REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

Information updated October 2023

Manufactured by The Hershey Company, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are one of the most popular candies in the U.S.

According to Hershey’s CEO, Reese’s is a $2 billion business. (Source: Food Business News 10/25/19)

Once upon a time, Reese’s Milk Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cups were made by the H.B. Reese Candy Company in Hershey, PA.

Before they were owned by Hershey, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were made with Cane Sugar and contained no Chemical Preservatives or man-made Acronym Ingredients such as TBHQ and PGPR, both of which are in Reese’s today.

Today, Reese’s is owned by Hershey and is one of their most popular brands. (Source: Hershey Web site 10/23)

HERSHEY’S REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS ARE BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups contain the laboratory-created Chemical Preservative Tert-Butylhydroquinone (a.k.a. TBHQ) which is banned at Whole Foods who cites it as, “Unacceptable in food”. (Source for Reese’s ingredients: Hershey Hersheyland Web site 10/23; Source for banned ingredients: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 10/23)

Manufactured Citric Acid is made using Aspergillus Niger (a.k.a. Black Mold) and has been added as a second man-made Chemical Preservative (in addition to the TBHQ); Citric Acid is recognized as a preservative by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (Source: U.S. FDA 2023)

Reese’s also contain another Acronym Ingredient — PGPR — which stands for Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate; it’s a man-made emulsifying agent which is cheaper than Cocoa Butter and is used to replace a portion of the Cocoa Butter >> the original version of Reese’s did not include PGPR or TBHQ. (Source: Historical Reese’s Package)

Here’s a look at ingredients which are Not In Kitchen™ in a Hershey’s Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup >> ingredients which are Not In Kitchen are commercial ingredients we would never have in our home kitchens is we were making chocolate peanut butter cups at home from scratch.

REESE’S COMPARISON: THEN vs. NOW

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups once had 9 ingredients and today they have 14 ingredients including PGPR, TBHQ and Citric Acid, all of which were not in Reese’s years ago. (Source: Historical Reese’s Package)

WHAT IS PGPR? From ingredient supplier Savannah Surfactants 10/23

Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate (PGPR) E 476 is an emulsifier manufactured from Interesterified Castor oil fatty acids and Polymerized Glycerol. PGPR works by reducing the friction between the particles of the solid ingredients in molten chocolate and reducing the surface tension or yield stress (Casson yield value) so that chocolate flows much more uniformly and in an easily controllable manner. This greatly aids the application of chocolate in bar-making, moulding, enrobing and coating. PGPR is also a cost-saving emulsifier as it reduces the quantity of fat required in chocolate production to achieve the desired chocolate viscosity.

REESE’S COMPARISON: Peanut Butter Cups vs. Reese’s Thins: You might think they have the same ingredients, but they don’t >> Reese’s Thins have 3 ingredients banned at Whole Foods including TBHQ and Hydrogenated Palm Oils vs. Reese’s Original Peanut Butter Cups with 1 ingredient banned at Whole Foods, TBHQ.

REESE’S COMPARISON: Peanut Butter Cups vs. Organic Reese’s

Below is a comparison of basic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups vs. the Organic version >> the Organic Reese’s has fewer ingredients and only one ingredient Not In Kitchen. The Organic Reese’s is closer to the original Reese’s recipe.

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS: Below are some yummy Peanut Butter Cups which have no PGPR, no TBHQ, no Citric Acid, no Hydrogenated Oils, no Soybean Oil or Added Flavors.

These include Hormel-owned Justin’s Organic Milk and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups which are Non-GMO Project Verified, certified Gluten Free and the Cocoa is certified by the Rainforest Alliance; Chocolove Non-GMO Project Verified Milk and Dark Cups both of which are Kosher and the Cocoa is certified by the Rainforest Alliance; Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan Unreal Peanut Butter Cups in Dark Chocolate Fair Trade and Vegan Certified; Kosher Theo Milk and Dark Peanut Butter Cups with Fair Trade Organic Cocoa and Cane Sugar; and Mondelez’s Organic Perfect Snacks Refrigerated Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt which is Non-GMO Project Verified and contains Fair Trade Organic Chocolate. (Sources: Brand Web sites 10/23)

*Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list*

See what’s in Reese’s Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups:

reese's plant based

Discover more food + beverages whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 275+ categories. Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list.

Closest To Homemade® Master List

Contact and follow us at: