Because Socks Aren’t Enough: Inspired Gifts for the Dad Who Wants Nothing

There it is again: that unhelpful phrase muttered by fathers across the land. “I don’t want anything.” The problem is, of course, he does. He just doesn’t know it yet. What he means is that he doesn’t need another tie, another novelty mug, or another multi-tool he’ll never use. What he needs—what he’ll actually enjoy—is something he’ll eat, something rooted in memory and flavour. That’s why jars of sweets from Candycrave have become the ultimate gift for dads who insist on being impossible.

The sweet spot: edible nostalgia

A jar of sweets is more than sugar and colour. It’s a lightning bolt of nostalgia. These are the flavours your dad grew up with, the ones he pocketed with his change on the way back from school, or discovered in a paper bag at the cinema. Give him a jar and you’re not just offering confectionery—you’re returning him to a world where sherbet dusted every surface and life tasted like boiled rhubarb and custard. And who, really, could refuse that?

Classic jars that never fail

Pells Jelly Beans Jar 3Kg

Bright, fruity, and impossible to resist, these glossy little beans are the joyful antidote to grey afternoons. They’re as much a spectacle for the eye as they are a treat for the taste buds.

Pells Liquorice Allsorts 2.25Kg Jar

Liquorice is divisive, but dads of a certain age worship it. This mix is a glorious parade of chewy twists and pastel cubes, the kind of selection that vanishes quicker than you expect.

Pells Rhubarb & Custard 2.5Kg Jar

The undisputed heavyweight champion of boiled sweets. A sharp hit of rhubarb balanced with the velvet softness of custard, all neatly crystallised into a hard-boiled shell. Proper tradition in a sweet jar.

Pells Kola Cube 2.5Kg Jar

Bold cola flavour, fizzy at the edges, crunchy at the core. The sweet equivalent of cracking open a cold bottle of cola on a summer’s day.

Pells Jelly Babies 2.5Kg Jar

Plump, soft, and dusted with sweetness, these are sweets with personality. Each one a tiny burst of fruity nostalgia, destined to be eaten by the handful.

Pells Dolly Mix 2.25Kg Jar

A playful jumble of chewy drops, pastel squares, and creamy pieces. This jar is childhood in technicolour.

Pells Wine Gums 2.5Kg Jar

Fruity, chewy, embossed with tradition. A bag of wine gums is good. A jar of wine gums is extraordinary.

Pells Spearmint Chew 1.5Kg Jar

Cool, clean, and refreshing. These are the after-dinner mints that keep on giving, individually wrapped and brimming with classic flavour.

Why sweets make the perfect gift

The brilliance of a jar of sweets lies in its democratic appeal. Nobody has ever looked at a towering jar of jelly babies or rhubarb and custards and thought, “That’s a burden.” Instead, eyes light up. Shoulders relax. Hands reach out. It’s a gift designed for sharing, a centrepiece for the table, a reason for stories to flow: “Remember when…?” It works across ages, occasions, and personalities. For dads, it’s reassurance that you do know what makes them happy, even if they can’t articulate it themselves.

The Candycrave difference

Where others might toss a few sweets into a novelty tub, Candycrave goes big. Our jars are generous—measured in kilos, not ounces. They’re packed to the brim with traditional British favourites and retro sweets that never fall out of fashion. Each jar is clear, handsome, and ready to present. It’s the kind of gift that looks thoughtful without you needing to break a sweat.

How to choose the right jar for your dad

• The sentimental dad: He’ll adore rhubarb & custard, kola cubes, or sherbet-laced classics that taste of his childhood.
• The liquorice loyalist: Go straight for the liquorice allsorts. Don’t second-guess it.
• The sharer: Jelly babies, dolly mix, or jelly beans—perfect for scattering around the table when family visits.
• The cool traditionalist: Spearmint chews. Refreshing, simple, enduring.

If your father insists he wants nothing, ignore him. What he truly wants is a jar filled with sweets that taste of simpler times, wrapped up in generosity and colour. Candycrave’s gifts for dads who want nothing prove that everyone, no matter how awkwardly they phrase it, wants something. And in this case, that something is a handsome jar of sweets.