Sweet Surprises: America’s Favorite Easter Treats Revealed
Written by Zach Miller on April 6, 2025
Easter is just around the corner, and if you’re like many of us juggling work schedules while planning holiday celebrations, you might be wondering which candies to stock up on this year. The results of a recent national survey might surprise you – especially if you’ve been filling baskets with certain traditional treats for years!
The Chocolate Champions
According to Instacart’s 2024 shopping data, Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs claimed the top spot as America’s favorite Easter candy, with the classic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups coming in second place. Cadbury Chocolate Mini Eggs rounded out the top three, showing our national love affair with chocolate remains strong from coast to coast.
What’s particularly interesting is that Peeps – those iconic marshmallow treats we’ve seen in Easter baskets for generations – didn’t even make the national top ten list. While they didn’t rank nationally, Peeps still have loyal followings in certain regions, particularly in Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., where customers purchased them at rates significantly higher than the national average.
Regional Favorites Worth Noting
Our candy preferences tell fascinating stories about regional tastes across America:
- In San Francisco, Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups are purchased 274% more often than the national average, reflecting the city’s preference for specialty and organic foods.
- Phoenix residents favor Whoppers’ Malted Milk Balls more than any other major city.
- New Yorkers have a particular fondness for Cadbury Milk Chocolate Bars.
- Houston and Portland, Oregon both show strong preference for the gooey delights of Cadbury Creme Eggs.
Pro Tip for Last-Minute Shoppers
If you tend to leave Easter shopping until the final days (we’ve all been there!), you’re not alone. Jelly beans see a massive 16.6-fold spike in purchases the day before Easter. About 35% of Americans consider jelly beans among their favorite Easter treats, making them the perfect last-minute addition to any Easter basket.
The Complete Top 10 List
For those wondering what made the complete national list, here are America’s favorite Easter candies according to Instacart’s data:
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Cadbury Chocolate Mini Eggs
- Hershey’s Milk Chocolate
- Cadbury Creme Egg
- Sour Patch Kids
- Lindt Milk Chocolate Bunny
- Starburst Jelly Beans
- Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Candy Eggs
- Kinder Chocolate Candy Egg With Toy Inside
Beyond the Candy
While Easter candy gets much of the attention, the holiday meal traditions continue despite some surprising revelations. According to the Harris Poll survey referenced in Instacart’s report, honey-baked ham orders increased by 424% last Easter season, even though 27% of respondents admitted they don’t actually like it! Similarly, gefilte fish saw a 13.2% increase in purchases during Passover despite 44% of people claiming to dislike it.
It seems some holiday traditions continue regardless of our actual preferences!
What This Means For Your Easter Planning
Whether you’re filling baskets for little ones or simply satisfying your own sweet tooth, chocolate remains the safest bet for pleasing most palates. But don’t feel obligated to stick with tradition if it’s not what your family truly enjoys. The data shows many of us purchase traditional items out of obligation rather than preference.
This Easter, consider mixing classic favorites with some new treats that align with what your family actually loves to eat. After all, holidays should be about creating joy and celebration, not adhering to traditions that don’t bring your family happiness.
What Easter treats will you be including in your celebrations this year? Are you team chocolate or do you stand firmly with the Peeps loyalists?
