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!
Christmas
Easter
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.
Halloween
Advertisement
true
false
Contrary to rumor, there isn't a shred of evidence that candy canes were invented back in 17th century Germany.
Advertisement
18th century
19th century
20th century
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.
Advertisement
1950s
The creation of the Keller machine by Priest Gregory Keller in the early 1950s allowed for accurate and efficient candy cane production.
1940s
1930s
Advertisement
17.6 million
176 million
1.76 billion
Candy manufacturers produce 1.76 billion of the peppermint treats annually, with the vast majority of sales occurring during the Christmas season.
Advertisement
50
110
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.
340
Advertisement
1.9 million
19 million
Move over Easter Bunny -- candy fans buy an estimated 19 million chocolate Santas each year, including both solid and hollow varieties.
90 million
Advertisement
1912
1946
1962
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.
Advertisement
3 feet
24 feet
51 feet
In 2012, Chicago chef Alain Roby took the candy cane to new heights when he make a giant peppermint stick measuring 51 feet.
Advertisement
jelly beans
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.
chocolate candies
dried fruit
Advertisement
ornament
tree
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.
snowflake
Advertisement
Hershey's Kisses
Despite all the excitement over new Christmas creations, Hershey's Kisses remain the best-selling holiday treat as of 2015.
Reese's Trees
Jolly Rancher Candy Canes
Advertisement
1 month
11 months
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.
three years
Advertisement
true
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.
false
Advertisement
garlic and onions
liverwurst
pickles
Archie McPhee is known for its line of questionable candy cane flavors, which include wasabi, pickles, bacon and even gravy-flavored canes.
Advertisement
8 percent
18 percent
38 percent
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.
Advertisement
true
false
A standard fruitcake will last for 60 to 90 days, no refrigeration required.
Advertisement
true
The ancient Romans enjoyed fruitcake, but the treat wasn't necessarily associated with Christmas until many centuries later.
false
Advertisement
1931
The classic Christmas concoction was created in 1931 in York, England and remains a popular stocking stuffer to this day.
1951
1971
Advertisement
1700
1800
1900
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.
Advertisement
Sweden
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.
France
Spain
Advertisement
nougat
Turron, a classic holiday treat in Spain and Latin America, consists of various types of flavored nougat.
fruity hard candy
chocolate and nuts
Advertisement
licorice
mint
The black and white striped hard candies are traditionally mint flavored and are popular in Great Britain during the holidays.
fruit
Advertisement
letters
Verkade letters -- chocolate forged into the shape of the recipient's initials -- are a popular holiday gift in the Netherlands.
stars
animals
Advertisement
walnuts
hazelnuts
almonds
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.
Advertisement
Russia
Korova -- Russian for little cow -- are small caramel treats enjoyed at Christmas.
Australia
Japan
Advertisement
true
false
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.
Advertisement
hazelnut
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.
peanut
almond
Advertisement
Russell Stover
Russell Stover dominates boxed candy sales with its holiday themed variety boxes of chocolate.
Whitman's
Hershey's
Advertisement
M&M's
When it comes to bar-sized -- the perfect stocking stuffing -- M&M's top the sales charts, with Reese's nipping at their heels.
Twix
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Advertisement
You Got:
/30
