Mmm, hazelnut. The easy way to fancy up anything. Got a boring dessert? Add crushed hazelnuts and bam, it’s a four-star recipe. Got a wrinkled old pair of jeans? Pop a couple hazelnuts in the pocket and voila, you’re a real four-star recipe. Hershey’s has been branching out into the fancy game lately, and their Hershey’s Kisses Deluxe are a clever way to feel like you’re snacking sophisticated (you’re not).
It looks promising, mostly because it’s covered in gold foil which makes me feel like I’m not actually broke since I can afford such opulent items. But with “delicate crisps and a whole hazelnut center,” Hershey’s Kisses Deluxe are obviously trying to compete with the long-standing champion of fancy hazelnut junk food: Ferrero Rocher.
They’re the same price, but I set out to determine if that’s where their similarities ended. It’s time for a fight to the death between these two candies, in which the only real loser will be me because I’m eating 300 calories in under a minute.
Hershey’s Kisses Deluxe are up first. Lookswise they’re just a bigger regular Kiss, which isn’t particularly exciting, but that’s the whole gimmick so just go with it. The chocolate is the same Hershey’s that we’re used to with some very delicate crispies scattered throughout. I wish there were more, though, because the thick chocolate shell is kind of boring on its own. There is indeed a hazelnut in the center, and the bites that included hazelnut were super tasty. It reminds me of those chocolate bars that have whole almonds in it: kind of boring when there’s no nuts in your mouth (#nailedit), but still perfectly tasty. You get four in a package of Hershey’s Kisses Deluxe, but I’m not super tempted to eat more than one. It was good, but there’s not a ton to write home about here.
Next up: Ferrero Rocher. This thing is riddled with tiny hazelnuts bits on the outside, making it look like a delicious tiny planet. The outer shell is crispy but delicate, and gives way to a creamy chocolatey hazelnutty middle with an actual hazelnut in the center. There’s, like, 20 different textures going on here and they all blend together perfectly. The hazelnut that is added to the chocolate really bumps everything up a notch, and makes each bite special and decadent. I legit could not stop eating these and when I ran out I was both full and sad.
On their own, the Kisses are good. I’d bum one off a friend if they had a pack. But when compared to the reigning champ, Ferrero Rocher mops the floor with Hershey’s Kisses Deluxe. If I had to pinpoint the exact reasons, I’d say it’s the creamy component and the more prevalent hazelnut flavor. Maybe it’s not fair to compare the two, but Hershey’s clearly wants to be a competitor in this fancy hazelnut market, so here we are. If you want to feel fancy but not TOO fancy, treat yourself to a Kiss. Otherwise, Hershey’s Kisses Deluxe make a great present for that special someone who isn’t special enough to deserve a Ferrero Rocher.
Ferrero Rocher Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Hershey’s Kisses Deluxe Rating: 7 out of 10
Overall Rating: 300 calories out of 10
