Author: Elaine

REVIEW: Sonic Reese’s Overload Waffle Cone

Elaine 4 Comments

Sonic Reese s Overload Waffle Cone

What is the Sonic Reese’s Overload Waffle Cone?

The Sonic Reese’s Overload Waffle Cone is one of two new peanut butter and chocolate ice cream treats available for a limited time. It is a chocolate waffle cone filled with the chain’s real ice cream and topped with peanut butter, crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Mini Reese’s Pieces. There is also peanut butter at the bottom of the cone.

How is it?

I should first disclose that I really like peanut butter and chocolate. I am one of those people that takes a chocolate bar and slathers it with the nutty spread to help satisfy a sweet craving. So you can imagine that I was very excited when I heard of the availability of Sonic’s new treats, which are described as “the perfect overload of peanut butter and chocolate.”

I was so excited that I left my house at 9 p.m. to go to Sonic (9 p.m. is late for me and typically when I am winding down so that I can be in bed by 10 p.m.). So how was this new treat that got me to extend my bedtime?

A little disappointing.

Sonic Reese s Overload Waffle Cone Half Toppings

Sonic Reese s Overload Waffle Cone Way Too Much Vanilla Ice Cream

After eating the toppings, it is just a lot of vanilla ice cream inside a chocolate cone. The cone’s cocoa flavor isn’t especially strong, but it isenough that you can tell it is not your usual waffle cone.

Sonic Reese s Overload Waffle Cone PB Bottom

At the very bottom of the cone, there is some more peanut butter, which is a pleasant surprise. Although it was not a redeeming amount for something described as an “overload of peanut butter and chocolate.” Thankfully, I do like Sonic’s vanilla ice cream, and it is a decently-sized serving given the large cone.

Is there anything else you need to know?

The toppings create a mess because they easily fall off. This is unfortunate as it further diminishes the available peanut butter and chocolate goodness that the product is already lacking. It also did not help that I was not provided with any napkins.

Lastly, the peanut butter tastes like the standard creamy stuff and not the peanut cream inside a Reese’s PB Cup.

Conclusion:

If you are craving peanut butter and chocolate, this cone is not for you. However, you might want to consider the Reese’s Overload Blast as the nutty goodness is mixed throughout the ice cream.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: N/A
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 700 calories, 38 grams of fat, 16 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 45 milligrams of cholesterol, 440 milligrams of sodium, 78 grams of total carbohydrates, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 46 grams of total sugars, and 15 grams of protein

REVIEW: Ben & Jerry’s Exclusive Flavor Chocolate Peanut Butter Split Ice Cream

Elaine 7 Comments

Ben Jerry s Exclusive Flavor Chocolate Peanut Butter Split Ice Cream

What is Ben & Jerry’s Exclusive Flavor Chocolate Peanut Butter Split Ice Cream?

This exclusive flavor that can only be purchased from the Albertsons family of grocery stores features chocolate and banana ice creams with mini peanut butter cups.

How is it?

Ben Jerry s Exclusive Flavor Chocolate Peanut Butter Split Ice Cream Top

It has the creaminess that should be expected with any Ben & Jerry’s ice cream product. True to the name, all three flavors make an appearance but don’t share the stage equally. When I first opened the lid, I noticed the predominant brown (i.e., chocolate) ice cream. I love chocolate, but I’m also a banana fan, so I definitely wanted the “split” represented.

Thankfully, the ice cream distribution quickly evens itself out as you dig in, and you taste both chocolate and banana. Chocolate is, in general, a stronger flavor and was also more present with the peanut butter cups, so I would have been open to slightly more banana ice cream.

Ben Jerry s Exclusive Flavor Chocolate Peanut Butter Split Ice Cream PB Cups

Now you might be wondering about the peanut butter part – don’t worry, there’s an ample supply of mini peanut butter cups! Unlike other ice creams where you have to dig around for the mix-ins, that’s thankfully not the case here.

Is there anything else you need to know?

The description on the pint is pretty accurate: “We’ve loaded our banana and chocolate ice creams with a chocolatey lot of bite-size PB surprises, so if you find your chocolate-covered, peanut-buttered banana fantasies aren’t fulfilled in every spoonful, we suggest a bigger spoon.”

Ben Jerry s Exclusive Flavor Chocolate Peanut Butter Split Ice Cream Spoon

Nearly every spoonful (or maybe it was every spoonful) did have peanut butter cups. But, my fantasy may have a little more banana in it.

Conclusion:

Overall, it’s worth a try if you like chocolate, peanut butter, and banana…which I do!

Purchased Price: $3.50
Size: 1 pint
Purchased at: Albertsons (Exclusive)
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 390 calories, 24 grams of fat, 15 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 75 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 38 grams of total carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 35 grams of total sugars, 29 grams of added sugars, 7 grams of protein

REVIEW: Dark Chocolate Fudge Covered Oreo Cookies

Elaine 6 Comments

Dark Chocolate Fudge Covered Oreo Cookies

What are Dark Chocolate Fudge Covered Oreo Cookies?

It’s dark chocolate-flavored creme sandwiched between two chocolate cookie wafers and then covered in a dark chocolate coating (AKA “fudge” – a note on this below).

How are they?

Dark Chocolate Fudge Covered Oreo Cookies Tray

They are a satisfying and chocolatey treat! Although the cookie concoction has internal (creme) and external (fudge coating) dark chocolate, there’s not a strong dark chocolate presence. It’s enough to know you’re enjoying dark (vs. milk) chocolate but there’s no bitterness that can accompany some darker chocolate products. Like most Oreo, the product is a little crumbly and has a nice crunch from the cookie pieces.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Dark Chocolate Fudge Covered Oreo Cookies Tray Stacked

One of my favorite parts of a classic Oreo is the creme vs. cookie contrast. In this product, the creme (with its dark chocolate flavoring) gets kind of lost in all the other chocolate. I’m not complaining as I like chocolate and I enjoyed eating these, but just a heads up if the creme vs. cookie Oreo dichotomy is important to you. Also, as has been previously noted, the “fudge” covering isn’t really fudge but more of a thin chocolate layer covering everything.

Conclusion:

Dark Chocolate Fudge Covered Oreo Cookies Package

It’s a chocolatey treat that’s somewhere between an Oreo and piece of (dark) chocolate. There’s only 12 in a package so think of them as a relatively more expensive treat (~33 cents/cookie vs. ~8 cents/cookie for standard Oreo). The taste is definitely enough to satisfy a choco craving, but maybe not enough to satisfy an Oreo craving.

Purchased Price: $3.98
Size: 9.9 oz (12 cookies)
Purchased at: WinCo
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cookie) 120 calories, 7 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of total carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, 11 grams of total sugars, 11 grams of added sugars, and less than 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Pillsbury Limited Edition Lucky Charms Cookie Dough

Elaine 5 Comments

Pillsbury Limited Edition Lucky Charms Cookie Dough

What is Pillsbury Limited Edition Lucky Charms Cookie Dough?

It’s a ready-to-bake cookie dough inspired by Lucky Charms, one of your favorite childhood cereals. The result of this inspiration is “magically delicious” sugar cookie dough with small, but colorful marshmallow pieces. Unfortunately, the mallow bits are just tiny color blobs, so the hearts, stars, horseshoes, clovers, and blue moons (sing along here) are not identifiable.

How is it?

Pillsbury Limited Edition Lucky Charms Cookie Dough Raw

I’ll start with the raw dough, which I have to try despite the polite ask on the packaging to not eat it. No surprises here. The texture is granular and it tastes like sugar cookie dough with a small bit of added softness from the marshmallow pieces.

Pillsbury Limited Edition Lucky Charms Cookie Dough Baked

Pillsbury Limited Edition Lucky Charms Cookie Dough Split

The baked cookie is thin and one that I wouldn’t describe as “big” as the packaging claims. The smell of the finished product is reminiscent of Lucky Charms cereal and spreads throughout the kitchen, so you know the end product will be sugary and sweet.

My first batch (baked for 16 minutes) wasn’t very pretty with a crunchy brown rim. However, they still tasted great with a gooey center made a little extra chewy by the colorful additions. The overall product is more sugar cookie than Lucky Charms marshmallow, but they are present enough to add texture (increased softness and chewiness) and taste (sugary sweetness). It’s important to note that the marshmallow isn’t a true marshmallow taste, it’s more like the cereal.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Pillsbury Limited Edition Lucky Charms Cookie Dough Baked Closeup

I followed the baking instructions, and my first batch wasn’t very aesthetic with crispy brown edges, but still tasted sugary and sweet. I experimented a little more with my second batch and baked them for 12 minutes, and those were much prettier without the brown edges. My best looking cookie was the one that I actually balled up and squished down a little. Despite appearances, they all tasted great!

Conclusion:

Pillsbury Limited Edition Lucky Charms Cookie Dough Thin

It’s a pleasant, but thin, sugar cookie. Despite the lack of distinguishable Lucky Charms shapes, the colors are just enough to remind you of the cereal, but if the hearts, stars, horseshoes, clovers, and blue moons are missing, does it mean the magic is too?

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 14 oz. (12 cookies)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cookie) 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 12 grams of total sugars, 12 grams of added sugars, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Kit Kat DUOS Mint + Dark Chocolate

Elaine 4 Comments

Kit Kat DUOS Mint + Dark Chocolate

What is Kit Kat DUOS Mint + Dark Chocolate?

This is Kit Kat’s newest permanent U.S. flavor. This is a big deal for American Kit Kat lovers since it’s been a very long time since a new variety has made a debut with plans to stay (i.e., not seasonal or limited time). This bar is Kit Kat’s crispy wafers with the milk chocolate replaced with mint crème on top and dark chocolate on the bottom. The result is supposed to be a “duo” of two flavors.

How is it?

Kit Kat DUOS Mint + Dark Chocolate Fingers

It smells like mint chocolate, and it tastes like mint chocolate. So if you like mint chocolate and Kit Kat’s iconic wafers, then this is your candy bar. You’ve probably now noticed that I’ve used the word mint a lot (seven times now if you count headings and titles), and that’s because mint is the dominant flavor of this Kat Kat variation.

I’m a fan of both mint AND dark chocolate and was hoping this duo would be an equal pairing, but it is unfortunately not. I think a mint + milk chocolate duo might be preferred to help increase the prevalence of chocolate taste.

Is there anything else you need to know?

It’s not minty enough to be an actual after-meal mint (it’s just that mint > dark chocolate flavor). If you need a breath freshener, then you should go for something else.

Kit Kat DUOS Mint + Dark Chocolate Split Fingers

It’s also not quite as creamy as an Andes Mint, which makes sense as it is a Kit Kat bar with crispy wafers. For me, Andes Mints set the standard for mint chocolate (and also represent the end of a carb-loaded, satisfying meal at the Olive Garden…which I now want).

Conclusion:

It’s a mint Kit Kat and still a solid candy bar choice. Like most Kit Kats, this product separates well and is good for sharing, although I don’t typically share my candy bars.

Lastly, despite the uneven pairing in this DUOS bar, I still have high hope for future DUOS flavors.

Purchased Price: $1.39
Size: 1.5 oz.
Purchased at: Walgreens
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1.5 oz) 210 calories, 12 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 25 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 19 grams of total sugars, 18 grams of added sugars, 2 grams of protein.