Almond Joy vs. Bounty: Differences & Which Is Better?

Chocolate and coconut is a delightful combination that appeals to so many people. Different candy manufacturers have come up with versions of this classic formula. After trying many of them, I have decided to compare them, and I have found some pretty interesting things! So, what’s the difference between Almond Joy and Bounty, and which of them is better?

Almond Joy is a product of The Hershey Company, while Bounty is a product of Mars Inc. Almond Joy has actual almond pieces, while Bounty bars do not have such crunch. However, Bounty bars have a larger coconut filling compared to Almond Joys.

For this article, I opened up both Almond Joy and a Bounty bar to see what sort of goodness each possesses. In the following text, I will go over their ingredients, nutritional value, taste, appearance, and variations and learn about their history.

Origin and Ownership

Almonds Joy is a product of the Hershey Company, one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world. The invention of Almonds Joy was heavily inspired by the Mounds chocolate bar, a similar product except without the nut. The Almond Joy candy bar was introduced in 1946 as an alternative to the Dream Bar.

Bounty is a product of Mars Inc., the largest chocolate manufacturer globally currently. This bar was introduced in 1951 as a direct competitor to the Mounds chocolate bar. So, both Bounty and Almond Joy were inspired by the original Mounds bar but made by competing companies.

Taste and Texture

The taste and texture of the coconut center differ in both candy bars.

For one thing, the coconut filling is much more abundant in a Bounty bar compared to an Almond Joy. The coconut filling is slightly smoother and moister than the coconut center in an Almond Joy. So, people who love the coconut flavor more than the chocolate will favor the Bounty formula.

But the texture of Almond Joy is much more diverse. Because you have the smooth chocolate coating and the creamy coconut shreddings that perfectly pair with the crunchy almonds.

In contrast, Bounty bars have a more homogenous structure. So, people who love a bit of crunch in their candy will appreciate the one provided by Almond Joy.

Bounty has natural vanilla extracts, while Almond Joys have artificial vanilla flavors. This can lead to a difference in smell and taste between the two bars.

Appearance

Both candy bars have a coconut center and a chocolate coating. But one difference catches the eye immediately: Almond Joy has two large domes on top of it, while the Bounty bar is relatively flat. This is because the Almond Joy bar features actual pieces of almonds, while the Bounty bar has no such hard ingredients.

The chocolate coating of the Almond Joy bar is slightly darker than Bounty, even though they are both made out of milk chocolate. When you cut into each bar, you will notice that the coconut filling in a Bounty bar is larger than the filling in an Almond Joy.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients of both candy bars:

Bounty – Sugar, Desiccated Coconut (21%) Glucose Syrup, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk Powder, Cocoa, Emulsifiers (Glyceryl, Mono Stearate, Soy Lecithin) Lactose, Milk Fat, Whey Powder, Glycerol, Salt, Vanilla.

Almond Joy – Corn Syrup, Sugar, Coconut, Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil, Shea Oil, Sunflower Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, and/or Safflower Oil), Almonds, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Contains 2% or Less of Lactose (Milk), Cocoa, Whey (Milk), Salt, Lecithin (Soy), Milk Fat, PGPR, Cocoa Butter, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Sodium Metabisulfite (to Maintain Freshness), Vanillin (Artificial Flavor).

When comparing the makeup of both candy bars, I found some interesting differences. The most notable is that Almond Joy bars have actual almonds in them. Bounty bars incorporate natural vanilla extracts, whereas Almond Joys include artificial vanilla flavoring. 

Also, Bounty bars have salt in them, while Almond Joy does not, and you can really taste it. Almond Joy contains palm kernel oil, while Bounty does not. Also, Almond Joy utilizes vegetable oil more than Bounty.

Nutrition

Let’s compare the nutritional information of both a standard Bounty bar and a standard Almond Joy. For this comparison, we are going to be looking at 100 grams of both of their milk chocolate versions:

When looking at the nutritional information of both candy bars, you can see that Almond Joys have slightly more calories per 100 g than Bounty bars. Almond Joy also has more fat and saturated fat and more protein per 100 g. It also contains less cholesterol than Bounty, less than half.

In contrast, Bounty has slightly more carbohydrates and sugar. It also has a bit more iron and calcium than an Almond Joy.

Popularity

Both Almond Joy and Bounty have seen worldwide popularity. They can be found in many countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are particularly popular in America, where they compete in the market as the premier option for chocolate-coconut bars.

Even though my childhood was marked by Bounty and not Almond Joy, ever since being introduced to the latter, I love both of them dearly for all their differences.

Variations

Since its inception, both Almond Joy and Bounty have seen notable variations to their original formula.

Almond Joy comes in standard 1.61 oz size, a snack size, and king-size packs. They are all milk chocolate and coconut. But there have been limited-time Almond Joy variations such as Piña Colada and Double Chocolate Almond Joy in 2004 and white chocolate with key lime in 2005.

Bounty also has a standard size and a mini size. They also come in milk chocolate and dark chocolate, and both are delicious! Here you can see how they’re made!

Which Is Better, Almond Joy or Bounty?

If you want some crunch in your chocolate, the Almond Joy will certainly be your choice.

Conversely, if the coconut flavor is your main draw, then a Bounty bar will entice you more with its more prominent coconut filling.

Still, if you decide you need both, you won’t miss either. These two delicious chocolates are sure to make your day better and leave you with a smile on your face. You are bound for a sweet and coconutty time regardless of which one you choose.

Are Mounds and Bounty the Same?

You may be wondering now, “Well, okay, Almond Joy is different than Bounty, but how about Mounds?” I will leave no stone unturned, so I will answer this question, too.

Mounds and Bounty are two different products made by different manufacturers. The Mounds bar came first from the Hershey Company and is exclusively a dark chocolate product. Bounty was Mars’ attempt to replicate Mound’s success and has a milk and dark chocolate version.