Restaurant Supplies: Candy Buffets
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Candy F.A.Q.

Candy scoop questions: How Much Candy To Buy? 

All it takes is a table with some old fashioned glass candy jars, candy scoops and bulk candy to coordinate with your color scheme. Using retro candy or "candy I ate as a kid" brings back all types of memories. How much candy should I buy? What type of containers do I need?   Find the answers to these mysteries below.

Candy | Candy Life & Storage | Measure Chart


Candy Buffet F.A.Q.

Q: How many Jelly Belly beans are there in a 2.2 lb bag? A: There are 25 Jelly Belly beans in an ounce, 400 Jelly Belly beans in one pound and 880 Jelly Belly beans in a 2.2 lb, or kilo, bag. All counts are approximate, of course.


Q: Do I need to have wedding favors? A: The candy buffet is taking the place of the "traditional wedding favors". Everybody LOVES candy. Instead of worrying over what type of favors to purchase and if your guests will want to take the favors home, a candy buffet is there in place of a wedding favor. If there is candy left over at the end of your event, you can always use candy later, or the candy will keep until you want to eat it.

Q: How much candy should I purchase? A: I wish there was a hard fast rule to this question. Some say 1/4 LB per guest, others say 1/2 LB per guest (1/4 cup per 100 people.) But it's all about the way your candy looks. Plan by how you want the display to look, not how many guests are coming. Having enough candy is crucial in making your candy buffet look good.

Here is a tip a bride told us: "Take your candy buffet bags/containers that the guests will be taking home with them to your local grocery store and fill them the types of candy you will have for your event. Then weigh them. Multiply by how many guests, then you will get an idea of the pounds."

Candy | Candy Life & Storage | Measure Chart

Tip: Add something salty or sour: Yummy! Salt or sour GOES with SWEET. Your candy buffet doesn't have to be all candy. Add potato chips or pretzels maybe some sour balls. Fresh fruit and cheese work great as well. 

Q: How many Sixlets are in a 30 oz. container? 
A: Sixlets are the M&M's 3rd Cousin, but very popular. They come in all colors of the rainbow, and then some.  There are approximately 450 pieces per pound. 30 ounces is 1.9 pounds. There are 1330 pieces to 40 ounces of Sixlets. 

Q: How many Hershey's Kisses would fit in a 4 oz. baby bottle? It's for a baby shower?  A: About 15-20 kisses.  You can get them wrapped in pink, it's a Girl or blue, it's a Boy foils!  Yes, I know.  OR you could put mini choc chips in the bottles.  (baby kisses)

Q:  Help! I need ideas? A: Visit sites like Pinterest, there are so many ideas you will be flooded with ideas and inspiration. Keeping your candy buffet simple will go a long way to make your candy buffet "eye candy."

Q: Should I worry about hot weather shipping? A: YES. During hot weather months, it is highly recommended that you use expedited shipping methods for candy that will melt in hot temperatures. Although candy companies include ice packs and extra packing for insulation in expedited orders, we have found that with Ground Shipping ice packs often melt long before the package arrives, thus negating their usefulness. Cold packs will not last more than 2 or 3 days when it's hot outside. They include cold packs in orders with the following conditions only: Next Day Air, Second Day Air, and Ground shipping to a city within 5 hours drive time of their warehouse. Chocolate will melt at 97 degrees.

Q: What is a Candy Buffets and why would I want one? A: Candy Buffets are the ultimate fun. They are awesome displays of delicious candy and sweet treats served buffet style. A Candy Buffet can provide party favors at your wedding or next event saving you time and money. After all, everyone loves candy.

Q: What kind of containers should I use? Where can I find them? A: You can purchase new candy jars and containers or if you have time, (many months before your wedding) you can be "on the lookout" for your candy jars or containers. You will find them in the strangest places. Dollar stores, thrift stores, garage sales, friends and family will let you "borrow" them. TJ Maxx, Wal-Mart, Marshalls, Old Time Pottery, Home Depot.

Tip: Place a smaller container upside down inside larger candy containers so you don't need as much candy. 

Q: What is the difference between Plastic & Acrylic? A: Great question! Plastic scoops are a thin plastic and look like plastic. Acrylic is still a plastic scoop, but it is heaver and looks like glass.

Q: We want to have cotton candy at our event. What is best?  A:  Cotton candy is great!  Melts in your mouth!  You will need to serve it ASAP.  Make sure to have a cotton candy operator/maker.  Made by heating sugar and spinning the liquified sugar out through tiny holes where it re-solidifies in minutely thin strands of "sugar glass," the final cotton candy contains mostly air; with a typical serving weighing approximately 1 ounce or 30 grams.  Cotton candy when it sits around starts to melt and looks really, really nasty, like something left over from the walking dead.

Q: Would gummy worms @ my wedding candy buffet be gross?  A: IF you have a bunch of kids attending your wedding, no.  If most of the adults at your wedding are kids at heart, no.  If gummy worms are your favorite, no.  If your older, professional, have adult kids, then ahhhh, no.  :-)  Remember, it's your event and your buffet.

Q: Will the scoops scoop the candy I get? A: We get this question all the time. The scoops will scoop most any type of candy. You need to be more concerned about "will the scoops fit" through the container opening? Scoops will scoop, gummy or sticky candy will not scoop as well, they might need a tong.

Q: What size scoop should I get? A: Keep in mind the size of your container opening, will it fit a hand and scoop? Is it tall and skinny? You might need a ladle. 2 oz. scoop is 1/4 cup and will scoop around 45-50 regular size M&M's. Rule of thumb: if you give someone a large scoop, they will take a large scoop. Smaller scoops will keep portions down. You don't want to run out of candy.

Q: What if some of my guests don't like candy? A: On your candy buffet, have an option of fresh fruit, nuts, cheeses, or chips. Salty and Sweet often go together. There are many sugar-free candies to choose from too.

Q: It's my big day, I can't keep track of candy! A: Friends or family want to help you during your day, assign the job to Aunt Betty, or Cousin Joe. Have them refill when needed and keep an eye on things. They will have a blast.

Q: My "theme" is tropical, I don't want to use glass containers! A: There are all kinds of containers that are not traditional candy jars. Try pails, take out boxes, plastic office bins, nautical items, up-side-down cowboy hat, flowerpots, lampshades and florist containers. There are many out there......take a look around your home, you will start to find all types of "containers". We had a wedding where basketballs were cut in half as a container.

Q: Will my candy go bad? A: Beware of chocolate and nuts. Candy containing either of these will not stay fresh for as long as other types of candy. Nuts especially can be dangerous once they have gone bad. Candy Life & Storage

Q: Do I need a scoop for every container? A: Rule of thumb: If the candy is wrapped, then no scoop needed. Anything you DO NOT want hands or fingers to touch, use a scoop, ladle or tong.

Q: How can I cut costs on candy? A: Shop for candy after a holiday! Some candy will last a long time. Depending on your colors or theme, after holiday sales will save on candy costs. Don't forget Sam's Clubs, Cost Co, Smart & Final or bulk candy stores on-line they might offer FLAT SHIPPING RATES.

Q: How far in advance can I buy my candies (before they get hard) and how should I store them? I am planning on buy everything from yogurt covered raisins to chocolate and gummies.
A: Candy Life & Storage

Q: I want to save my candy buffet until later? A: Purchase a roll of tulle or see thru cloth. Drape over your candy buffet, this lets guests know that the buffet is not open. Later, during your event, have someone take the cloth off, and make an announcement that the candy buffet is open and for your guests to partake and enjoy.

Q: My candy buffet looks so drab. Help! A: Spice up the table - tablecloths, table runners, flowers, pictures. These things can be added to make your candy buffet table look FABULOUS. Color makes a difference - coordinated colors look more elegant than random selections. Add extras to the table: Fountain, fortune cookies, cookies, brownies, bowls of fruit for the healthy option, napkins, take home bags/containers.

Tip: If you don't want your candy buffet table to look empty, you can put the same amount of candy in smaller containers rather than 2 or 3 large containers - more smaller containers LOOKS like more! Containers on different levels using books under a tablecloth to create risers - very pleasing to the eye.

Q: How do I get a romantic looking buffet table? A: Under your table and or tablecloth (works well if white) use white holiday lights to light up under something. Soft lighting looks great! Use battery operated candles around your table, or under frosted glass containers. Adds a nice "glow".

Q: Where do I place the containers? A: Test run, test run. If you have your containers, set them up on your kitchen table and play with the arrangement. Put some on risers or phone books. See how they look. If you have some of your candy, fill up a container. This will let you know if you need more or less candy. Don't be afraid to use tall, short, round, square, clear glass, frosted or colored containers. There are NO rules..... Use what you like, be creative.

Q: The scoop is kind of ugly? A: Spice up your scoop with ribbons or bows. If you are using a cloth type ribbon or bow, wrapping the handle will spice up the scoop and match your event colors. (hides any printing as well)

Q: I am planning everything myself; will my caterer do the set up? A: It never hurts to ask. If you purchase the candy, your caterer could add a candy buffet into your event. Also, there are companies that set up only candy buffets. Search online to see if there is a company or caterer close to you who set-up or will host a candy buffet for you.

Q: What do I do with the scoops after my event? A: Scoops are so versatile. You can use them for: coffee, flour, nuts, popcorn, dog or cat food, bird seed feeders, bath salts, around the garden / yard. They are quite handy.

Candy | Candy Life & Storage | Measure Chart

Q: What candy bar was originally packaged to include three separate pieces of candy flavored vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry? A: When it was first introduced in 1932, the 3 Musketeers bar was packaged to include three separate pieces of candy flavored vanilla, chocolate and strawberry -- thus the name THREE Musketeers. Causing some confusion to tourists worldwide, the 3 Musketeers bar is called a Milky Way in European countries, and the U.S. version of the Milky Way is called a Mars Bar.

  • It takes approximately 95 Hershey's Kisses to equal one pound of chocolate.
  • Q: When did Candy Buttons (on paper tape) first arrive on the scene? A: 1930's
  • Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural substance that is reputed to stimulate the same reaction in the body as falling in love.
  • Younger children are more likely than older children to prefer hard candies.
  • Americans over 18 years of age consume 65 percent of the candy that's produced each year.
  • One plain milk chocolate candy bar has more protein than a banana.
  • The average person will consume 10,000 chocolate bars in a lifetime.
  • The melting point of cocoa butter is just below the human body temperature -- which is why it literally melts in your mouth.
  • Chocolate syrup was used for blood in the famous 45 second shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's movie, Psycho, which actually took 7 days to shoot.
  • A recent study indicates when men crave food, they tend to crave fat and salt. When women crave food, they tend to desire chocolate.
  • 1940: The Mars company invents M&M's for soldiers going to World War II.
  • Mike and Ike brand candies are Kosher.
  • F.Y.I. Hershey starts making the Halloween candy around Easter. :-)
  • Candy | Candy Life & Storage | Measure Chart