The Impulsive Buy

REVIEW: Lemon Creme Pie Pop-Tarts

Lemon Creme Pie Pop Tarts Box

What are Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts?

Pop-Tarts has experimented with inventive flavors like sodas, cupcakes, and even Jolly Ranchers, but this time the brand is keeping it classic with a toaster pastry inspired by the summertime favorite, lemon cream pie.

Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts join a lineup of new flavors hitting shelves, including Peach Cobbler, Banana Crème Pie, Tropical Mango, and the limited edition Mister E Flavor.

How are they?

Although lemon is a simple (and, to me, underrated) flavor, Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts dressed up for their debut. Each tart features a swipe of pastel icing and crunchy golden sprinkles that lend extra sweetness and flair.

The pastry carries a subtle lemon taste, like a flavored shortbread. Thinking about the inspiration dessert, I expected the filling to be lighter and creamier, the sort of texture found in a Strawberry Milkshake variety. Instead, the filling is that of a standard fruit Pop-Tart: concentrated and a little jam-like.

The lemon flavor is sharp and citrusy but artificial, with a hint of vanilla mixed in. The filling tastes good, but the vanilla flavor doesn’t represent a cream element that well. A streak of vanilla or even marshmallow cream filling would have helped to recreate the experience of enjoying a fluffy, creamy pie.

While I have bigger dreams for the filling than Pop-Tarts realized, I still wish there were more of it. The thin layer sits in the center of the tart, as the thick edges protect all of the lemony goodness. More filling, please, Pop-Tarts! This is how the “Is a Pop-Tart a ravioli?” debate got started!

Anything else you need to know?

Fresh from the toaster, these are still enjoyable, but I found the pastry lost its lemon-tinged flavor when heated. (I tend to prefer my Pop-Tarts untoasted, an opinion that others react to as though I’ve just spit on the graves of their ancestors, so I was surprised to see that the box suggests serving them frozen. Does eating frozen Pop-Tarts classify as deviant behavior?)

Conclusion:

Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts deliver scant filling and simpler flavor than their name suggests. They won’t replace your favorite variety but are tasty enough to satisfy a citrus craving.

Purchased Price: $2.19
Size: 13.5 oz box / 8 pastries
Purchased at: Wegmans
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 2 pastries) 380 calories, 10 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 340 milligrams of sodium, 69 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 28 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

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