Confectionery or sweets; a general term for sweet snacks such as wagashi (Japanese sweets), Western-style cakes, candy, etc. Commonly called 'お菓子' in daily speech.
子どもたちに菓子を配った。
I handed out sweets to the children.
日本の和菓子と洋菓子、どちらが好きですか。
Do you prefer Japanese sweets or Western-style sweets?
コーヒーのお供に小さな菓子が出された。
A small sweet was served with the coffee.