InterroGATOR Reviews

New & Improved Butterfinger Review

New & Improved Butterfinger Review

I got hooked on Butterfinger way back in the day when I saw Bart Simpson was a fan of them. Most of us grew up with this iconic bar — it has been around for nearly 100 years! When I found out that Butterfinger changed their recipe, I got nervous. Let’s be real — most recipe changes in the past have almost always resulted in backlash. “New Coke” in 1985, Nutella in 2017, and McDonald’s Apple Pie in 2018. Customers get used to a flavor, continue to purchase it because they like it, and then are crazy upset when the ‘new recipe’ doesn’t compare to the old one. People don’t like change…plain and simple.

In a ballsy move by Butterfinger, the new recipe features a different type of peanut and more cocoa, while cutting out certain ingredients. The peanut flavor is what makes the Butterfinger, and using a different type of peanut is a very bold move in my opinion. Described by Butterfinger to be “crispety, crunchety, and peanut buttery”, these bars also feature a new wrapper to keep the bar fresher longer.

So how does the new recipe compare to the old recipe? It’s noticeably different…and not in a good way. The old version is a bit ‘stickier’ with the chocolate sticking to every crevasse in your mouth. I immediately noticed that the new version doesn’t have that ‘stickiness’. That was one thing that I loved about Butterfinger! A more prominent peanut butter flavor stand out to me the most and it’s not true to the classic Butterfinger. I don’t really pick up on the caramelized molasses flavor that was noticeable in the old formula, which mostly affects the aftertaste. The new bar’s aftertaste is a tad bit saltier and less sweet.

It’s definitely different…and I do prefer the old recipe more. It just tastes more peanut-buttery overall. The peanut change wasn’t a good change in my opinion, as it resulted in more of a prominent peanut taste that took away from the classic Butterfinger taste. The crunch is still the same, the shape is the same, the smell is the same. Just a more peanut buttery taste, a bit less stickiness, and a richer chocolate coatings pretty much sum up the changes.

If you tried this new recipe, what did you think?

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About the author

Jason

I steal my nieces’ Halloween candy and laugh about it, put whipped cream on vegetables, don’t trust food that isn’t in a package, and worship ice cream. Chips are my favorite snack and might just end up being my downfall. I would marry Flamin' Hot Cheetos if it was legal (and not weird). Born and raised near Detroit, I grew up eating delicious coney dogs, unique pizzas, and of course --- all the best snacks.

84 Comments

  • […] New Butterfinger Recipe | The American Butterfinger brand moved from Nestlé to Ferrero in 2018 – and the Italian owners wanted to improve the bar. They’re going with better nuts and more cocoa – but will there be a backlash? I’ve seen mixed comments on Instagram (which isn’t necessarily representative, people tend to comment more when they’re unhappy with things!) so what does this reviewer reckon? | Snack Gator […]

    • I do “not” like the new Butterfinger. It tastes like chocolate coating is half as thick as the old one. True, it is crispy but I want my thicker chocolate coating!

    • I just ate 1/3 of a bar and it is making me sick to my stomach. It taste very sour and bitter at the same time. I’m very close to making myself vomit so my stomach settles down. The new recipe sucks and the new Ferrero turds need to bring back the old recipe or take the crap off the shelves.

      My credentials: I’m fat!!!

    • I bought a big bag of Butterfinger minis not knowing that they changed the formula. I took a bite of one and threw it away thinking it had gone bad. I tasted another one to see if the whole bag was bad before I returned it to the store. The store clerk informed me that the candy wasnt bad, it was intentionally changed! I now mourn the death of my beloved Butterfinger.

  • I did not like it as well. Why would you change the traditional butterfinger. Some things just need to be left alone! The new one is not as tasty.

    • Sandy. I agree. The new one tastes like chemical. Why change an icon. That’s like changing the Milky Way. They should have made a new candy bar with a new name. They lost me as a Butterfinger customer.

  • Why on earth would you mess with success? This is not an improvement! This new Butterfinger needs to go away with New Coke. Definitely lost a customer with me!

  • Butterfinger has always been a favorite for both, me & hubby. We could not understand how they could “improve” on perfection, but, we bought 4 bars. We each tried one, thinking “oh boy”!! Boy, we’re we surprised!!! What was once perfectiin, is now laying in the countertop, waiting for some sucker to come and get it! Yeah, we bought 2too many! We WON’T be buying another one! They are horrible!!

  • The new butterfinger is horrible. The taste is not good at all. The new butterfinger taste like something was added that do not blend good together. Bring back the old recipe taste because that one taste better. New and improve is NOT a winner.

  • It taste completely different to me. Not better. I don’t know whether it’s a higher quality product or not, but I will buy something else next time I get a sweet tooth.
    It’s a shame, but life goes on.

  • Terrible…Was my Favorite Candy Bar. I don’t Know What You Did..Remember When Coke Got Rid Of The Ol Coca Cola For The New..That Didn’t Work for them Hope It Works For You..Do Not Like It and Will Not Ever Buy Another..

  • They taste horrible! Bring back the original. New Enhanced flavor? What a joke! It is bland as can be. ?lost me as a customer!!

  • I hate the New Butterfinger. I can’t wait to take them back to the store and get my money back. Maybe if enough of us do that they will get the message.

  • Horrible. Won’t buy another unless they switch back. How do you screw up candy? Other than licorice I’ll eat about anything. This is awful.

  • The new Butterfinger chocolate coating is half the thickness of the old Butterfinger bar. in addition, the peanut butter center is too crispy. The old one had more substance and mike moist feeling. In summary, bring back the original!

  • Don’t mess with success. The new Butterfinger chocolate covering is half as thick as the original and the peanut butter center is too dry. If they change over to the new one, then I will find another favorite candy car. I am 72 years old and I have eaten Butterfingers for many years and the knucklehead that changed the formula should be run out of town!

  • Really dislike this recipe change. Will no longer buy this candy. Hopefully they will go back to the old recipe.

  • I’ve noticed that the new Butterfingers are always on sale or at a lower price at every store I’ve seen them. Seems to me nobody’s buying them. I won’t buy them again, I don’t like the new ones.

  • Healthier alternatives have never tasted better than pure junk.

    I have never been fond of Nestle’s chocolate flavored wax & love Fererro’s Roche, but what Ferrero did to the Butterfinger is an atrocity. & since they donot make chocolate with the same process, it will never taste the same again. They could at least make the cruncy peanutbutter taste more like the original. Right now, it’s the worst part.

  • Terrible… taste like chemicals were added, center has lost is richness, and chocolate doesn’t complement the peanut butter. I have written to the email on the Butterfinger package and they responded that they stand by their new recipe. If everyone would do that, maybe they’d realize they are soon going to see their bottom line is standing in the red.

  • So bad. Two of us bought it and both threw it away. Tried to give the other half away and third person tossed it after tasting. 3 out of three hated it!

  • I absolutely hate this new butterfinger. It is gross, the old one taste better. Get rid of this one and bring the old one back. Who idea was this? They need to go away.

  • Today I decided to treat myself with my absolute favorite candy bar…. the Butterfinger. YUCK! The first and only bite tasted like the old powdered milk my mom use to use. I was so disappointed! I will never eat another one that says “new and improved”. Tasted more like old and disgusting.

  • Horrible, Its a totally new candy bar that would be failing if it wasn’t for the name recognition. I delivered milk to a facility that made Butterfingers and got addicted. Fresh they are unbelievable.
    They don’t improve with age but even old ones are better than a fresh new one.

  • The original butterfingers always tasted more buttery than peanuty to me. The new bars are just awful. Has anyone else noticed the strange aftertaste?

  • Wow! Anyone who really liked the original Butterfinger, will NEVER like this new creation… It may be the worst example of “improving” a product of all time. The chocolate has a strong weird taste that is almost bitter. What an EPIC FAILURE. Sorry… I’m Done.

  • New recipe SUUUCKS!!!!!!!! There was nothing wrong with the old so why mess with a good thing?!? They have ruined my favorite candy bar ???????????????

  • The new butterfinger candy bars are not good at all, I always say if it’s not broke don’t fix it they are terrible!!!! Please bring back the old ones please.

  • This change is terrible. Butterfinger had such a wonderful flavor and now it’s gone. Hope they change it back like Honeycomb did or I will not be purchasing anymore.

  • HATE THE NEW FORMULA! I loved the old ones if I started to eat one I could not stop till I was licking the wrapper. The new ones have a more peanut taste and its not a good taste. I won’t be a customer of the new butterfingers.

  • We forgot they had changed the recipe. I almost spit out the first bite. It tastes nothing like the old one. Almost flavorless, my husband and I decided that is one candy bar we won’t ever need to buy again. Sad.

  • I agree with the others, I’m 59 years old, been eating butterfingers for at least 50 years, Not Anymore… nor my wife, new recipe just plain nasty. Who’s great idea was that? Should find another career. Profit margin should never be priority above quality and taste. Please stick to the successful original recipe…

  • I just ate one and thought something was wrong with it. Then I noticed the wrapper says Improved Recipe. It didn’t need to be improved WTF is wrong with people thinking they need to change everything?! Americans like original . Change it back please! You have completely ruined Butterfinger.

  • Totally agree with the other comments. It taste terrible. I could not finish it. Hopefully the company will listen and bring back the original.

  • When I wanted to treat myself to a dessert I would always reach for a Butterfinger. Haven’t had another one since I tried the “new Improved” flavor. You have not only lost my business but my husband’s also. I am now looking for something to take the place of the old Butterfinger but nothing even come close to comparing

  • I did not know that my favorite candy bar had changed the recipe. I took a bite an thought something was spoiled, before I knew about the new improved recipe. I don’t know what you did to it, but I could taste the difference in the first bite. And not in a good way. Please bring back my favorite candy bar.

  • Please fire whomever made the decision to change this recipe. WTF this is one of the worst decisions of the 21st century. You ruined my favorite candy bar, congratulations.

  • Just made the mistake of buying a box of these new “improved” Butterfingers at Sam’s Club. Just had the first one, and have to say it SUCKS. I grew up on Butterfingers (Way before Bart Simpson) and have to say if Sa’s won’t give me my money back, I will be throwing away the rest of the box.

  • Did an office taste test… and 7 out of 8 HATED the new bars (We were fortunate enough to have a stash of the old ones from Halloween to compare directly). The holdout was a person who just doesn’t like butterfinger anyway.

  • The new butter finger does not compare to the old version. Can anyone say new coke. I guess I will be looking for a new candy bar ☹️.

  • I disagree that it tastes more like peanut butter. More like dry roasted, unsalted, not a good flavor by themselves peanuts, sure. Not American peanut butter. And I do not like heavy cocoa chocolate. Blech! I want an American candy bar! You want to release a ‘Butterfinger fancy’ alongside the OG, ok, go for it. But bring back the OG.

  • I have been eating Butterfingers for years. I loved the flavor and it was the only chocolate that I could eat without having hay fever like symptoms like sneezing and running nose. I haven’t bought the new improved Butterfinger because I am afraid they messed up the chocolate coating. So until the old recipe is returned, I will no longer buy Butterfingers.

  • I love the old Butterfinger I am not happy with this new improved because it taste more like roasted peanuts and I’m not happy about that. Give me my buttery crispy chocolate Butterfinger back please

  • This is so bad. I will never buy another one. Just nothing at all good to say about the new formula. Why did they do this? Gross.

  • Just bought a bag of Halloween candy that included the new Butterfingers – TERRIBLE!!!!!!! I’m done with them! This is as bad a move as Coca-cola’s new Coke back in the 80’s.

  • Look up the Business Insider article from 2018. I think Ferrero must have slid them money under the table for the glowing review of the new recipe.

  • The new recipe for Butterfingers is a disaster. I will never buy one of the so-called “new and improved” Butterfingers. Please bring back the old-recipe Butterfingers.

  • The slogan was, “Nobody better lay a finger on my Butterfinger”. That’s exactly what They did!.
    I was ready to go ape $hit when I noticed. If it’s true that they improved the ingredients with better products. It’s unfortunate that we as consumers have grown so accustomed to artificial sweeteners, and fillers, that the real thing taste like garbage. Improve your credit score, improve your good cholesterol… Leave my damn Butterfinger alone!. That was my go to chest treat ?#MakeButterfingersGreatAgain

  • The original Butterfinger was delicious and unique. Changing it to this disgusting, bland, peanut flavored sawdust is one of the worst decisionsI have ever seen. I really hope they change it back. I refuse to buy this version.

  • I use to love butterfingers. It was my favorite candy bar. I do not like the new butterfingers. Lost me and my family as customers.

  • TERRIBLE. It’s absolutely tasteless. I do not taste peanut butter OR chocolate. The only taste is a weird after taste. I kept taking more bites thinking maybe it was just me but then I noticed the wrapper said “IMPROVED RECIPE”. What a bunch of BS. I’m sure it was done to save money. This used to be my favorite candy bar. I won’t buy it ever again.

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