‘I attempted new white chocolate takes of our favorite classics – and no, it isn’t Easter’

What do Maltesters and Twirls have in common? They’ve both decided to bring out white chocolate versions – for some reason – and Kelly Williams was first to try them

You know how it usually goes — every Easter, chocolate brands roll out these fancy new takes on our favourite classics. It’s kind of a tradition at this point.

You get excited because it feels like a special seasonal treat, and you’re curious to see how they’ve reinvented something you already love. But this year? These new White Chocolate Maltesers and White Dipped Twirl seem to have popped up out of nowhere, with no real holiday or event tied to them.

It’s like, hey, here’s a twist on your favourites… just because. Anyway, I gave them both a try, and honestly, I have mixed feelings.

Let’s start with the White Chocolate Maltesers, which are apparently making a “triumphant return,” due to “a wave of public demand.”

An enthusiastic press release announced that the Mars Wrigley “crowd-pleaser” returned to our shelves earlier this week after first being launched in 2003.

They remained in sweet shops up until 2014 when they vanished, much to the annoyance of some fans who’ve been demanding their return ever since.

Personally, I don’t get the hype. Normally, Maltesers are this perfect balance of crunchy, airy malt inside and smooth milk chocolate outside.

Switching to white chocolate sounds like a fun idea, right?

Well, it is fun at first — that creamy white chocolate coating is super sweet and silky, and the malt centre still has that satisfying crunch.

But for me, it’s almost too sweet.

The white chocolate adds a heavy dose of sugary richness that kind of drowns out the delicate malt flavour.

After a handful, it starts to feel a bit sickly, so I will be firmly standing by the original, thank you very much.

Then there’s the new limited edition Cadbury’s White Dipped Twirl. This one feels like a bit more of a success.

The original Twirl is a classic for a reason — those lovely milk chocolate swirls that melt so perfectly on your tongue – and nowhere near as messy as a Flake.

Now dipped in thick, creamy white chocolate, it’s definitely more indulgent and almost feels a little fancy. Their enthusiastic PR team even go as far as to say: “The new Twirl White Dipped is an indulgence you won’t want to miss – grab it as soon as you can and experience Twirl like never before.”

They seem to be doing a lot of messing around with the Twirl at the moment with orange, mint and even caramilk versions.

In this case, the white chocolate adds this extra layer of buttery sweetness that complements the milk chocolate without stealing the show.

It’s a nice little treat, but I still find myself preferring the original’s simpler take. It hits the sugar craving spot without the sickly aftertaste.

Plus it’s easier to use the original as a straw when you’re enjoying it with a hot brew (don’t say you haven’t done that).

So yeah, both are nice little experiments in white chocolate territory, but if I’m honest, I wouldn’t buy them again.

And as for the timing, it’s a bit odd to see these new versions arrive outside the usual Easter buzz when these twists normally make the most sense.

Maybe they’re testing the waters for a new permanent option? Either way, I’m curious to see if they stick around.

But if our favourite chocolate brands are that bored, why don’t they just come up with something else? Or bring back the Spira!