Last updated 4 months ago | Originally Published: September 8, 2021

The True Legacy Of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

This story of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups begins in York County, Pennsylvania, home to nearly half a million people. Its history includes that of a candy developer who would go on to change the world.

H. B. Reese was born mid-year in 1879 on a farm where he would work for numerous years. Later in life, Reese searched for a new career path so that he could better care for his family. He took on a few job positions prior to his candy ventures, including a canning business employee and a dairy farm manager.

In 1919, his work position fell through, leaving him in need of a new immediate job. Everything began to shift for Reese from this point forward. In fact, his first dive into the candy industry started with the R&R Candy Co, which primarily sold chocolate-covered treats to surrounding shops.

Unfortuantely, this venture was short-lived, as he thought he could get more out of it by making adjustments. These changes included a business rebranding, newly ranked staff, and sophisticated equipment to make it all happen. 

On The Brink Of Success

Unfortunately, R&R Candy Co. ended up unsuccessful despite Mr. Reese’s best efforts. Luckily, his failures didn’t deter him and instead set him on the path to creating a highly successful candy business known as the H. B. Reese Candy Company.

This company went on to provide more than enough support for his extensive family. Indeed, what started as a company production of around 12 candies grew into a multi-million dollar business!

That’s right; Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups became the business’ sole focus and led to a merger with The Hershey company. Now, the chocolatey treat is among the top 5 in the United States. 

In 2020, the annual sales for top candy brands included approximately 710 million for M&Ms and 412 million for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Now, that’s just impressive, wouldn’t you agree? Determination and hard work always pay off if you keep pushing, this is proof.

Variations Of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

What originally started as a single cup now includes Reese’s Pieces, sticks, dark chocolate, white chocolate, NutRageous, Take 5, Fast Break, stuffed, minis, and thins.

Each variation has evolved to be widely popular in the states and is for sale in many grocery stores, supermarkets, gas stations, and of course, at online candy stores, such as Candy Retailer.

More Respectable Facts About This Brand

• In the face of hardship during World War II, sugar and chocolates became scarce. Peanut butter, however, continued to be widely available. While the chocolate shortage affected other candy providers entirely, Reese was able to continue. He quit making his other 12 candies and focused solely on the most effective product he had.

• Another Reece’s product wins hearts all over again! After Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups, Hershey’s took to developing a spin-off product. This product’s first name was PBs but later became Reeces Pieces! The new development was fairly unpopular until the product was briefly featured in a popular movie. E. T, which aided in the sharp increase in sales of this new product.

• Another Win for Reece’s! The peanut butter cups showcase in the movie E. T. appeared to be written in the stars. Other companies received an offer before Reece’s, including M&Ms. They declined, and the feature went to Reece’s. You can still buy them until this day, including here at Candy Retailer.

Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Recipes

The Reece’s Peanut butter cup is a delectable treat on its own, so it’s no surprise many have attempted to make it even better. With hundreds of Recee’s recipes available, it can be hard to select one that has the Wow factor. These recipes are both fun and tasty and require less than TIME each. Get ready to love peanut butter cups even more!

Homemade Cookie Bars

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 24 minutes

Total Time: 44 minutes

All detailed ingredients make 9 servings of cookie bars.

Ingredients:

• 1 and 3/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 8 Tbsp of room temperature Unsalted Butter
• 1/2 cup of packed Light Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
• 12 oz of chopped up Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Instructions For Prep And Cooking:

Dough Preparation

1. Begin by preheating the oven to 325° Fahrenheit. Next, spray a 9″ x 9″ baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Feel free to use a smaller pan for thicker cookie bars.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside the bowl of fully incorporated dry ingredients.

3. In a standing mixer, mix your butter, both sugars, and peanut butter together until the consistency is light and creamy. This process should take around 3 to 4 minutes.

4. Add eggs to your butter mixture one at a time. Keep mixing speed to low with each additional egg. Add vanilla and continue to mix on low until all ingredients are fully blended. Final mixing should take around 1 minute.

5. Add dry mix to the butter mixture and incorporate fully at a low speed until the ingredients are combined.

6. Stir in your peanut butter cups.

7. Pour the finished batter into the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the middle is set, or around 26 to 28 minutes. For pans less than 9 inches by 9 inches, add 4 to 6 minutes of cooking time.

8. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.

9. Slice the cookies and serve! These bars can remain sealed at room temp for as long as 3 days.

Peanut Butter Cup Cake

Prep Time: 1 Hour

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 1 Hour 25 minutes

All detailed ingredients make 15 servings of cake.

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 large eggs (room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup of coffee

Instructions For Prep And Cooking:

Cake Preparation:

1. Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Add oil and flour to two 9 inch cake pans.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine your flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Use a whisk to fully incorporate these ingredients.

3. In a stand mixer, mix the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla together.

4. Keep the mixer on low and begin slowly adding your dry ingredient mixture to the bowl.

5. Add a cup of coffee and make sure everything is fully combined. The batter’s consistency will be very thin.

6. Pour the batter into the greased and floured pans and bake for approximately 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

7. Turn the cakes out and place them onto a cooling rack. While the cakes are cooling, begin making your frostings.

Peanut Butter Frosting:

Use a stand mixer and mix your butter and peanut butter for about 2 minutes until blended.

Add 1 cup of powdered sugar to the mixer and stir until blended.

Add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream and beat until fully incorporated.

Add in the remaining cup of powdered sugar, and beat again for around 1 minute.

Test the frosting consistency. If you need another tablespoon or two of heavy cream to make the frosting spreadable, add it in.

Continue this process until the consistency of your frosting is ideal for spreading.

Chocolate Buttercream:

Now it’s time to make your chocolate buttercream!

• In a mixer, beat the butter until it is smooth and creamy. The coloring should be nearly white, and the process will take around 1 to 2 minutes.

• Add the salt and vanilla to your butter. Mix until fully incorporated.

• Keep the mixer running at low speed, and begin adding in your powdered sugar and cocoa powder slowly.

• Add the heavy cream a tablespoon at a time and mix slowly until it reaches a desirable consistency.

• Beat the mixture for 1 minute on medium speed until it is smooth and creamy.

Putting It Together:

Place one of your baked cake layers on a plate.

1. Start with the peanut butter frosting, and frost the top of the first cake. Then layer the other half of the cake directly on top. Frost the entire outside of the cakes with your chocolate buttercream frosting.

2. Use the remaining frosting in a piping bag and decorate your cake as desired. Chop up Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups and use them to decorate your cake! Slice your Reece’s cake and serve! Store the cake in a container at room temperature.

As The Story Of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Continues

So as you can see, Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups have a lengthy history that consequently changed the candy industry as we know it today.

Now, bakers from all over put creative spins on the treat, making it even more enjoyable. However, without the driven mind of Reese or the merger between Hershey and the H. B. Reese Candy Company, we might have a vastly different candy industry today.

People from all over the world come together under the creations of many great minds. This is sure to continue for years to come. Thank you for reading, now let’s go bake something!