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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Money & Work • Candy

Reese's Pieces

Reese's Pieces are a peanut butter candy made by The Hershey Company.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Reese's Pieces are peanut butter candies with a crunchy shell, made by The Hershey Company and introduced in 1978.

What it is

Reese's Pieces are small, round candies with a crunchy candy shell and a peanut butter centre. They come in yellow, orange, and brown colours and are sold in various package sizes. The candy is part of the Reese's brand, which is owned by The Hershey Company.

History

Reese's Pieces were introduced in 1978. According to the Hershey archives, the candy was based on a formula for sweetened peanut meal developed in the 1970s. The original working name was "PBs" before being renamed to Reese's Pieces.

Key details

Calorie counts vary by serving size: about 40 calories for 10 pieces and 140 calories for 38 pieces. Ingredients typically include sugar, partially defatted peanuts, vegetable oil, whey, dextrose, corn syrup, salt, soy lecithin, artificial colours, and glazing agents. The candy is sold in Canada through major confectionery retail channels.

In short

  • Reese's Pieces are peanut butter candies with a crunchy shell, made by Hershey.
  • Introduced in 1978, originally called "PBs".
  • Common colours are yellow, orange, and brown.
  • Calories vary by serving size; check the package for exact nutrition.
Canadian angle

Reese's Pieces are sold in Canada through major confectionery retail channels and are part of the broader Hershey confectionery portfolio familiar to Canadian consumers.

Quick questions

What are Reese's Pieces?
Reese's Pieces are peanut butter candies with a crunchy shell, made by The Hershey Company.
Are Reese's Pieces gluten-free?
A gluten-free claim is not shown in the provided sources. Check the package label for the exact market.
How many calories in Reese's Pieces?
Calories vary by serving size. One listing shows about 40 calories for 10 pieces, another shows 140 calories for 38 pieces.

Sources

  1. Kiddle — https://kids.kiddle.co/Reese's_Pieces
    Supports: Basic description as a Hershey peanut butter candy and the 1978 introduction context.
  2. Hershey Archives — https://hersheyarchives.org/encyclopedia/reeses-pieces-e-ts-favorite-candy/
    Supports: History of the product, 1970s development, original name PBs, and renaming.
  3. University Hospitals — https://www.uhhospitals.org/health-information/health-and-wellness-library/article/nutritionfacts-v1/candies-reeses-pieces-candy-1-pieces
    Supports: Nutrition data showing calories per piece.
  4. FatSecret — https://foods.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/reeses/reeses-pieces
    Supports: Nutrition data showing 140 calories per 38 pieces.
  5. USA Foods — https://usafoods.com.au/products/reeses-pieces-single-1-53oz
    Supports: Ingredient list and product description as peanut butter candy.
  6. Hershey Foodservice — https://www.hersheyfoodservice.com/products/reeses-pieces-peanut-butter-candy-25-lb-box.html
    Supports: Product description identifying Reese's Pieces as classic Reese's peanut butter in a crunchy shell.