As candy fanatics, we had to find out if Reese's was really king. Find out which peanut butter cup stole our hearts.

When you think peanut butter cup, what’s the first thing to come to mind? Reese’s, right? In my mind and the minds of lots of folks, Reese’s is the best candy this side of Grandma’s kitchen (didn’t Grandma make the best sponge candy?). As much as I love a good Reese’s peanut butter cup or two, though, I always suspected there might be a worthy rival out there—a peanut butter cup with creamier peanut butter or maybe more velvety chocolate. But then those Reese’s peanut butter cups in the shapes of trees or pumpkins or eggs during the different holidays would have me thinking twice—the shaped ones are the best right? Enough of the internal battle over the best peanut butter cups! It’s time to test.

I grabbed some die-hard peanut butter fans and all the milk chocolate peanut butter cup brands I could find and compared them in a blind taste test:

Butterfinger

Choceur (an Aldi brand)

Justin’s

Reese’s

Trader Joe’s

Let’s see how they stacked up!

Honorable Mention: Trader Joe’s

Taste of Home

Score: 7.4/10

Trader Joe’s is snackers’ paradise—especially during the holidays. The grocery store chain always has great candies and sweets, and these peanut butter cups were no exception. Testers love the super smooth peanut butter filling. Some folks were divided on the chocolate—some thought it was a tad bitter for a milk chocolate. In the end, though, these were a great peanut butter snack.

Be sure to check out these other treats for peanut butter lovers, too.

Runner-Up: Reese’s

Taste of Home

Score: 8.6/10

It’s no surprise to anyone that Reese’s gained a top spot in our test—it’s the classic after all! This cup gained high marks because it was exactly what testers were craving. And you all know what a good Reese’s tastes like: sweet, sweet milk chocolate with satisfying (albeit slightly gritty) peanut butter filling. While these cups really hit the spot, that slightly flawed filling is what cost it the crown.

Best in Show: Choceur

Taste of Home

Score: 9.5/10

Can you believe that another brand managed to take the top spot? This was hard for a lot of testers to take. (At least it was until they took another bite of Choceur peanut butter cups—an Aldi exclusive brand.) These mini milk chocolate cups won over a lot of new fans with its exceptional chocolate and unbelievably creamy peanut butter. Plus, testers thought that the ratio of chocolate to filling was spot-on. As one tester and candy expert put it: “These are the best by a mile.” The rest of the crew agreed and gave Choceur an almost perfect score.

Here are 7 surprising reasons why Aldi store brands are so good.

The Bottom Line

Taste of Home

Talk about a shakeup! This test made us realize that the most well-known options aren’t always number one (though they are close). In the case of peanut butter cups, I’d be happy to grab a bag of Choceur next time I’m shopping at Aldi. This just reaffirmed what I knew to be true: Aldi brands are right on par with the big names. However, if I’m craving chocolate and peanut butter and I’m not planning an Aldi run in the future, I’ve got no problem with a good Reese’s.

Get your peanut butter cup fix with these desserts. 1 / 45 1 / 45 Chocolate & Peanut Butter Crispy Bars To make a dairy-free dessert, I created chocolate peanutty bars. My kids and their friends gobble them up. I've written about it on my blog, joyfulscribblings.com. —Dawn Pasco, Overland Park, Kansas To make a dairy-free dessert, I created chocolate peanutty bars. My kids and their friends gobble them up. I've written about it on my blog, joyfulscribblings.com. —Dawn Pasco, Overland Park, Kansas Get Recipe Taste of Home Buckeye Pie Everyone that eats this pie raves about it! You can cover the whole top with ganache, but leaving part of the filling bare is the traditional way to make it. —Mary Northrup, Alpine, New York Get Recipe Everyone that eats this pie raves about it! You can cover the whole top with ganache, but leaving part of the filling bare is the traditional way to make it. —Mary Northrup, Alpine, New York Taste of Home Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake Years ago, I added some zucchini to a peanut butter bar I had created, and this time I wanted to try it with a cake. The zucchini makes it super moist but doesn’t get in the way of the chocolate and peanut butter goodness.—Marilyn Blankschien, Clintonville, Wisconsin Get Recipe Years ago, I added some zucchini to a peanut butter bar I had created, and this time I wanted to try it with a cake. The zucchini makes it super moist but doesn’t get in the way of the chocolate and peanut butter goodness.—Marilyn Blankschien, Clintonville, Wisconsin Taste of Home Peanut Butter Pretzel Shake Hot fudge, pretzels and peanuts top off this indulgent milkshake. Get Recipe Hot fudge, pretzels and peanuts top off this indulgent milkshake. Taste of Home Chunky Monkey Cupcakes Peanut butter is a favorite of ours, and it brings a fun element to these cupcakes. They're good with or without garnishes. —Holly Jones, Kennesaw, Georgia Get Recipe Peanut butter is a favorite of ours, and it brings a fun element to these cupcakes. They're good with or without garnishes. —Holly Jones, Kennesaw, Georgia Taste of Home Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blondies I converted these blondies to be gluten-free so that my family could enjoy a comforting dessert. We were really craving brownies one night, and this cakelike treat hit the spot! They're a great spin on gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. —Becky Klope, Loudonville, New York Get Recipe I converted these blondies to be gluten-free so that my family could enjoy a comforting dessert. We were really craving brownies one night, and this cakelike treat hit the spot! They're a great spin on gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. —Becky Klope, Loudonville, New York Taste of Home Dipped Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies You’ll love to give tins of these chocolate-coated cookies to your lucky friends. The shortcut holiday recipe is almost too simple to believe! Here's how to make peanut butter cookies without eggs. —Jackie Howell, Gordo, Alabama Get Recipe You’ll love to give tins of these chocolate-coated cookies to your lucky friends. The shortcut holiday recipe is almost too simple to believe! Here's how to make peanut butter cookies without eggs. —Jackie Howell, Gordo, Alabama Taste of Home Peanut-Filled Devil's Food Cupcakes This recipe features a luscious peanut butter filling surrounded by devil's food and then iced with a rich layer of ganache. They're to die for! —Mary Lou Timpson, Colorado City, Arizona Get Recipe This recipe features a luscious peanut butter filling surrounded by devil's food and then iced with a rich layer of ganache. They're to die for! —Mary Lou Timpson, Colorado City, Arizona Taste of Home Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies This soft and chewy low-carb cookie recipe, developed by our Test Kitchen, calls for canola oil instead of butter to reduce the saturated fat. It's hard to eat just one! Get Recipe This soft and chewy low-carb cookie recipe, developed by our Test Kitchen, calls for canola oil instead of butter to reduce the saturated fat. It's hard to eat just one! Taste of Home Marbled Chocolate Peanut Cookies This recipe came about by accident when I was making both my husband's favorite peanut butter cookies and my favorite chocolate cookies. I had two small portions of dough left over and decided to combine them into one flavor-filled cookie. Get Recipe This recipe came about by accident when I was making both my husband's favorite peanut butter cookies and my favorite chocolate cookies. I had two small portions of dough left over and decided to combine them into one flavor-filled cookie. Taste of Home Behr Track Cookie Bars The holidays are the perfect time to indulge in these ooey-gooey, salty-sweet peanut butter bars. A lot of people comment that the pretzels in the filling are a pleasant surprise. Just make sure to cut cookie bars small—they're super rich. —Megan Behr, Marion, Iowa Get Recipe The holidays are the perfect time to indulge in these ooey-gooey, salty-sweet peanut butter bars. A lot of people comment that the pretzels in the filling are a pleasant surprise. Just make sure to cut cookie bars small—they're super rich. —Megan Behr, Marion, Iowa Taste of Home Yummy Cracker Snacks These treats are my family's favorite, and it seems no matter how many I make, they always disappear too soon. —D. Weaver, Ephrata, Pennsylvania Get Recipe These treats are my family's favorite, and it seems no matter how many I make, they always disappear too soon. —D. Weaver, Ephrata, Pennsylvania Taste of Home Chocolate Peanut Treats When I was in high school, I took these sweet and crunchy squares to bake sales— and they were the first to sell out. I still make them for family and friends who love the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter. —Christy Asher, Colorado Springs, Colorado Get Recipe When I was in high school, I took these sweet and crunchy squares to bake sales— and they were the first to sell out. I still make them for family and friends who love the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter. —Christy Asher, Colorado Springs, Colorado Taste of Home Frozen Peanut Butter and Chocolate Terrine This terrine can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer. When served, it cuts easily, revealing the lovely layers of banana, peanut butter and chocolate. —Jennifer Jackson, Keller, Texas Get Recipe This terrine can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer. When served, it cuts easily, revealing the lovely layers of banana, peanut butter and chocolate. —Jennifer Jackson, Keller, Texas Taste of Home Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake I said I'd bring dessert to a holiday party and tried this recipe. I'm sure you'll agree it tastes as luscious as it looks! —Dawn Lowenstein, Hatboro, Pennsylvania Get Recipe I said I'd bring dessert to a holiday party and tried this recipe. I'm sure you'll agree it tastes as luscious as it looks! —Dawn Lowenstein, Hatboro, Pennsylvania Taste of Home Peanut Butter Spritz Fingers My family loves this peanut butter fingers recipe because they satisfy the need for chocolate and for something crunchy, sweet and nutty, all in just one bite! —Irma Lowery, Reedsburg, Wisconsin Get Recipe My family loves this peanut butter fingers recipe because they satisfy the need for chocolate and for something crunchy, sweet and nutty, all in just one bite! —Irma Lowery, Reedsburg, Wisconsin Taste of Home Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars My twist on rice crispy bars includes crunchy crushed pretzels. Then I top them with a creamy peanut butter coating and rich chocolate topping. Garnished with peanuts and even more pretzels, I don’t think I'd ever go back to plain old bars again. —Sherri Melotik, Oak Creek, Wisconsin Get Recipe My twist on rice crispy bars includes crunchy crushed pretzels. Then I top them with a creamy peanut butter coating and rich chocolate topping. Garnished with peanuts and even more pretzels, I don’t think I'd ever go back to plain old bars again. —Sherri Melotik, Oak Creek, Wisconsin Taste of Home Chocolate-Peanut Butter Sheet Cake I love peanut butter and chocolate, so I combined recipes to blend the two. This chocolate peanut butter cake is heavenly served plain or topped with ice cream. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas Get Recipe I love peanut butter and chocolate, so I combined recipes to blend the two. This chocolate peanut butter cake is heavenly served plain or topped with ice cream. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas Taste of Home Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies My husband and I have two sons and I sent these brownies to them regularly when they were in college. They told me that they used to hide a few from their roommates just to make sure there would be some left! —Patsy Burgin, Lebanon, Indiana Get Recipe My husband and I have two sons and I sent these brownies to them regularly when they were in college. They told me that they used to hide a few from their roommates just to make sure there would be some left! —Patsy Burgin, Lebanon, Indiana Taste of Home Peanut Butter-Chocolate Cake Rolls Who knew something this impressive could start with a cake mix! The mini chocolate chips add a tasty crunch to each slice. —Tammy Rex, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania Get Recipe Who knew something this impressive could start with a cake mix! The mini chocolate chips add a tasty crunch to each slice. —Tammy Rex, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania Taste of Home Chippy Peanut Butter Cookies "Hey, these are good!" is the surprised remark I hear when I bake these for the family. As simple as it may seem, all I do is follow directions. This works exceptionally well when it comes to making cookies. —Ian Badeer, Hickman, Nebraska Get Recipe "Hey, these are good!" is the surprised remark I hear when I bake these for the family. As simple as it may seem, all I do is follow directions. This works exceptionally well when it comes to making cookies. —Ian Badeer, Hickman, Nebraska Taste of Home Peanut Butter Truffle Cupcakes Everybody loves cupcakes, and these have a wonderfully tasty hidden treasure inside. They're rich and delicious! —Marlene Schollenberger, Bloomington, Indiana Get Recipe Everybody loves cupcakes, and these have a wonderfully tasty hidden treasure inside. They're rich and delicious! —Marlene Schollenberger, Bloomington, Indiana Taste of Home Peanut Butter Caramel Bars When my husband and our three sons sit down to dinner, they ask, "What's for dessert?" I have a happy group of guys when I report that these rich bars are on the menu. They're chockfull of yummy ingredients. —Lee Ann Karnowski, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Get Recipe When my husband and our three sons sit down to dinner, they ask, "What's for dessert?" I have a happy group of guys when I report that these rich bars are on the menu. They're chockfull of yummy ingredients. —Lee Ann Karnowski, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Taste of Home Peanut Butter Chocolate Poke Cake When my family is planning a get-together, I can count on three or four people asking if I'm bringing this chocolate peanut butter poke cake. If you don't have a chocolate cake mix, use a white or yellow one and stir in 3 tablespoons of baking cocoa. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas Get Recipe When my family is planning a get-together, I can count on three or four people asking if I'm bringing this chocolate peanut butter poke cake. If you don't have a chocolate cake mix, use a white or yellow one and stir in 3 tablespoons of baking cocoa. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas Taste of Home Homemade Peanut Butter Cups I like using pretty mini muffin liners and topping these homemade peanut butter cups with colored sprinkles to coordinate with the holiday we're celebrating. People can't believe how simple it is to make this irresistible candy with gooey peanut butter centers. This is how to make homemade peanut butter cups. —LaVonne Hegland, St. Michael, Minnesota Get Recipe I like using pretty mini muffin liners and topping these homemade peanut butter cups with colored sprinkles to coordinate with the holiday we're celebrating. People can't believe how simple it is to make this irresistible candy with gooey peanut butter centers. This is how to make homemade peanut butter cups. —LaVonne Hegland, St. Michael, Minnesota Taste of Home Chocolate Peanut Butter Pizza This is probably the most unusual "pizza" you'll ever see! It's a great dessert for kids, although adults snap it up, too. Everyone loves the chewy crust and the great flavor. Chocolate and peanut butter are a nice combination. Get Recipe This is probably the most unusual "pizza" you'll ever see! It's a great dessert for kids, although adults snap it up, too. Everyone loves the chewy crust and the great flavor. Chocolate and peanut butter are a nice combination. Taste of Home Peanut Butter Custard Blast "Ooey, gooey, great!" is how friends and family describe this chocolate-peanut butter dessert. I appreciate the make-ahead convenience. —Marilee Evenson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Get Recipe "Ooey, gooey, great!" is how friends and family describe this chocolate-peanut butter dessert. I appreciate the make-ahead convenience. —Marilee Evenson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Taste of Home Easy Peanut Butter & Pretzel Pie My crispy, salty pretzel crust just begs for a creamy no-bake peanut butter filling and a layer of chocolate ganache. — Gina Nistico, Taste of Home Food Editor Get Recipe My crispy, salty pretzel crust just begs for a creamy no-bake peanut butter filling and a layer of chocolate ganache. — Gina Nistico, Taste of Home Food Editor Taste of Home Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Here's a different version of a traditional recipe. I love these soft peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. — Clarice Schweitzer, Sun City, Arizona Get Recipe Here's a different version of a traditional recipe. I love these soft peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. — Clarice Schweitzer, Sun City, Arizona Taste of Home Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy With only three ingredients, these chocolate-swirl treats take just moments to whip up! If you have little ones visiting for the holidays, have them help you with the stirring. —Holly Demers, Abbotsford, British Columbia Get Recipe With only three ingredients, these chocolate-swirl treats take just moments to whip up! If you have little ones visiting for the holidays, have them help you with the stirring. —Holly Demers, Abbotsford, British Columbia Taste of Home Peanut Butter Pie Cookies I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, but my favorite—peanut butter pie—is tough to eat on the go. I dreamed up these cookies to get my favorite flavor combo in a bite-size package. They can be made ahead and taken to any holiday gathering. —Ashley Moyna, Elkader, Iowa Get Recipe I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, but my favorite—peanut butter pie—is tough to eat on the go. I dreamed up these cookies to get my favorite flavor combo in a bite-size package. They can be made ahead and taken to any holiday gathering. —Ashley Moyna, Elkader, Iowa Taste of Home Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle This rich, tempting, peanut butter brownie trifle feeds a crowd and features the ever-popular combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Try this dessert for your next get-together. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania Get Recipe This rich, tempting, peanut butter brownie trifle feeds a crowd and features the ever-popular combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Try this dessert for your next get-together. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania Taste of Home Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Family and friends always ooh and aah when I bring out this tempting cheesecake after holiday dinners! Filled with peanut butter and cream cheese and drizzled with chocolate in a fudge crust, it's a showstopper. —H.L. Sosnowski, Grand Island, New York Get Recipe Family and friends always ooh and aah when I bring out this tempting cheesecake after holiday dinners! Filled with peanut butter and cream cheese and drizzled with chocolate in a fudge crust, it's a showstopper. —H.L. Sosnowski, Grand Island, New York Taste of Home Chocolaty Peanut Clusters I turn to my slow cooker to prepare these convenient chocolate treats. Making candies couldn't be any easier! —Pam Posey, Waterloo, South Carolina Get Recipe I turn to my slow cooker to prepare these convenient chocolate treats. Making candies couldn't be any easier! —Pam Posey, Waterloo, South Carolina Taste of Home Layered Chocolate Marshmallow Peanut Butter Brownies A friend gave me the recipe for these layered brownies, but I added my own touch--chunky peanut butter. Every time I take them to a group gathering, I get requests for the recipe. It's a real crowd-pleaser! —Judy Sims, Weatherford, Texas Get Recipe A friend gave me the recipe for these layered brownies, but I added my own touch--chunky peanut butter. Every time I take them to a group gathering, I get requests for the recipe. It's a real crowd-pleaser! —Judy Sims, Weatherford, Texas The musical "Waitress" Thanks for Taking Me to the Moon Peanut Butter Moon Pie Turn a peanut butter sandwich into dessert, add some marshmallow whipped cream and NoobPies, and you'll have a kid-friendly treat with a little grown-up flavor. - Jenna Hunterson, waitressthemusical.com Get Recipe Turn a peanut butter sandwich into dessert, add some marshmallow whipped cream and, and you'll have a kid-friendly treat with a little grown-up flavor. - Jenna Hunterson, waitressthemusical.com Taste of Home Fudge Puddles I was inspired to make these cookies last year when we stopped for a snack while Christmas shopping. I changed a few things when I got home, and my Fudge Puddles became a favorite with my husband's family. —Kimarie Maassen, Avoca, Iowa Get Recipe I was inspired to make these cookies last year when we stopped for a snack while Christmas shopping. I changed a few things when I got home, and my Fudge Puddles became a favorite with my husband's family. —Kimarie Maassen, Avoca, Iowa Taste of Home Peanut Butter Pudding Dessert Here's a fun, layered dessert that will appeal to all ages. If you want it even nuttier, you can use chunky peanut butter, and if you're not a fan of cashews, substitute your favorite nut. This peanut butter lasagna is one of my favorite pudding desserts. —Barbara Schindler, Napoleon, Ohio Get Recipe Here's a fun, layered dessert that will appeal to all ages. If you want it even nuttier, you can use chunky peanut butter, and if you're not a fan of cashews, substitute your favorite nut. This peanut butter lasagna is one of my favorite pudding desserts. —Barbara Schindler, Napoleon, Ohio Taste of Home Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars My secret to these rich, no-bake bites? Pretzels in the crust. They add a salty crunch to the classic peanut butter and chocolate pairing. —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia Get Recipe My secret to these rich, no-bake bites? Pretzels in the crust. They add a salty crunch to the classic peanut butter and chocolate pairing. —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia Taste of Home Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter & Pretzel Truffles Sweet chocolate, creamy peanut butter and salty pretzels create a to-die-for truffle. It’s a little bite of decadence and a special indulgence for the holiday season.—Ashley Wisniewski, Champaign, Illinois Get Recipe Sweet chocolate, creamy peanut butter and salty pretzels create a to-die-for truffle. It’s a little bite of decadence and a special indulgence for the holiday season.—Ashley Wisniewski, Champaign, Illinois Taste of Home Chocolate Marshmallow Peanut Butter Squares I combined a couple of recipes to create these crunchy, chocolaty peanut butter marshmallow bars that burst with flavor. The bars could also pass for fudge! —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania Get Recipe I combined a couple of recipes to create these crunchy, chocolaty peanut butter marshmallow bars that burst with flavor. The bars could also pass for fudge! —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania Taste of Home Peanut Butter Chippers The smell of peanut butter and chocolate always brings my cookie-hungry family running to the kitchen. The recipe is so quick and easy, I often stir up a batch while making dinner. —Pat Doerflinger, Centerview, Missouri Get Recipe The smell of peanut butter and chocolate always brings my cookie-hungry family running to the kitchen. The recipe is so quick and easy, I often stir up a batch while making dinner. —Pat Doerflinger, Centerview, Missouri Taste of Home Giant Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich I created this giant peanut butter cookie cake for my husband, adding light and low-fat products to the cookie dough. It was so fantastic that I fixed it with conventional ingredients for guests. Since it can be made ahead of time and frozen, it cuts stress for busy hostesses. And really, who doesn't love peanut butter ice cream? —Joann Belack, Bradenton, Florida Get Recipe I created this giant peanut butter cookie cake for my husband, adding light and low-fat products to the cookie dough. It was so fantastic that I fixed it with conventional ingredients for guests. Since it can be made ahead of time and frozen, it cuts stress for busy hostesses. And really, who doesn't love peanut butter ice cream? —Joann Belack, Bradenton, Florida Taste of Home Ribbon Fantasy Fudge I developed this recipe especially for my husband, who likes anything that has chocolate and peanut butter together! Get Recipe I developed this recipe especially for my husband, who likes anything that has chocolate and peanut butter together! Taste of Home Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Baking peanut butter kiss cookies to share doesn't get much easier than this. Stir together four ingredients. Bake. Top with a kiss. Done! Your family will love this Hershey's peanut butter blossom cookie recipe. —Dee Davis, Sun City, Arizona Get Recipe Baking peanut butter kiss cookies to share doesn't get much easier than this. Stir together four ingredients. Bake. Top with a kiss. Done! Your family will love this Hershey's peanut butter blossom cookie recipe. —Dee Davis, Sun City, Arizona