You’ve probably seen them. Those massive, brick-sized slabs of chocolate sitting on the top shelf of a gift shop, looking more like a construction material than a snack. If you’re a chocolate lover, your first instinct is usually: "I need that." But if you’re looking for the largest Hershey bar in the world, things get a little complicated. Are we talking about something you can actually buy, or the massive, ton-heavy monstrosities built for Guinness World Records?
Most people think the "Giant" bar at the local CVS is the peak. It’s not. Not even close.
The 5-Pound Behemoth You Can Actually Buy
Let’s start with the one you can actually own without needing a forklift. The largest Hershey bar in the world that is commercially available is the Hershey’s 5lb Milk Chocolate Bar.
It’s exactly what it sounds like. Five solid pounds of milk chocolate. No bubbles, no wafers, no fluff. Just a massive, 2.26kg slab of sugar, cocoa butter, and nostalgia. To give you some perspective, a standard Hershey bar weighs about 1.55 ounces. This monster is roughly equivalent to 51 regular bars fused into one.
Honestly, it’s intimidating.
Why People Actually Buy This Thing
It isn't just for people who want to slip into a sugar coma by Tuesday. There’s a weirdly practical side to it.
- The Ultimate S'mores Station: If you’re hosting a massive bonfire, breaking off chunks of this is easier than unwrapping 50 tiny slivers.
- The "Wow" Gift: It’s about 19 inches long and 9 inches wide. Wrapping it is a nightmare, but the look on a kid's face (or a chocolate-obsessed adult's) is usually worth the $50 price tag.
- Baking Shavings: Serious bakers sometimes buy these to create massive chocolate curls or chunks for cookies that put the "chip" variety to shame.
You can usually find these at Hershey’s Chocolate World locations (like the one in Times Square or Hershey, PA) or online. But be warned: shipping a five-pound block of chocolate in the summer is a recipe for a very expensive, very brown puddle.
Record Breakers and the Take 5 Titan
If we’re moving away from what’s in your pantry and into the world of "because we can," the numbers get ridiculous. Hershey (the company) loves a good PR stunt. In 2020, to celebrate the Super Bowl and their Take 5 bar, they decided to go big. Like, really big.
They built a Reese’s Take 5 bar that weighed 5,943 pounds.
That is nearly three tons. It measured 9 feet long and 5.5 feet wide. For a few years, it held the Guinness World Record for the largest chocolate nut bar. It had all the layers: chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, pretzels, and peanuts. Imagine the logistics of keeping that many pretzels crunchy inside three tons of chocolate.
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However, even that doesn't hold the crown for the "pure" chocolate category. In 2011, a company called Thorntons in the UK built a bar weighing over 12,000 pounds. More recently, in 2024, YouTuber Nick DiGiovanni and the brand Blue Stripes claimed a record for a bar covering 416 square meters.
While Hershey didn't make those, they remain the kings of the branded giant bar.
The Reality of Eating a 5lb Bar
Let’s be real for a second. Eating the largest Hershey bar in the world is a terrible idea.
A single 5lb bar contains roughly 11,400 calories. It has about 720 grams of fat and over 1,300 grams of sugar. If you tried to sit down and finish this in one go—as some "competitive eaters" on YouTube have attempted—you aren't just looking at a stomach ache. You're looking at a genuine medical emergency.
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Most people who buy these end up keeping them in the fridge for months. They become a sort of "community property" in the household. You walk by, break off a corner, and move on.
Does it Taste Different?
Kinda. Because the bar is so thick (about an inch deep), the texture isn't quite the same as the thin, snap-happy bars you’re used to. It’s denser. It takes longer to melt. Some purists argue that the ratio of "chocolate surface area" to tongue is off, but let's be honest: if you're buying five pounds of Hershey's, you're not exactly looking for a complex, artisanal flavor profile. You're looking for that specific, slightly tangy Hershey's taste on a massive scale.
Where to Find One Right Now
If you want to get your hands on the largest Hershey bar in the world today, you have a few specific options:
- Hershey’s Official Online Store: This is the most reliable way. It usually retails for around $45 to $50.
- Amazon: It's often available there, though the price fluctuates based on third-party sellers.
- Hershey’s Chocolate World: If you’re near Las Vegas, Times Square, or Hershey, Pennsylvania, you can walk in and grab one. It's a great photo op, even if you don't buy it.
- Bulk Retailers: Occasionally, places like IT'SUGAR or specialty candy shops will stock them as "novelty" items.
The Verdict on the Big Bar
Is it a gimmick? Absolutely. Is it worth it? That depends on how much you value a good story.
If you want a high-end chocolate experience, buy five pounds of Valrhona. But if you want to walk into a birthday party carrying a chocolate bar that looks like it belongs in a museum, the 5lb Hershey bar is the only way to go.
Just make sure you have a very sharp knife. And maybe a lot of friends to help you finish it before the "Best By" date hits.
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What to do next:
If you're planning on buying one of these for a gift or a party, check the weather forecast for the shipping route first. Most retailers won't guarantee the bar arrives in one piece if it's over 80 degrees outside. If you're buying it for baking, remember that you'll need a heavy-duty serrated knife to get through the core of the bar—it's much tougher than a standard baking bar.