Tag: Candy

QUICK REVIEW: Peanut M&M’s Sweet & Salty Snack Mix

Denis 2 Comments

Peanut M M s Sweet Salty Snack Mix

What is it?

A mix of two types of M&M’s — peanut and peanut butter — with peanuts and pretzel balls. There’s also a milk chocolate version available with milk chocolate and Crispy M&M’s mixed with almonds and pretzel balls.

How is it?

Peanut M M s Sweet Salty Snack Mix 2

Solid, but unspectacular. Even though the pretzel balls are pictured sparingly on the outside of the bag, they seem to be the most populous of the residents inside the bag. The peanuts are a touch disappointing in that they are neither sweet nor salty.

It might have been better if they were salted or honey roasted; instead, they are just kind of there and don’t differentiate themselves from their brothers and sisters encapsulated in chocolate with a candy coating. Despite those shortcomings, the mix of the four components does accomplish the stated goal of being sweet and salty, and overall it makes for a tasty, satisfying snack.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Peanut M M s Sweet Salty Snack Mix 3

Using a trick perfected by potato chip industry, the bag is much larger than it really needs to be based on the contents inside. While the label proudly trumpets that it is “Sharing Size,” I’d advise using restraint before announcing to friends, family, or co-workers that you are indeed open to sharing a bag. The label says there are “about 8 servings,” but if you invite more than two others into your circle of sharing then no one is going to get much.

Conclusion:

There’s really nothing remarkable about this product, and it would be pretty easy to just create this mix yourself (even if you not a DJ).

With that said, I’ve never seen those little pretzel balls at the store and doing it yourself is never as easy as it looks. So if you like Peanut M&M’s, you’ll enjoy these even though they certainly won’t change your life.

Purchased Price: $2.98
Size: 7.70 oz. bag
Purchased at: H-E-B
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz. serving) 130 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 90 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Oreo Double Chocolate Candy Bar

Marvo

Oreo Double Chocolate Candy Bar

(Spotted by Rachel C at Walmart.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

REVIEW: Reese’s Outrageous Bar Stuffed with Reese’s Pieces

Marvo 3 Comments

Reese s Outrageous Bar Stuffed with Reese s Pieces

Reese’s new Outrageous Bar is like a Reese’s Nutrageous Bar.

Wait. You don’t know what a Nutrageous Bar is?

Well, I can understand why. It’s a candy bar that gets lost in the Reese’s universe that’s full of peanut butter-filled treats with different sizes, shapes, fillings, and chocolates.

For those who don’t know, the Nutrageous Bar features peanut butter, caramel, and peanuts (hence the nut- prefix) coated in chocolate. And now that you know about it, you can forget about it because the Outrageous Bar, which swaps the nuts with mini Reese’s Pieces, is the candy bar you should remember.

I’ve had the Nutrageous Bar several times and it doesn’t have the same pull as a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. But then again, few candy bars do. It lacks an adequate amount of that signature Reese’s flavor. It’s one of those products that makes me wonder why it born in the first place because I’m 99 percent sure that if someone wants a Reese’s fix they’re going to reach for the peanut butter cup or Reese’s Pieces.

Reese s Outrageous Bar Stuffed with Reese s Pieces 2

Speaking of the candy-coated candy, this isn’t the first time Hershey’s has stuffed Reese’s Pieces into something else. The company added some into the filling of a peanut butter cup a few years ago. It’s a good candy, but I feel the Reese’s Pieces only provide texture and their flavor gets lost in the sugary and salty filling of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. But with the Outrageous Bar, the smaller candies are in the forefront of its flavor and texture.

Reese s Outrageous Bar Stuffed with Reese s Pieces 3

I know in the photos it looks as if there’s no advertised peanut butter or caramel, but if you look closer at the photo…

closer…

closer…

closer…

BOOP YOUR NOSE, you’ll see a skinny layer of peanut butter that boosts the flavor of the many Reese’s Pieces, but without overpowering them. Despite a high level of peanut butter goodness going on, the chocolate coating cuts through it and creates that coveted chocolate and peanut butter combo. As for the caramel, there’s a thin layer in the bar that gives it a bit of gooeyness, but it doesn’t seem to make a difference taste-wise. Although the caramel doesn’t come through, it’s still a sweet treat.

Reese’s Outrageous Bar Stuffed with Reese’s Pieces is a great candy bar. With a nice one-two peanut butter and chocolate punch and a crispiness that the Reese’s Pieces’ candy shell provides, it’s a candy bar worth remembering.

DISCLOSURE: If you’re wondering why the wrappers look so plain, I received free samples of the candy bar a few months ago. So, yes, I could’ve had a review of this months ago, but #procrastination. BOOP YOUR NOSE.

(Nutrition Facts – 1 bar – 200 calories, 10 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 70 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 24 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 1.48 oz. bar
Purchased at: Received from Hershey’s
Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Another great chocolate and peanut butter combo from Reese’s. Reese’s Pieces’ flavor is more noticeable in this bar than the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup with Reese’s Pieces. More interesting than a Reese’s Nutrageous Bar. BOOP YOUR NOSE.
Cons: The caramel’s flavor gets lost among the peanut butter and chocolate.Not better than a original Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Reese’s Outrageous Stuffed with Reese’s Pieces Bar

Marvo 1 Comment

Reese s Outrageous Stuffed with Reese s Pieces Bar

Update: We reviewed it! Click here to read our review.

(Spotted by Rachel C at Maverick.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

REVIEW: Hershey’s Flavor of California Chocolate Covered Strawberry Kit Kat

Vin 6 Comments

Hershey s Flavor of California Chocolate Covered Strawberry Kit Kat

When I ask you to associate one food with California, what comes to mind?

Excuse my ignorance, but I don’t know. Wine? Fish tacos? I’ve only been to Southern California once and it was a culinary melting pot.

With that ignorance, I decided to roll with Hershey’s “Flavor of California” – the chocolate covered strawberry.

Yeah, strawberries, fine, that makes sense. Delicious California strawberries – the number one food I associate with California. Everybody loves sweet California strawberries!

Now, what if I told you Hershey decided to inject some California strawberry flavor into their world-famous Kit Kat bar? I bet that would interest you, right? Luckily, I’m here to let you know if it works.

Hershey s Flavor of California Chocolate Covered Strawberry Kit Kat 3

As I broke off an awesome smelling stick at took a bite, nothing seemed to differentiate from a normal Kit Kat, but fear not because the strawberry flavor snuck in almost immediately, and man, it was nice!

There isn’t a HUGE strawberry flavor, but that’s exactly why I dug it. They could have easily made it artificial and overbearing, but there’s a delicious, light strawberry flavor that lingers. It’s a perfect mix, acting as almost an inverse of a real chocolate covered strawberry. Once you get through the chocolate shell, the freakishly huge strawberries usually become the dominant flavor.

You’re obviously not gonna get the juicy refreshing element of a real strawberry, but you’re also not gonna get that tartness of the fruit either. I’ve always found that unless you’re eating perfectly in-season California(!) berries, they can be a bit of a buzzkill.

Hershey s Flavor of California Chocolate Covered Strawberry Kit Kat 4

I ate a chocolate covered strawberry for comparison, and maybe I’m just a child with an unrefined palate (I am), but I’ll take the Kit Kat all day, every day.

I haven’t had a ton of chocolate/strawberry flavored candies, but as far as I’m concerned Kit Kat is the new top dog. This is easily better than Strawberry Nut M&M’s.

If I was basing my review on the smell and the taste, I’d consider giving these a perfect score, but I gotta nitpick a bit.

Hershey put out miniature white chocolate strawberry Kit Kats last year that were much cuter, for lack of a better word. We’re probably better off without chemical dyes in our food, but I would’ve really enjoyed it if this was also pink or red, and not typical brown. Japan has like 874 different Kit Kat flavors and they toss some cool colors at ya. Why make these so boring?

Hershey s Flavor of California Chocolate Covered Strawberry Kit Kat 2

While I’m whining, I also expected more off the wall ingredients from Hershey’s “Flavors of America” line. Chocolate covered strawberry is pretty tame, no? Good, but tame. Last year, I reviewed a Texas-style Pay Day with BBQ peanuts and was hoping for more weirdness like that.

So yeah, I can sit here and pine for all the weirdness of Japanese Kit Kats, or petition Hershey for some Philly Cheesesteak-infused Whoppers or something, but that would be a disservice to this sweet flavor of California. Pick these up if you see them.

(Nutrition Facts – 1 package – 210 calories, 11 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 30 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 21 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $1.25
Size: 1.5 oz.
Purchased at: CVS
Rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: Perfect balance of chocolate and strawberry. No artificial taste. Smell amazing. Best chocolate/strawberry candy bar I’ve had to date. Giving me a California food association. Hershey’s “Flavors of America” line in general.
Cons: Boring appearance. Idea is a tad bit lazy. North America’s lack of Kit Kat flavors. The Kit Kat jingle which is now stuck in your head. This dude actually said “Philly cheesesteak Whoppers?”