What small chewy candy is egg-shaped and popular for Easter baskets?

Jelly beans are the small, chewy, egg-shaped candies commonly found in Easter baskets.

A jelly bean usually has a firm, glossy sugar shell surrounding a soft, gel-like center. They are made in many colors and flavors, so the appearance of a bean does not necessarily reveal its taste. Their rounded shape also resembles a tiny egg, helping explain their association with Easter.

The candy’s exact origin is uncertain. A commonly repeated story connects Boston confectioner William Schrafft with jelly beans during the American Civil War, but a more definite reference appears in United States Department of Agriculture food records from 1887. Historians generally place the candy’s strong Easter association in the United States during the 1930s.

Jelly beans are sometimes confused with other Easter sweets, including chocolate eggs, malted milk eggs, and jelly-filled chocolate candies. Their defining features are the sugar shell and soft, chewy interior.