Origins: The Tale of Two Bars
To understand why these two peanut butter bars are different, we must first trace their separate origins. Both have long histories in confectionery, but their geographical and corporate roots are entirely distinct.
Crispy Crunch: Canada's Peanut Butter Flake
The Crispy Crunch bar was developed in Canada by Harold Oswin, an employee of William Neilson, in 1930. Oswin's creation featured a hard peanut butter flake centre with molasses, sugar, and vanilla, all coated in milk chocolate. Neilson's brand and recipes were eventually sold to Cadbury Canada in 1996, and the company has manufactured the bar ever since. Though it had a brief, unsuccessful run in the United States during the 1990s through a promotional deal, it remains a cherished Canadian classic, with slight recipe changes under Cadbury that reportedly made it less salty and more sweet.
Butterfinger: An American "Crispety, Crunchety" Classic
Butterfinger, the slightly older of the two, was invented in 1923 by Otto Schnering of the Curtiss Candy Company in Chicago, Illinois. The name was chosen via a public contest. After many corporate changes, including ownership by Nestlé from 1990 to 2018, the bar is now manufactured in the US by the Ferrara Candy Company, a subsidiary of the Italian company Ferrero. Notably, the recipe was changed in 2018 under Ferrero, moving towards more high-quality peanuts and a richer coating, but it remains a distinctly American confectionery.
The Key Differences: Texture, Taste, and Ingredients
While both candy bars offer a similar concept, their execution varies in critical ways. These differences are immediately apparent upon biting into one.
The Crunch Factor
The most significant distinction lies in the central texture. Crispy Crunch is renowned for its solid, brittle-like crunch that is satisfying and clean. Its flaky peanut butter centre is encased in a golden toffee shell, giving it a dense, compact feel. In contrast, Butterfinger is famously defined by its flaky, layered, and shatter-prone interior. The brand's own tagline, "crispety, crunchety, peanut-buttery," perfectly captures the bar's fragile, layered composition that often breaks apart easily.
Flavor Profile and Sweetness
Flavor-wise, there are noticeable differences as well. Many tasters report that Crispy Crunch strikes a balance between sweet and salty notes in its peanut butter confection, with a hint of toffee from its shell. It provides a nuttier flavour that cuts through the sweetness. Butterfinger, on the other hand, is often described as generally sweeter and more cloying, with a rich, roasted peanut flavor that lingers, especially in the newer recipe.
Ingredients and Coating
Perhaps the most important, but less-obvious difference is the quality and composition of their coatings. Crispy Crunch is made with smooth Cadbury milk chocolate. Butterfinger’s coating, particularly after the recipe change by Ferrero, is legally termed a "chocolatey coating" and does not contain the cocoa butter required for it to be classified as genuine milk chocolate. This distinction has a real impact on the flavor and melt-in-the-mouth quality.
A Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Crispy Crunch | Butterfinger |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Canada | United States |
| Current Manufacturer | Cadbury Canada | Ferrara Candy Company (Ferrero) |
| Initial Launch Year | 1930 | 1923 |
| Core Texture | Dense, brittle-like peanut flake with toffee | Flaky, layered, "crispety" peanut butter |
| Flavor Profile | Balanced sweet-and-salty, nutty, toffee notes | Generally sweeter, rich roasted peanut flavor |
| Coating | Genuine milk chocolate | "Chocolatey" compound coating (not real chocolate) |
| Availability | Primarily Canada | United States and internationally |
The Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
Choosing between Crispy Crunch and Butterfinger depends largely on personal preference for taste and texture. If you prefer a solid, brittle-like crunch and a more balanced, salty-sweet peanut butter flavor with real milk chocolate, Crispy Crunch is the clear choice. For those who love the distinct, delicate flakiness and a sweeter, more intensely peanut-flavored candy, Butterfinger will be more satisfying. Availability is also a major factor, as Crispy Crunch requires a trip to Canada or an international candy store for most US residents.
Conclusion: Similar Appearance, Different DNA
Ultimately, the question of whether is crispy crunch the same as butterfinger can be put to rest. While they share a similar premise—a peanut butter crisp coated in chocolate—their distinct origins, recipes, and resulting textures set them apart. The Candadian Crispy Crunch offers a denser, nuttier experience with genuine milk chocolate, while the American Butterfinger provides its signature flaky, sweeter interior. Despite their similarities, they represent two different chapters in confectionery history and offer unique delights for fans of crunchy peanut butter bars.
Learn more about the differences
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Crispy Crunch available in the United States? No, Crispy Crunch had a brief run in the US during the 1990s but is no longer widely available there. It can sometimes be found through specialty importers, but it remains a primarily Canadian treat.
2. Why does Butterfinger’s coating taste different than milk chocolate? The Butterfinger coating is legally a "chocolatey coating" that does not contain cocoa butter, a key component of real milk chocolate. This ingredient difference results in its distinct flavor profile compared to bars with a genuine milk chocolate coating.
3. Which candy bar came first, Crispy Crunch or Butterfinger? Butterfinger, created in 1923, predates Crispy Crunch, which was developed in 1930. The Canadian bar, however, was in its first incarnation for a few years before the American one hit the market, according to some historical accounts.
4. Are Crispy Crunch and Butterfinger manufactured by the same company? No, they are not. Crispy Crunch is a Cadbury Canada product, while Butterfinger is produced by the Ferrara Candy Company, a subsidiary of Ferrero.
5. How does the texture of Crispy Crunch compare to Butterfinger? The inner crisp of Crispy Crunch is denser and more like a peanut brittle, while Butterfinger's center is lighter and more flaky, often referred to as "crispety, crunchety".
6. Is there any regional variation in these candy bars? Yes, Crispy Crunch is a Canadian specialty, while Butterfinger is a classic American bar. Their recipes, ownership, and availability reflect their geographic origins.
7. Does the recipe for these candy bars ever change? Yes, both have seen changes over their history due to different ownership. Butterfinger notably received an updated recipe in 2018 after being acquired by Ferrero, while Crispy Crunch's recipe reportedly became sweeter under Cadbury ownership.
