Remember when M&S launched its own version of a Malteser earlier in the year?? Well, if not, they were an instant hit in the GH office, with many of us declaring them even better than Maltesers thanks to their larger size, thicker chocolate coating and satisfyingly crunchy malt centre. Now M&S is back with a second version, and this time it's dividing opinions.
Next up is the new Blonde Chocolate Malt Balls. They're so new that they haven't fully launched in the UK yet - but we are seeing them slowly rolling out into M&S Foodhalls thanks to eagle eyes posting on instagram (so it's only a matter of time before they land in stores - our predictions are next week). The latest addition swaps classic milk chocolate for blonde chocolate. If you've never tried it before, blonde chocolate sits somewhere between white chocolate and caramel, with rich, buttery notes and a deep caramelised sweetness that people tend to either absolutely love or politely pass on.
Each malt ball still has that light, crispy honeycomb-like centre, but it's now wrapped in a thick layer of creamy blonde chocolate, promising a sweeter, more indulgent take on the original. If you're already a fan of caramelised white chocolate or blondies, these have your name written all over them.
Personally, we can't wait to compare the two side by side. While the milk chocolate version is hard to beat, there's something about blonde chocolate that feels especially luxurious. It's rich, buttery and almost biscuit-like in flavour, making it the perfect partner for a crunchy malt centre.
We'll definitely be popping a bag in the fridge too. If our previous M&S chocolate discoveries have taught us anything, it's that a little time in the fridge makes the chocolate firmer, gives it a more satisfying snap and somehow makes the whole thing even more addictive.
Mel is the Senior Food & Drink Writer for Good Housekeeping UK, covering all the delicious new product launches that come her way, writing about food and drink topics, and curating gift guides for the best foodie products to buy. Alongside that, she can be found developing and creating cocktails for GH and holds her WSET Level 2 in Wine and Spirits. She was part of the Good Housekeeping Institute food testing team for over four years before moving over to the digital side, so knows a thing or two about great food products. You'll find her scouring the supermarket shelves in her spare time for new and exciting ingredients to experiment with in her kitchen.
