Get ready, snack fanatics, because we’re about to dive headfirst into a candy revelation that’s shaking up the sweet treat world! For over a century, Reese’s has held an undeniable, peanut-buttery grip on our hearts and taste buds. Since 1928, their iconic peanut butter cup has been the gold standard, a testament to the flawless harmony of peanut butter and chocolate. But hold onto your hats, because the brand that made candy history is doing it again, smashing expectations and blending two classic duos into one utterly sensational cup!
Forget everything you thought you knew about your favorite Reese’s cup. This isn’t just another limited-edition gimmick; this is a flavor phenomenon, a nostalgic journey, and a genuinely exciting innovation all rolled into one. The moment I laid eyes on the new Reese’s PB&J Grape Peanut Butter Cups, my heart did a little flutter. Of course, I rushed to buy a two-pack as soon as I saw it in stores, ready to embark on what I hoped would be a truly legendary taste test.
So, what exactly are we talking about here? The Reese’s PB&J Grape Peanut Butter Cups, along with their strawberry counterpart, officially hit shelves earlier this month. They’re structured similarly to the Reese’s Chocolate Lava Cups that graced us last fall, featuring a delightful layer of jelly nestled at the bottom, crowned with that beloved peanut butter filling, all ensconced in a rich, dreamy milk chocolate shell. It’s a construction designed for maximum flavor impact, promising an explosion of taste with every bite.
These beauties are popping up nationwide, making them accessible to eager fans everywhere. You can snag the king-size cups, which come two to a pack, at retailers like Walmart, or opt for convenient “snack size” bags if you’re a Sam’s Club member. While it’s currently unclear if these are a permanent fixture in the Reese’s catalog, let me tell you, after tasting them, I’m personally leading the charge for their eternal residency. They are *that* good, and I’m crossing all my fingers and toes they stick around for the long haul!
My personal journey into the PB&J paradise began with the grape jelly-filled cups, primarily because that’s what I could find first. And honestly, I didn’t mind one bit! Growing up, peanut butter and Concord grape jelly sandwiches were a staple, a cornerstone of childhood joy. So, as soon as my groceries were unloaded, I ripped straight into that familiar orange plastic wrapper, the anticipation almost unbearable, and took my first bite. The verdict? Utterly, unequivocally, and delightfully, “DIVINE.”
What truly astonished me was the jelly itself. This isn’t some thin, syrupy imitation; it’s actual, honest-to-goodness jelly. It boasts a “delicious sweet-tart grape jelly” flavor that is perfectly balanced, “sweet without being too sweet.” This magnificent jelly “pairs like a dream with the peanut butter,” creating a symphony of flavors that is both familiar and exciting. And when that dynamic duo combines with the classic milk chocolate? The result is “just absolutely delicious,” a flavor profile that left me genuinely speechless.
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Let me be clear: these Reese’s PB&J Grape Peanut Butter Cups are not merely good; they are, in every sense of the word, amazing. This isn’t a hyperbolic claim, but an honest declaration. Without a shadow of a doubt, I can confidently say that “they’re my new favorite release.” It’s a bold statement, considering the legacy of Reese’s, but these cups genuinely deliver an experience that elevates the classic to an entirely new level.
This brilliant fusion of peanut butter and jelly is such a “no-brainer” that it’s almost baffling to think it took the candy company so long to dream it up. For months, rumors had been swirling since at least October, igniting a fervent buzz among candy enthusiasts. Now, the wait is gloriously over, and these nostalgic treats, reminiscent of cafeteria lunches and childhood joys, have been spotted at various retailers including Costco, Dollar General, and Family Dollar.
For those eager to get their hands on a bulk supply, you can even order them directly from Hershey’s online in convenient 16-count packs for $15.99, plus tax and shipping. However, fair warning to the swift: these candies are so incredibly popular that both flavors have already sold out online! Fear not, though, as with many highly sought-after, limited-time flavors of Reese’s cups, they are sure to hit more stores near you. Keep your eyes peeled, and if you’re truly longing to try this treat, signing up for emails from Hershey’s will ensure you’re notified the moment they’re back in stock.
Of course, a true taste adventure often involves multiple perspectives. Another intrepid reviewer embarked on their own quest, grabbing both the strawberry and grape varieties and even putting them to the test under two different conditions: room temperature and chilled in the freezer. This dedication to candy science is something we can all appreciate!
Starting with the room temperature cups, the strawberry variety, unfortunately, proved to be “a little disappointing.” The primary critique? “Too much peanut butter, not enough jelly.” The flavor itself was fine, but the ratio felt significantly off, described as more like 95% peanut butter to a mere 5% jelly. It’s a valid point, as the magic of PB&J lies in that perfect balance.
The room temperature grape cup faced a similar challenge. Despite a declared love for grape jelly, the reviewer confessed, “I couldn’t even taste it.” A subsequent bite, focused solely on the bottom part where the jelly resided, still yielded “nothing.” It seems that, at room temperature, the jelly might have been a bit too demure, perhaps getting lost in the powerful embrace of the peanut butter and chocolate.
The experiment continued with the frozen cups, a preferred method for some, as chilling doesn’t truly ‘freeze’ them but rather makes them deliciously cold. In this colder state, the grape flavor was “actually taste[able] a little better… but not by much.” The jelly, however, developed “a kind of gummy texture,” which, while not necessarily bad, was exactly as one might imagine. The strawberry cup followed suit, experiencing the same transformation.
The conclusion from this adventurous, dual-temperature tasting session? The cups are “pretty good but don’t expect a lot of jam.” The reviewer amusingly added, “I say jam as ‘it must be jam ‘cuz jelly don’t shake’ and, in this case, nothing was shaking.” While a less ecstatic review than the initial one, it highlights a crucial point about the jelly-to-peanut-butter ratio and texture expectations. Still, the underlying sentiment remains: they’re certainly worth a try.
Beyond these incredible PB&J creations, Reese’s has been on a roll, innovating in other exciting ways too! In a world increasingly conscious of dietary needs, The Hershey Company recently made waves with the announcement of their new Reese’s Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups. The buzz was immediate and immense, with “tons of buzz and excitement” from groups like PETA, TikTok influencers, and even the late-night talk show circuit.
This move is a game-changer, especially for those who have long awaited a dairy-free Reese’s experience. As Teal Liu, brand manager for Hershey’s Better For You division, beautifully articulated in the press release, “Our purpose is to create more moments of goodness for consumers.” And now, “Those moments are now more accessible for chocolate lovers looking for plant-based alternatives.”
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It’s undeniably a fantastic development, allowing individuals with vegan diets, dairy allergies, or any other reason to abstain from milk chocolate to finally indulge in a Reese’s cup. Priced at approximately $2.50 for a pair, roughly a dollar more than the classic, these oat-milk-forward confections are entering the market at a perfect moment. Oat milk sales have exploded over the past two years, now ranking second only to soy in the plant-based milk category, making this an “undeniably savvy move” by Hershey.
But how do these plant-based wonders truly stack up against the original? One meticulous reviewer, Marnie Shure, undertook a side-by-side comparison that offers fascinating insights. Immediately, the difference in aroma was striking. While the classic Reese’s offered its familiar, comforting peanut butter scent, the Plant Based cup emitted a distinct fragrance, with “dusty oat milk notes covering any trace of the peanut butter within.”
The physical characteristics also diverged significantly. The classic Reese’s, made by pouring milk chocolate into waxy paper cups, evokes a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth sensation. The Plant Based cup, however, “feels immediately more rigid.” Its most telling visual cue? It doesn’t even have a cup liner, suggesting it requires no assistance to hold its shape, resulting in “visibly more uniform” ridges and edges.
Taking a bite further accentuated the differences. The Plant Based cup offered a sensation akin to “snapping off a bite of a dark chocolate bar.” Its “thick, sturdy chocolate around the edges begs to be offset by the peanut butter inside, so the chocolate-filled first bite is the worst.” While there’s a “substantial amount of peanut butter filling,” it doesn’t quite extend to the edges as much as in the classic, perhaps a consequence of its unique molding process.
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One key element that proved elusive in the Plant Based cup was the “goo factor” that makes so much chocolate candy so much fun. In a classic Reese’s, a bite into the center allows the peanut butter and chocolate to beautifully fuse together. In contrast, the Plant Based cup’s layers “remain stubbornly distinct.” On the upside, the rigidity of the oat milk chocolate means less melting in your hands; the trade-off, however, is “a little less melting in your mouth, too.”
The flavor profile also leaned heavily into its plant-based origins. If you genuinely, uncomplicatedly adore the taste of oat milk, you might find that the chocolate “almost over-delivers on that flavor.” Yet, even for an oat milk enthusiast, the abundance of oat flavor in this context could “lend a dusty, cardboard note to the chocolate that crowds out the peanut butter flavor.” It seems a slight “ratio problem” might be at play, with thick edges and solid walls of oat milk chocolate that, if thinned out, could minimize the stark difference from the original milk chocolate.
Ultimately, while the Plant Based Reese’s isn’t positioned as a product that “outshines the original,” it represents a significant step forward. With a few tweaks, it certainly has the potential to be on par. This product is a strategic expansion into an “untapped market,” offering a long-awaited “victory at last” for dairy-free consumers. For others, it might feel more like “a first draft of something great,” but a promising one nonetheless.
Reese’s has always been a brand synonymous with innovation, constantly pushing the boundaries of what a peanut butter cup can be. We’ve seen fascinating varieties like those with full peanuts, potato chips, and even Reese’s Puffs cereal, not to mention the wonderfully meta Reese’s Pieces-filled cups. They’ve given us limited-time holiday delights like sugar cookie cups, festive Easter Egg-shaped ones, and cheerful Spring Sprinkles. Even the white chocolate thins, while considered the “worst version” by some, represent this continuous drive for new experiences.
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So, whether you’re salivating over the nostalgic brilliance of the PB&J cups, eager to explore the plant-based revolution, or simply appreciating the ever-evolving landscape of Reese’s flavors, one thing is clear: the brand is not resting on its laurels. It’s an exciting time to be a Reese’s fan, with every trip to the candy aisle promising a new adventure. These new PB&J cups are a testament to the fact that sometimes, the most obvious combinations are the most groundbreaking. They are an absolute must-try, a delicious piece of candy history that demands your immediate attention. Go forth, sweet-seekers, and experience this shockingly delicious, game-changing twist on a timeless classic. Your taste buds will thank you for it!
