Thanksgiving Candy – History, Facts, & Traditions

Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada. The purpose of it is to say thank you and honor the sacrifices and blessings of the previous year. The holiday is very important to every American and every Canadian, and it has a special meaning for each of them. It has become the day when the family unites and appreciates the blessings that they have. 

Native Americans loved holding the ceremonies after the harvest. The successful harvest deserved a celebration. Similar traditions are found in England and Europe too. So, when those two cultures met each other, the traditions blended and became something new. The Thanksgiving holiday is rich in symbolism and history.

The Best Thanksgiving Candy Names of All Time

1. M&M’s White Pumpkin Pie
2. Thanksgiving Dinner Pringles
3. Giant Gummy Bear Turkey Leg
4. Foiled Turkey
5. Milk Chocolate Turkey Pop
6. Archie McPhee’s Vegetable Candy
7. Archie McPhee’s Gravy Candy
8. Turkey and Stuffing-seasoned Kettle Chips
9. Hershey’s Kisses 
10. Brach’s Turkey Dinner Candy Corn
11. Flavors of Thanksgiving Candy Corn
12. Thanksgiving Dinner Tradition
13. Pumpkin Pie
14. Pumpkin Pie Turkeys Fun Treat

A Brief History of the Thanksgiving Holiday

Before we discuss the best Thanksgiving candy of all time, let’s briefly review the history of this holiday. 

Americans believe that Thanksgiving started in 1621. The ship that was called the Mayflower arrived in the United States and established the village of Plymouth. There were 102 passengers on the ship, mainly religious separatists who were looking for a new home. The following winter was not easy, and they suffered a lot. However, in March, they moved ashore. Native Americans helped them settle and survive.

The feast was shared between the English colonists and the Wampanoag people. The story says that Thanksgiving began when the colonists were out hunting for turkeys. During the hunt, they encountered Wampanoag people.

They managed to get along, and for a few days, the two groups socialized without incident. They had a feast, to which both groups contributed. The Wampanoag people brought fish, eels, shellfish, vegetables, eels, and beer. They had races, fired guns, and had a feast together. Even though they had trouble understanding each other, they managed to be at peace. 

President George Washington proclaimed it on the 26th of November, 1789. He issued it for “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.” However, before that, President Abraham Lincoln announced that Americans could recognize the last Thursday of November as a thanksgiving day. In 1870, Congress passed legislation making it a national holiday. Thanksgiving football games became a thing on Thanksgiving Day, and it started with the first game between Yale and Princeton in 1876. So, it just makes the holiday more and more exciting.

The Best Thanksgiving Candy of All Time

When the holidays arrive, everyone begins to plan how they will match it and create the spirit. For example, we can find tons of delicious treats especially designed and created for Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas, and Easter. 

We can list many treats that are dedicated to those holidays. However, if we pay attention closely, there are not many thanksgiving candies we can think of. Yes, they exist, and to be honest, they are pretty interesting and unique. 

1. M&M’s White Pumpkin Pie

M&M’s pumpkin pie-flavored candy is a great addition to the Thanksgiving festive spirit. Those little bite-sized treats really bring the feeling of satisfaction when eating. M&M’s Thanksgiving candy is limited edition, so you cannot get them anytime and anywhere. 

Some people even say that it has a “fall flavor”. The hard and crunchy shell, combined with the chocolate center and pumpkin pie flavor, The colors of button-shaped candies are orange, white, and brown. Candy is ideal for candy bowls and can also be used as decoration and an ingredient for cookies. 

The packaging of candy also resembles the autumn and festive spirit. It has an orange-brownish background. The M&M’s animation figure is inside the pumpkin and is also orange in color; it’s very pretty and has a nice design.

2. Thanksgiving Dinner Pringles

At Pringle’s factory, scientists did something extraordinary and crazy. They just created the whole Thanksgiving dinner in the form of potato chips. The treat covers the 8 flavors of 8 Thanksgiving dishes. Those pringles come in the flavors of turkey, stuffing, mac & cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. 

The chips are not like traditional Pringles; they come in a tray just like dinner. Those Pringles are limited edition, so only a few people have managed to experience their taste, especially on Thanksgiving holidays. The tastes are actually on the spot and very accurate.

3. Giant Gummy Bear Turkey Leg

Another Thanksgiving candy that candy lovers can enjoy is the Giant Gummy Bear Turkey Leg. It’s a massive, half-pound turkey leg on a stick, and it’s entirely gummy. It consists of corn syrup, sugar, gelatine, citric acid, coloring, and other ingredients. This candy is made by GGB-Giant Gummy Bears.

Gummy Giant Turkey Leg Thanksgiving Candy comes in three different flavors. The cherry flavor is red in color, the blue raspberry is blue, and the cola flavor is brown. Gummy weights are 8 ounces. The packaging is interesting and fun, and there is a picture of a turkey on it.

4. Foiled Turkey

What is Thanksgiving without the turkey, you ask? So, it is symbolic to create the turkey-shaped Thanksgiving candy. Madeline’s chocolate factory created a foiled milk chocolate turkey. 

This Thanksgiving candy is a 3-dimensional molded chocolate turkey. The treat weighs 8 ounces and is 6 inches tall. It’s wrapped in a colorful foil with a detailed turkey on it. Foiled Turkey is a kosher-certified candy. 

5. Milk Chocolate Turkey Pop

A milk chocolate Turkey Pop is a great addition to our Thanksgiving table. It is a creative treat that is very delicious and boosts our mood. Each Turkey Pop is hand-crafted and made by Conrad’s. It looks like a lollipop, and there is sweet milk chocolate shaped like a turkey at the end of the stick. 

This Thanksgiving candy is made with 36% cocoa milk chocolate. That type of Thanksgiving candy has been made since 1928 in the USA and has been the favorite treat of everybody for decades. It has ideal size and is a good gift for children. 

6. Archie McPhee’s Vegetable Candy

That one sounds a little strange, right? Candy that tastes like a vegetable is not something we see and eat every day. Archie McPhee’s Vegetable Thanksgiving Candy comes in a box and is individually wrapped. They come with the flavors of green bean, corn, and carrot sugar candies. 

The treat is a very good and fun Thanksgiving candy. It is not as bad as it sounds. One can trick the kids into eating vegetables too. It is fun to watch the kids eating the candy, expecting something else, and getting the vegetable taste.

7. Archie McPhee’s Gravy Candy

Just like Vegetable Candy, Gravy Candy is Archie McPhee’s Thanksgiving candy. Well, it’s difficult to think of the gravy as having a candy flavor. Gravy candy has more of a savory flavor and is a good Thanksgiving snack for the holidays. There are 12 individually wrapped pieces of candy in the small tin box. The treat comes with the slogan “Tastes like Gravy” and yes, they did not forget to mention that it “does not come with mashed potato candy.“

Archie McPhee is famous for its weird and interesting candy flavors. You may remember their Chicken Suckers and Foie Gras Bubble Gum. Well, they follow the tradition of offering some weird-flavored candies. What may come next?

8. Turkey and Stuffing-seasoned Kettle Chips

Kettle chips are manufactured by Trader Joe’s and are one of the unique Thanksgiving candies. They offer “all-flavored thanksgiving in every potato chip.” They simply took kettle-cooked chips and seasoned them with herbs to resemble Thanksgiving dinner. Powder, celery, parsley, salt, sage, and thyme are included in the seasoning.

Chips really are crunchy and savory. You’ll have the taste of sage and thyme to bring the holiday dinner vibes. While eating, it makes you think of a turkey and a whole Thanksgiving dinner. It goes great with the onion dip.

9. Hershey’s Kisses 

We all love Hershey’s Kisses. However, it is interesting that Hershey’s kisses are also available during the holidays. Milk chocolate Thanksgiving candy is the perfect treat for loved ones. They are kosher-certified and gluten-free. Individual foil wrappings give an opportunity to carry it around and share it. 

Hershey’s Thanksgiving Kisses have different kinds of stickers on the bottom. Mostly, they represent thanksgiving and autumn.

10. Brach’s Turkey Dinner Candy Corn

When we think about Thanksgiving dinner, we have some specific, delicious foods in mind. Such as cranberries, apple pie, coffee, beans, stuffing, and, of course, the queen of the table—roasted turkey. It is so unique that Brach’s came up with the idea of creating the Thanksgiving candy with turkey dinner flavors. 

Brach’s Turkey Dinner candy corn has six flavors of classic Thanksgiving dishes. We’re all accustomed to Halloween candy corn. But don’t get me wrong, this time, they are very unique. One has to take the small, bite-sized pieces of candy corn individually and guess which flavor it has.

11. Flavors of Thanksgiving Candy Corn

Cranberry-flavored candy corn is red, and it really has the taste of typical candy with a sweet and sugary fruit flavor. The game changes when you pick the green ones. Well, those taste like green beans. Not many people are fans of this particular flavor. Some say, “it tastes like grass.”

Thanksgiving candy corn with a stuffing flavor has an orange top and a white base. The taste is more savory. Have you ever licked a bouillon cube? That’s what it tastes like. To be honest, many people love it, including us. Roast turkey-flavored candy corn has a brown top and a yellow bottom. It kind of tastes like stuffing and has a savory taste. 

Then comes the sweet dessert, apple pie-flavored candy corn. Candy has a yellowish top and a white base. When you bite into it, it just bursts with apple-cinnamon flavors. And now comes a surprise for coffee lovers. Coffee-flavored candy corns have a dark brown top and a yellow-tan base. It has a mellow and rich taste with sweetness alongside. It was a nice finish to the dinner.

12. Thanksgiving Dinner Tradition

Today, Thanksgiving has kind of lost its religious significance and origin. The main attributes of Thanksgiving are the cooking and dishes, not to mention Thanksgiving candy. Families and friends gather around and share a meal. Turkey has become a staple of Thanksgiving. Well, the story says that it was offered by the pilgrims during the inaugural feast in 1621. However, nobody knows for sure. 

Almost everybody who celebrates Thanksgiving eats turkey dinner. Turkey is either roasted, baked or deep-fried. The traditional Thanksgiving menu also includes stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce. Also, in many communities, people volunteer during the holiday and host free dinners for those who are less fortunate. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, President John F. Kennedy “pardoned” Turkey, and it has become a tradition since then. Every year, the president of the United States holds the ritual and “pardons” the turkey, saving it from slaughter.

13. Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie is a traditional dessert in North America. It is especially popular and made during the Thanksgiving holiday. The Pilgrims brought pumpkin pie to New England. English people used to make pumpkins differently. The pumpkin was stuffed with apples, spices, and sugar. 

Today, in the USA and Canada, after Thanksgiving dinner, pumpkin pie is served. A pumpkin has a symbolic meaning of harvesting and autumn. The dessert is a spiced pumpkin-based custard.

The filling varies and can be done differently, mostly including cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Also, sometimes cardamom and vanilla are added. There is such a thing as “Pumpkin Pie Spice,” which includes all the spices the pie needs and makes the baking process easier.

14. Pumpkin Pie Turkeys Fun Treat

Pumpkin Pie Turkeys are a very easy and delicious way of creating a beautiful dessert and decoration for Thanksgiving dinner. It is a turkey-like dessert that is made with pumpkin pie, candy eyes, Reese’s Pieces, Bite-size Reese’s, candy corn, and chocolate chips. After setting up, the final result is beautiful and adorable. Every kid would love it, and it is also absolutely sweet and delicious.

Bottom Line

Families disintegrated as the country became more urban and people had more options for where to live. So, the holidays became the opportunity for their union. Currently, the thanksgiving holiday has become widespread, and anybody can celebrate it, no matter their religion or their origin. 

This amazing holiday, which is associated with Pilgrims and Native Americans, has become a very important part of people’s lives. It became a symbol of peace, family, love, and togetherness. Also, for newcomers, an opportunity to experience American culture.

Which Thanksgiving candy have you tasted or would love to try? Share your thoughts in the comments section.