We Tried the New Salted Caramel Butterfinger

Last October, when we first heard about the impending release of Salted Caramel Butterfinger, we were cautiously optimistic. In its 100-year history, the candy bar had never deviated from its original format—and why would it? That combo of crispety, crunchety, peanut-buttery filling with a milk chocolate coating is as iconic as their commercials with Bart Simpson. Why mess with perfection? 

Well, sometimes innovation is in order and that’s a good thing because otherwise we’d never have new products to taste and review. Hell, there might not even be a Sporked! Anyway, here’s what we thought of the new Butterfinger Salted Caramel. 

New Prodcut!

Salted Caramel Butterfinger

Walmart

Pros: We weren’t entirely sure what to expect from this new Butterfinger, but it’s pretty simple: It’s the crunchy Butterfinger center you know and love dunked in a salted caramel-flavored coating instead of milk chocolate. It’s very tan and it has a very strong, sugary aroma that made me a little nervous; it’s reminiscent of something cloyingly sweet, like maple fudge. Luckily, the candy bar itself is much more balanced than that. There’s enough salt in the coating and the peanut butter filling to give it dimension so it isn’t a total sugar bomb (although, you know, it is still a candy bar). The two flavor profiles go surprisingly well together. If you can get past the smell, it really tastes good! 

Cons: I was just talking to a friend yesterday who said she doesn’t consider a dessert a true dessert unless it involves chocolate, and I’m sure there are people who feel similarly about candy bars. If you are a chocolate lover, Salted Caramel Butterfinger might feel like an unnecessary bastardization of a previously perfect concept. But if you’re open to experimentation that doesn’t involve cacao, give this a shot. 

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks