Why Do Pumpkin-Shaped Reese's Taste Better Than the Original? (2024)

You're not wrong for thinking the pumpkin-shaped Reese's peanut butter cups taste better. Turns out, the peanut-butter-to-chocolate ratio is totally different.

Updated on October 14, 2022

The best part of Halloween isn't the DIY costumes, the carved pumpkins, or the trick-or-treating—it's the Halloween candy. Our favorite part of Halloween candy season is the pumpkin-shaped Reese's. Given a choice between traditional Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or a special holiday shape, many people choose the shape every time.

So why do the shapes taste so much better than the original? People have been sharing their opinions online for years. While there's no official statement yet from the Hershey Company on the specific recipe differences, we're going to proclaim ourselves Reese's experts and weigh in. We did what any good investigative journalist would do—we bought two bags of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and started unwrapping.

Why Do Pumpkin-Shaped Reese's Taste Better Than the Original? (2)

We discovered that it all comes down to the peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio. After cutting open a regular Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (pictured on the left) and a pumpkin-shaped Reese's (on the right), it's clear that the pumpkin-shaped cup has a much higher peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio.

There are two reasons the ratio of milk chocolate to peanut butter is different between the shapes and traditional cups: The first is that the shapes are larger than the cups but use about the same amount of chocolate. That means the rest of the area is filled with extra peanut butter filling (yum). The traditional cups also have large ridges around the edges. In contrast, the pumpkins, eggs, and Christmas stockings have a smooth surface—meaning the traditional cups have a larger volume of chocolate.

If you prefer peanut butter to chocolate, it makes sense that you think the special shapes taste the best. But if you're more of a chocolate lover, you might prefer traditional cups instead.

If you're already looking forward to chowing down on peanut butter pumpkins this fall, you'll be excited to learn that the very best Reese's holiday is not long after: As another dedicated Reese's lover discovered, the Valentine's Day hearts have the largest amount of peanut butter out of all Reese's products.

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Why Do Pumpkin-Shaped Reese's Taste Better Than the Original? (2024)

FAQs

Why Do Pumpkin-Shaped Reese's Taste Better Than the Original? ›

The traditional cups also have large ridges around the edges. In contrast, the pumpkins, eggs, and Christmas stockings have a smooth surface—meaning the traditional cups have a larger volume of chocolate. If you prefer peanut butter to chocolate, it makes sense that you think the special shapes taste the best.

Why do Reese's pumpkins taste better? ›

According to a Mashed.com article, it's the chocolate to peanut butter ratio. You get more peanut butter. According to my friend who called Reese's it's another formula. The peanut butter is made to fit the pumpkin mold, so it tastes a bit different.

What is the best Reese's shape? ›

Finally, our winner: the egg. With no cutouts and perfectly round edges, there is no better chocolate to peanut butter ratio out there than the egg.

Why do some Reese's taste different than others? ›

The Bottom Line

Even though all Reese's shapes are made the exact same way with the exact same recipe, the temperature at which the chocolates hang out in during shipping could play a factor into how fresh each shape tastes.

When did Reese's start making pumpkins? ›

Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins: Available mainly during September and October, these are pumpkin-shaped confections representing Halloween. The packaging is standard Reese's orange with a jack-o-lantern picture and the word "Pumpkins" prominently displayed. Launched nationally in 1993.

What makes pumpkin taste better? ›

For even more flavor, you can add spices (like the celebrated pumpkin pie spice!) to the purée during the cooking step. Heating spices “blooms” them, releasing their flavorful, fragrant oils.

What is the pumpkin shaped Reese's lawsuit? ›

Hershey sued for $5M over missing 'cute' face on Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins : NPR. Hershey sued for $5M over missing 'cute' face on Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins The lawsuit claims the packaging shows "explicit carved out artistic designs" that the chocolate inside doesn't have.

What is Reese's best selling candy? ›

This should come as no surprise. The classic Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have been bestsellers since their inception in 1928, and the festive egg-shaped spin-off sticks to the same proven formula—offering what the Hershey Company calls an "ingenious flavor combination" of creamy peanut butter and classic chocolate.

Have Reese's gotten smaller? ›

Hershey's found a simple way to cut costs by reducing the size of one of the most popular candies in America, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. The two-pack has shrunk from 1.6 ounces down to 1.5. While some articles made this seem like a recent change, it was first reported in 2011.

Who owns Reese's? ›

Who owns REESE'S? REESE'S Candy is made by The Hershey Company. In 1956, H.B. Reese's six sons took over the family business and later sold it to The Hershey Company in 1963.

Why are Reese's so addictive? ›

Both cause the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and opioids, which, in addiction research circles, are known as the “wanting” and “liking” chemicals, respectively. Dopamine prompts feelings of anticipation and desire while opioids are associated with blissful pleasure and satisfaction.

What is the new Reese's shape? ›

For the first time, Reese's is adding a new summer Peanut Butter Cup shape for athletes and fans alike to enjoy. As a part of The Hershey's Company partnership with Team USA, you'll soon be able to stock up on limited-edition Reese's Medals—the brand's classic candy in the shape of the Olympic medallions.

Which holiday Reese's has the most peanut butter? ›

Dane Wilcox, a hot sauce maker from Oregon, has done the world a great service: He deconstructed Reese's candies to determine that Reese's Hearts — sold around Valentine's Day — have the highest peanut-butter-to-chocolate ratio.

Why are Reese's pumpkins better? ›

We discovered that it all comes down to the peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio. After cutting open a regular Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (pictured on the left) and a pumpkin-shaped Reese's (on the right), it's clear that the pumpkin-shaped cup has a much higher peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio.

Does Hershey own M&M? ›

In exchange for chocolate, Hershey would receive 20 percent stake in M&M Limited (which was named after Mars & Murrie). Mars eventually bought out Murrie's interest, but by then the name had already stuck. Hershey's Kisses and M&Ms fight for the top spot as America's top-selling candy.

Why do reeses eggs taste better? ›

The phenomenon has long been theorized upon, from TikTok videos to Quora threads, with many speculating on the cause for the seasonal Reese's commotion. One widely accepted theory claims that the ratio of chocolate to peanut butter differs from that of the typical cups.

Why is Reese's the best Halloween candy? ›

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

This candy was found at the top of nearly every list we reviewed. “Not only is it the greatest candy out there, it's also one of the greatest snacks, period, the perfect alchemy of peanut butter and chocolate. And it's so, so versatile… especially at Halloween,” writes Thrillist.

Why are Easter Reeses better? ›

This ratio difference likely has to do with the different shapes and lack of ridges on the holiday Reese's renditions. “Our enjoyment of certain foods can be heightened simply by the shape and mouthfeel of a product, such as Reese's holiday cups,” Dr.

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