What are the ingredients in Reese's pieces?

November 13, 2025 •

2 min read

Made famous by their role in the 1982 movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Reese's Pieces feature a unique, peanut buttery taste encased in a crunchy candy shell. But what are the ingredients in Reese's Pieces that create this distinctive flavor and texture, and how has the recipe recently been updated?

Quick Summary

A comprehensive breakdown of the components used to make Reese's Pieces, covering the core ingredients, recent formula updates, and key differences from Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Key Points

Core Ingredients: The primary ingredients are sugar, partially defatted peanuts, and hydrogenated vegetable oil, forming the peanut butter filling.
Recent Recipe Change: Hershey's recently removed milk from the U.S. recipe, making the candy dairy-free; however, old stock may still exist.
Not Vegan: Despite being dairy-free, Reese's Pieces are not vegan due to the use of confectioner's glaze, an insect-derived coating.
Difference from Cups: Unlike Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Reese's Pieces contain no chocolate and have a creamier, sweeter peanut butter filling.
Candy Shell: The crunchy, colorful shell is created with a combination of sugar, modified cornstarch, artificial colors, confectioner's glaze, and carnauba wax.

Core Components: The Sweet Peanut Butter Center and Candy Shell

The beloved combination of sweet peanut butter flavor and a crispy candy shell is created using several key ingredients. The core of the flavor comes from partially defatted peanuts, sugar, and hydrogenated vegetable oil (a blend of palm kernel and soybean oils). These ingredients contribute to the specific texture and taste of the filling.

The 'Less Than 2%' Ingredients

To perfect the recipe, a small percentage of additional ingredients are used to enhance color, flavor, and texture. These include artificial colors like Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40, and Blue 1, which give the candy its distinctive look. Confectioner's glaze and carnauba wax provide the shiny coating, while lecithin acts as an emulsifier. Vanillin adds artificial flavor, and modified cornstarch is used as a binding agent.

Recent Formula Changes: What About Milk?

In mid-2025, Hershey's reformulated the candy in the U.S. to remove milk, making it dairy-free. Consumers should always check the most recent ingredient label, as older, milk-containing stock or seasonal versions may still be available.

Is Reese's Pieces a Vegan-Friendly Candy?

Despite the removal of milk, the product is still not considered vegan due to the inclusion of confectioner's glaze, which is derived from insects. Hershey's does offer separate plant-based Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Reese's Pieces vs. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: A Comparison

Reese's Pieces and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have distinct compositions that result in very different experiences.


Feature	Reese's Pieces	Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Chocolate	No milk chocolate is used.	Encased in a layer of Hershey's milk chocolate.
Peanut Butter	Creamier and sweeter filling made with partially defatted peanuts and oils.	A thicker, crumblier peanut butter filling that is less sweet.
Texture	Crunchy candy shell with a smooth, sweet center.	Smooth milk chocolate combined with a more crumbly peanut butter filling.
Primary Ingredients	Partially defatted peanuts, sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil, corn syrup.	Peanuts, milk chocolate, sugar, dextrose.
Origin	Introduced in 1978 as an expansion of the Reese's brand.	Invented in 1928 by H.B. Reese.

Conclusion

The ingredients in Reese's Pieces create its unique taste and texture. While the U.S. recipe is now dairy-free, it remains non-vegan due to confectioner's glaze. The combination of partially defatted peanuts, sugar, and hydrogenated oils distinguishes it from Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Always check the packaging for the most current ingredient information, especially with recent changes. You can find more details on the official Hershey's website {Link: hersheyland.com https://www.hersheyland.com/products/reeses-pieces-peanut-butter-candy-9-9-oz-bag.html}.

Understanding the Components

Key ingredients include partially defatted peanuts for the filling's base and hydrogenated vegetable oil for a smooth texture. Confectioner's glaze and carnauba wax create the crunchy, shiny shell, while artificial colors provide the vibrant look. Soy lecithin acts as an emulsifier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, according to Hershey's, Reese's Pieces are and have been gluten-free.

No, Reese's Pieces are not vegan. Even though the U.S. formula has removed milk, the candy still contains confectioner's glaze, a non-vegan, insect-derived ingredient.

The U.S. recipe was updated in mid-2025 to be dairy-free by removing milk. However, seasonal versions and older packages might still contain milk, so it's always best to check the label.

Reese's Pieces have a sweeter, creamier, and less oily peanut butter filling. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have a crumblier, thicker, and less-sweet peanut butter filling.

Confectioner's glaze is a shiny coating derived from the secretions of the lac insect. Because it is an animal byproduct, it makes the candy unsuitable for a vegan diet.

In the U.S., milk was an ingredient in Reese's Pieces for a long time. It was only removed during a reformulation in mid-2025.

The flavor difference comes from both the ingredients and the texture. The inclusion of milk chocolate in the Cups and the specific preparation of the peanut butter filling in each candy create distinct taste profiles.