butter and rich milk chocolate. The survey found that over 40% of respondents had eaten Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in the past year.
Other popular chocolate candies in the United States include M&M’s, Snickers, Kit Kat, and Twix. All of these candies are beloved by Americans and are a staple of the American candy culture. So if you’re looking for a delicious treat, you can’t go wrong with any of these classic chocolate candies.
Easter is coming so naturally, we are all thinking about chocolate. And, the numbers don’t lie, Americans love chocolate. In fact, according to Statista, “the United States is the leading world market for confectionery of any kind.” The cocoa and chocolate industry in the U.S. pulls in $9.67 billion annually. Plus, they forecast that the market will only continue to grow over the next few years.
Translation: Can’t stop, won’t stop. In fact, the average person ate just over 23 pounds of chocolate in 2020. But what is the most popular chocolate that we are eating? According to the 2020 data, here are the top 10 most popular chocolate candies consumed in the country.
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Fluffy chocolate nougat covered with a thin layer of chocolate is the hallmark of this candy bar. By the way, 3 Musketeers just beat out Twix for the #10 spot. Fun fact: In 1932, when 3 Musketeers was born, each package contained three candy bars, which is how it got its name.
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This candy bar is the classic Hershey’s milk chocolate dotted with whole crunchy almonds. When Hershey’s tried to update this bar in 2016, 108 years after it was first made in 1908, with chopped almonds, the outcry was so great that they had to return quickly to the whole almonds. Guess they shouldn’t have messed with a good thing.
“Crispety, crunchety, and peanut-buttery,” as the old commercial goes, people have been laying their fingers on Butterfinger since the 1920s. The secret ingredient in the irresistible peanut butter-layered center is corn flakes, which give the bar its signature crunch. See how they’re made in this clip from Food Network’s Unwrapped.
“Sometimes you feel like a nut…” and if that craving also includes coconut, then this chocolate-covered, coconut-almond bar is for you. Mounds, the dark chocolate version without almonds came first in 1919, Almond Joy didn’t make its debut until 1948.
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For many, this bar is the American standard. The first bar was sold in 1900 by Milton S. Hershey. But it hasn’t been without its tweaks. In a response to consumers desiring more natural products, natural vanilla replaced artificial vanillin in 2015. They also removed PGPR (Polyglycerol polyricinoleate), an emulsifier.
Spoiler alert, peanut butter M&Ms beat out regular M&Ms! They were invented in 1954, while regular M&M’s were first sold in 1941. The product was inspired by a trip abroad, where Forrest E. Mars, Sr. saw soldiers eating candy-coated chocolate that did not melt in the heat.
Whether you break off a piece for a friend, or keep it all to yourself, chances are you’ve tasted the crisp, crunch of a Kit-Kat bar as it’s the 4th most popular chocolate candy in the U.S. Kit-Kat was originally invented in England in 1935 and didn’t make its way to the U.S. until 1970 when Hershey’s began producing it. Nowadays you can get all different flavors of Kit-Kat from different flavors of chocolate to the newest blueberry muffin flavor.
These little drops of chocolate made their debut in 1907. They were not produced between 1942 and 1947 as the equipment was used to make chocolate rations during WWII. Interestingly, no one really knows how they got their adorable name. Hershey’s theorizes it was the sound the chocolate made on the conveyor belt or that it was simply a common name for a small piece of candy at the time. Whatever the origin, Milton Hershey wisely trademarked the name in 1921.
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For many, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are the epitome of candy. Whether they come in egg shapes, pumpkin shapes, or anything in between, a holiday cannot be celebrated without these peanut butter-filled chocolate cups. And most of the U.S. agrees because over 42 million people ate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 2020. H.B. Reese, who worked for Hershey’s, created the first of these in 1928. Would you believe there are now over 100 candy bars, spreads, cookies, and cereals under Reese’s brand?
Finally, the most popular chocolate candy in the U.S. is none other than Snickers. In 1930 the very first Snickers was created and it wasn’t named after a giggle, but a horse. Over 48 million Americans consumed Snickers in 2020.
Plus, don’t miss We Tried 5 Milk Chocolate Bars & This Is the Best One