The Christmas Candy Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
The Christmas Candy Quiz
Image: shutterstock

About This Quiz

Nothing makes for a sweeter Christmas than a stocking full of candy to nibble on! While sugary treats have long been a part of traditional holiday celebrations, today's candy makers offer a variety like never before for those looking to satisfy that Christmas sweet tooth. Take our quiz to see how much you know about the goodies and gum drops that add a little something extra to the holidays!
Old Historic Candy Shop
Salvator Barki
What's the biggest holiday of the year for candy sales?
Christmas
Easter
Halloween
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It might seem like everyone is obsessed with sweets at Christmas, but it's actually the fourth busiest holiday for candy sales, with Easter leading the pack.

Woman hands holding candy canes
Isabel Pavia
Candy canes date back to the 17th century.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Contrary to rumor, there isn't a shred of evidence that candy canes were invented back in 17th century Germany.

Candy Canes
jwebb
When was the striped candy cane most likely invented?
18th century
19th century
20th century
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first appearance of the striped candy cane in advertisements and pictures isn't until the early 20th century. Before that, people munched on straight white candy sticks, not striped ones with a hook at one end.

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red and white candy canes
jtyler
When was a machine invented to auto-bend candy canes?
1950s
1940s
1930s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The creation of the Keller machine by Priest Gregory Keller in the early 1950s allowed for accurate and efficient candy cane production.

Candy Cane Pattern
mstahlphoto
How many candy canes are made each year?
17.6 million
176 million
1.76 billion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Candy manufacturers produce 1.76 billion of the peppermint treats annually, with the vast majority of sales occurring during the Christmas season.

Woman in front of a house
svetikd
How many calories are in a typical candy cane?
50
110
340
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A standard one-ounce candy cane contains just 110 calories, making it an ideal sweet treat for those looking to keep calories contained at Christmas.

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The Santa Clause Candy
Elena Pejchinova
How many chocolate Santas are sold each year?
1.9 million
19 million
90 million
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Move over Easter Bunny -- candy fans buy an estimated 19 million chocolate Santas each year, including both solid and hollow varieties.

Tray of cupcakes
Miki Duisterhof
What year did Hershey first wrap kisses in red and green for Christmas?
1912
1946
1962
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hershey's kisses have been lining stockings since 1907, but it wasn't until 1962 that the company started wrapping them in red and green foil to celebrate the season.

Candy canes in glass jar
amana productions inc
How long is the longest candy cane ever made?
3 feet
24 feet
51 feet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2012, Chicago chef Alain Roby took the candy cane to new heights when he make a giant peppermint stick measuring 51 feet.

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Colorful Jelly Beans
Photo by Cathy Scola
What are the remains left by pooping reindeer stocking stuffers?
jelly beans
chocolate candies
dried fruit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Need a gag gift that still satisfies the sweet tooth? Pooping reindeer stocking stuffers deposit delicious jelly beans for those brave enough to eat them.

christmas party
Gpointstudio
What shape is Reese's special holiday treat meant to represent?
ornament
tree
snowflake
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Hershey Company faced criticism on social media in 2015 when people complained that its famous peanut butter Christmas trees looked more like indistinguishable lumps than evergreens.

Christmas Candy
Jennifer A Smith
What is the best-selling Christmas candy?
Hershey's Kisses
Reese's Trees
Jolly Rancher Candy Canes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despite all the excitement over new Christmas creations, Hershey's Kisses remain the best-selling holiday treat as of 2015.

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Christmas tree
Claudia Totir
How long can you store bags of Christmas chocolate?
1 month
11 months
three years
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you find some Christmas candy on clearance after the holidays, you should be able to store it for up to 11 months, as long as you keep it in a cool,dry place.

Chocolate's box
lisegagne
Boxes of candy canes are good for at least a year.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Got leftover candy canes? You could stick them in storage until next Christmas. Boxes of canes are good for at least a year, and some are good for up to five years. Just keep them clear of their ultimate enemy -- humidity.

Homemade hot chocolate
fcafotodigital
Which of these candy cane flavors did the Archie McPhee company introduce for the 2016 season?
garlic and onions
liverwurst
pickles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Archie McPhee is known for its line of questionable candy cane flavors, which include wasabi, pickles, bacon and even gravy-flavored canes.

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Candied fruitcake
© Anouk Stricher
What percent of fruitcakes are passed on rather than eaten?
8 percent
18 percent
38 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While there's no hard statistic on this frequently re-gifted sweet, some estimates suggest that as many as 38 percent of all fruitcakes received as gifts are passed onto another unlucky recipient.

Candied Christmas Fruit Cake
LauriPatterson
Fruitcakes only have a shelf life of around 21 days.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A standard fruitcake will last for 60 to 90 days, no refrigeration required.

Christmas Fruit Cake cut
LauriPatterson
Fruitcakes date back to the ancient Romans.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The ancient Romans enjoyed fruitcake, but the treat wasn't necessarily associated with Christmas until many centuries later.

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Black chocolate and orange
Nico De Pasquale Photography
What year was Terry's Chocolate Orange created?
1931
1951
1971
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The classic Christmas concoction was created in 1931 in York, England and remains a popular stocking stuffer to this day.

Christmas Advent Calendar
bortonia
When were advent calendars first associated with Christmas?
1700
1800
1900
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Candy fans who prefer a daily dose of the sweet stuff should count down to Christmas with an advent calendar. Created by Gerhard Lang in Germany around 1900, the calendars satisfy sweet tooths with a daily dose of chocolate.

Homemade Christmas caramel
Helena Schaeder Söderberg
In what country do children celebrate Christmas with a sweet called knack?
Sweden
France
Spain
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Swedish children use knack -- a sweet toffee creation -- to decorate the Christmas tree, but the knack isn't traditionally eaten until St. Canute's Day on January 13th.

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Spanish Nougat or Turron
Alex Bramwell
What type of treat is the Spanish turron?
nougat
fruity hard candy
chocolate and nuts
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Turron, a classic holiday treat in Spain and Latin America, consists of various types of flavored nougat.

Chocolate candy heart
Fancy/Veer/Corbis
What flavor is the British humbug?
licorice
mint
fruit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The black and white striped hard candies are traditionally mint flavored and are popular in Great Britain during the holidays.

Chocolate treat
twohumans
Holiday chocolate gifts in the Netherlands often take this form.
letters
stars
animals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Verkade letters -- chocolate forged into the shape of the recipient's initials -- are a popular holiday gift in the Netherlands.

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Walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts in a bowl
Emilija Manevska
Which of these is commonly used to make marzipan?
walnuts
hazelnuts
almonds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The almond and sugar treat is common in Denmark and throughout Europe and can be forged into the shape of stars, animals and other holiday designs.

Woman eating chocolate
Burak Karademir
What country do korova hail from?
Russia
Australia
Japan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Korova -- Russian for little cow -- are small caramel treats enjoyed at Christmas.

Broken Chocolate Easter Egg
ChrisHepburn
The Kinder Surprise egg originated in Germany.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despite its German-inspired name, the eggs are a product of Italy's Ferrero Company and were created in the early 1970s. Because they contain a small toy within their chocolate walls, they are banned in the U.S., but they remain a holiday favorite in Europe.

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Ferrero Rocher Chocolate
Saibal
What type of nut is at the center of Ferrero Rocher candy?
hazelnut
peanut
almond
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ferrero Rocher consists of layers of chocolate wafers wrapped around a simple hazelnut. The candy first came to the U.S. in 1988 and has since become a Christmas staple.

Woman handing couple box across counter in chocolate shop
Mel Yates
What's the top-selling chocolate gift box for the holidays?
Russell Stover
Whitman's
Hershey's
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Russell Stover dominates boxed candy sales with its holiday themed variety boxes of chocolate.

young businesswoman eating chocolate outdoors
Kris Ubach and Quim Roser
Which of these is the best-selling bar-sized candy in the U.S.?
M&M's
Twix
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When it comes to bar-sized -- the perfect stocking stuffing -- M&M's top the sales charts, with Reese's nipping at their heels.

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