Author: Julie

REVIEW: Lay’s Sweet & Salty Dipped Clusters

Julie 4 Comments

Lay s Sweet Salty Dipped Clusters Bag

Sweet and salty may be a time-honored flavor combination, but it truly shines during the winter holidays. After all, this is the time we drizzle cranberry sauce over savory meat and vegetable side dishes. We hoard peanut brittle in tins. We melt Rolos on top of pretzel snaps, crown them with M&M’s, and devour them before even arriving at the holiday cookie exchange. Maybe it is just the sheen of the season, but something about these traditions really elevates the sweet-and-salty pairing in a way no other time of year can claim.

Lay s Sweet Salty Dipped Clusters 2

Lay’s Sweet & Salty Dipped Clusters takes the timeless flavor combination and adds holiday sprinkles on top —- literally. Described on the package as a “dipped potato snack,” the bite-sized, bell-shaped clusters consist of potato chip pieces, crisped rice, almond bits, milk chocolate coating, and red and green nonpareils.

Lay s Sweet Salty Dipped Clusters 6

The salty body of each cluster contains the potato chips, crisped rice, and almonds. The potato chip flavor dominates, but the other ingredients contribute to the snack’s intense crunchiness. The almonds provide a hint of nutty flavor, but I’m not sure I would have been able to identify almonds as an ingredient. Because the pieces are ground into such small flecks, they are difficult to detect. Like the holiday spirit itself or that one relative who sends a mildly insulting greeting card every year in lieu of visiting, the almonds are not seen, but their presence is still very much felt.

Lay s Sweet Salty Dipped Clusters 4

The pieces are packed tightly together in each cluster, which also contributes to their crunchy texture. The snacks almost remind me of a savory Rice Krispies Treat, although without the marshmallow binding.

Lay s Sweet Salty Dipped Clusters 3

The sweet flavor instead comes from the milk chocolate, which partially covers each cluster. (The festive sprinkles on top don’t contribute much taste or texture, but they are pretty nonetheless.) The chocolate is the perfect smooth, sweet complement to the salty, crunchy cluster. Together, the components make a delicious small treat that is easy to pop into your mouth during holiday movie marathons. The 5-ounce bag is on the small side, so larger appetites should plan accordingly.

Lay s Sweet Salty Dipped Clusters 5

As I made my way further into the bag, I noticed not every cluster was uniform in terms of shape, chocolate distribution, and sprinkle amount. I prefer the clusters that have a little more chocolate to balance out the rest of the salty snack, but other taste buds may beg to differ. The less aesthetically-pleasing clusters are obviously still delicious, but less festive. This might only present an issue if you value perfect presentation for holiday gatherings. Or did you eat all the Rolo pretzels and are secretly planning to pass off Lay’s Sweet & Salty Dipped Clusters as a homemade treat at the cookie exchange?

I won’t tell anyone if you save a bag for me.

Purchased Price: $4.99
Size: 5 oz bag (141.7 g)
Purchased at: Target.com
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 6 pieces) 140 calories, 8 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights Ice Cream

Julie 24 Comments

Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights Ice Cream Pint

It’s that time of year, folks.

PUMPKINUNDATION: the annual influx of pumpkin-inspired products into our grocery stores, characterized by bright orange packaging and liberal use of spice. Whether Pumpkinundation inspires profound joy or the urge to grumble that maple is the superior fall flavor, we junk foodies know that pumpkin rings the official bell of autumn.

To me, there is no greater harbinger of autumn than Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights. Styled like jack-o’-lantern faces, these seasonal soft spiced cookies are stuffed with pumpkin jam filling. They are chewy, delicious, and easily crushed in your purse when you carry one around as an emergency dessert. (I am speaking from experience.) Pumpkin Delights are Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin in edible form. When they appear on shelves, I am overtaken by a terrible urge to wear heavy wool sweaters and visit a Spirit Halloween store in August. In short, I love them.

Little Debbie and Hudsonville Creamery have granted my autumn wish by adding a Pumpkin Delights variety to their line of ice creams. This Walmart-exclusive line is extensive and has received largely favorable reviews from our contributors. Since this was my first experience with the line, I was eager to evaluate both the product’s overall taste and its similarity to its beloved namesake.

Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights Ice Cream Top

This new variety’s package offers no hint as to its flavor or composition (besides “artificial flavors added”), so I dove spoon first into the mystery. Peeling back the foil lid, I was pumpkin-delighted to see orange: a pumpkin base. Maybe I am just cynical by nature, but I had expected vanilla ice cream, an easy base to carry novel mix-ins. I should have known Little Debbie takes no shortcuts.

The ice cream is creamy, delicious, and nicely rich. Unlike other pumpkin snacks, it doesn’t rely too heavily on spice for flavor. It reminds me of a pumpkin cheesecake ice cream: a bit of tang and a bit of spice that enhance an authentic pumpkin taste.

Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights Ice Cream Pumpkin

Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights Ice Cream Spoon

Within the base is a graham cookie swirl that basically tastes like a mashed up Pumpkin Delight cookie. Its flavor is wonderful: a combination of pumpkin, molasses, and brown sugar. A hint of grittiness through the cookie crumbs adds a pleasant texture — a welcome departure from the Pumpkin Delight’s softness. My major gripe is that there isn’t nearly enough swirl. I found one good hunk of the stuff in my serving, and as I dug through the remnants of the container, I excavated mere additional scraps.

Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights Ice Cream Evil Cookie

Although stingy — no, miserly — with its cookie swirl, Little Debbie’s Pumpkin Delights Ice Cream is a delicious fall treat for pumpkin lovers and a satisfying counterpart to its cookie inspiration. It is high quality ice cream — not “frozen dairy dessert” — and certainly the best I’ve tried at this price point. For $2.50 per pint, I might pick up another container and go excavating for more cookie swirls. Digging for sugar, after all, is the most time-honored tradition of Pumpkinundation.

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: One pint
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 2/3 cup) 240 calories, 12 grams of total fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 23 grams of sugar including 17 grams of added sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Yoplait Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms, and Trix Yogurts

Julie 3 Comments

Yoplait General Mills Cereals Yogurt Cups

I admit I am an uncreative snacker. I’m not the sort of innovator who finds new uses for familiar products. A loaf of bread does not inspire sandwiches or (gasp!) recipes; I’m likely to eat it slice after dry slice.

Okay, my snacking habits are not that dull, but I am still grateful for products that do the thinking for me. Yoplait General Mills Cereal Yogurts fall into this category, pairing low-fat flavored yogurts with crunchy cereal toppings. Varieties include Cinnamon Toast Crunch with cinnamon vanilla yogurt, Cocoa Puffs with vanilla yogurt, Lucky Charms with vanilla yogurt, and Trix with strawberry yogurt.

Each container comes with a lid that separates the cereal from its yogurt companion. The lids contain about 1/4 cup of cereal, with the total product size weighing 4.27 ounces. (For reference, a standard single serving container of Yoplait yogurt is 6 ounces.) As a light snack or meal accompaniment, they are the perfect size.

I tried all four varieties:

Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Yoplait Cinnamon Toast Crunch Yogurt Cup

This variety gets extra points for the cinnamon vanilla yogurt. I couldn’t find the flavor referenced on Yoplait’s website, so I believe it is unique to this line. At first glance, it looks like plain vanilla, but it has a hint of mellow spice and tastes like Cinnamilk. The texture is smooth but a little watery — a trend that will follow with the other varieties. The Cinnamon Toast Crunch neither dilutes nor overwhelms the yogurt’s cinnamon flavor, all while maintaining its perfectly crunchy texture.

Yoplait Cinnamon Toast Crunch Yogurt Spoon

Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (4.27 ounce container) 130 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

Cocoa Puffs

Yoplait Cocoa Puffs Yogurt Cup

Another solid pairing, this variety is like an elevated bowl of Cocoa Puffs because the cereal’s cocoa flavor does not overshadow the mild vanilla yogurt. Both flavors are discernible when eaten together. The yogurt itself is smooth and refreshing, but loose-textured.

Yoplait Cocoa Puffs Yogurt Spoon

Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (4.27 ounce container) 130 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

Lucky Charms

Yoplait Lucky Charms Yogurt Cup

Although the vanilla yogurt in the Cocoa Puffs and Lucky Charms varieties have identical flavors, the serving in my Lucky Charms cup was considerably thicker and creamier. Texture-wise, it was the best of the bunch. Did someone at the yogurt factory switch the texture setting from “meh” to “mmm”? Is Lucky’s magic responsible? The mascot elf’s cereal bits and marshmallow pieces provide a sweet crunch to this product, but the overall flavor profile is a little, well, vanilla.

Yoplait Lucky Charms Yogurt Spoon

Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (4.27 ounce container) 130 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 110 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

Trix

Yoplait Trix Yogurt Cup

This variety is the least successful due to the strawberry yogurt, which lacks flavor and is so thin that it turns to liquid in the last bites. The little strawberry flavor I detect clashes with the Trix’s artificial fruitiness. Even the Trix Rabbit might pass on this one.

Yoplait Trix Yogurt Spoon

Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (4.27 ounce container) 130 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

Yoplait General Mills Cereal Yogurts offer convenience and a decent flavor variety for consumers looking for a quick, tasty treat. Of course, you could easily achieve your own preferred flavor and texture combinations with a box of cereal, a tub of yogurt, and the right portable storage containers. But when your cereal goes stale and those containers warp in the dishwasher, these cereal yogurts will be here for you.

Purchased Price: $1.12 each
Purchased at: Walmart

REVIEW: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls Cereal

Julie 6 Comments

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls Box

General Mills’ Cinnamon Toast Crunch brand name reaches far and wide, allowing consumers to experience its beloved cinnamon-sugar flavor via cookie dough, creamy spread, and even bottled Cinnamilk. Through its newest offering, the brand now offers consumers the chance to eat 87 cinnamon rolls in one sitting without becoming dreadfully sick.

Of course, each of those “cinnamon rolls” is a piece of cereal. (Do not mistake the previous paragraph as an endorsement to consume 87 Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls, which also bear the Cinnamon Toast Crunch name.) Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls Cereal consists of cinnamon roll-shaped sweetened wheat and corn cereal. Each piece is cinnamon-flavored and boasts a delightful swirl design to emphasize the cinnamon roll comparison.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls Dry

Further supporting the comparison is the cereal’s intense cinnamon scent, which seems to leak through the product packaging. Remember going to the mall and smelling the cinnamon roll kiosk all the way from inside the department store? (Remember department stores? Remember malls?) That’s how strong and enticing the scent of Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls is.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls Size

Weirdly and sadly, the cinnamon smell is Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls’ siren song. The scent is much stronger than the flavor, which has an artificial aftertaste. Minus the artificial quality, the taste itself is fine. It just lacks the punch that OG Cinnamon Toast Crunch has. I think this is because the cereal pieces themselves are cinnamon-flavored, while their dusty coating is spare and more sugar-heavy than the Cinnadust we know, love, and sometimes buy in bulk to sprinkle on our popcorn. A different coating–maybe a vanilla powder to mimic a cinnamon roll’s icing–may have been more successful in elevating Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls Milk

Hope is not lost. In milk, the artificial quality dissipates, and the cinnamon livens up a little bit, getting closer to that sweet center-of-the-roll ideal. This enhanced flavor arrives at the expense of the cereal’s texture, though. Dry, the pieces have the light, airy texture of other corn-based or partially corn-based cereals. Wet, their texture softens to mush quickly.

For best results, you should eat the cereal with milk — but fast. Like within a minute. Maybe this is why the cartoon cinnamon roll on the front of the box has such powerful-looking teeth. He’s trying to show you his technique.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls Mascot

Compared to other cinnamon cereals on the market, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls is only average. The original Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which I count among my favorite cereals, bests the Rolls in terms of flavor. Kellogg’s Cinnabon and Cinnamon Mini Buns cereals both provided a more satisfying texture, and I long for their return. (If you remember the latter product, you probably also remember malls and department stores.)

While Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls Cereal makes for a passable breakfast, it is not quite deserving of the Cinnamon Toast Crown.

Purchased Price: $4.29
Size: Family Size – 16.7 oz (473 g)
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 1 cup) 150 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Van Leeuwen Grey Poupon Ice Cream

Julie 10 Comments

Van Leeuwen Grey Poupon Ice Cream Pint

When social media alerts you to Grey Poupon ice cream, there are only two possible explanations: April Fools’ Day is upon us, or the mad geniuses at Van Leeuwen are at it again.

Given that it’s late May and you are reading this review, you can probably deduce that Van Leeuwen’s Grey Poupon with Salted Pretzels Ice Cream is a very real product. Considering the brand’s propensity for wacky, experimental flavors, including Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Pizza, we shouldn’t be surprised. Of all possible unconventional savory pairings for ice cream, why not choose mustard? Why not mustard that tastes so good, gentlemen request it from neighboring vehicles?

You may have a lot of answers to that question that you will share in the comments IN ALL CAPS, but I love mustard. I sometimes eat certain foods solely so they can serve as vehicles for mustard. Ice cream isn’t one of them, so the prospect of mustardy ice cream left me curious and considerably trepid. For the sake of adventure and sharing my experience with you, dear readers, I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is.

Van Leeuwen Grey Poupon Ice Cream Top

My mouth, overall, was not displeased with the purchase. The French ice cream base does not taste like mustard, but rather rich vanilla. The flavor is simple but very high quality: delicious, rich, and creamy. (According to the container, French ice cream contains double the egg yolks than standard ice cream, which contribute to its richness.)

Van Leeuwen Grey Poupon Ice Cream Pretzel

Pieces of thin pretzel sticks are generously spread throughout the base. They add a hint of saltiness, but their texture is lacking. The ultra-creamy base begs for a crunchy element, but the pretzels range from soft to soggy.

Van Leeuwen Grey Poupon Ice Cream Swirl

At this point, I wondered if the product WAS a belated April Fools’ joke, but then I hit the bright yellow swirl running throughout the base. Mustard time. However, this swirl, which has the consistency of very loose caramel, does not share the vinegary, spicy pungency of Dijon mustard. The flavor is much more consistent with honey mustard. Honey is listed as an ingredient, which is likely lending that sweetness to the swirl’s notable mustardy tang.

The honey mustard flavor is prominent in some pockets of the pint. The thinner ribbons are more subtle; they offer just a bit of bright flavor and acidity to cut the rich base. Together, all components of the ice cream give a French- fries-and-milkshake vibe, if the French fries were replaced by pretzels lightly seasoned with honey mustard powder. The flavor is certainly unusual, and while I wouldn’t want a cone full of it, I don’t regret buying it.

Van Leeuwen Grey Poupon Ice Cream with the Mustard

Van Leeuwen’s latest creation may not inspire this devout mustard-lover to ask the ice cream truck: “Do you have any Grey Poupon?” But its adventurous blur of sweet and savory defies expectations, resulting in a surprising, interesting dessert experience. When soggy pretzels are the biggest downside of a condiment-themed ice cream, that’s a win for creativity.

Purchased Price: $4.98
Size: 14 fl oz
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 2/3 cup) 310 calories, 18 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 100 milligrams of cholesterol, 280 milligrams of sodium, 34 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 26 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein.