Pearson’s Nut Roll is one of those bars I look at and think that it’s not for my generation. It was first introduced in 1933, and during the depression a bar like this could not only be a treat, but supply much needed calories and protein at a rather affordable price.
Pearson’s Nut Roll is kinda like a Payday bar. It’s a soft nougat center, then a small layer of sticky caramel and a generous coating of salted peanuts (Virginia peanuts according to their website). My bar was a little wonky, with the caramel part showing through and the peanuts all gathered around the edges instead of on top. It didn’t seem to affect the flavor at all.
The center is much sweeter, as far as I can tell, than a Payday bar, but the nuts are salty and balance it well. For a candy bar there’s a lot of protein in there too, 8 grams for the regular 1.8 ounce sized bar. A lot of those “nutrition” bars don’t have that much protein in them. Of course you have to like peanuts to eat this bar. Which I do.
It’s a solid middle performer as candy bars go. It’s something I would pick up if I were looking for a “meal replacement candy bar” that has a good balance of taste, texture and of course a hit of protein which gives lasting energy. Without any chocolate, it’s a good hot weather performer as well.
Oh, these are totally my obscure favorites.
TTFN
Travis
I never conisdered candy as a meal replacement. COnversely, doesthat mean I can replace my candy bar with a steak, potato and salad?
I don’t think it works in the other direction - who has a steak instead of a KitKat? ... you silly!
My brother works for a sugar processing plant that provides the sugar they use to make the nut rolls. This Christmas, Pearson’s gave their office a giant one of these (think 75 pounds). My brother hacked off a 2 pound block and gave it to my dad for Christmas. He was grinning ear to ear.
One of these came in the Big Tips retro candy kit and my boyfriend was instantly obsessed with them. I had to buy him a case for Xmas.
Did you see that Chocolate Cookie and Marshmallow limited edition Take 5s are coming this year? http://www.junkfoodblog.com/2006/02/hersheys-take-5-limited-edition-for.html I wonder if marshmallow will be this year’s white chocolate, in terms of all those limited edition bars. Whoa, sorry, got way off topic there. Go Salted Nut Roll!
these are pretty much a regional thing, but here in the Great Plains, they are a standard. Payday is a pale imitation—yours may have been a bit old, but the creme center and caramel of the Nut Roll is far superior to the glop in a Payday.
They were originally called Salted Nut Roll, but the health kick that got Sugar taken off the name of all the breakfast cereals in the 80’s also knocked the Salted part off this bar too.
Pearson also makes a limited edition, hard to find even here, chocolate covered edition, but I don’t like it. the chocolate overpowers the other flavors too much.
Oh, and Pearson’s mint patties are a regional favorite too. For many years, every restaurant had a jar of them at the register for when you checked out.
They sell these at the Sav-On next to my office. Yesterday I needed a quick bite to eat before heading to the court archives downtown, so I ran in and grabbed one.
I wish I’d bought two or three…or four… They’re fantastic! These leave Paydays standing! And they’re “only” .50 each, which is better than Paydays to be certain.
The Pearson Salted Nut Roll is the only non-chocolate candy bar worth eating, in my opinion. I do quite a bit of backcountry skiing and they are perfect fuel- much more enjoyable than a nasty energy bar with similar nutritional benefits. The sweet and salty combination is executed perfectly. I live in Utah and they are quite popular here- so they are not confined to the midwest. We do have some odd regional favorites- has anyone ever had an Idaho Spud?
J Wynia - that’s a great story ... I would love someone to send a huge candy bar to my office!
Tara - I think there is a marshmallow revolution going on, it’s getting quite trendy. I’m still not on board (what are they thinking with the Take 5?).
Jim - I’ve defintely had the Pearson’s patties before, and liked them quite a bit (something about the chocolate). I’ll try to find another one of these.
Bruce - maybe I need to do a Payday/Pearson’s head-to-head. I like both, but maybe a good, fresh Pearson’s will knock my socks off.
Wixsie - I’m with you on eating a decent candy bar that just has wholesome ingredients in it instead of those weird soy bars.
I haven’t had an Idaho Spud ... but I’m planning on it. Maybe a St. Patrick’s Day special!
Hi,
First, I want to say I love your candy reviews.
When I was a kid I bought these Pearson’s Nut Rolls all the time but always wished they would tone down the sugar in the nugat just a little. That’s a big statement from a candy-holic kid.
You really got this for $0.69? Is that average candy bar price where you are? It seems low.
I have to take question to your “7” rating of the salted nut roll. Maybe you had eaten something very bad right before eating this. Or maybe had a bad childhood memory tied to the nut roll—either way you may want to revisit your thoughts regarding this devine treat.
Grommie - this particular candy bar was on sale - I think it’s usually $1.29 at Cost Plus. Much of the time I buy my candy at convenience stores like 7-11 which charge 85 cents a bar, which is a little steep, but they do go through candy pretty quick so I know it’s at least fresh.
I often get stuff at drug stores or at the grocers which can mean sales like 4 for $1 or maybe 3 for $1. I usually won’t pay more than $1 for a consumer candy bar, but I’m willing to pay more for a gourmet or import bar.
Candy Man - you have to realize that my rating system means that only ratings 1-3 mean that they’re “bad” candy. 7 means I’d buy it again. If you’ve poked around on the site, you’ll see that there there are very few candies I’ve given a 10 and even fewer that I’ve given a 1.
That said, I am actually keen to try the Pearson’s Salted Nut Roll again (and probably in a head-to-head match up with Payday). So, you can look forward to that in the next month or so (as soon as I find one).
Woah. Now i HAVE to try these!! they sound absolutely divine…i’ve NEVER heard of these before, though. Do you know if they’re available at Long’s drugs or 7-11?
thanks (:
Are any of the Seven UP bars available. I bought those as a child and always ate around and saved the center for last. I never stopped looking for these and was amazed when I seen your ad on TV on the Foodnetwork today. Thank you, Tulie Bailey
These things are peanut crack. The local Wally World had a bunch on sale at $.44 ea, so I grabbed a couple on a lark. Next week I returned to the store, desperate…true to form, they were GONE. I found their remaining dozen stash on a remaindered candy shelf, and bought every one. Now they’re gone….all gone…
I have to order boxes on the ‘net now and pay exhorbitant shipping. Anybody got an inside contact at Pearson’s?
Pearson’s sold the NAME to 7 up
allowing them to build a large factory
giving up the rights to that name
[food network]
why they do not make that unique candy bar, that I remember well, has no answer.
I think that pearson should rename the 7-up bar and bring it back. I think it would be worth the cost of the equipment they would need to make them again.
The Salted Nut Roll candy Bar has been a favorite of mine for 35 years. In the past three to four years it is impossible to find them in any type of retail stores ( grocry store, drug store ect. I also asked our office candy machine service to provide SNR candy bars and was told they are not available. I thought you went out of business? Do you have any distibution in Western Washington State?
hey my friends and i just got a nut roll candy bar with hardly any peanuts on it so please make sure you put them on the candy bar alright. Thanks!Other than this all the candy you guys make is very delicious!
a very good paying costomer,
Lexi nelson
very good job i love your candy so much i wish i had one right now(oh wait i do) LOL
Lexi Nelson:-)
I love the site and slowly working on testing each product, as I am a bit of a candy fiend.
I did test this out yesterday and enjoyed it. Though, I will admit there wasn’t much flavor to it… but perhaps it was because I finished a Russell Stover’s Marshmallow Caramel egg just moments before so my taste buds were a bit sugared.
BUT, I wanted to make a note that these are available atleast in the NorthWest(Oregon) at Fred Meyers for $.50 each
Great news for all CA people. i can only find this candy bar at the 99cent store. They are .59 each. But they are the giant size - goody. I grew up with these in MN and there was once a bakery that made them by the sheet. That was a bad summer, weight wise, HA!.
Nut Roll is god’s own candy. It’s a little fatty, but it fills you up and tastes great (if you like salty peanuts). It hands down beats those plastic tasting energy bars, and sometimes I prefer it to chocolate. I eat one for breakfast at least once a week.
We can get two big bars around here at gas stations for 1.00. Super worth it.
Brian
Maybe the name is a throwback to the pre-WII era, but licorice pipes these ain’t. A million times better than a PayDay. I miss the hell out of them. Back when I was in Chicago, I practically lived off these bad boys (which I guess proves your meal replacement theory right). Oh, salted nut roll… till we meet again… or until my girlfriend springs for a 24ct case at Amazon for Christmas…
I agree with the meal replacement thing. Check out a nut roll side by side with any other candy bar. Half the carbs. LOVE them and here in MN they are everywhere. Anyone out there know where I can get some Bonomo’s taffy? It came in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and banana. Yummmmm.
I judged this product by its name and packaging. bad mistake! It was ok, not bad.
When I was going to Jr Hi in central Iowa in the early sixties, I used to get one every day after school at the dairy bar across the street. I used to ask the sales clerk for a “Pearson’s Snotted Crud Roll.” Well, I WAS in jr hi!
I grew up in NW Iowa and have always been a fan of PNR. Now living in the Cincinnati area, they are much harder to find. My son is a Marine deployed to Iraq. I search for PNRs to send him in his care packages and have difficulty finding them on a regular basis. Help!
They are wonderful, filling, great tasting and they don’t melt like chocolate bars! I highly recommend them.
Just had one from the 99cent store for .59 cents I wish I would have bought 10 of the things. I was great. The kind I got was the regular salted nut roll. They had the chocolate I will try it later this week cause now Im forming an addiction. Thanks for the site its great.
These are my favorite! I’ve been eating these about 30 years now. In fact I just finished off a king size SNR about an hour ago. They are great for a quick energy boost. I find they are relatively easy to get hold of at 7-Eleven and King Soopers (Kroger) stores. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of a SNR- I highly recommend you get hold of one.
I live in Minneapolis and have had the pleasure of working on the Pearson candy parking lot. When we finished our job one of the guys came out and set two cases of fresh nut rolls on the piece of equipment I was driving. Fresh off the production line and the best I have ever had. Our guys ate nothing but nut rolls for the next week. I also notice that every truck driver would return to their truck with a box of them. They are very generous people and I am very happy that the nut roll is in every store in this neck of the woods.
1.) The nutroll is the candy you hate to admit you love… if only because of the name “nutroll.”
2.) The nutroll is the only candy I see that is ALWAYS discounted in some way shape or form (and not because they’re unpopular). There is always a BOGO sale on them in practically every MN convenience store.
3.) Does anyone know if Pearson’s factory gives tours? Someone threw that out there as an idea a couple months ago when we were looking for something random and obscure to do, but we never followed up on it (going to the Schell’s brewery instead…). But now my interest is piqued again. If they don’t do tours - they totally should! :D
i found Pearson’s Salted Nut Roll at DollarTree, and I love them! Having very mild type 2 diabetes, I keep one or two of these in my car glove compartment for a quick protein and sugar hit if I need it. Because of the peanuts, it has a great amount of protein, and the sugar is just enough—unlike a chocolate based candy bar.
Thanks Pearson’s! Keep ‘em coming!
They have them at QFC on sale right now if you’re in Western Washington
What is QFC? I don’t believe that we have those stores in Central Texas, and I cannot find Pearson’s in any other retail outlets either.
I’m the guy from St.Cloud,Minnesota that received a box of 96 Pearson Salted Nut Rolls that were delivered to me at my home by Fox 9 TV!! That and a five pound Pearson Salted Nut Roll. This was done as result of my letter to the Pearson Salted Nut Roll Company back some 60 years ago. Yesterday, Christmas Eve, my daughter Barb gave me a box of 24 Pearson Salted Nut Rolls for Christmas!
Dave Bell in St.Cloud, MN 56303
Wow, Dave Bell in St. Cloud. A reply to your letter that took 60 years to get to you? Either that was a very carefully worded letter, or the author has quite a bit of job security!
Either way, I pick up 15-20 Nut Rolls every time I make it to Dollartree. Heaven help me if they ever stop carrying them!!!
Where can I purchase the 25# Salted Nut Roll?
5/25/14
Jeff:
You could contact Pearson’s, but they did give me a 5 pound Nut Roll!!
Dave
I just grabbed a 3.25 OZ Pearsons salted nut roll at dollar tree. Been awhile, these are great!
I just ate one of the Pearson’s Roll and I really did not think the peanuts were that fresh.
I am currently eating one of these for the first time (got it out of a hotel vending machine). I have to say, this is pretty good. My teeth are sensitive to sweet/gooey things, so I really appreciate the fact that this is just slightly sweet, and not at all gooey.
I’m not even in St.Paul,Minn. or anywhere near it and at our local Big!Lots (Formerly known as Pic n Save) we have Pearson’s original and peanut butter nut rolls..I got a small dollar bag yesterday at the score I cited…love those a lot!
(I live in Calif.)
My daughter, Barb, bought me a box of 24 Pearson’s Salted Nut Rolls for Christmas. Have only 12 left. Who ate them? Sure wasn’t me!!
LOL!Dave.. Pearsons makes Bit O’Honey now too.
Found a bag of bite-size PSNR’s at my local Save-a-Lot. I was so excited to see them again that I opened the bag and ate one before I even got in the car. Gave one to a friend of mine that had just pulled in and she went in and bought a bag.
Probably the last bag, because I haven’t seen them in town since.
You know, for a candy bar that available, “mainly in the midwest”, Pearson’s salted nut Roll is really, madly, available in a LOT of places here in Whittier CA! (even had one from DOllar Tree today myself, as a matter of fact, on my way to the movies!)
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