Milk Chocolate Archives - Page 6 of 23

March 11, 2021March 14, 2021 Michael

Reese’s Crispy Crunchy – Much Better than the Competition

Candy Bars

I mentioned in my review of the Clark Bar that I thought I had finally reviewed every candy bar in the genre of crispy, sugary, and peanut buttery (stuff like 5th Avenue, Butterfinger, and Crispy Crunch). But it turns out there is (at least) one more: Reese’s Crispy Crunchy, a bar whose very existence had somehow completely passed me by until recently.

And I guess I saved the best for last (is it the last, though? Probably not); this one is everything I wanted all the others to be.

It’s a bit different from the others — along with the crispy peanut butter candy and the chocolate exterior, it features peanut chunks and actual peanut butter.

First point in its favour: it’s coated with a very generous amount of real milk chocolate. This is in contrast to the waxy mockolate you’ll find on a Butterfinger or a 5th Avenue.

Second point in its favour: between the thin layer of peanut butter and the peanut pieces on its exterior, Reese’s Crispy Crunchy has a very pronounced PB-infused flavour that the other bars are lacking. It’s quite satisfying.

Third point in its favour: the crispy peanut butter candy in the middle is surprisingly delicate, with a wafer-like lightness that doesn’t stick to your teeth.

I have no idea why this isn’t a bigger deal, because it’s clearly the king of this type of candy bar. My only real complaint is that it is very, very sweet — unlike most Reese’s products, it doesn’t really have a salty kick to balance out the sweetness. But that’s a minor complaint for a top-notch bar.

Manufactured by: Hershey
Nutritional info (1/3 pack, 29 grams): 140 calories, 8 grams of fat (3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 50 mg sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 13 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fibre, 3 grams of protein.
Ingredients: Peanuts, milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, skim milk, lactose, milk fat, lecithin (soy), PGPR), sugar, corn syrup, vegetable oil (palm kernel oil, palm oil), contains 2% or less of: molasses, cocoa, whey (milk), salt, lecithin (soy), artificial flavor, TBHQ and citric acid, to maintain freshness.

February 25, 2021February 25, 2021 Michael

Milky Way (European) – Like 3 Musketeers, But Different

Candy Bars

This is the Polish version of Milky Way, though as far as I’m aware, all European versions of this candy bar are the same. That’s not true for the American Milky Way, however, which is what the rest of the world knows as a Mars Bar.

European Milky Way, on the other hand, is closer to the candy bar that we know as 3 Musketeers in North America. Confused yet?

Yes, the European Milky Way is reminiscent of 3 Musketeers, but different enough to feel distinct. The consistency of the fluffy nougat is about the same, but the flavour is entirely different; the stuff in a 3 Musketeers bar has a mildly chocolatey flavour, while the filling here has more of a malty kick. It’s interesting — it almost tastes like Maltesers, but soft and chewy instead of light and crispy.

It’s a bit grainy, however. I’m not sure if the chocolate or the nougat is the culprit, but the texture is slightly off. Still, it’s tasty enough, and if you assumed it was just going to be 3 Musketeers under a different name, it’s worth seeking out.

Manufactured by: Mars
Nutritional info (1 bar, 21.5 grams): 97 calories, 3.6 grams of fat (1.7 grams of saturated fat, unknown grams of trans fat), 0 mg of cholesterol, 80 mg of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, unknown grams of fibre, 13 grams of sugar, 0.8 grams of protein.
Ingredients (Google translated from Polish): Sugar, glucose syrup, skimmed milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, sunflower oil, milk fat, palm oil, lactose and milk, whey powder (from milk), barley, barley extract, emulsifier (soy lecithin), egg powder, milk protein, natural vanilla extract.

February 21, 2021February 21, 2021 Michael

Reese’s Bar – Like a Reese Peanut Butter Cup with More Chocolate

Candy Bars

I don’t normally comment on (or care about) candy bar packaging, but the wrapper for Reese’s Bar is admirably uncluttered and really catches your eye. I like it.

Okay, maybe I’m commenting on the packaging because there isn’t a whole lot to say about this one — it’s pretty much exactly what it looks like. If you enjoy Reese Peanut Butter Cups but wish the PB-to-chocolate ratio were skewed a bit more in favour of the chocolate, then Reese’s Bar will be right up your alley.

I actually do wish that a Reese Peanut Butter Cup featured more chocolate, but this is a clear case of being careful about what you wish for, because the Hershey chocolate here is… well, it’s Hershey chocolate. It is what it is.

The whole thing is tasty enough, but the very sweet milk chocolate is overwhelming; the nice salty counterbalance you get in a standard Reese PB Cup is somewhat minimized.

Still. It’s peanut butter and chocolate. That’s never not going to be tasty.

Manufactured by: Hershey
Nutritional info (4 blocks, 40 grams): 200 calories, 12 grams of fat (6grams of saturated fat, 0.1 grams of trans fat), 5 mg of cholesterol, 80 mg of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 1 grams of fibre, 22 grams of sugar, 3 gram of protein.
Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugars (sugar, lactose), cocoa butter, milk ingredients, unsweetened chocolate, lecithin (soy), polyglycerol polyricinoleate), peanuts, sugars (sugar, dextrose), cocoa butter, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, hydrogenated palm oil, palm kernel oil, salt, corn starch, TBHQ, citric acid.

February 17, 2021February 20, 2021 Michael

Huckleberry Gems – Like Viva Puffs without the Cookie

Marshmallow Treats

I learned something today: I had assumed that huckleberry wasn’t an actual thing, like a bumbleberry, but nope, it’s real. It apparently tastes like a blueberry, and it’s the state fruit of Idaho. So I suppose there are a bunch of Idahoans currently shaking their head at my disturbing lack of huckleberry knowledge.

Here’s the other odd thing: Huckleberry Gems, which the wrapper describes as “huckleberry marshmallow creme covered in rich milk chocolate,” contains zero huckleberries or anything even huckleberry-adjacent. A quick perusal of the ingredients confirms that no fruit was harmed in the making of this product.

That’s never a great sign, but this turned out to be decent enough. The marshmallow is creamy and not too rubbery, the chocolate is okay if overly sweet, and despite the odd lack of fruit in the ingredients, it has a pleasantly berry-tinged flavour. It reminded me of a more chocolatey version of Viva Puffs (which I just discovered is a Canadian thing; sorry Americans, you’re missing out) but without the cookie.

It’s fine, but honestly, if I’m craving something like this, I’d rather just have a Viva Puff.

Manufactured by: Idaho Candy Co.
Nutritional info (2 pieces, 34 grams): 140 calories, 4 grams of fat (2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 10 mg sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 20 grams of sugar, 0 grams of fibre, 1 gram of protein.
Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, chocolate liquor, soy lecithin (added as an emulsifier), and vanilla), corn syrup, sugar, invertsweet congealed sugar, sorbitol, gelatin, egg albumen, natural and artificial flavors, invertase (glycerine and aqueous extract of invertase from yeast and sodium citrate), and glycerine.

February 14, 2021February 20, 2021 Michael

Coffee Crisp Stix: Salted Caramel – Sweet Wafery Goodness

Candy Bars

What is that thick layer in the middle of a Coffee Crisp? Flavoured white chocolate? I honestly have no idea.

Whatever it is, it’s missing from Coffee Crisp Stix. I would have thought that this would make this thing taste less like Coffee Crisp and more like a generic wafer bar, but its identity is relatively intact; it definitely has the distinctive flavour of its namesake.

I basically tastes like a lighter, more wafery version of Coffee Crisp. It’s tasty in most of the same ways, so suffice it to say, if you like Coffee Crisp you’re probably going to like this (and if you’re not Canadian and have no idea what Coffee Crisp is — don’t worry, you’re not missing out on anything too mind-blowing).

I’m pretty sure the exterior is actually mockolate and not chocolate (it’s pretty waxy), but it’s thin enough that it’s not really a big deal.

As for the salted caramel, I didn’t notice much of a caramel flavour, but there’s definitely a mild saltiness that does a nice job of complimenting the bar’s sweetness.

Manufactured by: Nestle
Nutritional info (2 bars, 32 grams): 160 calories, 8 grams of fat (4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat), 5 mg cholesterol, 65 mg of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fibre, 14 grams of sugar, 2 grams of protein.
Ingredients: Sugar, modified palm and vegetable oils, wheat flour, modified milk ingredients, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, salt, coffee, cocoa, baking soda, yeast, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, protease, xylanase, natural flavours.