All holidays in the U.S. have become occasions for indulgence, whether it’s getting spend-happy, stuffing ourselves with indulgent foods, or satisfying a sweet tooth. Easter contends with Valentine’s Day and Halloween as the favorite holiday of candy enthusiasts. Some eagerly await the day marshmallow Peeps hit the streets, others load up on bunny corn, and the rest—like me—gag at the thought of both and turn to Reese’s eggs instead.
Just as people love or hate certain Halloween treats with equal passion, Easter candy classics inspire similar divisions. When it comes to finding these seasonal goodies in Easter baskets, one person’s treasure is definitely another’s trash.
Peeps
Peeps are possibly the most contested Easter treat of all. These marshmallow chicks come in bright springtime colors and have a loyal following—there’s even a sugar-free version now! I’ve never understood the appeal of eating them, as they’re usually stale and taste grossly artificial. But microwaving them until they explode, as one of my coworkers suggested? That I can get behind.
Hollow Chocolate Bunnies
No basket is complete without the ubiquitous chocolate bunny, but while some relish the opportunity to bite off its head, just as many find the treat boring. I think one person I surveyed put it best when she said, “Seriously, people, if you’re gonna gift me a chocolate bunny, at least make sure it’s solid. Jesus would not appreciate something hollow.”
Cadbury Crème Eggs
I was always more a fan of the decorated hard-boiled eggs than of these imposters. What most people find unappetizing about the Cadbury egg—the creamy center similar to runny egg yolk—is what its fans adore the most. Some even eat the insides with a spoon to savor the flavor, the mere thought of which is nauseating to others.
Bunny Corn
Candy corn is one of those Halloween treats people either really get behind or absolutely can’t stand, so it makes sense that the pastel-covered version would be just as fiercely debated.
Pez
People who like Pez generally like it for the toy that comes with it rather than the tangy candy pills. It’s fun to pop back the head and dump a bunch in your mouth (or throw them at annoying siblings), but whether Pez itself is actually enjoyable is up for discussion.
Jellybeans
The type of jellybeans that end up in one’s Easter basket as a kid can greatly affect his or her opinion of jellybeans in general. For years, I thought that I hated jellybeans because I usually received the waxy, generic kind. Then I tried Jelly Bellys and realized what I was missing. Even so, there are those who just don’t appreciate the sugar beans, Jelly Belly or otherwise.
Fruit-Flavored Tootsie Rolls
Tootsie rolls are pretty lackluster as far as candy goes. Why eat a chewy, vaguely chocolatey morsel when you can eat a real piece of chocolate? Most people feel apathetic about Tootsie rolls, but inject orange or raspberry flavoring into it and people become vehemently supportive or objective—no in-betweens.
With consumers reportedly spending less on Easter this year and trying to come up with budget-friendly ways to celebrate, it might be a good idea to know recipients’ candy preferences before filling their baskets with Peeps or Pez. Instead of wasting money on treats headed for the trash chute, find out what they like and stick to that—and if they turn their noses up at Jelly Bellys, feel free to send them my way.
Updated April 2, 2010
