I’m one of those crazy candy fantatics that loves Peanut Butter Kisses. Though I’m sure someone makes them year round, I only see them around Halloween.
It’s a molasses taffy with a pocket of peanut butter in the center. They’re wrapped in black or orange wax paper.
This bag is from Melster, but my favorite brand is Necco that makes them under the Mary Jane monikker.
At only 99 cents though, it was hard to pass up the opportunity to try another variety.
The ingredients list seems impossibly long:
Corn syrup, sugar, peanut butter (peanuts, maltodextrin, hydrogenated palm stearine oil, salt), partially hydrogenated soybean oil, molasses, modified corn starch, salt, mono & diglycerides, soy lecithing.
May contain: dextrose, high fructose corn sweetener, gelatin, modified soy protein, sodium hexametaphosphate, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, butterfat, distilled monoglycerides, partially hydrogenated palm kernel & palm oils, milk, cocoa processed with alkalai, dry whey, glycerin, invertase, artficial flavors, artificial color (Yellow 5 & 6 and Red 3).
Is it just me or is that may contain list a little scary? What the heck is sodium hexametaphosphate?
Oh, here, Wikipedia has some info:
Sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) is a hexamer of composition (NaPO3)6. It is prepared by melting monosodium orthophosphate, followed by rapid cooling. SHMP hydrolyzes in aqueous solution, particularly under acidic conditions, to sodium trimetaphosphate and sodium orthophosphate. SHMP is used as a sequestrant and has applications in a wide variety of industries, including as a food additive in which it is used under the E number E452i.
So it’s an emulsifier, a deflocculant for ceramics, tooth whitener and water softener! But who knows if my saliva will have fewer dissolved minerals and my teeth white because I don’t know if it’s actually in there.
Have I digressed enough?
Basically these are worth about 99 cents. The peanut butter flavor doesn’t pop and the molasses aspect of the chew is barely noticeable.
I’ll probably finish the bag, but I don’t think I’ll buy them again. If I’m going to have these as a treat only once a year, I want them to be as memorable as possible, even if I have to pay a dollar fifty.
Related Candies
- Brach’s Chocolate Candy Corn & Halloween Mix
- Sixlets & Limited Edition Dark Chocolate Flavored Sixlets
- Zachary Candy Corn & Jelly Pumpkins
- Circus Peanuts
- Melster Marshmallow Eggs
- Gourmet Goodies Candy Corn
Name: |
Peanut Butter Kisses |
RATING:
- SUPERB
- YUMMY
- TASTY
- WORTH IT
- TEMPTING
- PLEASANT
- BENIGN
- UNAPPEALING
- APPALLING
- INEDIBLE
|
Brand: |
Melster |
Place Purchased: |
Walgreen's (Echo Park) |
Price: |
$.99 |
Size: |
10 ounces |
Calories per ounce: |
99 |
Categories: |
Chew, Peanut, United States, Melster, Halloween |
I always buy 2 of these; the Necco brand, at Halloween. I love them!
When I first read the title, I thought it said “Melted Peanut Butter Kisses” and then thought, that’s awesome. Then I put on my glasses and was disappointed.
May contain cocoa or cocoa butter? Wouldn’t that make it an entirely different thing? You think you would know whether or not it was included! Crazy.
[but what really made me chuckle was lecithing - don’t know why that extra g caught my eye…]
Oh, my. These rank second on my list behind circus peanuts and just ahead of Bit o’ Honey in the inedible category.
i LOVE peanut butter kisses, and i am actually glad they are only around during Halloween b/c i eat them like it’s my job. BUT—this year i have been unable to find the Necco brand!! What’s up with that? In desperation I checked one last Walgreens and found the bag you reviewed here. I figured i’d give them a shot, and BLAH. They taste like wax. Glad to hear that you concur. Still holding out for Necco….
I think these are one of those candies that you either love or hate. I hate them!
WTF? Gelatin…Grrr! I was so excited for Halloween to get these candies. I have been driving a truck for two years and hadn’t gotten any. Since then I have became a vegetarian and now I can’t eat them anyway. Why “may contain”? Why taunt me with the possibility that I could eat it if they were 100% sure what was in it? This holiday is no fun anymore.
Is there any animal or products that would be considered un-kosher in Melser Peanut Butter Kisses? If there is animal products in this candy what animal? Thank you Will
Will - if you’re concerned about a product being Kosher, please consult the manufacturer. I’m just a blog and can only report what was on that package that I bought. (But the fact that they use gelatin is a pretty good indicator.)
what are the nutrition facts on these? like 2 grams of fat in 4 pieces?
Question: Do peanut butter kisses fans also like those chewy red and white striped mints with the green Christmas tree in teh middle? My theory is yes, they do. At least I’m one of them.
Annie, you may count me as another peanut butter kiss fan (Mary Jane brand, please) who adores those totally addictive mint chews. They seem to sell out fast, so others must share the addiction.
Ginger, your confusion may be that you may not know of the Necco brand, it’s Mary Janes. They’re peanut butter/molasses.Chas.N.Miller was the original maker for many years, then sold out to Stark in 1985.In 1990 Necco came up…
Mary Janes and imitators are among the most recognized taffy products.
Others:
Abba Zabba
any brand Salt Water Taffy
Squirrell Nut Zippers
Bonomo’s Turkish Taffy
Hammond/McCraw’s Flat Taffy
Laffy TaffyTM
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