Candy Bar Sydney recommends a maximum of 150-200g per person, including take home favours. If you want to know how much candy that is, think of a Hershey’s basic chocolate bar which weighs 43g. How many of those could you eat in a single sitting, and then decide “Well, that’s enough!” and want to take some home for later?

If your candy buffet is for 30 people, then about 6kg of lollies should fit the bill. Especially if you have other sweet items such as cupcakes and macarons, or a birthday, wedding or christening cake. Many bulk lollies come in 1kg bags and larger and a lot of candy buffet jars hold about 1kg of lollies each. But it looks better on the table if you spread out the lollies, especially with a smaller candy bar. We’d recommend you include individual, larger lollies such as swirl rock candy lollipops which are 6cm in diameter and weigh 50g each. Rock candy crystal sticks  and swizzle sticks always make a visually dazzling impression and will add a whole new dimension of pizzazz.

            

Loot and lolly bags or noodle boxes are a staple for candy bars. If you’re concerned you’ve over catered and there might be lollies left over, take home bags will pretty much be your guarantee that the glass jars end up empty!

For large candy buffets e.g. 300+ guests, 150g of candy per person could be too much. That’s 45kg of lollies and a really big candy buffet table, after all. Let’s simplify the equation. The bigger the crowd, the greater the chance of having guests who might not eat any or hardly any candy. Although a crowd of 300+ children would prove us all wrong! Catering for up to 120g per person would be sufficient for a very large crowd that includes adults.

Quantities also depend on what other food you’ve provided and at what time of day your party is being held. People generally consume less at morning or afternoon occasions. They will eat more at designated mealtimes, especially if you also provide savoury items. Are lollies the sweet centrepiece or the trimmings at a lunchtime or dinner event? Will the candy buffet be dessert, or will it be available after the meal? Its role at your party will help determine how much candy you need.

Here’s a simple way to figure out what your candy containers will hold. Fill a medium-sized glass candy jar with rice, dried chickpeas or small pasta shapes such as fusilli and then tip it into a measuring jug to work out its volume.

♥ To fill a 250ml container with a single type of lolly, you’d need the following quantities:

Wrapped lollies (acid drops, sherbet bombs etc) 140g
Rock candy 160g
Large round lollies  190g
Jelly hearts or jelly babies 160g
M&Ms or chocolate beans 300g
Mini jelly beans 250g
Jelly beans 240g.

Jars available at Candy Bar Sydney will hold:

♥ Large candy jar Audrey:

• 2kg jelly beans
• 1.7 kg box of Wonka Fabulicious Raspberry Twisters
• 1kg large marshmallows 

♥ Popular medium-sized glass candy jar Annabelle:

• 1kg mini fruit sticks
• 1kg speckled chocolate jewels
• 1kg of Milk Bottles by Fresha Cadbury

 

♥ The elegant, long-stemmed Sabrina:

• 1.3kg Allen’s Strawberries and Cream or any of the Allen’s 1.3kg bags
• 1kg  marshmallows
• 1kg clouds and storms

We also recommend not filling a jar to the brim. This gives the top of the jar enough space to seal the contents… until devoured.

♥ Smaller containers such as footed bowls and compotes, including the popular Les Petite Sweets Small Compote by Rosanna, will hold no more than:

• 500g of mini jelly beans
• 500g of chocolate balls
• 500g of chocolate beans
• 500g of Cadbury chocolate hearts.