Survey Reveals That People Are Split On Their Favorite Candy Bars

We sure do love our candy in America. The US is the largest consumer of candy in the world, and we spend an average of $8 billion per year on sweet treats (via Brandon Gaille). The average American eats almost 25 pounds of candy every year, and about half of that sugary goodness comes from the same 51 chocolate bars.

We may be candy-obsessed in the US, but we clearly have our favorites. In a recent Mashed survey seeking the "best candy bar," 40,000 respondents revealed four distinct winners. Up top, 27 percent of the votes went to the crispy brick of chocolate-dunked wafers called the Kit Kat bar. Tied for second (with 24 percent of the votes apiece) were those satiny peanut butter cups submerged in milk chocolate, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and the chunky/chewy, nut-studded Snickers bar. In fourth place, with 15 percent of the votes, was Twix, two narrow sticks boasting crunchy cookies and creamy caramel, covered in silky milk chocolate.

Ten percent of respondents said "other," which could mean anything from red licorice to Swedish fish.

It's no surprise Kit Kat took the lead in the survey, albeit a small one. With 192 million pieces sold a year, it's clear that plenty of folk are breaking off a piece of that Kit Kat bar (via Eat This, Not That). And for all you Kit Kat enthusiasts, be on the lookout for at least five new flavors, including Mint + Dark Chocolate, Chocolate Cream Pie, Orange Creamsicle, Cotton Candy, and Cherry Cola (via Delish).

Although Kit Kat took first place in our survey, Snickers is the quintessential candy bar (via Reviewed). The bar features the classic combination of nougat, caramel, and peanuts, smothered in milk chocolate. Introduced in 1930, Snickers has been consistently marketed by Mars, Inc. in a compelling way, including the revelation that a candy bar is a great way to "satisfy" hunger while achieving your athletic goals (via LA Times).

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are clearly one of the most iconic American candies, and our love of them has compelled Hershey to create variations on the theme, including thin cups, stuffed cups (like those filled with potato chips), crisp and chewy bars, snack mixes, holiday-themed shapes, and Reese's Pieces (via Hersheys).

It doesn't matter if you're team left Twix or right, both sides taste the same (via Spoon University). And that's a good thing because a caramel-covered shortbread biscuit that melts in your mouth is always welcome. Perhaps our next candy survey should come with samples?