Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Cups vs. Reese’s Cups – Who’s the Real Winner?

Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Cups vs. Reese’s Cups – Who’s the Real Winner?

By Brinley Toponce

 

Peanut butter and chocolate combined is one of the best creations of mankind. Everything from ice cream to popcorn, pretzels to cookies have an option for peanut butter and chocolate flavors. There is one treat, however, that comes to mind first when the words “chocolate” and “peanut butter” are said together . . . the peanut butter cup. Though Reese’s has been a popular peanut and chocolate brand for decades, Trader Joe’s underdog version of the deliciously rich treat might be rising above.

 

The Ratio of Chocolate to Peanut Butter

One of the main differences between the two brands is the ratio of chocolate to peanut butter. In the Reese’s cup, there is a thin lining of chocolate all around the peanut butter. It is mostly made of peanut butter filling, and the chocolate is the same consistency as the peanut butter because it is so thin. As for the Trader Joe’s brand, there is more chocolate, and it is thicker and harder than the Reese’s cup. There is a distinguished difference between where the creamy peanut butter ends, and the smooth chocolate begins. This peanut butter cup also has a more equal ratio of chocolate to peanut butter. Preferences for the different taste profiles can change, depending on the day, place, or person.

 

Flavor… What’s the Difference?

Many might argue that the flavor is the same. It’s just chocolate and peanut butter, so how different can they be?

Very different.

Reese’s has a flavor that is recognized by most people. Whether it’s Reese’s Pieces, Reese’s cups, or Reese’s cereal, they all taste the same. In the Reese’s cup, the chocolate and the peanut butter filling taste the same. They both taste like the iconic Reese’s flavor with no separation from the chocolate to the peanut butter. Reese’s is a milk chocolate peanut butter cup and often has “limited edition” flavors. While most of the cup tasted the same, the attraction is in the limited-edition flavors and the crunch, texture, and different taste that they offer. In the Trader Joe’s cups, however, the chocolate is a milk or dark chocolate shell that is hard but smooth at the same time. The peanut butter tastes like real peanut butter (with a little bit more sugar, of course) and pairs perfectly with the chocolate layer. The decision of which one is better might depend on whether you like the iconic flavor of Reese’s or not.

 

 

Price Differences

When you get down to the cold hard truth, both brands are making the same thing. One might taste a little better than the other, but it is the same kind of candy with just a little bit of difference. The real question is which one is more affordable? Which one can you fit into the budget more?

At Trader Joe’s, you can buy a 16-ounce box of peanut butter cups for $5.99. For a 17-ounce bag of Reese’s cups, it is $9.74. This is a big price difference, considering that the Reese’s bag is only one ounce bigger than the Trader Joe’s Brand, but almost 4 dollars more expensive. At first glance, I thought this was crazy. Who would buy Reese’s if there was a Trader Joe’s down the block that sold the same product? Then I realized that not everyone has a Trader Joe’s down the block. Reese’s has an advantage.

 

Reese’s Advantage in the Competition

Trader Joe’s has 593 locations and 193 of these locations are in California (The Dining Destination). This means that not everyone has access to Trader Joe’s to buy these delicious treats. There are no Trader Joe’s stores in South Dakota, North Dakota, Hawaii, Alaska, and many other states and there are none in smaller towns across the country. For myself, the closest Trader Joe’s is more than two hours away. Reese’s, however, is everywhere. Not only are they sold just in the United States, but they are also sold worldwide. Reese’s is more available to everyone and is found in almost every concession stand, grocery store, and candy bouquet in the United States alone.

As you can see from the map below, many states only have one or two Trader Joe’s stores spread across the whole state. This means that for the smaller towns and people not living in big cities, Reese’s will be the easiest way to go. Trader Joe’s might be saved for days when a road trip can happen.

 

 

So… Which is Better?

It is hard to pass up the delicious, mouth-watering flavors and texture of the Trader Joe’s peanut butter cup. While Reese’s is also tasty, Trader Joe’s knows how to make it right. In the end, the decision is a personal matter and only you can decide which one you like more. In your process, though, you might want to consider the ratio of peanut butter to chocolate, flavor differences, price differences, and your personal location.

 

Works Cited

Panzella, Alexander. “The Complete Guide to Trader Joe’s Store Locations - the Dining

            Destination.” The Dining Destination -, 26 June 2025, thediningdestination.net/trader-

            joes/.