The week after Halloween is the real magic period when many office-dwelling adults like myself get to enjoy the spoils of the holiday. That’s because the time of merely sneaking a piece of candy or two before kids arrive is over. Now is our time to indulge in bountiful buckets of candy leftovers. Open bag of Kit Kats by the communal microwave? Mysteriously appearing bowl of Tootsie Pops on the bookshelf? Sneaking into your boss’s office when she’s in a meeting to grab a two pack of Reese’s peanut butter cups? Yep, the time of sugar sweets has arrived.
So what candy are you most coveting? You know, the one you “borrowed” from your kid’s candy bag, or saved for yourself before trick-or-treaters arrived. I did an Instagram survey on Halloween to come up with my list of some of the best treats.
Full-size Chocolate Bars
Instagram friends agreed that a regular-sized candy bar is the dream. I don’t know who buys these and hands them out, but it is clearly some kind of Earth angel. Or probably a kindly-yet-hip grandma who is living her best life and wants to make every kid’s night. Go ahead and buy a package of these for yourself to store in your work snack drawer for once the office candy supply runs dry.
Fun-size Chocolate Bars
Fun-size chocolates were the second most popular pick from my Instagram poll. This is what you’ll mostly see represented in the office candy selection, and I’m here for it! The perfect bite of sugary goodness so small that you don’t feel bad about having one (or four). Especially anything with peanut butter. Numerous Instagram respondents independently cited Reese’s as their favorite chocolate treat.
Top-shelf Sugar Candies
Candy like this the best when distributed in a goody bag alongside several treats and toys. Leave that to the kind of treat distributor who has probably decked out his house with tons of faux skeletons and lights. Starbursts themselves are fine, though I don’t know why I always go searching for my “favorite” flavors when they all basically taste the same.
Nameless Sugar Candy Bombs
Far worse than apples, pretzels, trail mix, or stickers. . .these are the seasonal candies that are left on store shelves when all the rest of the candy is gone, but you need to pick up something to hand out. I’m sure someone likes these. I am not that person. You’ll find them left in the office bowl once all the good stuff has been picked over. Then you have one half-melted Granny Smith apple lollipop hanging out until the bowl gets refreshed with candy canes and other leftover Christmas candies, and the indulgence cycle begins again.