Sweet, Spicy and Spooky: DoorDash Reveals Halloween Food Trends
Halloween is a holiday built around indulgence, from overflowing candy bowls and elaborate costumes to late-night celebrations and convenient takeout. Whether shoppers prepare weeks in advance or wait until the final hours to get everything ready, Halloween continues to create distinctive consumer habits.
To get a closer look at how Americans celebrate the holiday, DoorDash analyzed U.S. ordering data from Halloween 2025. The findings offer an early indication of the candy, snacks, meals and other products that could shape Halloween shopping and ordering trends in 2026.
The results reveal a familiar favorite at the top of the candy rankings, but they also point to several notable changes. Sour flavors are gaining momentum, nostalgic candies are making a comeback, larger candy sizes are becoming more popular, and spicy snacks are challenging traditional Halloween favorites.
Reese’s Remains America’s Favorite Halloween Candy
For the third consecutive year, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups claimed the No. 1 spot among Halloween candies in the United States based on DoorDash order volume.
The continued popularity of Reese’s demonstrates the lasting appeal of the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars ranked second, while M&M’s followed in third place.
Chocolate continued to dominate the upper portion of the rankings, accounting for four of the top five Halloween candies. However, consumers also showed increasing interest in sour and fruity flavors, suggesting that Halloween candy preferences are becoming more diverse.
Nerds and Skittles remained popular choices, while Sour Patch Kids strengthened their position. Airheads made one of the biggest moves in the rankings, climbing from 10th place in the previous year to seventh.
Another major development was the arrival of Haribo in the national top 10. The brand entered the list for the first time, pushing Twix out of the rankings. Haribo’s momentum appears to extend beyond the Halloween season as well. During the three months leading up to Halloween 2026, Haribo had already surpassed Nerds in total orders, making it one of the brands to watch as consumers stock up for the holiday.
Regional Candy Preferences Show Different Tastes
National rankings only tell part of the Halloween candy story. DoorDash also examined which candies were ordered at a higher rate in individual states compared with the national average.
Reese’s demonstrated particularly broad appeal, emerging as the locally favored candy in 17 states. The brand was especially popular across states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and Washington.
Regional preferences also revealed several interesting patterns.
Sweet Smiles, an affordable assortment featuring a variety of candy types, stood out across seven Southern states, including Georgia, Louisiana and Tennessee. Meanwhile, Laffy Taffy was the preferred choice in five states, including Iowa and Wisconsin.
Airheads, another chewy favorite, led in Florida and Texas, demonstrating the continued strength of taffy-style candy among consumers.
SweeTarts dominated a portion of the Southwest, ranking as the leading locally favored candy in four states, including Idaho and Oklahoma.
The competition between Red Vines and Twizzlers also remained divided geographically. Arizona and California favored Red Vines, while Twizzlers was the preferred choice in Missouri and Wyoming.
Several states had unique favorites. New York and Rhode Island showed a preference for Kinder Bueno, while Alaska and Hawaii both favored Lindt. Maryland and Nevada shared an affinity for Snickers, while Connecticut and Illinois both favored Sour Patch Kids.
Colorado selected Haribo, North Carolina favored Hershey’s Bars and Minnesota stood apart with Mike and Ike as its leading locally preferred candy.
Nostalgic Candy Is Making a Comeback
Halloween 2026 could also be the year when old-fashioned candy makes an even stronger return.
For the second consecutive year, DoorDash found significant increases in orders for nostalgic and retro candy brands. Circus Peanuts experienced the largest increase, with orders rising 350%.
Lemonheads followed with a 200% increase, while Bit-O-Honey orders climbed 180%. Dum-Dums also more than doubled, increasing by 100%.
The trend suggests that consumers are rediscovering candy that may remind them of childhood Halloween celebrations. These familiar products can appeal to shoppers looking for something different from the modern assortment of chocolate bars, gummies and sour candy.
Candy Corn and Raisins Are Surprisingly Gaining Ground
Few Halloween treats generate as much debate as candy corn. The polarizing candy remains one of the holiday’s most recognizable products, even among consumers who claim they do not enjoy it.
Despite its controversial reputation, candy corn orders increased 30% year over year.
Even more surprising was the performance of raisins. Often regarded as one of the least exciting items to receive in a trick-or-treat bag, raisins saw orders increase by 60%.
DoorDash Consumer Trends Expert Cristen Milliner suggested that the growth could reflect changing attitudes among parents who want Halloween treats that offer an alternative to traditional sugary candy. Raisins can still provide a sweet snack while appealing to shoppers looking for something perceived as a more everyday or family-friendly option.
Halloween Snacks Are Getting Bigger and Spicier
Halloween indulgence is also extending beyond traditional candy.
DoorDash found that full-size and king-size candy accounted for about 20% of orders, up from more than 15%. The increase suggests that consumers may be looking for more substantial treats as Halloween celebrations become increasingly centered around indulgent snacking.
At the same time, spicy snacks are gaining ground.
Takis overtook pretzels and Goldfish to become the leading non-candy Halloween treat. The rise of Takis reflects a broader appetite for intense flavors, particularly among consumers who want something salty, crunchy and spicy rather than another sweet product.
According to Milliner, Halloween fits into a wider consumer trend toward frequent indulgence. With consumers increasingly treating themselves to specialty snacks and desserts throughout the year, Halloween offers another opportunity to seek out stronger and more distinctive flavors.
The growing popularity of sour candy and Takis points toward the same consumer behavior: shoppers are not simply looking for sweetness. They are increasingly interested in bold, sour, spicy and intense flavor experiences.
Halloween Shopping Starts Early — Except When It Doesn’t
DoorDash data also revealed interesting patterns around when consumers place their Halloween-related orders.
Candy demand begins building early on Halloween morning. Orders increased sharply between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., reaching nearly twice the level of a typical Friday morning. Demand then increased again throughout the afternoon before reaching another peak around 6 p.m.
The evening surge likely reflects households realizing that their candy supply is running low just as trick-or-treating gets underway.
Costume shoppers were even more likely to wait until the last minute. More than 60% of costume-related items were ordered during the final seven days before Halloween, while more than 40% were purchased during the final three days.
More than 10% of costume orders even arrived on Halloween itself, highlighting just how many consumers rely on last-minute shopping to complete their celebrations.
Pizza Remains the Go-To Halloween Dinner
With families focused on costumes, candy and trick-or-treating, dinner can easily become an afterthought. DoorDash data showed that most dinner categories experienced declines on Halloween night.
Pizza, however, bucked the trend.
Pizza orders increased by 20%, reinforcing its reputation as a convenient meal for busy families. Pizza is easy to share, requires little preparation and allows families to eat quickly before heading out for trick-or-treating.
For households trying to balance dinner with Halloween activities, pizza provides a simple solution that does not require much time or planning.
Halloween Celebrations Continue After Dark
Halloween activity does not end when children return home with their candy.
DoorDash data showed that alcohol orders peaked around 7 p.m., approximately when trick-or-treating activity begins to wind down. Adult-oriented orders also increased around the holiday.
Condom orders were more than 10% above a typical night on Halloween itself, while Plan B orders reached roughly 25% above normal during the following two days.
Together, these figures demonstrate how Halloween serves different audiences throughout the day, beginning with families and children and continuing into adult celebrations after dark.
What the Trends Could Mean for Halloween 2026
DoorDash’s Halloween data paints a picture of a holiday that is becoming more varied and increasingly driven by bold flavors, convenience and nostalgia.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups remain firmly established as America’s favorite Halloween candy, but sour and fruity products are gaining momentum. Haribo’s rise into the national top 10 could signal another shift in consumer preferences, while Airheads and Sour Patch Kids demonstrate the growing popularity of chewy and sour candy.
At the same time, retro favorites such as Circus Peanuts, Lemonheads and Bit-O-Honey are enjoying significant growth. Even candy corn and raisins are seeing unexpected increases.
Outside the candy aisle, larger candy sizes and spicy snacks are helping broaden the Halloween snacking experience. Takis’ rise to the top non-candy position highlights consumers’ willingness to embrace savory and intense flavors alongside traditional sweets.
The overall message for Halloween 2026 is clear: consumers are looking for variety. Whether that means chocolate, sour candy, nostalgic treats, spicy snacks or a quick pizza dinner, Halloween continues to evolve while preserving the traditions that make the holiday distinctive.
DoorDash’s analysis is based on U.S. ordering data from October 1 through October 31, 2025, unless otherwise noted. Alcohol-related ordering information applies only to consumers aged 21 and older and is available only in select markets. Consumers are encouraged to drink responsibly.
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