Milky Way vs. Snickers vs. Baby Ruth vs. Mars Bars: Differences and Reviews 2024

Most common brands of chocolate bars such as:

About Ferrero

Ferrero Group is one of the world's largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. For over 70 years, Ferrero has been creating products loved by generations. 

Ferrero entered the U.S. market in 1969 with Tic Tac® mints. 

Ferrara Candy Co., a subsidiary of Luxembourg-based The Ferrero Group, manufactures Brach’s, RedHots, Trolli, Black Forest and Sathers candy brands. 

In 2018, Ferrero acquired Nestle USA’s confectionery business for approximately $2.8 billion. The transaction added more than 20 brands, including Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, Crunch, SweeTarts, LaffyTaffy and Nerds, to Ferrara’s portfolio.

Now earlier than ever, Ferrero is introducing its product lineup for the 2024 holidays to celebrate Valentine's Day and Easter with new and past seasonal favorites.

Ferrero Valentine's Day 2024

Ferrero Easter & Spring 2024

This Valentine's Day, new items from Ferrero are plentiful with Butterfinger® Valentine's Minis, Butterfinger® Mini Heart Shaped Box, CRUNCH® Valentine's Minis, CRUNCH® Minis Heart Shaped Box,100 Grand® Heart Shaped Box and the Assorted Chocolate Minis for Valentine's Classroom Exchange from Butterfinger®, Crunch®, 100 Grand®, and Baby Ruth®. For Easter, Ferrero is unveiling new seasonal offerings such as the Ferrero Rocher® Easter Milk Hollow Egg, Ferrero Rocher® Golden Eggs (available in Milk, Dark and White Chocolate), Kinder Bueno® Mini Share Pack, Butterfinger® Minis Basket Filler Pack, Butterfinger® Minis Bag and CRUNCH® Minis Bag.

Follow @FerreroNACorp on Twitter and Instagram. www.ferreronorthamerica.com.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love.

With almost $45 billion in annual sales, Mars, Incorporated produces some of the world's best-loved brands including Ben's Original™, CESAR®, Cocoavia®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, KIND®, M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, and WHISKAS®. 

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

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1. Mars bar vs. Milky Way bar vs. Snickers vs. Baby Ruth: what are they?

#1.                         Mars bar

UK

In the UK and the rest of the world, a Mars bar is a chocolate bar with nougat and caramel, coated with milk chocolate. In the US, it is marketed as the Milky Way bar.

Mars bar was first manufactured in Slough, England under the Mars bar name in 1932 by Forrest Mars, Sr., son of American candy maker Frank C. Mars.

He modelled it after his father's Milky Way bar, which was already popular in the US, adjusting the recipe to better suit European tastes.

In 2002, the Mars bar was reformulated and its logo was updated with a more cursive appearance except in Australia where it still has the pre-2002 logo. 

Its price also increased. The nougat was made lighter, the chocolate on top became thinner, and the overall weight of the bar was reduced slightly. The slogan "Pleasure you can't measure" was intended to appeal more to women and youths.

Mars bars used to be pretty challenging to chew, but that familiar caramel-induced jaw ache will soon be forgotten, as Mar bars become even more like Milky Ways.

This version is sold worldwide, except for the US, and is packaged in a black wrapper with red gold-edged lettering. 

US 

In the United States, the Mars bar was a candy bar with nougat and toasted almonds coated with milk chocolate. The American version was discontinued in 2002, then revived in a slightly different form the following year under the name "Snickers Almond".

The first U.S.-produced version of the Mars bar was relaunched in 2016 by Ethel M, the gourmet chocolate subsidiary of Mars, Inc.

The packaging for the new (original) Mars Bar was slightly modernized, with a gold and white wrapper, complete with a picture of the chocolate you'll find inside. Now the 2016 US original bar seems to be discontinued too!

#2.                         Milky Way bar

US

The Milky Way was the first version produced!

The Milky Way bar is made of nougat, topped with caramel and covered with milk chocolate. It was created in 1923 by Frank C. Mars and originally manufactured in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the name and taste derived from a then-popular malted milk drink (milkshake) of the day, not after the astronomical galaxy.

Global 

The Milky Way bar is made of nougat, topped with caramel and covered with milk chocolate. It was created in 1923 by Frank C. Mars and originally manufactured in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the name and taste derived from a then-popular malted milk drink (milkshake) of the day, not after the astronomical galaxy.

The version of the Milky Way bar sold outside the United States has no caramel topping, and consists of a nougat centre that is considerably lighter than that of the British Mars bar and the American Milky Way bar. 

The global Milky Way bar is marketed in the United States as 3 Musketeers bar. Because of this low density (0.88 g/cm3), it floats in milk, an attribute highlighted in an advertising campaign in several European countries.

The versions and names of the chocolate bars seem rather confusing? 

Let's summarize:

the US Milky Way bar  (made of nougat, topped with caramel and covered with milk chocolate) ≈  the global Mars bar 

the global Milky Way bar ( no caramel topping) ≈ Musketeers in the US and Canada

the US Mars bar (discontinued) ≈  the US Snickers Almond bar

#3.                         Snickers

There is no difference between the American version and the global version of Snickers, and now it is called Snickers everywhere! (Though in the UK, Snickers was sold under the brand name Marathon until 1990.)

Snickers is a chocolate bar made by the American company Mars, Incorporated, consisting of nougat topped with caramel and peanuts that is encased in milk chocolate.

Snickers quickly became one of the planet's favorite treats after its introduction in 1930. And it is still at the top, 93 years later.

#4.                         Baby Ruth

Baby Ruth is an American candy bar made of peanuts, caramel, and milk chocolate-flavored nougat, covered in compound chocolate. It is distributed by the Ferrara Candy Company, a subsidiary of Ferrero.

In 1920, the Curtiss Candy Company refashioned its Kandy Kake into the Baby Ruth.

Ferrara, which acquired Baby Ruth in 2018, upgraded Baby Ruth's  recipe in 2019. 

Baby Ruth chocolate bar has improved quality by replacing oil roasted peanuts with dry roasted peanuts, repairing the packaging, and removing TBHQ, a food preservative. In addition to its signature rich caramel and smooth nougat, the chocolate bar now has a higher ratio of U.S.-sourced peanuts, delivering an elevated flavor punch. In tandem, Baby Ruth's updated wrapping now includes packaging seals to help lock in freshness.

2. Quick comparison of differences：Mars bar vs. Milky Way bar vs. Snickers vs. Baby Ruth

3. Editor's Review: Which Chocolate Bar Is the Best?

Chocolate Bars with Peanuts: 

Experience the difference between Snickers and Baby Ruth!

outside

The visual difference between Snickers and Baby Ruth is stark. Their shape, luster, and size make them easy to spot from the outside.

The Baby Ruth bar has a longer and thinner body, with a matte chocolate exterior, and the shape of the peanut seems to be recognizable under the chocolate.

Snickers has a shorter and thicker body with a shiny chocolate exterior. With arterial veins on the surface, the shape of the peanut is not visible, and the chocolate bar looks smoother and more fashionable.

inside

Regarding the inside, the bottom of the Snickers bar has a flat layer of light colored nougat with peanuts inside. On top of that, there is a layer of caramel which also has peanuts in it. There are more peanuts in the caramel than in the nougat.

Baby Ruth has a roll of nougat at the bottom. There are no peanuts in the nougat. On top of that, there is a thin layer of caramel with peanuts in it.

Which has more ingredients?

On the one hand, Snickers has more caramel than Baby Ruth, and on the other hand, Baby Ruth has more nougat.

Overall, the amount of peanuts appeared to be comparable, although they were distributed differently in the two candy bars.

taste

We have to admit, Snickers has a smoother milk chocolate taste. 

For Snickers, that basic recipe is a nougat base made with egg whites, sugar and vanilla (a mixture Mars called "frap"). Then, freshly roasted peanuts are covered in caramel. The caramel mixture is layered on top of the nougat then machines cut the mixture into long, thin bars. Those bars are cut to size and then covered in creamy milk chocolate.

Since the ingredients are evenly dispersed throughout the bar, each bite exhibits nutty, caramelly, and chocolatey flavor profiles. The contrast between the bar's crunchy peanuts and its silky layer of nougat provides an engaging range of texture. 

Snickers is one of my favorite candy bars. I love how Snickers taste in my mouth. The sweet caramel and the salty nuts are so yummy together. What a great snack Snickers make. I recommend this product. In my opinion this chocolate bar is satisfying and keeps hunger at bay.

Baby Ruth's nougat has a strong flavor, a bit like molasses. Peanuts have a stronger flavor because they are dry roasted.

Baby Ruth's peanuts are crunchier, making the whole bar crunchier; secondly, its peanuts are tightly distributed, thus making the bar more chewy. So, Baby Ruth is chewier than a Snickers bar, but not overly chewy.

Chocolate Bars Without Peanuts: 

How does Mars and Milky Way taste?

Mars Bar

The Mars Bar is a favorite among chocolate lovers everywhere. Manufactured in 1932 by Frank C. Mars, the Mars Bar was known for its "honest to goodness" milk chocolate, creamy nougat, and whole toasted almonds. Until now, the Mars Bar has only been continuously available outside of the United States.

Milky Way

The Milky Way is a chocolate bar that has nougat, a layer of caramel, and a cover of milk chocolate. The chocolate for the coating of Milky bars was supplied by Hershey’s.

Milky Way Bar was originally designed to taste like malted milk, an ingredient that was popular in 1923 when the candy bar was introduced! Malted Milk was said to have healthy benefits and was quite a novelty especially when enrobed in chocolate.

Milky Way has the fluffy, creamy nougat. It’s just yummy. The very thin layer of milk chocolate is really just there to keep the fluffiness from escaping.

If you've never had a Milky Way bar before, it's basically a Snickers without the peanuts or a Three Musketeers bar with the addition of caramel.

The problem I have with a regular milk chocolate Milky Way, other than the fact it's a bit of an over-sweet mess, is that no matter what, the chocolate is always too hard at room temperature.

Milky Way vs. Mars Bars

You may have asked yourself, “Mars bar vs. Milky Way, what’s the difference? Aren’t they the same? 

Though both bars are manufactured by the American company Mars Inc., these two chocolate bars still differ. 

Milky Way usually has a harder chocolate coating, while Mars tends to have a softer one. You will also find the Milky Way in white and blue packages, while the Mars bar comes in red and black wrappers.

Mars Bar: 

sugar, glucose syrup, skimmed milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, sunflower oil, milk fat, lactose and protein from whey (from milk), whey powder (from milk), palm fat, fat reduced cocoa, barley malt extract, emulsifier (soya lecithin), salt, egg white powder, milk protein, natural vanilla extract.

Milky Way: 

milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, skim milk, chocolate, lactose, milk fat, soy lecithin, artificial flavor), corn syrup, sugar, hydrogenated palm kernel oil and/or palm oil, skim milk, less than 2% - milkfat, cocoa powder processed with alkali, malted barley, lactose, salt, egg whites, chocolate, artificial flavor.

While both bars have similar ingredients, one main difference sets them apart.

Mars Bar: 

There isn’t actually any full-on chocolate in it. Many of the ingredients are derived from powders rather than natural substances.

Milky Way: 

This bar has its fair share of processing, but is ultimately the culmination of many natural ingredients.

The difference in ingredients brings the difference in taste!

Mars Bar: 

The chocolate tastes slightly more processed and artificial, but is ultimately enjoyable. The nougat, significantly more powdery, creates a bit of a mess whilst eating. The caramel can often be a bit hard, adding to the mess, but the flavor makes up for it once you finally get a chunk in your mouth.

Milky Way: 

The chocolate quality is noticeably better (an unusual comment when comparing U.S. and U.K. sweets). The creamy nougat curls with the chocolate and caramel on each bite, making the experience a more delightful, melt-in-your-mouth adventure.

Despite everyone’s different preferences, Mars chocolate and Milky Way are enjoyed by every age, because Mars bar and Milky Way have a balanced amount of sweetness.

3 Musketeers 

As you know, Milky Way has nougat and caramel, and there may be some people that may not like caramel, therefore the alternative of Milky Way can be 3 Musketeers because it has only nougat with a coating of milk chocolate. Furthermore, 3 Musketeers contains the same nutrition as the Milky Way bar, the only difference is 5 mg of sodium which is almost unnoticeable. (Side note, the candy bar was original produced with three candy coverings in one package: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. This is why it was originally called Three Musketeers. However, after World War II, only the full chocolate bar was produced. Despite this, the name never changed.) 

Milky Way chocolate candy bar has a light and fluffy texture, with a delicious milk chocolate flavor and nougat filling. In the United States, these best selling candy bars have a creamy caramel topping.

However, the global version of the Milky Way Bar doesn’t contain caramel. These milk chocolate bars are somewhat confusingly sold as the 3 Musketeers Bar in the United States and Canada.

That is, Snickers contains peanuts and Milky Way does not, but both contain caramel. The main difference with 3 Musketeers is the absence of these two ingredients - peanuts and caramel.

Chocolate, caramel, and nougat come together beautifully in the Milky Way bar. And though this nougat isn't quite as fluffy as that in the 3 Musketeers bar, it's not super dense and heavy either. That said, it's the caramel in the Milky Way is what makes it special. It's gooey and creamy perfection, rather than being too liquidy (or on the flip side, too hard) like the caramel in other candy bars.

4. How are their nutrition facts?

#1.          Snickers

1 BAR: 250 calories, 12 g fat (4.5 g saturated fat), 125 mg sodium, 32 g carbs (1 g fiber, 28 g sugar), 4 g protein

#2.          Baby Ruth

1 BAR: 260 calories, 12 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 130 mg sodium, 35 g carbs (1 g fiber, 28 g sugar), 3 g protein

Nutrition facts

Refer to the product label for full dietary information, which may be available as an alternative product image.

15.0 servings per container

Serving Size2 bars (37 g)

Amount per serving

Calories180

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Calories per gram:

Fat 9 • Carbohydrate 4 • Protein 4

#3.          Milky Way

1 BAR: 240 calories, 9 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 75 mg sodium, 37 g carbs (1 g fiber, 31 g sugar), 2 g protein

Nutrition facts

Refer to the product label for full dietary information, which may be available as an alternative product image.

31 servings per container

Serving Size1 bar (17g)

Amount per serving

Calories80

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Calories per gram:

Fat 9 • Carbohydrate 4 • Protein 4

#4.          3 Musketeers

1 BAR: 240 calories, 7 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 95 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (1 g fiber, 36 g sugar), 1 g protein

Nutrition facts

Refer to the product label for full dietary information, which may be available as an alternative product image.

17 servings per container

Serving Size2 bars (30g)

Amount per serving

Calories130

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Calories per gram:

Fat 9 • Carbohydrate 4 • Protein 4

5. Verdict: My Most Recommended Chocolate Bar

Maybe the most recognized candy bar in America, Snickers is what everyone thinks of when they think candy bars.
As you undoubtedly know, Snickers is among the most popular candy bars on the market worldwide. Call it a global power or call it a delicious and irresistible candy; the fact is that it has taken over the candy bar market. 

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Even though Milky Way is not the same as Snickers, many people mistake one for the other. They are very similar in flavor and texture, and it is easy to mix them up, especially if they are unwrapped. However, in addition to the flavor, there is another reason why Snickers and Milky Way are so easily mixed up, and it is because they are made by the same company — Mars Inc. 

The most significant difference between Snickers and Milky Way is that it doesn’t contain peanuts. Instead, Milky Way is a chocolate-covered nougat center. Milky Way bars are very easy to find at most grocery and convenience stores.

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