When we first reported on the new PB&J Reese’s Big Cups, we had high hopes. Peanut butter and jelly are obvious BFFs and the addition of chocolate rarely makes something worse. It seemed like a no-brainer. It seemed like a slam dunk. Plus, we weren’t just getting one new Reese’s flavor, we were getting two new Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: strawberry and grape!
Were those high hopes met? I tasted both new Reese’s Cup flavors to find out.
Pros: I appreciate the clear delineation of chocolate, peanut butter, and strawberry goo. Unlike the PB&J M&M’s that came out recently, the filling isn’t just flavored like jam, there’s actual jam (or, at least, a jam-like substance) in the candy. And the flavor of the strawberry “jam” is good. It’s not too sweet, it’s genuinely strawberry-y. And it melds nicely with the peanut butter and chocolate flavors. It all comes together to really give you a PB&J vibe in a Reese’s Cup.
Cons: While I appreciate that the “jam” isn’t overflowing out of the cup, I do wish there was more. The flavor is there, but it’s still subtle. I could have used more of an equal distribution of peanut butter filling and strawberry goo. In fact, I think this would have been better if it was a regular Reese’s Cup rather than a Big Cup. I also wish the texture of the “jam” was less stretchy goo and more solid jelly—almost like a Jaffa Cake.
Pros: I’m really trying to come up with a pro for this new Reese’s Cup. I guess if you want to try a Reese’s PB&J Big Cup but don’t actually want it to taste that much different from a regular Big Cup this would be the one to buy?
Cons: There’s barely any grape jam in this Reese’s Cup. I dissected one of the Cups and found some hiding in the corners, but even when I tasted those regions of the Reese’s Cup specifically, I could barely taste any grape flavor. It ends up making the candy taste a little musty—just like a worse Reese’s Big Cup. If you want to try one of these new Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, stick with the strawberry.
Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.
Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it.
What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now).
Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test!
Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!
Justine Sterling
Jordan Myrick
Will Morgan
Matt Crowley
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!