# Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - The Change **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2026, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318 "2026-11-01T11:50:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/41 "2026-11-02T18:56:35Z")
Thank you Chefguy! ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/42 "2026-11-02T21:47:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I honestly can’t tell any difference Same. I snacked on some of my leftover Halloween candy yesterday, including some Reese’s Cups, and I didn’t notice anything different about them. Nothing seemed “off” or “wrong” about them to me. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/43 "2026-11-02T21:59:49Z")
It’s weird, because the folks at Reddit seem to think I’m crazy for not noticing a difference, like it’s something quite obvious. _shrug_ I had one a couple hours ago, and I’m still trying to figure out what people are picking up on. Is it the chocolate? The peanut butter? Both? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/44 "2026-11-02T22:16:31Z")
Well, this is validating. We got a bunch in my son’s Halloween haul and they are garbage. I feel like all chocolate bars are going downhill though. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/45 "2026-11-02T22:18:43Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > My mom and I used to make [Buckeyes](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/9909/buckeyes-i/). Pretty much the same thing, just different shape. They are delicious. Buckeyes are a million times more delicious than even old-school Reese’s. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/46 "2026-11-02T22:53:17Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups are really _really_ good. All this chatter about peanut butter cups forced me to buy some. I didn’t want to. You people forced me to do it. I feel I cannot be held responsible for acting under duress. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/47 "2026-11-02T23:24:37Z")
For whoever asked, it is the “chocolate” on the outside that has been messed with. It very much reminded me of that year in the 70’s when my Mom tried to convince herself that carob was a perfectly good substitute for cocoa (and somehow better for us?) The Butterfingers tasted fine to me, but I think the peanut m&ms were the winner of the night. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/48 "2026-11-03T00:01:53Z")
The best way I can think of to describe it is something’s off with the texture. The chocolate feels as soft as the peanut butter. Do not like. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/49 "2026-11-03T01:24:03Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Buckeyes are a million times more delicious than even old-school Reese’s. Whenever I go to my home state of Ohio, I try to pick up a box from [Malley’s](https://malleys.com/products/buckeyes-14-5-oz-box?srsltid=AYCX9vKkYVJkziHzqkWtRZQ_t6fo9RR_LsliDNTNaXzuTrpJW6UXZFfu). > [@Tamerlane](#): > > I feel I cannot be held responsible for acting under duress. Ah, an arm successfully twisted! :cackles: ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/50 "2026-11-03T01:43:20Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > The chocolate feels as soft as the peanut butter. You glance sideways at them, and they melt. That might be a slight exaggeration. Very slight. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/51 "2026-11-03T14:19:39Z")
I just took one from the fridge in hopes it would help. Can’t say that it did. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/52 "2026-11-04T10:11:19Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > You glance sideways at them, and they melt. When I was sneaking one (or more) from our bowl pre-Halloween, it was impossible to get it out of the paper cup without a bunch of “chocolate” sticking to it. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderMagnolia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@LavenderMagnolia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderMagnolia)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2026, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/53 "2026-11-07T14:36:52Z")
I ate Reese’s cups last night and they were terrible. The peanut butter was an odd light color (compared to how it used to be) and almost crumbled out. The chocolate had a somewhat dry texture. I checked the expiration date: it was over five months away. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/54 "2026-11-07T17:31:15Z")
It was explained to me once, about chocolate candy in general, that this happens when the product has melted and then reconstituted (?) in normal temperatures. The explainer is no expert; just your typical know-it-all. Does seem plausible, thoough. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderMagnolia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@LavenderMagnolia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderMagnolia)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/56 "2026-11-07T22:51:06Z")
Sounds reasonable. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/57 "2026-11-07T22:57:42Z")
I think it’s called chocolate bloom. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/58 "2026-11-07T23:30:09Z")
Chocolate that gets that powdery whiteness is still safe to eat. It can be a fat bloom, meaning temperature fluctuations have separated some of the fat out from the emulsion; or it can be a sugar bloom, which is caused by humidity dissolving some of the sugar which then reforms on the surface. It will taste about the same as before, but have a grainy texture. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318/59 "2026-11-08T04:17:14Z")
What I noticed through eating some of the leftover Halloween candy (we had a rather thin year of Trick-or-Treaters) is that all I tasted was the peanut butter part. They’ve thinned out the chocolate part as far as they realistically can, so it wasn’t balanced between the chocolate and peanut butter like they were. The peanut butter was always kind of awful; the combination of it and chocolate worked somehow, but when they were in balance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-the-change/1034318.md?page=2)