The candy corn-iest ranking of everyone’s favorite Halloween treat

There are few types of Halloween candy that aren’t available year round. Sure, they might add some green dye to Snickers and Twix or give M&M’s a bit of pumpkin pie flavoring, but these options don’t disappear from shelves after the calendar turns to Nov. 1.

If you want candy corn, though, you better buy some when it pops into stores in late September and early October. Once Halloween is over, candy corn is gone.

During its limited window of availability each year, you don’t want to accidentally buy the wrong kind of candy corn, which is why Snackology is here to help you figure out the perfect kind of candy corn (and candy corn-adjacent candy) to pick up this October.

Joining me for this edition of Ranked! is my wife, Caitlin Emma. (She previously ranked jelly beans with me for Snackology.) Caitlin came into this process with very strong opinions on candy corn — was she surprised by any of the contenders?

Don’t forget to catch up on Snackology’s roundup of Halloween candy for 2025 in addition to my look at the Jim Henson/Monsters Cereal collab.

Methodology

Here’s how Snackology Ranked! works: A guest and myself each sample a select number of items. We each then rank the items on a numeric scale, with 1 being the best, 2 being the second the best, and so forth. Those scores are then added together for their combined score. The items are then ranked in order of their combined score. Snackology Ranked! is a nonscientific survey and is absolutely based on the opinions and whims of the people doing the rankings. This is a newsletter about junk food — not Wirecutter or Consumer Reports. Geez.

4T. Brach’s Mellowcreme Autumn Leaves

Combined score: 9

Bill’s thoughts

Ranking: 4

OK, we’re in the “is this really candy corn?” territory with the Autumn Leaves. They went way too heavy on the “spice” in pumpkin spice. Caramel Apple is bad. Apple Cider is OK? There’s no world in which I would eat these again.

Caitlin’s thoughts

Ranking: 5

These have the same texture and taste as Yankee Candles. It’s shocking these made it to market.

4T. Jelly Belly Original Gourmet Candy Corn

Combined score: 9

Bill’s thoughts

Ranking: 5

Zero taste. These are a pale imitation of Brach’s Candy Corn and an insult to the entire genre of candy corn.

Caitlin’s thoughts

Ranking: 4

These taste like if microplastics were candy.

3. Nerds Candy Corn

Combined score: 6

Bill’s thoughts

Ranking: 3

No, these aren’t candy corn. They’re not even close. But if you love Giant Nerds or the Nerds Jelly Beans from Easter, you’ll probably love these too. They’re wildly sugary, with each flavor competing to be sweeter than the last.

Caitlin’s thoughts

Ranking: 3

Not candy corn but they’re not intolerable.

1T. Brach’s Mellowcreme Autumn Mix

Combined score: 3

Bill’s thoughts

Ranking: 1

Brach’s Autumn Mix is my preferred batch of candy corn. I love the addition of the candy corn with the chocolate layer, and the pumpkins are always a fun addition.

Caitlin’s thoughts

Ranking: 2

Without even tasting the others, this will be second place. I don’t mind the chocolate ones, and I like the occasional little pumpkin. Also classic.

1T. Brach’s Classic Candy Corn

Combined score: 3

Bill’s thoughts

Ranking: 2

This is what candy corn should taste and smell like. I opened the bag and was immediately hit with the only scent you should associate with candy corn. I’d eat these until I got sick — and then eat some more.

Caitlin’s thoughts

Ranking: 1

I haven’t tried any of the others and this automatically wins. Nothing replaces the classic. It’s perfect. I love them.

How’d we do?

Is your favorite ranked too low? Was there an upset that you just can’t stand? Did we miss your pick completely? Let me know in the comments.