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.
Justine Sterling is the editor-in-chief of Sporked. She has been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and is an avid at-home cook and snacker. Don’t worry, she’s not a food snob. Sure, she loves a fresh-shucked oyster. But she also will leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and loves a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!