Choceur Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Finding the perfect peanut butter cup can be an elusive quest. As a true peanut butter addict, I am always on the hunt for that sublime combination of rich, creamy peanut butter enveloped in thick, decadent chocolate. For me, the chocolate to peanut butter ratio needs to be just right – not too little peanut butter that gets drowned out by the chocolate, but also not too much that the filling overwhelms the shell. The ideal peanut butter cup has both elements artfully balanced, resulting in chocolatey-peanut buttery bliss.

On my latest expedition to procure top-tier peanut butter cups, I stumbled upon the Choceur brand Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups sold exclusively at Aldi markets. As a discount grocery store I don’t frequent often, I had low expectations when I first spotted these European-style cups on the shelf. But the minimalist packaging caught my eye, boasting the cups were made with “smooth peanut butter” and “fine milk chocolate”. Could these mysterious foreign cups live up to their claims and deliver peanut butter cup perfection? There was only one way to find out.

Unwrapping the Mystery of Choceur Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

To better understand exactly what I held in my hands, I needed to start with the basics: What are Choceur Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups?

Choceur (pronounced “show-sir”) is Aldi’s premium brand of European chocolate and candy. The name Choceur comes from the French word “choisir”, meaning “to choose”, reflecting the care and selectivity used when sourcing the brand’s cacao and ingredients. Aldi launched the Choceur line in 2013 to appeal to more discerning chocolate lovers looking for affordable indulgence.

The Choceur Peanut Butter Cups specifically consist of smooth peanut butter enrobed in milk chocolate. They are often compared to the famous Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, which makes sense given the similar chocolate and peanut butter combination. However, while Reese’s uses a sweeter, grittier peanut butter, Choceur promises a smoother Euro-style filling made from freshly roasted peanuts. This European influence extends to the shell, made from Alpine milk chocolate meant to have intense chocolatey flavor.

To get my hands on these, I of course went straight to my local Aldi supermarket, the only place Choceur Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are currently available for purchase. Aldi actually has an entire Choceur chocolate candy lineup, including bars, truffles, pretzels, and more. But I honed in on the shiny gold foil bags labeled “Choceur Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups” taking center stage in the candy aisle.

Indulging in Sweet Savings

As I tossed a bag into my cart, I was relieved to see the price come to just $2.95 for a 7 ounce bag – much less than bigger brand equivalents. Aldi is known for its discounts, but I wanted to be sure I was getting a quality product and not just cheap candy. I held onto my receipt to evaluate if these peanut butter cups could satisfy my cravings at this bargain cost.

The first thing I noticed was the minimal, sophisticated foil packaging and European branding, lending an air of luxury to this discount find. Flipping to the back, I could see the cups were made in Germany, notorious for their confectionery excellence. The ingredients also checked out – simple and straightforward, containing milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, cocoa mass, emulsifier, vanillin), peanut butter (peanuts), and a touch of sea salt. No artificial flavors or fillers – so far, so good.

Time for a Taste Test

The true test would of course come down to the tasting. Once home, I carefully opened the bag, the sealed foil liner maintaining freshness. Inside were 20 individually wrapped peanut butter cups – perfect for portion control. Unwrapping one, I could already detect the pleasing aroma of roasted peanuts and rich chocolate.

That first bite was pure bliss. The chocolate had a nice crisp snap giving way to the supple interior. The chocolate was creamy without being cloying, coating the mouth with true deep cocoa notes. But the real star was the peanut butter filling, totally smooth and melty on the tongue. The peanuts tasted freshly roasted and ground, marrying perfectly with the savory kiss of sea salt.

I slowly savored a few more cups, noting how the chocolate to peanut butter ratio was ideal – neither overwhelmed the other, but instead worked in perfect harmony. The quality easily rivaled that of the leading brands, but at a fraction of the price.

Choceur vs. the Competition

In terms of taste and quality, Choceur competed with – and in my opinion, surpassed – market leaders like Reese’s. The chocolate exterior had more complex cocoa flavor without relying heavily on sweetness. And the Euro-style peanut butter was far superior to the almost gritty, sugary-sweet filling I disliked in Reese’s.

Beyond taste, Choceur had health advantages as well. The cups are gluten free and vegetarian. And with just 210 calories and 12g sugar per cup, they pack less of a caloric punch than Reese’s at 210 calories but 24g sugar per serving. The ingredients list is also simpler, with no preservatives or emulsifiers needed to stabilize the smooth, fresh peanut butter.

The only downside was lack of availability – with Reese’s ubiquitous in grocery stores, convenience stores, vending machines and more, you likely won’t stumble upon Choceur cups outside of Aldi. But for me, the superior flavor and value outweighed the smaller distribution footprint.

An Obsession Takes Hold

After plowing through bag after bag, my family started raising their eyebrows at my Choceur consumption. I couldn’t get enough of the combination of rich, silky chocolate enveloping the velvety fresh peanut butter. I found myself picking up a few bags every Aldi trip, always sure to stock up seasonally for fear of running out.

Occasionally I came across a limited edition seasonal flavor, like Pumpkin Spice for fall or Eggnog for Christmas – fun detours from the classic I craved year-round. I even noticed Choceur Almond Butter cups joining the peanut butter ones on shelves, tempting me to branch out.

But in my heart, I was committed to the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, my true passion. I started hoarding bags in the back of my pantry to avoid imminent withdrawal. I may have had a problem, but oh what an exquisite problem it was.

Delving Deeper

In my fervor, I dove into researching everything I could about my beloved cups. I learned Choceur Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups contain 7 to 8 cups per bag and have a shelf life of 120 days when properly stored. The cups are Kosher certified and free of the top 9 allergens, though the factory also processes milk-based and nut-based products for those highly sensitive.

I even tracked down the manufacturer, Baronie GmbH based in Germany, which confirmed my suspicions that European chocolate standards and peanut purity produced the outstanding quality I craved. Baronie prides itself on responsible palm oil sourcing and can trace every cocoa bean to its origin too.

Armed with nutrition facts, certifications, and origins, I felt equipped to proselytize the glory of Choceur Peanut Butter Cups to anyone who would listen. Which led me to my next discovery…

A Global Cult Following

One late night while obsessively reading Choceur reviews, I stumbled upon a whole community of enthusiastic fans based in the UK, Ireland and beyond. With Aldi’s European roots, the Choceur range has amassed legions of devoted foodies who wax poetic about the brand online.

Choceur Peanut Butter Cups are particularly esteemed for their superiority to mainstream versions – many confessed complete addiction and hoarding behavior that mirrored mine! I felt seen and understood in theirdetailed tasting notes and cries of desperation when the cups sell out seasonally.

Many also raved the cups are the perfect shape and portion control for recipes, often baking them into cakes and cookies to feed their obsession. As a peanut butter cup evangelist, I totally related to this global cult craving accessible, quality, affordable chocolate. I knew I couldn’t be the only Choceur superfan!

An Iconic Duo, Perfected

In the vast candy aisles today, we have countless options vying for our attention – yet sometimes simple is best. For this peanut butter enthusiast, Choceur Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups distill one of the world’s favorite flavor combinations down to its purest essence. The stellar ingredients, European influences, and careful balance take this iconic pairing to new heights.

Have I found peanut butter cup perfection? For my taste buds, Choceur delivers on all fronts. The chocolate has rich depth without overwhelming sweetness, while the peanut butter feels like fresh ground goodness in every bite. And with an approachable price point, Choceur makes premium European-style quality accessible.

So for those on the eternal quest for the perfect peanut butter cup, I say grab your passport and get thee to Aldi. But be warned – once you go Choceur, you may never go back. Your chocolate peanut butter cup standards will be forever changed.