For many moms, candy is synonymous with sugar highs and heated bouts of bargaining over exactly how many pieces are acceptable to scarf down after a trick-or-treating haul. But sometimes parents need a treat, too. Gourmet candies are a sweet solution to provide you with your own indulgences while teaching your kids about moderation and special occasions. These luscious confections are great to have on hand as a last-minute dinner gift or a special treat on a random weekday. From chocolates to gummies to hard suckers, we scoured the market to come up with our picks for the best gourmet candies out there today. Lindt LINDOR Truffles Choose Your Classic ChocolatePick your favorite variety and enjoy the rich smoothness of the classic chocolate taste when you bite into each truffle.Best ChocolatesFind on Amazon Lindt is a household name when it comes to gourmet chocolate. We grew acquainted with them through those dreamy TV commercials for these particular truffles. These bite-size balls of rich chocolate expose a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth middle when you bite into them. Choose between classic milk, white, and dark chocolate flavors, or spice things up a bit with some sea salt or caramel options. Sign us up. Pros: Choose from six different flavors Ships with cold packs to preserve their structure Kosher Made in the USA Cons: While the sweets are conveniently shipped in cooled packaging to prevent melting, some melting may still happen depending on the time of year Albanese World’s Best Gummi Bears Beloved BearsThis 12-flavored pack of gummy bears has a cult following for a reason.Best Gummy CandyFind on Amazon We know that a five-pound bag of gummy bears sounds a bit excessive, but once you try one of Albanese World’s Best’s gummi bears, you’ll get the picture. Texture-wise, these Gummi Bears are the perfect blend of soft and chewy, but they won’t leave those rubbery bits stuck in your teeth post-snacking. The only thing that beats the texture is the fresh and fruity flavors of the gummies themselves, perfect on their own or mixed together. We can’t bear to limit ourselves when this box lands on our porch. Pros: Fat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free Allergy-friendly Bright colors and detailed bears Cons: The bags aren’t resealable, so you’ll need to re-bag them once opened to keep them fresh Tara’s Handcrafted Sea Salt Caramels Caramel Across CenturiesWith just the right combination of salty and sweet, these traditional, handcrafted caramels melt in your mouth without sticking to the wrappers. Best CaramelsFind on Amazon Is it just us, or does the candy that our kids plead for at the store seem like much worse quality than what we had growing up? Maybe that’s why we tend to go for old-fashioned sweets like Tara’s Sea Salt Caramels, instead. With only natural ingredients like real butter, heavy cream, and Madagascar vanilla, all perfectly mixed in small batches according to a century-old recipe, these soft, chewy caramels prove that traditions last for a reason. Pros: Kettle cooked in small batches No high fructose corn syrup or fat fillers Gluten-free and kosher Cons: More sugary than salty May melt if shipped in hot weather Bali’s Best Coffee Candy Coffee Addicts RejoiceIf you love the taste of coffee with a bit of milk and sugar, reach for these creamy candies any time you need a little pick-me-up. Best Hard CandiesFind on Amazon With their reputation as candy-bowl fodder, we don’t think hard candies get the credit they deserve. There’s actually a very diverse, delicious world of flavor and texture options out there, and these coffee candies by Bali’s Best are some of our favorites. What can be more adult than coffee, right? These particular coffee treats hit that sweet spot of tasting like coffee without being overly bitter. We love to treat ourselves to a piece around 2 or 3 in the afternoon when we need a little boost but don’t feel like turning on the kettle. Pros: Individually wrapped candies No dyes or high fructose corn syrup 4 to 5 pieces contains about the same amount of caffeine as the average cup of coffee Cons: Wrappers are tightly pressed to the candies FirstChoiceCandy Gourmet Salt Water Taffy Sweet Salt Water SelectionThese classic taffy treats will take you right to the seashore. Best Assorted FlavorsFind on Amazon For those of us who are unfamiliar with this nostalgic shoreside treat, it’s worth noting that these sweet morsels are not, in fact, salty. Whether you’ve been a fan since five years old or never tried this traditional taffy, we think the taste, texture, and flavor of these confections provide a unique candy experience that nobody should miss out on. And while you can order a pack of your favorite flavor, we prefer to go for the classic assorted mix of this Gourmet Salt Water Taffy by FirstChoiceCandy. So reach in, grab an individually-wrapped candy, and go to town figuring out what flavor that particular piece of deliciousness is. Pros: Made in the USA 22 different flavors, including sugar-free Choose from three different weights (1 – 5 lbs) Cons: Individual pieces are not labeled with flavors, but to us, that’s part of the fun Unequal distribution of flavors within the bag Frequently Asked Questions How long will my gourmet candies last? The shelf life of different candies depends more on quality than the noted expiration date. We’re not saying to ignore the packaged date, just that the finer the candy, the longer you can likely keep it. But as a general rule, caramels, gummies, and other soft candies can last for about six to nine months if kept in their original packaging. Chocolates and hard candies can go for about a year. But with the choices we listed above, we’d be surprised if you’re able to keep them untouched for long. How do I keep my candy to make it last as long as possible? If you’re able to resist eating your candy all in one go (or to prevent your kids from doing so), we’ve got some tips to keep your candy safe, sweet, and ready to eat. If you can’t keep your candies in their original packaging, make sure they’re nice and dry before storing them. Wrap chocolates up with foil, and choose clear cellophane for caramels or taffies. Don’t mix different candies in the same bowl, and if you’re going to opt to freeze them, know which types are suitable for doing so, since candies with fruits and nuts should not go in the freezer. Lastly, store your wrapped packages away from light, heat, and moisture (a pantry generally works for us).