Editor's note: Every weekday in October, the Serious Eats editors and staff will chat about a candy they loved as kids (or love today). Artificial colors encouraged, no organic chocolate allowed.

My favorite part of Kit-Kats is the cookie, my favorite part of Crunch bars is the crunch, and my favorite part of Pretzel M&Ms? The pretzel, of course.

I grew up hating chocolate in pretty much all its forms. While I've learned to appreciate it, I'll still choose fruit or cinnamon or caramel candies over anything chocolate. But I always liked the candy shell of M&Ms. And the pretzel version have what I think is an optimal ratio: a core of satisfyingly crunchy, salty pretzel; just enough chocolate; and a crackly sugar shell that's easier to appreciate when there's less chocolate around.

I'm a sucker for anything both salty and sweet, and pretzel M&Ms are one of the few mass-market candies that really satisfy that urge.

I bought a pack to write about them—y'know, research. I like to think this job has left me with ironclad self-control, but I just had to go hide the rest of this bag on a shelf I couldn't reach.

About the author: Carey Jones is the Editor of Serious Eats New York and co-editor of Serious Eats: Sweets. Follow her on Twitter (@careyjones).