Category Archives: Candy Bars

Cadbury Caramel Egg

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I used to be anxious about Easter time because I was waiting for the Cadbury Easter Egg to be sold at the corner store. But nowadays, I don’t get excited about that. Now, I get excited about Easter because of the Cadbury Caramel Egg. The Cadbury Caramel Egg took the rich milk chocolate from the regular Cadbury Egg and put a big gob of gooey caramel in the center. The best way to enjoy one of these is to bite off half of the egg to expose the creamy caramel nougat on the inside. Once exposed, you can either put rest of the candy in your mouth or you can do as I like to do – scoop the delicious nougat out of the bottom half of the egg with your tongue. This way, you can savor the creamy nougat taste and still have the rest of the milk chocolate egg to satisfy your sweet tooth. I like the Cadbury Caramel Egg much better than the original because the egg yolk-looking center in the original always seemed weird to me.

The wrapping for the Cadbury Caramel Egg was the first thing I noticed about the candy. The shiny gold foil wrapping automatically draws your attention to the potential goodness once you unwrap it. With spring flowers on the package, it also helps to get your in the mood for the warming spring season.

Another great thing about the Cadbury company, besides its amazing candy, is that they have an awesome interactive website for their customers or potential customers. Visitors to the site can take part in a virtual factory where you can make virtual chocolate and other deserts. Their website also offers a podcast competition that is open to the public. You might also enjoy the wide-variety of e-cards that you can send to friends or the Cadbury themes for desktops and screen savers, including ones where you can splat Cadbury eggs on your screen. Not only is their product fun to eat, but they also give their customers other great resources to have a good time.

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Whoppers Mini Robin Eggs

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How fun are these? I’m a huge fan of the original Whoppers candy that consists of crunchy chocolate milk balls, but these fun Mini Robin Eggs add a whole other element for Easter. As a bonus, since it is made by the Hershey Foods Corporation, you know you can’t go wrong eating these little things. Just in time for Easter with spring in the air, these candies are pastel colored in a wide variety of colors. They also look like Easter eggs with the added speckled touch on each piece. The mini eggs come in pastel purple, pink, blue, white and yellow so they would make a great display for Easter or the upcoming spring season if you have a clear candy dish in your home.

I love the interior of these candies, but I’m not a big fan of the hard candy coating. It doesn’t taste bad, but it’s a little too crunchy for my taste. But because of the inside, I couldn’t put the small milk-carton shaped box down until they were gone. The carton resembles the traditional Whopper carton, but it has a robin and some eggs on it to remind you of the approaching season. Each piece tasted the same so there was no variation in taste in relation to the color. In each carton, you get approximately 24 “eggs?? and there is only 5 grams of fat for every 24 pieces.

The Whoppers candy has had a long history in the United States satisfying many sweet tooths across the nation. When it was made popular several decades ago, the Whopper candies were sold as individual unwrapped pieces and you could but a couple for merely a penny. After a few years, the company decided to wrap each candy individually and sell them for a couple cents. Today, you can still go to your local candy store and buy Whoppers candies in bulk as individual pieces. Unfortunately, they’re not really a penny each like the used to be. Most candy places now sell by the pound, but whatever the price is, you won’t be disappointed.

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Hershey Easter Miniatures

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I love Hershey Miniature candy bars. I love all of the Hershey products and the Hershey Miniatures line brings many of their best products into one bag. I can enjoy the various tastes of the Hershey candy bars without the guilt of eating an entire candy bar. By the time I’m doing enjoying the Hershey’s miniatures, however, I’ve probably ingested the equivalent of two full-size candy bars. The small size is great for others, though. You can enjoy a small piece of candy after dinner to satisfy your sweet tooth, but without the guilt of eating too many calories.

Hershey Miniatures come in a bag of individually wrapped small candy bars. The most popular line of miniatures includes the following:

Krackel – crisped rice in milk chocolate. If you’ve had a Nestle bar, you know what this is. But Hershey Krackel is comparable if not better. This is my personal favorite because I like the crunch in addition to the milk chocolate creaminess. For Easter, this one comes individually wrapped in pink pastel foil.

Mr. Goodbar – I’m not a huge fan of peanuts, but I enjoy Mr. Goodbar. Pretty much anything mixed with chocolate tastes good – that’s my theory. This simple mixture is delicious, but it’s just not my preference. For the Easter line of Hershey Miniatures, the Mr. Goodbar variety comes individually wrapped in pastel yellow.

Milk Chocolate – There really are few things that compare to the simple and exquisite taste of plain Hershey’s milk chocolate. Without any other frills or combinations, Hershey Milk Chocolate stands alone as one of the best tastes in the world…or at least that’s my opinion. For Easter, this miniature candy bar is wrapped in shiny turquoise blue foil which is a stunning contrast to the other colors in the package.

Mildly Sweet Special Dark Chocolate – I’m not a huge dark chocolate fan, so this is my least favorite Hershey Miniature. Don’t get me wrong, though. I still enjoy it. But if I have to choose between the four, this one would be my least favorite. For Easter, this one is wrapped in a shiny green foil.

You just really can’t go wrong with anything made by Hershey’s. Their miniatures line has been satisfying sweet tooths for almost 70 years and they continue to please candy lovers. Recently, the company has began offering a nut-lovers line of miniatures. Although I’m not a big fan of nuts in my candy bars, I’m excited to try these next.

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Zagnut Bar

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So, Hershey’s has a little secret. Why have you been holding out on us, oh corporate chocolate giant? The secret is Zagnut, a candy bar known for it’s red wrapper, pinball-game font proudly displaying the name. It’s a crunchy, peanut buttery center rolled in toasted coconut—with no chocolate. If you can imagine the crispy layers of a Butterfinger bar with a coconut coating instead of the chocolate shell, that’s very much what Zagnut tastes like. A candy bar with no chocolate—that’s different all right. But the taste is really actually unique and good. I can’t say that I missed the chocolate component all that much, because this bar had the right stuff. It was sweet but refreshing… a wholesome yet tropical taste experience that I’d have over and over again.

Since not everyone goes running out for a candy bar without chocolate, it’s said that most Zagnut bars are sold online rather than in stores. Hershey’s meet the needs of their niche market quite well, especially during summer months when chocolate sales go down. Though I don’t think I’d be tempted to order mass quantities online, I can certainly understand needing to feed an addiction for that one special candy that makes any rainy day shine, or the one sentimental sweet from childhood that takes you back. As a nostalgia candy, the Zagnut bar is worth keeping around. But first-timers are always welcome.

And just to unleash another little secret: the birth of this candy bar isn’t all thanks to Hershey’s. As early as 1930, you could find this delicious treat on sale courtesy of the D.L. Clark company, which has sold its business in the past decade to other candy companies. The Zagnut bar was saved (phew!) and acquired by the Hershey’s brand pretty recently, in 1996. It’s a good thing, because now the many Zagnut fans can pass this candy bar on to their future generations and keep spreading the good news that has for so long been a secret to many.

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Nestle Grand Turtles White Fudge

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What have we here? The Nestle Grand white Fudge Turtle, a Nestle Signatures treat. I opened up the package to see what looked like a white-chocolate covered Oreo cookie, so I figured we were off to a good start. (That type of Oreo may be one of my favorite things about the Christmas season, so much that I’ve started dipping them myself.) One bite into the turtle, and I was overwhelmed by the flavor of white chocolate. White chocolate is a good taste most of the time, but the thickness of the “white fudge??? as they call it, was overwhelming the rest of the flavors of this candy. And it was really a bit too sweet, if you ask me.

The white chocolate layer surrounds another level of milk chocolate containing caramel, pecans, and cashews all tucked into this 2-inch disc. Because so much chocolate covers the turtle, you can’t see its traditional little legs, made of nuts. Which shouldn’t really matter all that much to chocolate fans. Of this turtle, I’d have to say I’m not that much of a fan. I mean, Nestle does okay on this one, though less white fudge would have made for a better premium candy. I think there was just too much confusion among the many competing tastes or flavors, shooting it’s overall score down a few notches.

Nestle, a Switzerland-based chocolatier, first came to us in 1866. For over a century, they’ve been serving up the goods, but the company today does so much more. Bottled water (Mmm, chocolate water might be nice), milk, coffee, seasonings and pet food make up its diverse product lines. But remarkably, the company got its start in baby foods. The Nestle Grand White Fudge Turtle isn’t for kids—that’s for sure. They would be prone to a sugar rush that could last for days on end. Keep this far from your children, or they are liable to suffer a tummy ache from the sickly sweetness.

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Hershey’s Cajeta Elegancita

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How did Hershey’s, a brand founded in southern Pennsylvania, move south? It was simple, really. By forming a partnership with Latin singer/actress Thalia Sodi in 2004, the Hershey’s brand is strategically positioned to appeal to a Hispanic marketplace. The Cajeta Elegancita candy bar is just one product in the Hershey’s product line that Thalia herself promotes: La Dulceria Thalia (also known as Thalia’s Candy Store). In addition to sponsoring her U.S. tour, Hershey’s will participate in other promotions to pimp these candy bars to a Spanish-speaking audience. Some problems arose, however, when the candy bar with the flavor of “cajeta??? (a caramelized milk used in many desserts) was advertised in print magazines. In some Latin countries, like Argentina, the word cajeta is slang for female anatomy. Oops! A big mistake, but forgivable for many, who aren’t familiar with the term’s offensiveness in their native dialect.

Scandal aside, Hershey’s Cajeta Elegancita bar will be judged by its taste and taste alone. And I’m the self-appointed judge. I opened the wrapper to discover a sweet, coconut smell. I’m expecting a wafer candy bar with light chocolate coating, and I actually get two twin bars, like in a Twix package. The Cajeta Elegancita is kind of dry—the top of the wafer is not covered at all, merely drizzled with chocolate. It is supposed to have dulce leche (sweetened milk)—that’s the “Cajeta??? part. I suppose it does have a milky flavor, but it comes in more of a powdery taste than a liquid silk. The bar itself is okay, but nothing to write home about. It does remind me of some of the cookies I bought on trips to South America, so the authenticity is there. Anyway, it’s Hershey’s, so I don’t think they’ll have a problem making a few bucks. I’d personally be willing to try anything with the Hershey’s name attached to it, even more from La Dulceria Thalia.

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Reese’s Big Cup with Mixed Nuts

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Take the classic Reese’s cup. Make it twice as thick as a normal cup. Add peanuts. Add almonds. Add cashews. Add pecans and peanuts. With mixed nuts added to the already creamy, peanut buttery center, this is a formula for greatness. The new Big Cup with Mixed Nuts is Reese’s limited edition treat, to go one step further than the Big Cup with nuts (all peanuts). You won’t get as much Reese’s goodness as you would by eating two normal-size cups, but you will enjoy a hearty candy snack that’s only for serious candy aficionados. From the minute I opened the wrapper, I was assaulted by a strong whiff of peanut butter. I liked this candy, though it should be eaten with caution. Once you try this special edition, you will want to get another one. My only complaint was that it tasted a little greasy, like those Little Debbie brownies with nuts. (If you press the nuts between your fingers, you will get a little pool of grease, and I would have to imagine this would be the same.) Oh, and you shouldn’t come within ten feet of this if you have a nut allergy. Even the smell of all these nuts is enough to tackle you to the ground, if you’re not crazy about them.

I’m a huge Reese’s fan. In fact, I buy this Hershey’s-owned brand of candy often—second only in candy devotion to my beloved Snickers bar. The original was created in 1928 by dairyman H.B. Reese. With the wide number of variations on the standard cup (miniatures, cups made of white chocolate, with or without nuts, with or without caramel, Reese’s pieces), there’s something for everyone. And, as the decades-ago ad campaign stated, “There’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s.??? I’ll take you on your word there, and eat it in the car, in bed, at work, in the morning, in the evening…. And mom, I promise I won’t turn into one.

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Crown Jewels Mint Chocolate Truffles

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The Crown Jewels brand has been perfecting the truffle since 1992, and the company assembles chocolate-covered mint, cherry, orange, raspberry, creamy caramel candies and more out of its Salt Lake City, Utah manufacturer. With eight pieces in a box and each one individually wrapped, Crown Jewels Mint Chocolate Truffles are, as the box says, delicious. Each rectangular truffle is about half the size of your normal “fun size??? candy bar. But unlike your run-of-the-mill candy bar, this chocolate really has a sophisticated, gourmet taste. I bit into my first Crown Jewels truffle loving the milk chocolate outside but adoring the creamy, cool taste of melt-away mint chocolate cream inside. I’d compare it to the types of candy you get in a heart-shaped box on Valentine’s Day. You want to eat them all at once, but you hate the thought of finishing the box so much that you always save some for later. And eating the last filled candy is the most painful, because then it’s all over.

I think it’s appropriate to eat this candy in several bites to get the most out of it, but you can down the whole thing in one bite if you’d rather. Whatever you do, just try these. They are, as the brand states, crown jewels, and a cut above the competition. The only thing I disagree with is the company’s on-the-box claim that the chocolates are “individually wrapped in beautiful foil.??? Whether or not that’s important, I’d have to say that there is nothing beautiful about the foil wrapping on these truffles. In fact, the mint green wrappers are quite plain, without any design or even a brand name on the packaging. (Some of Crown Jewels products do have the name—it just depends on what type of box you buy.) Pretty nondescript, but these make great basket fillers or stocking stuffers. It’s a good thing we all learned not to judge a book by its cover or a candy by its outer shell. You don’t want to miss out on this sensational sweet treat in the chocolate truffle industry.

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Palmer Mini Peanut Butter Cups

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If candy lived in Hollywood, Palmer’s mini peanut butter cups would be the next great, undiscovered talent. Palmer really steals the limelight by making peanut butter cups without those cumbersome paper wrappers. Really, you don’t miss unwrapping these things—they are just fine without. But making them tinier than Reese’s miniature peanut butter cups was an even better idea. Here’s why: You get loads and loads of chocolate in perfect ratio to the peanut butter, and you can eat them by the handful. I can’t say that the flavor is equal to that of Reese’s, but the taste is good. Smooth, creamy and rich, these are a real chocolate treat. Dozens and dozens of tiny chocolate-covered peanut butter cups come tumbling out of this 5-ounce box, the size of boxed candy you’d buy at a movie theater. And with this product, Palmer delivers plenty of choco-peanut-licious flavor to share with friends or family.

And maybe that’s because Palmer is a family-run candy business that opened in 1878 as a fresh-fruit wholesaler. The founder’s great-great-grandson currently runs the op—that’s five generations of wholesome familial love and history poured into their products. The Palmer company branched out to manufacture chocolates, penny candies and gumdrops in the early 1900s. Palmer put the fruit sales to rest by 1970 and switched to candy production full time. Known widely in the Midwest for their Twin Bing candy bar (a cherry nougat center wrapped in chocolate and crushed nuts), Palmer also focuses on seasonal candies and bulk candy sales to grocery stores and specialty shops. But back to the mini p.b. cups. These candies are absolutely worth a try. If you don’t like them as much as other brands, you will at least like them enough to finish the box. But if you don’t eat it all in one sitting, take note: the chocolate will go stale and start to taste funny if you leave the box open (there’s no good way to seal it). That’s just one more reason to share it with some friends.

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Milky Way Midnight

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I am a huge fan of dark chocolate, so this one definitely caught my attention: a Milky Way bar covered in DARK chocolate. What more could I ask for??? Original Milky Way bars have been in production for over 80 years, and it was Mars, Inc’s first candy bar! When it was first made in the 1920s, a bar cost only 5¢! For a while, the company changed the name to the “Forever Yours?? bar, but finally in 2000, it earned the name Midnight for its rich, delicious dark chocolate.

Milky Way bars consist of a thick layer of nougat, which is heavily drizzled with caramel and covered in chocolate—dark chocolate in the case of the mighty Midnight. I’ve heard the nougat be described as creamy goodness, and I must say I agree. However, the chocolate coating makes a difference. In the Midnight, the nougat seems to have a more refined, bittersweet taste, whereas the milk chocolate-coated Milky Way bar tastes sweeter. The only downs side to the MW Midnight is that, like other caramel-filled candy bars, the caramel and nougat have an innate tendency to stick to anything, and in this case teeth are the obvious victims…

According to a 13-year-old Milky Way Midnight lover who wears braces, this candy bar is the worst of the best. That is, it’s one of her favorite candy bars, but she constantly gets that “sticky goodness?? stuck to her teeth. Still, she says that doesn’t stop her from enjoying the Midnight bar once in a while.  I tried to avoid so much stickiness by putting the bar in the freezer and trying to break it up and eat it frozen. Don’t try this at home. I’ve known other chocolate-covered nougat bars to taste great frozen, not to mention they’re not as sticky.  However, this one’s too big and just gets too hard to even chew!  Enjoy this at room temperature is my very strong suggestion.

One could even compare the MW Midnight bar to a dark chocolate Twix bar, only chewier. If you’re a fan of Twix bars and want to try something similar, but chewier, I would highly recommend the Milky Way Midnight. Not only is it chewier, but it’s also less sweet than the Twix and regular Milky Way bars. However, be prepared for it sticking to your teeth, because unless you are a master of caramel, this one’s bound to stick on you.

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