The Best Hershey's 2026 Halloween Candy Is A Peanut Butter Powerhouse

There are tiers when it comes to Halloween candy. Sure, any type of free sweet is good, especially when it's hard-earned (or dug from a bag of leftovers), but some trick-or-treating items are just better than others. There are the elites — hello full-size candy bars and caramel apples — as well as the non-mentionables (candy corn, we're looking at you). Then there are the mid-range classics, like Jolly Ranchers, KitKats, and Rolos. Hershey's makes a lot of these products, but there is one iconic candy that wins the company the Halloween crown: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

An expert from Tasting Table tried and ranked nearly every item in the Hershey's 2026 Halloween candy lineup, and while there were some tasty new additions, nothing managed to top a good old peanut butter cup. Our tester really wanted one of the themed items to take the top spot, but at the end of the day, the honest conclusion was that they couldn't live up to the original classic. The pumpkin-shaped ones came close, but they just didn't provide the same satisfying bite.

The edges of the original shell were firmer, providing a more solid base, while the top layer of chocolate was thinner, creating a textural powerhouse that the Reese's Pumpkin did not master. Our tester also felt like the flavor was more balanced, as the thicker casing on the pumpkin provided almost too much sweetness. There was a lot of peanut butter, but the saltiness couldn't quite cut through.

One of the biggest issues our tester had with the candy was its odd shape — it barely resembled a pumpkin. The edges were blurred, and there was a complete lack of detail, making it almost look like an apple rather than an autumnal squash. It's not the biggest deal in the world, but it could be disappointing, especially for excited children.

Other people seem to be of a similar opinion, if social media is anything to go by, but it is a heated debate. On a Reddit thread comparing the pumpkin to the original, one person said the cup had a "better chocolate texture due to the rigid edge," while another called the pumpkin "mushy." However, peanut butter lovers prefer the ratio of the Halloween version, which tends to contain more filling. One person even claimed that holiday Reese's are "always better than the cups."

It might be a matter of preference, but as another Reddit thread concluded, "Forget those Easter eggs, Christmas trees, pumpkins, footballs, whatever. The original PB cup is the best candy Reese's offers. The ridged edges, the chocolate-to-PB ratio, the satisfaction of pulling off the wrapper. Nothing beats it." Either way, the public seems to be in agreement that Reese's are superior, with DoorDash data showing that it's been the top-selling Halloween candy for three years in a row. The best Reese's cup flavor remains up for debate (here is our take, if you're interested).