I Love Reese’s Day (May 18)
May 18th exists for one reason and it’s a good one. Chocolate and peanut butter in a ratio that has never needed improving, wrapped in orange foil, made by a man who started his candy operation in his own basement. I Love Reese’s Day is unambiguous about what it is.
It’s a celebration of a candy that has been consistently ranked as one of America’s favorites for decades, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything more profound than that.
When is the Holiday?
Every year on May 18th.
Who Invented It?
Most likely a combination of devoted fans and smart marketing from The Hershey Company. There’s no official founding moment on record but the day has enough social media momentum and brand support behind it now that the origin question matters less than it might for other holidays.
The History of the Holiday
H.B. Reese didn’t start out as a candy entrepreneur. He worked for Milton Hershey first, which gave him both an education in chocolate and a proximity to quality ingredients. He launched his own candy business in the 1920s, initially from his home in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where the first cups were made in his basement.
The peanut butter cup debuted in 1928 and found its footing during World War II when other candies became harder to produce due to rationing. Reese’s simplified formula worked in its favor and by the time the war ended it had built a loyal following. H.B. Reese sold the company to Hershey in 1963, two years before he died, and the brand has been part of that portfolio ever since.
Top 5 Facts About the Holiday
1. H.B. Reese worked for Milton Hershey before starting his own company. He learned the business from one of the most successful confectioners in American history and then went out on his own. The Hershey connection was both practical and geographical since he literally lived in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
2. The original factory was in his basement. Not a small artisan operation that grew. An actual basement. The scale-up from there to one of the most recognizable candy brands in the world is a genuine story worth knowing.
3. Reese’s Cups took off during World War II. Rationing reduced the availability of many sweets but Reese’s relatively simple ingredient list kept production going. It was in the right place at the right time and built a fanbase that stuck around long after the war ended.
4. There is an ongoing debate about how to pronounce the name. REE-sis or Ree-sees. Hershey has officially weighed in on this and people still argue about it, which says something about how much people care about this candy.
5. Reese’s consistently ranks among the top Halloween candies in America. Year after year, in surveys and sales data both. It has held that position for long enough that it’s not a trend, it’s just where it lives.
Coloring Page
Print the Reese’s coloring page for younger kids to use while the baking or tasting is happening around them. It’s a good way to include children who aren’t old enough to help in the kitchen but still want to be part of the day.
Activities to Celebrate
A taste test is the most fun version of this day with minimal effort required. Pick up a range of varieties, original, white chocolate, dark chocolate, thins, stuffed with pretzels or caramel, set them out, and work through them with a group. People have strong opinions about which version is best and those opinions are rarely what you’d expect going in.
Baking with Reese’s is the obvious next step if you want something more involved. Chopped peanut butter cups folded into brownie batter is probably the easiest upgrade you can make to a standard recipe. The cups hold their shape reasonably well during baking and the result is better than the sum of its parts.
Making your own peanut butter cups is worth trying at least once. Melt chocolate, line a muffin tin, add a peanut butter and sugar mixture in the middle, seal with more chocolate, and chill. The customization options are where it gets interesting. Sea salt, crushed pretzels, a little espresso powder in the chocolate. They don’t look quite like the originals but they taste at least as good.
Sharing is probably the most crowd-pleasing option if you’re at work or in a community setting. A small bag of mixed Reese’s varieties with a note marking the day costs almost nothing and reliably makes people happy.
Related Recipes for the Holiday
Here are 10 standout recipes perfect for honoring May 18th. These go beyond the basics to include unique twists and creative flavor combos:
- Reese’s Bundt Poke Cake – chocolate cake with a peanut butter glaze poured into the holes after baking, finished with ganache and chopped candy. A proper centrepiece dessert.
- Reese’s Fudge – peanut butter, chocolate chips, condensed milk, chopped candy. No bake, set in the fridge, cut into squares. Straightforward and reliable.
- Reese’s Cheesecake Dip – cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar, chopped cups. Serve with pretzels or graham crackers. One of those recipes that disappears before you’ve finished making it.
- Reese’s Rice Krispie Treats – crushed Reese’s Pieces or chopped cups mixed into the standard recipe, drizzled with chocolate and peanut butter. A good one to make with kids.
- Reese’s Stuffed Brownies – peanut butter cups layered into the batter before baking. Dense, gooey, and worth every step.
- Reese’s Ice Cream Dessert – crushed cookie base, ice cream, chopped cups, hot fudge drizzle, frozen until set. Slice cold and serve immediately.
- Peanut Butter Cup Pie – graham cracker crust, no-bake peanut butter filling, whipped cream and chopped Reese’s on top. Make it the day before and refrigerate overnight.
- Reese’s Cup Cupcakes – chocolate cupcakes cored and filled with melted peanut butter cup or peanut butter cream, topped with chocolate frosting and a mini cup. Good for a group.
- Boozy Reese’s Milkshake – vanilla ice cream, crushed peanut butter cups, a splash of peanut butter whiskey or chocolate liqueur if you want it. Whipped cream on top. An adult version of the day.
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Links to Resources
- Peanut Butter & Chocolate Molds – silicone molds for making homemade cups in different shapes. A good starting point if you want to go beyond the standard round version.
- Reese’s Coloring Pages – candy themed designs for younger kids. A simple craft station addition that keeps them occupied while the real thing is being made nearby.
- “How It’s Made” Candy Episodes – several episodes cover the chocolate and candy making process in detail. Worth watching with curious older kids before or after a baking session.
Related Holidays
National Peanut Butter Day (January 24) – dedicated to the ingredient that makes this candy what it is. A good excuse to make peanut butter cookies or revisit what your favorite variety actually is.
National Peanut Brittle Day (January 26) – the older, crunchier side of the peanut candy world. If you like the nutty flavor in Reese’s but want something with more snap and less chocolate, this is worth marking on the calendar.
World Nutella Day (February 5) – a different chocolate and something pairing but the same general energy. The two work surprisingly well together in baked goods if you want to experiment.
Milk Chocolate Day (July 28) – focuses on the other half of the Reese’s equation. A natural follow-on later in the summer.
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