When I found out that today is Natijonal Hard Candy Day, I realized that hard candies are something I don't eat anymore (unless you count cough drops as a hard candy). It wasn't any conscious decision to stop eating them, I just sort of drifted away from them. I used to eat them a lot, usually Jolly Rancher candies (watermelon was my favorite) or sometimes the pillow candy above during the holidays.

Hard candies don't get enough credit. While they are small enough - and heat resistant enough - to fit into your pocket, they are also large enough to satisfy a craving for sweets with only a piece or two. Hard candy aficionados and grandparents will almost always tout Werther's Originals as the cream of the candy crop, but Creme Savers are certainly front runners. Made by Wrigley's, they candies have been on the market for several years now and set themselves apart by having an unusually smooth and buttery taste to go along with their bright, realistic flavors.

While the flavor of a creamsicle is an easy one, Creme Saver's newest offering, a Desserts line, accomplishes a more difficult task by reproducing the tastes of desserts like Apple Pie, Cinnamon Buns and Strawberry Cheesecake. Fans won't be let down by these candies as they are excellent. The Cinnamon Bun has a strong and very buttery cinnamon flavor, the Apple Pie a la Mode has a strong vanilla flavor with a hint of cinnamon that backs up a very bright Granny-Smith apple, and Strawberry Cheesecake tastes just like the real thing. With only 45 calories and 1 g fat per 3-piece serving, these are a good choice not just for hard candy fans, but for those who are looking to keep cravings for real cheesecake at bay.