Barbra Streisand's Favorite Candy Deserves a Comeback

Most Barbra Streisand fans dove into her bestselling 2023 memoir "My Name is Barbra" for 970 pages of sneak peeks into her behind-the-scenes life. But since we are Allrecipes after all, we were actually more curious to get the inside dish about the foods and drinks that have fueled Streisand through her impressive 6-decade career, which has included starring in the likes of "Funny Girl," "A Star is Born," "Meet the Parents," and "The Way We Were" (not to mention her many hit music albums).

Early in the memoir, we were thoroughly charmed by Streisand's relatable semi-homemade 5-ingredient meal. As we kept reading, we discovered even more to adore about the singer/actor/author. And the latest discovery is a sweet one.

Streisand is a brilliant example of the "celebrities, they’re just like us" concept once again, as she admits in the pages of "My Name is Barbra" that she, too, frequently enjoys a snack from the candy aisle. Her top pick might not be one you’d immediately guess, though.

Barbra Streisand's Favorite Candy

In case you missed it, the most popular candies in America include Reese’s, M&Ms, and Tootsie Pops, according to Instacart. But based on her confessions in her book, Streisand could take or leave those as long as she could have a steady supply of a sleeper hit of a candy bar. 

Reflecting on fond memories with friends Steve Ross, a prominent businessman and CEO of Time Warner, which is now known as Warner Bros. Discovery, and his wife Courtney, Streisand wrote in her memoir, “Sometimes we’d go out to dinner with Quincy Jones (who was their dear friend, as well as mine) and laugh so much it hurt. We would vacation together, flying on the company plane down to the Warners’ villa in Acapulco. Steve and I both loved a candy bar we used to eat as kids in Brooklyn … Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews … and every Warners’ plane was stocked with them. That was dangerous. Whenever I walked by the food, I would take one.”

What Are Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews?

Step aside, Reese’s. This old-school candy bar showcases similar flavors, but is even more craveable, according to Streisand and many other loyal fans who say, “there is something about these candies that takes the combination of peanuts and dark chocolate to another level” and “I can't believe these aren't more popular.”

For the uninitiated, Goldenberg's Peanut Chews are “proudly made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,” the brand confirms, since 1917. That means for more than 100 years, they’ve been a hit for kids and kids at heart.

Another fan reminisces, “I'm a great grandma, and they've been my favorite candy (when I could get them) since I was a little kid. Pure dark chocolate, whole peanuts and molasses—that's it!”

Technically, the ingredient list for the dark chocolate and milk chocolate varieties are a bit longer than three items (corn syrup, sugar, salt, and additives that help give the chocolate its shine are also in the mix). But peanuts, chocolate, and molasses are the prevailing flavors, which is exactly what the founder was going for.

David Goldenberg, who emigrated to Philadelphia from Romania, opened a small candy store called Goldenberg Candy Company on Frankford Avenue in 1890. He created his namesake Peanut Chews originally as a ration for American service people during World War I. Somewhat similar to today’s Baby Ruth bars (just with molasses instead of caramel), Goldenberg’s goodies featured a mix of roasted peanuts and molasses shaped into a bar form and enrobed in melted dark chocolate. The result was rich in energy, delivered a dose of protein, and was also downright delicious.

It didn’t take long for civilians to go nuts for the confections, too. By 1921, Goldenberg sold his first bar commercially, and soon after, the full-size bar was shrunk down into more bite-sized versions. Next, a milk chocolate rendition joined the family.

In 1949, the Peanut Chews changed hands but kept their original name; the company was then managed by David’s kids, Harry and Sylvia Goldenberg. Jump ahead 54 years, and the family’s beloved candy recipe was sold to Just Born, one of the world’s largest candy companies. (They also make and sell Peeps, Hot Tamales, and Mike and Ikes.)

In the early 200s, Just Born tried to rebrand to appeal to a broader audience than its regional fans who have nostalgic ties to Goldenberg’s chocolate store and Pennsylvania roots. However, when they changed the logo, name, and wrapper color scheme and tried to market the Peanut Chews to young adults, sales tanked. Its loyal fans no longer recognized their beloved bars. 

In a swift about face, Just Born revived the full name, Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews, brought back the original logo and brand colors, and even launched a “retro” wrapper that resembles the classic rendition.

Today, Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews are most popular along the East coast, especially in cities like Philadelphia (naturally), Baltimore, Tampa, and New York. The latter seems to be where Streisand discovered the bar; at a store in Brooklyn when she was young. That said, to this day, the celeb has strong ties to Philly. Streisand debuted both her 2006 Streisand Tour and her 2012 Back To Brooklyn Tour at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. That may have cemented her love for the chewy, crunchy, and chocolaty bar.

However that sweet seed was planted, we adore Streisand’s charming confession that she snagged one every time she walked by a collection of Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews on her pal’s posh plane. 

As we mentioned, she’s far from the only one who is a fan of the 106-years-strong recipe. The manufacturers estimate that they use about 44,000 pounds of whole peanuts per week as they keep up with demand for Goldenberg’s dark and milk chocolate delights.

If you want to see what all the chocolate chatter is about, check out Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews’ product locator to learn where to order them online or stock up near you.