(NEXSTAR) – Americans are expected to spend billions of dollars on Easter candy in 2024 — and you’d better believe a large portion is going toward chocolate eggs.
Be they filled with a peanutty paste or whatever that goop inside a Cadbury Crème Egg is supposed to be, chocolate eggs are the “most popular” Easter candies among DoorDash customers in the weeks before the holiday. In fact, the analysts at DoorDash have determined that chocolate eggs accounted for the largest share of Easter candy purchases in 47 states, based on sales data from this time last year.
The other three states — New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota — well, they just had to be different, didn’t they?
The above map provided by DoorDash further indicates that America’s 47 egg-loving states are seemingly divided in their preferences for Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs and Cadbury Crème Eggs: The former seems to be more popular throughout the Midwest, South and Southeast, while the latter looks to be the preferred choice in parts of the West, Southwest and Northeast.
The other three states, meanwhile, appear to be buying larger shares of Starburst Jelly Beans (New Hampshire), Mars-brand candy packs (Pennsylvania) and pre-packaged “Easter Variety Packs” (South Dakota) in the weeks before Easter, according to DoorDash’s sales data from this time last year.
In addition to the above map, DoorDash has also compiled a list of the top-selling Easter candies in the entire U.S. based on 2023 sales data. At the top, unsurprisingly, are chocolate eggs. But bunnies, jellybeans and Peeps make a strong showing further down the rankings.
Top 10 Easter candies in the U.S., based on DoorDash sales data
- Reese’s Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs Candies
- Cadbury Creme Egg Milk Chocolate Easter Candy
- Starburst Jelly Beans Original
- Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolate Candy Share Pack
- Snicker’s, Twix, Milky Way & More Assorted Easter Chocolate Candy Bulk Variety Pack
- Galerie Value Jelly Beans Filled Egg
- Lindt Milk Chocolate Bunny
- Dove Milk Chocolate Easter Eggs
- Peeps Marshmallow Chicks Candy
- Ferrero Rocher Fine Hazelnut Chocolates Easter Bunny
Americans are expected to spend approximately $3.1 billion on Easter candy this year, or around 30% of their entire food budget for the holiday, the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimated earlier this month. The National Confectioners Association (NCA), however, estimates that number to be closer to $5 billion, based on historical buying trends.
The NCA, too, acknowledged that chocolate eggs were a top-selling Easter treat (right up there with chocolate bunnies), but its members don’t discriminate against consumers who prefer jellybeans or Peeps over goopy egg-like “crème.”
“No matter what treats they prefer, Americans can agree that every celebration is sweeter with chocolate and candy,” an NCA executive said.