The peanut butter/chocolate showdown:
The peanut butter
The peanut butter in the Cleo's is really creamy. This is crucial to note because sometimes the peanut butter in a Justin's cup is contrarily dense and powdery. Unlike their Reese's ancestors, this apparently isn't a result of staleness, but rather an extreme sensitivity to cold. I know this because I've induced this phenomenon by putting them in the fridge. Do not put them in the fridge! Unfortunately, I've also purchased Justin's cups that were powdery even without a misstep on my part, so it would seem that stores have not necessarily received the "no fridge" memo. To be fair, this has only happened 50% of the times I've purchased Justin's. But, at $2 a pack, it's not really a gamble I appreciate. I will say, though, that when not powdery, Justin's peanut butter is as dense and smooth as it should be. Cleo's creamy peanut butter, on the other hand, seems impervious to anything you could do to them- consistently.
The chocolate
I'm partial to the fact that Justin's is dark chocolate, but they are also superior in ingredient proportion. While every Justin's bite is relatively evenly distributed between chocolate and peanut butter, the Cleo's are seriously peanut butter-heavy in the center, with an extremely thin coating of chocolate above and below, and a considerably thicker shell around the edge and towards the peanut butter. I don't recall the architecture of Reese's accurately enough to be able to compare the proportion authenticity, but I prefer Justin's to Cleo's.
The bottom line:
While both options are impressive, I think it's fair to say that they each offer a totally different dessert experience to the peanut butter cup loving crowd. As for me, I'd reach for the Justin's. Of course this may change if they don't get their powdery problem under control...but, assuming they do, the dark chocolate and even proportion happen to do it for me. Go forth and enjoy whichever cups float your particular chocolate peanut butter boat.
I like these side by side comparisons. I'd probably be partial to the Justin's too: dark chocolate all the way, but also I like my peanut butter filling a little dense, I don't know why. That said, I haven't had either! I only ever find milk chocolate Justin's! I didn't know milk chocolate flavors could be vegan, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised what people can do these days.
ReplyDeletewhat about those who prefer beans and rice to chocolate and peanut butter?
ReplyDelete50% of the time! That is a failing grade! I would suggest recalculating your vote in favor of the cleo's, especially since they sell Cleo's at Lula's. Then you would only need to make one stop!
ReplyDeleteDark chocolate always wins, as far as I'm concerned.
ReplyDeleteff- Yeah, there are a couple of companies making vegan milk chocolate & I'm kind of meh. I much prefer dark chocolate.
ReplyDeleteAnt- those people shouldn't expect to find beans of rice on my blog unless it's smothered in Daiya.
Anon- Yeah, 50% sucks, but when they're good they're good.
Andrea- AGREED!
Dark Chocolate is the ultimate ruler no matter what.
ReplyDeleteThe universe makes so much more sense now based on this post. I always put my Justin's in the freezer and while I love them, was definitely annoyed by the "powdery" consistency of the peanut butter.
ReplyDeleteBess, this why I do what I do. May you never have another powdery cup again.
ReplyDeletecleo cleo cleo cleo cleo
ReplyDelete