Quick Answer
A regular size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup contains about 110 calories. This is based on the nutrition information provided by The Hershey Company, the manufacturer of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Calorie Breakdown
A regular size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup weighing approximately 1.5 ounces (42 grams) contains approximately:
- 110 calories
- 6 grams of fat
- 9 grams of carbohydrates
- 2 grams of protein
Of the 110 calories, 60 come from fat and 50 come from carbohydrates. There are no calories from protein.
Serving Size Details
Here are some more details on the serving size and calorie information for a regular Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup:
- Serving size: 1 package (1.5 ounces or 42 grams)
- Servings per container: 1
- Amount per serving:
- Calories 110
- % Daily Value*
- Total Fat 6g: 9%
- Saturated Fat 3.5g: 18%
- Trans Fat 0g
- Cholesterol 0mg: 0%
- Sodium 125mg: 5%
- Total Carbohydrate 9g: 3%
- Dietary Fiber 1g: 4%
- Total Sugars 7g
- Includes 6g Added Sugars: 12%
- Protein 2g
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Ingredients
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups contain just a few simple ingredients:
- Milk chocolate (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, chocolate, nonfat milk, milk fat, lactose, soy lecithin, PGPR)
- Peanuts
- Sugar
- Dextrose
- Salt
- TBHQ (preservative)
The chocolate coating and peanut butter filling provide the calories and fat. The sugar adds carbohydrate calories. Overall the calorie breakdown aligns with what you would expect from chocolate and peanut butter.
Reasons for Calorie Amount
There are a few reasons why a regular Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup contains about 110 calories:
- Chocolate coating – Chocolate is high in fat and carbohydrates, both of which provide calories.
- Peanut butter filling – Peanut butter is high in fat, which contains over double the calories per gram compared to carbs and protein.
- Palm oil – The peanut butter contains palm oil, which is higher in saturated fat than other vegetable oils.
- Sugar – There is added sugar in both the chocolate and peanut butter.
- Portion size – At 1.5 ounces, it is a moderately sized candy portion.
Overall, the combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and other high-calorie ingredients like sugar in a moderately sized package leads to the 110 calories per Reese’s cup.
Calories in Different Sizes of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Reese’s Peanut Butter cups come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Here is a breakdown of the calorie content in different sizes:
| Reese’s Size | Serving Size | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Snack Size | 0.8 oz (22 g) | 60 |
| Regular Size | 1.5 oz (42 g) | 110 |
| Big Cup | 2.1 oz (60 g) | 210 |
| King Size | 2.8 oz (80 g) | 280 |
As you can see, the calorie count scales up accordingly with the larger sizes. The Big Cup has nearly double the calories of the regular size. The King Size has over 2.5 times as many calories as the regular size.
Comparing Calories to Other Candies
How does a regular size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup compare calorie-wise to other popular candies? Here is a calorie comparison:
| Candy | Serving Size | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup (regular) | 1 package (42g) | 110 |
| Snickers Bar | 1 bar (48g) | 250 |
| Kit Kat Bar | 1 package (41g) | 210 |
| Twix Caramel Cookie Bar | 1 package (50g) | 280 |
| 3 Musketeers Bar | 1 bar (45g) | 260 |
Looking at other popular candy bars, a regular Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup is lower in calories than options like Snickers, Kit Kat, Twix, and 3 Musketeers bars. The chocolate and peanut butter combo has fewer calories than combinations with nougat, caramel, or cookies.
Calorie Contribution to Daily Intake
How much do the 110 calories in a regular Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup contribute to your daily calorie needs?
The recommended daily calorie intake for adults is around 2,000 calories per day. However, optimal calorie intakes vary based on age, gender, and activity levels.
Here is how the calories in one regular size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup contribute to daily calorie budgets at different calorie levels:
| Calorie Level | Daily Calories | One Reese’s Calories | % of Daily Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child | 1,200 | 110 | 9% |
| Sedentary Woman | 1,600 | 110 | 7% |
| Moderately Active Man | 2,400 | 110 | 5% |
| Active Woman | 2,000 – 2,200 | 110 | 5 – 5.5% |
As you can see, at 110 calories one regular size Reese’s makes up 5-9% of typical daily calorie needs. It makes up a higher percentage for children with lower calorie requirements. For active adults with higher calorie budgets, it contributes around 5% of the total calories for the day.
Health Considerations
When considering the calorie content of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, keep the following health factors in mind:
- High in saturated fat – Each cup contains 3.5g saturated fat, which is 18% of the daily value. Saturated fat should be limited for heart health.
- Low in protein – With just 2g of protein per cup, Reese’s offer little nutritional value.
- High in added sugar – The 7g total sugars per cup mostly come from added sugar, unnecessary empty calories.
- Low in fiber – Each cup only contains 1g of fiber, so they are unlikely to fill you up.
- Food dyes – Reese’s contain artificial food dyes like Yellow 5 and Red 40 which have been linked to hyperactivity in children.
While fine for an occasional treat, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups do not provide much nutritional benefit. The saturated fat, added sugars, and artificial ingredients mean they should be eaten in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet.
Ways to Reduce Calories
If you want to enjoy Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups while minimizing the calorie impact, here are some tips:
- Choose snack or mini sizes – Opt for the smaller 0.8oz cups instead of regular size.
- Portion out servings – Cut or break apart the cups into smaller pieces to control portions.
- Eat with fruit or nuts – Pair with fresh berries or a handful of almonds for more fiber and nutrients.
- Share with others – Cut back on calories by sharing Reese’s as part of a dessert spread.
- Savor slowly – Take small bites and really enjoy the chocolate-peanut butter taste sensation.
- Opt for dark chocolate – Choose dark chocolate peanut butter cups which are lower in sugar.
- Make your own – Whip up healthier homemade versions with less added sugar and clean ingredients.
Being mindful of portions and combining Reese’s with more nutritious foods can let you indulge while managing calories.
Nutritional Alternatives
If you want a treat with a similar peanut butter chocolate taste but fewer calories and more nutrition, consider these alternatives:
- Peanut butter oatmeal balls – Rolled oats, peanut butter, honey/maple syrup, cocoa powder, flaxseed.
- Peanut butter banana smoothie – Banana, milk, peanut butter, cocoa powder.
- Peanut butter dark chocolate bar – Opt for chocolate with 70% or higher cocoa.
- Peanut butter apple slices – Sliced apples with peanut butter dip.
- Chocolate peanut butter energy bites – Dates, oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips.
- Peanut butter yogurt parfait – Greek yogurt topped with peanut butter and berries.
Whipping up homemade snacks and desserts allows you to control the ingredients and calories while still satisfying a peanut butter chocolate craving.
Conclusion
A regular size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup contains about 110 calories. This calorie count comes from the chocolate coating, peanut butter filling, and added sugar. At 110 calories, a Reese’s Cup makes up about 5-9% of typical daily calorie needs. While fine as an occasional treat, Reese’s Cups are high in saturated fat, added sugars, and low in protein, so healthier peanut butter chocolate alternatives can provide more nutrition. Overall, being mindful of portions and picking snack sizes or sharing can help minimize the calorie impact when enjoying these popular chocolate peanut butter treats.
