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REVIEW: Frankford Fruity Pebbles Birthday Cake Candy Bar

September 27, 2021September 25, 2021 Marvo 1 Comment

Frankford Fruity Pebbles Birthday Cake Candy Bar Wrapper

What is the Fruity Pebbles Birthday Cake Candy Bar?

It’s a candy bar that features Fruity Pebbles cereal pieces in a classic vanilla birthday cake and frosting-flavored white confection. It celebrates the 50th birthday of Pebbles cereal and maybe the 50,000,000th birthday of some actual pebbles.

The candy bar is available in a single 2.75-ounce size and an 18-count multi-pack at Walmart stores nationwide and online at FrankfordCandy.com.

How is it?

Frankford Fruity Pebbles Birthday Cake Candy Bar Front

As you can see in the photo above, it looks almost EXACTLY like the regular Fruity Pebbles Candy Bar that’s been available for a while. They look so alike that maybe I put the original Fruity Pebbles bar in the Fruity Pebbles Birthday Cake wrapper and vice versa in the photos above and below. Or maybe not? You’ll never know, and I’ll take that secret with me to my grave.

Frankford Fruity Pebbles Birthday Cake Candy Bar Back

While they look similar, they definitely don’t taste the same. Well, more specifically, the white cremes that both have don’t taste alike. At first, I thought the very sweet white base dominated the bar’s flavor, with the cereal taking a distant third-row backseat. It was like a cake with TOO MUCH frosting. But then, after eating a few more pieces, the sweetness mellowed out a bit, and I could taste a better balance between the cereal and white confection. Although the creamy base noticeably stands out more.

This bar tastes different from the original Fruity Pebbles Candy Bar, but it’s not as toothsome as the original. It’s an okay treat, but I wish the cereal was a bit more prominent because, after all, we are celebrating it.

Anything else you need to know?

It’s hard to believe Pebbles cereal is 50 years old. It makes me feel old, like having the rookie cards of baseball players who are now major league managers.

Frankford Fruity Pebbles Birthday Cake Candy Bar Fossil

Also, the cereal fossilized in the white creme still has some crispiness.

Conclusion:

The original Fruity Pebbles Candy Bar is delightful, especially if you’re a fan of the cereal. And if you’re that into Fruity Pebbles, you might find this birthday cake version to be a little disappointing.

DISCLOSURE: I received free product samples. (Thanks, Frankford!) Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 2.75 oz bar
Purchased at: Received from Frankford Candy
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/3 bar) 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 30 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar (including 15 grams added sugar), and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Salted Caramel Twix

September 17, 2021September 16, 2021 Julie 12 Comments

Salted Caramel Twix Wrapper

When whispers of a new Twix flavor circulated on social media a few weeks ago, junk food fans reveled in the anticipation. Would this new flavor be a crowd-pleasing birthday cake, a seasonal pumpkin spice, or something completely unexpected, like purple ube with a mango twist? (Let the record show that was my idea first, Twix!) Would the long sought-after Sugar Cookie Twix finally hit shelves? Would we chocolate fiends soon be granted a Middle Twix?

Enter Salted Caramel Twix for the big reveal. Sea salt joins the beloved combination of caramel, shortbread, and milk chocolate in this new bar, packaged in a shiny teal wrapper.

With this news, the part of me that loves odd and novel flavors experienced the emotional equivalent of a sad trumpet sound effect, but the part of me that remains slightly obsessed with salted caramel was thrilled. I would rather enjoy a familiar flavor executed perfectly than novelty for novelty’s sake.

Salted Caramel Twix Coating

Although Salted Caramel Twix is also available in King Size, I opted for the standard size. The petite twin sticks look like the original Twix — although a little smaller — inside and out. I was expecting a visual hint of salt, either embedded in the caramel or sprinkled on top of the chocolate coating, but there was nary a grain in sight. Note that if you are vehemently anti-salted caramel, someone could use this Twix to play a trick on you.

With each bite of the Salted Caramel Twix, I experienced the same trajectory of flavor. For the first several chews, the bar tastes largely like an original Twix: creamy milk chocolate, sweet chewy caramel, and crunchy cookie. Then, a punchy salt flavor comes through and lasts for three or four seconds before the taste mellows back into original territory. The saltiness isn’t intense enough to produce a strong mingling of sweet and salty, but it was intense enough to make me incredibly thirsty after eating one stick.

Salted Caramel Twix Split

Tasting one element at a time, I believe the salt is baked into the shortbread cookie, not the caramel. The separation of salt from caramel might contribute to the fleeting saltiness of the bar as a whole. When located in the least sweet element, the salt needs some help being introduced to the sweet.

The thought of salt being separated from caramel until reunited by someone’s mandibles is somewhat tragic. If the salt is not inside the caramel, is it truly salted caramel? Begin the philosophical discussion in the comments below.

Rating the Salted Caramel Twix is tough, because we all know that caramel, shortbread, and chocolate combine to make magic. Yet, the bar’s muted salty/sweet contrast underwhelms. It neither capitalizes on the power of a simple flavor nor deviates strongly enough from the original Twix to feel exciting. Salted caramel fans may enjoy this twist on the original, but it won’t make them forget about the countless other like-flavored products available to satisfy their sweet (and salty) tooth.

Purchased Price: 88 cents
Size: 1.41 oz bar (40 g)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 200 calories, 9 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 20 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Hershey’s Oat Made Chocolate Bars

September 16, 2021September 14, 2021 Julie 2 Comments

Hershey s Oat Made Chocolate Bars Wrappers

What are Hershey’s Oat Made Chocolate Bars?

Hershey’s new Oat Made line is the company’s first venture into plant-based chocolate. Made with oat milk instead of dairy, Oat Made bars are vegan, non-GMO, and made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa.

Two varieties are available: Classic Dark and Extra Creamy Almond & Sea Salt.

How are they?

When I first heard about Hershey’s Oat Made line, I was fascinated by its credentials. As an aspiring candy historian, I want my finger on the pulse of everything new in the world of chocolate. Also, I enjoy experimenting with milk alternatives not out of personal dietary need, but simply curiosity and awareness of friends and family who do have these needs. The presence of oat milk – a favorite dairy alternative – in chocolate seemed too interesting to ignore.

Hershey s Oat Made Chocolate Bars Dark

First, the Classic Dark bar is a convincing duplicate of its dairy-infused cousin. The flavor perfectly balances bitter and sweet. Breaking the bar into squares yields a satisfying snap – often a sign of higher quantities of cocoa butter – but this firm bite easily transitions into a smooth texture without the chalkiness dark chocolate can sometimes have. The bar is definitely on par with comparable products from higher-priced brands like Lindt or Ghiradelli.

Hershey s Oat Made Chocolate Bars Creamy 1

The Extra Creamy Almond & Sea Salt bar is meant to mimic milk chocolate, and while it doesn’t taste much like the classic Hershey’s milk chocolate, I mean this in the best possible way. The bar smells and tastes of cocoa powder, resulting in a richer and more authentic chocolate flavor without the mild tang characteristic of classic Hershey’s.

Hershey s Oat Made Chocolate Bars Creamy 2

“Extra Creamy” is a bit of a misnomer, because as the bar melts, a gritty texture emerges. The bar contains a generous amount of almond pieces, which provide a hint of salt and a satisfying crunch that distracts from the grittiness.