Feature Photo by Brian Kachejian
We tested some of the biggest, richest Reese’s Big Cup flavors, and one of them completely stood above the rest. What started as a simple taste test quickly turned into a battle just to finish each one.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are one of the most loved snacks in candy history. There’s almost no one who doesn’t recognize that combination of chocolate and peanut butter, and for decades it has been one of the most consistent and popular candy products you can buy.
What’s incredible is how far the brand has expanded. What started as a simple peanut butter cup has turned into an entire lineup of variations, limited editions, and flavor experiments that push that original concept in all kinds of directions.
And then you have the Big Cups.
These are a whole different level of snack. They’re bigger, heavier, richer, and honestly, not that easy to get through. Eating one is a commitment. Eating several in one sitting, like we did for this test, is something else entirely.
That’s what made this taste test such a challenge. We weren’t just sampling small bites. We were dealing with full-sized, overloaded versions of an already rich candy, trying to break down which one actually delivers the best overall experience.
A Brief History of Reese’s
The Reese’s brand dates back to 1928, when H.B. Reese, a former dairy farmer and shipping foreman for Milton Hershey, created the original peanut butter cup in Hershey, Pennsylvania. What began as a small operation quickly grew into one of the most successful candy products in the United States.
Reese built his company independently at first, but the connection to Hershey remained strong. After his passing, the H.B. Reese Candy Company was eventually acquired by The Hershey Company in 1963, bringing Reese’s fully under the Hershey umbrella.
From that point forward, Reese’s became one of the cornerstone brands in American candy. The original peanut butter cup remained the foundation, but over time the company expanded into multiple formats, seasonal shapes, and eventually larger and more experimental versions like the Big Cup line.
The Big Cup itself represents an evolution of the original idea. It takes the familiar chocolate and peanut butter combination and increases the scale, then layers in additional ingredients like caramel, marshmallow, or flavored fillings to create something that feels more like a full dessert than a simple candy.
That expansion is exactly why a test like this matters. Not every variation improves on the original, and when you start adding more elements, balance becomes everything.
The Taste Test Begins
We went through multiple Reese’s Big Cup flavors, breaking each one down based on balance, texture, and overall flavor experience .
Strawberry Peanut Butter and Jelly Big Cup
Right out of the gate, this one set the tone.
Peanut butter and jelly is already a winning combination, and bringing that into a Reese’s format just works. The strawberry flavor added a sweetness that blended naturally with the peanut butter, creating something that felt familiar but still different enough to stand out.
It wasn’t overly complicated. It just worked.
Score: 10 out of 10
Chocolate Lava Big Cup
This one leaned hard into richness.
The idea is clear, recreate that molten chocolate dessert feel inside a Reese’s cup. And it does deliver on that concept. The chocolate filling is thick, heavy, and extremely rich.
But that richness can also be a drawback. Compared to the balance of the strawberry version, this one felt heavier and a bit overwhelming after a few bites.
Still, it’s strong, just not the best.
Score: 9 out of 10
Caramel Big Cup
This is where things really took off.
Caramel, chocolate, and peanut butter is a combination that already works across multiple candy bars, and Reese’s executes it perfectly here. The caramel adds a smooth, sweet layer that blends seamlessly with the peanut butter and chocolate.
It’s rich, but it stays balanced. Every bite feels full without being overwhelming.
At this point in the test, this one took the lead.
Score: 10.5 out of 10
Reese’s Pieces Big Cup
This one pushes things in a different direction.
You’re essentially getting peanut butter inside peanut butter, with the added crunch from the Reese’s Pieces. That texture helps, but the overall flavor becomes too one-dimensional.
There’s just too much peanut butter and not enough contrast to balance it out.
It’s not bad, but it doesn’t stand out.
Score: 7 out of 10
If you’re curious how classic candy flavors stack up, our M&M’s flavor rankings break things down even further.
Marshmallow Big Cup
This was the most unique of the group.
The marshmallow adds a completely different texture and flavor, creating a contrast with the peanut butter and chocolate that you don’t usually get in a Reese’s product.
There’s almost a push and pull happening between the flavors. The peanut butter dominates, but the marshmallow brings something different that keeps it interesting.
It’s creative, and it works, just not enough to take the top spot.
Score: 9 out of 10
The Winner
After going through all of them, one stood above the rest.
The Caramel Big Cup wins this taste test.
It delivered the best balance, the most enjoyable flavor combination, and the kind of experience that actually makes you want to go back for another bite, even after everything we went through.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t an easy test. These Big Cups are no joke.
By the time we got through all of them, it became clear that bigger doesn’t always mean better. The flavors that worked were the ones that found balance, not just overload.
Some of these pushed too far in one direction. Others found that perfect middle ground.
And in the end, that’s what decided it.
If you want to see how other candies stack up, check out our Best Candy Taste Tests and Rankings for more honest comparisons.
You can watch the entire taste test in the video below.
