Candy Hunting: 2014 Holiday Candy, Part 1

Seasonal Edition Extra Candy Cane Peppermint

Place found: Walgreens

Peeps Candy Cane

Place found: Walgreens

Brach's Candy Cane Candy Corn

Place found: Walgreens

Brach's Peppermint Creme Candy Canes

Place found: Schnuck's

Cherry Apple Twist and Candy Cane Tic Tacs

Place found: Schnucks

Hershey's Cookies 'n' Mint Nuggets 

Place found: Walmart

Russell Stover Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Santas

Place found: Walgreens

Russell Stover Dark Chocolate & Coconut Macaroon Santas

Place found: Walgreens

Twizzlers Cherry, Green Apple, and Lemonade Pull 'n' Peel

Place found: Schnucks

Queen Anne Black Cherry Cola Cordial Cherries

Place found: Walgreens

Whiskey Flavored Chocolate Flight

Place found: Target

Chocolate Covered Nuts and Berries

Varieties: Hot Toddy Chocolate Covered Peanuts, Egg Nog White Chocolate Covered Almonds, Mulled Cider Chocolate Covered Cranberries, and Buttered Rum Chocolate Covered Raisins

Place found: Target

Caramel and Fudge Bites

Varieties: Chili Pecan Caramel Bites, Scotch Whiskey Caramel Bites, Maple Bacon Caramel Bites, and Jamaican Rum Fudge Bites

Place found: Target

Holiday Mr. Sketch Markers

Ok... These are not candy, but they are awesome. 

Scents: Candy Cane, Santa's Cookie, Christmas Tree, Sugar Plum, Gingerbread, and Chimney

Place found: Schnucks

Links to more Holiday Candy Hunting: 

Peeps (Part 2)

One Pound Candy Bars (Part 3)

Holiday Assortments (Part 4)

Part 5

Brach's Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn

Place purchased: Free sample from the Sweets & Snacks Expo

Number of reviewers: 5

Appearance - 5.6

The Caramel Macchiato candy corn is similar to normal candy corn in that it is a tri-colored triangle. Instead of white, yellow, and orange, the Caramel Macchiato candy corn stripes are white, caramel color brown, and medium brown. 

E: Like normal candy corn, but browner. 
E2: Looks sophisticated. 
J: Nice color combination. 

N: Looks like spoiled candy corn.

Flavor and Taste - 4.6

The initial flavor is of old coffee, caramel, and something reminiscent of potpourri. The flavor then fades and gives way to the honey flavor typical of candy corn. The strength of the coffee and caramel flavor seems to differ from piece to piece. Some pieces have a strong flavor, while others taste like regular candy corn. 

E: Tastes like a caramel macchiato Yankee Candle would smell. 
E2: Imitation caramel and coffee. Sooo sweet! 
J: Coffee with honey aftertaste. The coffee is so artificial. 

N: It has an almost smoke flavor but in a good way.

Texture - 5.8

It has the same chewy, waxy, grainy texture common to all candy corn. 

E: Kind of chewy/grainy like candy corn always is. 
E2: Chewy, grainy, waxy. 

Aftertaste - 4.6

The aftertaste is mostly a sweet honey flavor. There is also a subtle, yet persistent, bitterness. 

E: Very sweet, with a perfume/coffee-like flavor.
E2: SUGAR! 
J: Mostly sweet/honey. 
N: Bland aftertaste. 

Overall - 4.6

While the Caramel Macchiato candy corn does take a step in the right direction to improve candy corn by adding flavor, the flavor Brach's chose was subpar. Brach's makes many more flavors of candy corn, most of which I would expect to taste better than this flavor. If you really like candy corn or coffee flavored candies, then you might like this. If not, stay clear of this product. 

E: It's not good, but I'm not disappointed. Exactly what you'd expect. 

Brach's Caramel Apple Royals

Place purchased: CVS 

Price: $3.00

Number of reviewers: 4

Appearance - 5.8

The Caramel Apple Royals have a caramel exterior with a bright green, apple flavored filling. The green color of the filling looks incredibly similar to green glow-in-the-dark paint (the filling doesn't actually glow in the dark, I checked). These Royals have a waxy paper wrapper, rather than the usual foil wrapper common for Brach's Royals. 

E: Wow, green center! 

E2: Green is too green, reminds me more of mint than apple. 

Flavor and Taste - 5.5

The green apple flavor dominates at first. Then the buttery caramel flavor builds as you chew, while the apple flavor subsides. It works. 

E: Probably the best apple/caramel flavor balance I've tried so far. Apple flavor is quite artificial tasting. 

E2: Caramel is barely noticeable, green apple flavor has a weird temporal profile. 

S: Caramel and apple, but they don't mesh well together. 

Texture - 6.3

The Caramel Apple Royals are soft and chewy. 

E: Very sticky and chewy. My jaws are getting a workout. 

E2: Slightly grainy and chewy, but not as sticky as I would hope for. Kind of a disappointing attempt at salt water taffy texture. 

S: Soft, chewy. 

Aftertaste - 5.8

The flavor of sweet, buttery caramel persists longer than the apple flavor. 

E: Sweet, artificial apple flavor lingers. Buttery. 

Overall - 5.6

Overall, I think these are a good caramel apple candy, though my fellow reviewers did not quite agree with me. While I think the Caramel Apple Royals are just an average candy ratings-wise, they are the best caramel apple candy I have tried this season. The caramel flavor is on point, the apple flavor is not overpowering, and the texture is pleasant. If you are to buy a caramel apple candy this fall, I would recommend this one. 

E2: Would not eat ever again. 

Brach's S'mores Caramels

Place purchased: CVS 

Price: $3.00

Number of reviewers: 7

Appearance - 6.7

The Brach's S'mores Caramels are small cubes consisting of three different flavors. The first layer is orangish tan and graham cracker flavored. The center is a white, marshmallow flavored stripe. The top layer is a medium brown colored and chocolate flavored. 

E: S'mores colors in a caramel shape. 
E2: Stripey, color of graham cracker layer is a little too orange. 
J: I like the color, but the shape is a bit deformed. 
N: Not the correct order. 
S: Looks like a s'more! 

Flavor and Taste - 4.6

The S'mores caramels smell exactly like graham crackers, though the first flavor I noticed when chewing was plastic. Luckily, the graham cracker flavor comes in with force and dominates the plastic flavor. The marshmallow and chocolate flavors come in toward the end. The caramels are also incredibly sweet. 

C: Reminds me of s'mores cereal. Doesn't have a huge chocolate taste. Predominantly fake marshmallow and graham cracker. 
E: Smells a lot like a s'more! The taste is more bland - sweet and vanilla. 
E2: Not getting much chocolate. More graham/orange. All flavors are kind of muted. 
J: No caramel or chocolate. Mostly graham cracker and marshmallow. Very sweet. 
N: Good, but not much s'more going on. 
S: Tastes like a s'more! Marshmallow and graham cracker with a hint of chocolate. 

Texture - 5.7

The texture is soft, light, and chewy. I would expect a caramel to stick to my teeth, but these did not do that at all. I'm not sure if these technically qualify as caramels. 

C: The texture is pretty good. Not quite as chewy and sticky as I would expect. Doesn't stick to teeth at all. 
E: Chewy, very chewy. 
E2: Grainy, dissolves in mouth. Not as chewy/toothpacking/sticky as I would expect in a caramel. 
J: Not caramel. The texture is just soft and chewy.
N: Kind of plasticy, but not bad. 
S: Soft, creamy caramel. 

Aftertaste - 6.1

The aftertaste has a dominant graham cracker flavor, with faint marshmallow and plastic notes. 

C: Graham cracker and sugar. 
E: Subtler flavors re-emerge. I can pick up on graham cracker and chocolate notes. 
E2: Orange, vanilla. 
J: Graham and marshmallow. 
N: A lot of s'more flavor! 
S: Sweet, marshmallow. 

Overall - 5.8

Overall, the Brach's S'mores Caramels are just alright. The initial plasticy flavor was off-putting, but the flavor greatly improves while chewing. Also, the texture was too soft and airy to be likened to a caramel. 

E: It has promise, but the vanilla flavor dominates the chocolate and graham cracker. 
E2: Meh, not a fan. Why ruin two awesome desserts by combining them into one? 

Candy Hunting - Brach's Halloween Candy

Brach's Caramel Apple Royals

Place found: CVS
Price: $3.00

Brach's Sea Salt Caramel Royals

Place found: CVS
Price: $3.00

Brach's S'mores Caramels (Review)

Place found: CVS
Price: $3.00

Brach's Candy Corn Gummies

Place found: CVS
Price: $3.00

Brach's Triple Fruit Gummies and Fruity Chewy Beans

Place found: CVS

Price: $3.00

Brach's Pumpkin Spice Candy Corn

Place found: Walmart
Price: $1.98

Brach's S'mores Candy Corn

Place found: Walmart
Price: $1.98

Brach's Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn (Review)

Place found: Walmart
Price: $1.98

Brach's Caramel Candy Corn

Place found: Walmart
Price: $1.98

Brach's Apple Pie Candy Corn

Place found: Walgreen's
Price: $0.99