How to Properly Eat Candy Corn: The Best Way Explained

Halloween is just around the corner, bringing with it the familiar ritual many parents face each year: sorting through their children’s candy haul to separate the beloved treats from the less popular ones. And, like clockwork, there it is again—candy corn, a Halloween staple that seems to stubbornly find its way into candy bags across the country, whether people are excited about it or not.

From biting off the white tip first to eating it layer by layer, or just tossing it all back at once, candy corn continues to spark debate and curiosity each Halloween season.

What’s the right way to eat candy corn?

While some believe the only way to eat candy corn is to pop a piece into your mouth and enjoy it in one go, the National Confectioners Association begs to differ. Each Halloween season, they survey consumers to ask the burning question: what’s the right way to eat candy corn? Surprisingly, there are various ways to savor this divisive candy, and opinions on the best method seem to change over time. The Association has compiled a trend chart tracking American preferences over the last five years, showcasing shifting tastes and maybe even surprising choices on how this iconic treat is best enjoyed.

With National Candy Corn Day (really?) sneaking up on October 30—and Halloween close behind on October 31—it’s the perfect time to dig into one of the season’s sweetest, yet most divisive, debates. Candy corn: it’s the treat people either savor or wonder how it’s still haunting the shelves. But with the holiday season upon us, why not take a deeper bite into this sugary enigma?

And for all the candy critics and curious taste testers out there, the experts at the National Confectioners Association are ready to answer your burning candy corn questions. Don’t hold back—this is the season to unwrap every last trick and treat in candy corn lore.

One major reason candy corn has so many critics lies in its distinctive—and divisive—sensory experience. Unlike other candies that carefully balance sweetness with notes of tang, salt, or even a hint of bitterness, candy corn delivers a single, unapologetic burst of pure sweetness from start to finish. This straightforward, one-note sugar profile doesn’t give the taste buds a break, quickly leading to what experts call “palate fatigue.” It’s much like eating spoonfuls of sugar or honey: the flavor might be enjoyable at first, but it can soon become overwhelming.

For some, candy corn’s flavor can feel almost medicinal, like nibbling on a sugary tablet rather than savoring a multi-dimensional treat. Its bright, festive colors might scream Halloween, but the taste itself doesn’t offer the complexity that many people crave in their candy. So, while it may look cheerful, candy corn’s intensity makes it a love-it-or-hate-it experience—and for plenty, it’s firmly in the “hate it” camp.

But let’s not ignore the real Halloween mystery: where did the good candy go? If you’ve ever noticed that your Halloween stash has mysteriously shrunk, you might have a pirate in the house—better known as your parents. That’s right, the very ones who told you not to eat too much candy are often the first to skim a little “parent tax” off the top. Whether they’re sorting for “safety” or simply snagging a few choice pieces for themselves, no treat is safe when they’re on the prowl. Shame on you, candy-sneaking parents! We, kids, put in the legwork, we deserve the loot—yes, even the candy corn!