I Tried and Ranked Every M&M’s Flavor — And the Winner Was Totally Unexpected
There is truly no sweeter joy in life than a handful of M&M’s (in my expert opinion as a candy eater). They’re colorful, rich, melt-in-your-mouth, and perfect for satisfying chocolate lovers of all ages. It seems that they’ve been around forever — they’re so ingrained in American culture that they’ve recently been named the number-one Halloween candy in the U.S., dethroning Reese’s cups, according to CandyStore.com.
M&M’s originated in 1941 as a snack for World War II soldiers. Its candy-coated design ensured the chocolate wouldn’t melt on warm days. They were easy to transport, making the United States Army its exclusive customer. Later in 1981, M&M’s were even the first candy to go to space, feeding astronauts on the initial Columbia space shuttle mission.
These days, M&M’s are known around the world for not only their classic milk chocolate, but for more creative versions like peanut, pretzel, caramel, and even crispy cookie flavor. I set out to find the best flavor of M&M’s by emailing the company and getting to sample 12 M&M’s flavors (a work perk!). I recruited some friends to test and share their opinions. Our criteria included texture, flavor, size, sweetness level, and nostalgia, and there were fierce disagreements and unanimous favorites. In the end, we agreed on the rankings below (which include a combined ranking for all three types of peanut butter M&M’s we tried) — and may have just found the best M&M’s flavor of all. Read on and see if you agree, too!
10. Crunchy Cookie
To begin our ranking, it’s important to note that even the 10th best flavor is very, very good. This particular style just doesn’t quite capture the taste of a fresh baked cookie in the way other candy flavors can nail their inspiration. On the plus side, it is light, airy, with a hint of batter flavor to really bring it home. Even though it wasn’t our favorite, it piqued our curiosity enough that we’d totally consider impulse buying it while in line at a grocery checkout.
Buy: M&M’s Crunchy Cookie Milk Chocolate Candies $1.99 for 1.35 ounces at Instacart
9. Dark Chocolate
Oh, Dark Chocolate. Sultry, sophisticated, and everything our adult selves want in a candy. Unfortunately, with so many other great dark chocolate options in the candy aisle, this one landed lower on our list. We were hoping for a bit more bitterness as well as a larger amount of candy to convey the depth of flavor. These would be a welcome guest at a wine and cheese night for anyone who wants a sweet, familiar favorite, or a mature spin when baking an M&M’s cookie.
Buy: M&M’s Dark Chocolate Candies, $5.99 for 9.4 ounces at M&M’s
8. Caramel
Okay, this flavor won our hearts with the texture alone. Its gooey and salty profile balanced out the sweetness of the chocolate, and the larger size of the candy is big enough to savor the caramel filling. It’s one of the less sweet options that M&M’s offers, and has a satisfyingly layered cross section that makes every chewy bite worth the purchase price.
Buy: M&M’s Caramel Milk Chocolate Candies, $5.99 for 9.05 ounces at Walmart
7. Classic Mini
Mini M&M’s are just pure fun. They’re one of the strongest memories of childhood and rank high on the nostalgia scale mostly because of the tube they come in — it’s almost too easy to eat dozens at a time. Flavorwise, they’re about the same as the classic, except for the candy-coating-to-chocolate ratio, which leans slightly toward the coating side. These are a bit crunchier than the standard M&M’s we know and love, and seem made for 8-year-olds.
Buy: M&M’S Minis Milk Chocolate Candies, $1.97 for 1.11 at Walmart
6. Peanut Butter Mega
Between Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Minis, and Peanut Butter Mega variations, PB is officially M&M’s secret weapon. We loved all three variations of this flavor but ultimately decided they were too similar to rank individually — and the Mega version in particular completely delivers what our testers were looking for: size, texture, and flavor all combined into one smooth, creamy bite. The peanut butter shines through in a way that celebrates it rather than trying to hide it beneath the chocolate coating. For true peanut butter lovers, this style offers heaping bites that come as close as you can to licking the jar without, you know, actually licking the jar.
Buy: M&M’s Mega Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies, $1.97 for 2.83 oz at Walmart
5. Pretzel
If there’s one thing Pretzel M&M’s are going to do, it’s deliver a crunch. The savory, airy filling melts away quickly and is incredibly poppable for an afternoon snack. As fans of chocolate-covered pretzels, our panel of testers agreed that this smaller alternative is a great way to go. Among other M&M’s flavors, pretzels ranked highly because of their salty/sweet balance, lighter density, and thin chocolate lining that didn’t overpower the pretzel flavor. Pretzel M&M’s would be delicious in a trail mix or paired with a beer — their versatility is their strongest trait by far.
Buy: M&M’s Milk Chocolate Pretzel Candies, $1.49 for 1.14 oz on Instacart
4. Classic Milk Chocolate
Classic Milk Chocolate is an absolute icon. Remember when I said M&M’s went to space? That was Classic. The original has touched so many parts of American history, created culture, and won hearts while doing it. While Milk Chocolate didn’t win the top spot, it’s only due to the innovation of new flavors that built upon what Classic started. The simple yet decadent gems of chocolate will always be a crowd favorite, but this is one of the few times that additional ingredients actually do enhance the original.
Buy: M&M’s Milk Chocolate Candies, $1.89 for 1.69 oz on Instacart
3. Almond
These Almond M&M’s were so impressive. Our testers decided they’re a casual version of a Jordan Almond, with almost woody undertones and a subtler flavor compared with peanut M&M’s. It’s also on the larger side, which makes for a satiating snack. Almond M&M’s bring an elegant feeling to the table and would work wonders in a brownie batter, brittle, or peppermint bark. They are on the more expensive side, though, so these would be best reserved for special occasions.
Buy: M&M’s Almond, $5.99 for 8.6 oz on M&M’s
2. Peanut
To be honest, Peanut M&M’s caused some controversy in this crowd. There were heated debates about peanut versus peanut butter and which stood the test of time. Ultimately, our testers landed where most Americans have: Peanut M&M’s are superior. Between the crunch factor, the density of the whole peanut, and a flavor that lingers long after you’ve finished the bag, Peanut M&M’s wholeheartedly won out over their peanut butter counterpart (and nearly every other flavor). They were the second flavor introduced in the M&M’s world in 1954, and it completely shows. They’ve had 70 years to reach perfection!
Buy: M&M’s Peanuts & Milk Chocolate Candies, $1.89 for 1.74 oz on Instacart
1. Caramel Cold Brew
Caramel Cold Brew has layers of complexity that our panel of testers could have debated for hours. We discussed it at length, and at the end of the day, we all agreed that the salty, gooey texture of the caramel, the depth and bitterness of the coffee, and the sweet layer of chocolate complemented each other beautifully — a cozy combo that reminded us of our favorite cafe. At the conclusion of any test, I pay attention to what is most reached for after the project is over, and for our testers, Caramel Cold Brew won out. It’s a truly unique flavor that’s a welcome addition to the M&M’s line of products.
Buy: M&M’s Caramel Cold Brew Chocolate Candies, $5.99 for 9.05 oz on Instacart
Do you agree with our ranking? Tell us about it in the comments below.