SPOTTED: Blue Diamond Almonds and More

Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds and More
Blue Diamond Honey Roasted Almonds and More
Blue Diamond Roasted Sea Salt Almonds and More

Sorry, Brazil and Macadamia nuts. You weren’t invited to this party. (Spotted by Amanda Y at Kroger.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

SPOTTED: Krispy Kreme Merry Grinchmas Collection

Krispy Kreme Merry Grinchmas Collection.

This collection features:

Grinch Doughnut (NEW) – an unglazed doughnut filled with “coal” Cookies & Kreme filling, dipped in Grinch green icing with a chocolate icing smirky grin and buttercream hair.

Cindy-Lou Who Merry Berry Tree Doughnut (NEW) – an Original Glazed Doughnut dipped in strawberry flavored icing with a green buttercreme tree, sprinkled and topped with a star piece.

Santa Belly Doughnut – an unglazed doughnut filled with white Kreme, dipped in red icing, piped with a black chocolate Santa belt and topped with a belt buckle.

Holiday Sprinkle Doughnut – an Original Glazed doughnut dipped in chocolate icing with festive sprinkles is back.

(Spotted by Robbie at Target.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

REVIEW: General Mills Twinkles Cereal (2024)

Is General Mills taking this retro trend a bit too far? And when I mean “far,” I mean far back in time. Because here we have a cereal dug out deep from whatever catacomb discontinued products end up in — Twinkles Cereal, which should not be confused with this cereal.

This is so retro that I didn’t know it existed, and I ended up having to look it up like I was someone born after the year 2000 trying to find out who the heck MC Hammer is and why their parents are embarrassing them by shuffle dancing side-to-side to his music in public.

Twinkles Cereal is old, like black-and-white-television-old. The first result that popped up during my research was a commercial from the 1960s that touted the star-shaped toasted oats’ n corn cereal, which came in a box with a storybook attached. The story featured the adventures of Twinkles the Magic Elephant and his friends Fulton the Inventor, Sanford the Parrot, and Wilbur the Monkey. Sadly, this 2024 box did not come with a storybook. Instead, there’s a game board featuring Thomas the Octopus, Alfred the Alligator, Randolph the Bull, and Victor the Vulture.

While I’m disappointed I can’t read a Twinkles story to my son before bedtime, I’m surprisingly not disappointed with the taste of Twinkles, despite it being such a simple sweetened cereal. After tasting it for the first time, I was a bit shocked that it had been discontinued in 1973. They have a sugary shine, which is appropriate for star-shaped pieces. And that sweet coating does a good job of preventing everything from getting soggy quickly.

Twinkles is tasty, but its flavor reminds me of another cereal. For a while, I couldn’t put my tongue on it. I thought it was another General Mills product and mentally went through all the different tastes. But I finally realized what it was while snacking on some in my car at a beach park, looking out at the ocean, and pondering my life’s purpose — Cap’n Crunch. However, that similarity happens when eating it as a dry snack. With milk, the flavor changes to something less familiar and sweet but still good.

Twinkles Cereal surprised me, and as I ate it, I wondered if it would be even better if the cereal that features Twinkles the Magic Elephant was combined with Lucky Charms’ Magical Marshmallows. I believe it would be magnificent.

Twinkles is available for a limited time as a Walmart exclusive.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free product sample from General Mills. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 15.8 oz box (Family Size)
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 1/4 cup) 160 calories, 2 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 11 grams of sugar (including 11 grams of added sugar), and 2 grams of protein.

SPOTTED (SEASONAL EDITION): 12/5/2024

Here are some interesting new products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments.

Muddy Bites Hot Cocoa Waffle Cone Snacks
Muddy Bites Candy Cane Waffle Cone Snacks

(Spotted by Sarah R at Whole Foods.)

Bettergoods Maple Praline Mini Nut Bars
Bettergoods Gingerbread Mini Nut Bars

(Spotted by Tommy at Walmart.)

Muscle Milk S’mores Protein Shake

(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

Overjoyed Limited Edition Peppermint Cocoa Indulgent Trail Mix
Overjoyed Limited Edition Holiday Tree-Shaped Pretzels
Overjoyed Limited Edition Peppermint Yogurt Covered Pretzels

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Tom Thumb.)

Ocean Spray Limited Edition Snow Day Favves

(Spotted by Robbie at Sam’s Club.)

Edible Architecture Ready Charcuterie Chalet Kit

(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

Sugar Bowl Bakery Dipped Peppermint Madeleines

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)

Olipop Vintage Cola Holiday Design

(Spotted by Robbie at Popshelf.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

SPOTTED: Cheez-It Cheesy Jalapeno Crackers

Cheez-It Cheesy Jalapeno Crackers.

It ain’t easy bein’ cheesy, and it’s hard to know jalapeno. Yeah…that made sense in my head, but now that I see it typed out, it makes no sense. (Spotted by Jason B at Walmart.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.