REVIEW: Keebler Harry Potter Butterbeer Fudge Stripes

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Keebler’s new Butterbeer Fudge Stripes are the first Harry Potter-themed confection I’ve tried since a traumatizing run-in with a box of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Bean, so needless to say, I was trepidatious.

It’s hard to Obliviate your first earwax-flavored Jelly Belly. Just thinking about those cursed beans makes me freeze up in fear as if I were struck by the Immobulous charm. Yeah, I’ve seen the movies, folks. I know spells, at least like six of them. I didn’t read a single word of the books, but I know spells! Uh… Oculus Reparo! See?

I know you can see because I just fixed your glasses.

Anyway, despite being a fan of the Potter films, I’ve never actually had Butterbeer. I’ve had butterscotch. I’ve had butter rum, but that’s the extent of my forays into Butter *insert type of booze here.* I honestly don’t even really know much about the flavor profile of Butterbeer, so I wasn’t sure what to expect-O PATRONUM! Remember that one?!

Ya know, I gotta hand it to the elves, be it tree or house, we got ourselves a nice little collab here. Ernie met Dobby, and they baked up a solid little cookie.

These biscuits, for my British friends, reek of a Waffle Crisp-style cereal, but there’s no maple because Butterbeer IS butterscotch. I think. Perhaps my muggle brain can’t comprehend the subtle differences, but for all intents and purposes, these Quidditch goal-shaped rings taste like butterscotch. I assumed there’d be something a bit more foreign that tasted new to me, but I wasn’t disappointed.

The cookie base is the familiar Fudge Stripe sans fudge stripes, but instead piped with a white Butterbeer(scotch) icing.

As you know, Fudge Stripes are named after Cornelius Fudge, the thirty-second Minister of Magic, and Sorkelport Stripes, a legendary Hogwarts professor that I just made up. It is ultimately they who inspired this snack sorcery, and I think Keebler did them proud.

If you’re not a butterscotch lover, don’t worry, the flavor isn’t as pronounced as the classic hard candies. I’d say it exists in the same sweetness realm as dulce de leche and salted caramel fare we’ve become accustomed to, with these almost pushing “too sweet” but still quite indulgent and enjoyable for a cookie or three. Dare I say good enough to Expelliarmus anyone trying to steal one.

By now, it’s quite apparent – I know my Potter, huh?! Well, maybe not enough to decipher what I’m supposed to be seeing on each cookie, but these do seem to have fun little Wizarding World-specific designs that get swallowed up in the icing, so that’s fun, I guess.

I’d consider these a success, and I like to believe Harry, Hermoine, and… whatshisface would definitely buy a pack from the Hogwarts Express trolley.

It’s also nice to see butterscotch getting a little shine with all this butterbeer stuff hitting shelves. It’s a nice change of pace flavor that’s rarely seen outside of grandma’s candy dish.

Ron! His name is Ron. How could I forget Ron, that’s just Riddickulus! (Six. Told ya.)

Purchased Price: $2.98
Size: 9.5 oz package
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 Cookies) 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 70 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar (including 8 grams of added sugar), and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Chips Ahoy Blondie Baked Bites

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Normally, I’d start my review of Chips Ahoy Blondie Baked Bites with a thin pop culture reference that I’d kinda relate back to the product, but I’m too miffed to have fun right now.

So, my apologies, Debbie Harry, I won’t be using any famous Blondie lyrics to express my opinions. Sorry, Dagwood, I won’t be making a cutesy reference to your wife, the eponymous Blondie’s famous comic strip, because I just have to get down to brass tacks and warn the masses.

I’m not even gonna bury the lede anymore, folks, I almost gave Chips Ahoy Blondie Baked Bites my first 0 out of 10.

Look, before I start, I just wanna say I actually enjoy Chewy Chips Ahoy, and I’ve loved every blondie I’ve ever had. It’s a golden brownie! Cool, nice change of pace, sign me up… but these… man…

In each baggie, you get a handful of little squares they call “Baked Bites,” but they’re really “Clay Clumps.”

The texture of said clumps is lost somewhere in the void between cookie and brownie. It’s not quite Chewy Chips Ahoy, but not quite brownie texture either – any brownie texture, whether you like moist, chewy brownies or crispier dryer brownies, these never get to either pole.

They resemble little pieces of edible cookie dough, but that’s usually softer and often chilled. If you bought edible cookie dough bites and left them uncovered on the counter for six hours, that might be the texture of Chips Ahoy Baked Bites. I kinda recall the inside of those terrible “Cookie Dough Bite” candies being similar, so imagine about twenty of those mashed together with less chocolate.

Needless to say, I’m not a fan of these bites texturally. That said, the texture is great compared to the taste. These are hot garbage.

I really try not to just flat out hate on things I review, but I hate these. “Hate” is a strong word that I genuinely want to eliminate from my vocabulary entirely. Maybe tomorrow. I hate these.

The flavor is as bland as bland can be. The chocolate chips are a desperate hint of a saving grace, but they are chalky and not flavorful enough to save whatever the batter is. These are just unpleasant with a mouth-drying, aspartamey aftertaste that doesn’t go away.

Would you like a dryer, denser Chewy Chips Ahoy with about 50% less sugar? I’ll answer for you. You wouldn’t. The grams of sugar must all be in the chocolate because the blondie part has no sweetness to speak of. These taste like the newspaper Blondie was printed on.

The “Chips Ahoy!” name on the box shouldn’t have an exclamation point but an interrobang (?) because I’m questioning what the heck I just ate. I also really wanted to write the word “interrobang.”

Man, these stink. With all the options out there, I’m prepared to call these unequivocally the worst sweet snack on shelves right now. I’ll die on that hill.

I don’t think I’ve ever said the word “blech” out loud until I ate these. That’s what these taste like, “blech.” They taste like some random onomatopoeia.

Yeah, so anyway, pick up a box. You’ll love ’em? (You probably won’t. Skip ’em.)

Purchased Price: $3.98
Size: 7.5 oz box/5 packs
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 1 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 170 calories, 7 grams of fat, 150 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of total carbohydrates, 13 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Post Malone Taste Twist Oreo Cookies

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Next time Oreo suffers from a creative slump, they would be wise to remember Post Malone’s phone number.

Leave it to an inventive, genre-mixing rapper-singer to inspire an Oreo that offers multiple flavors plus a visual appeal to pique the interest of a wide audience. The limited edition cookie features a swirled crème—the first in Oreo’s history—in shortbread and salted caramel flavors, sandwiched between one Golden Oreo and one traditional chocolate wafer.

The swirled crème is a hit. The shortbread flavor is buttery and sweet, while the caramel component is rich without being sickly. Salt is incorporated within the caramel crème, which enhances the flavors while downplaying the crème’s overall sweetness, and provides a little texture. In each cookie, a couple of salt crystals stand out with a subtle, sprinkle-like crunch that feels like a fun, thoughtful flourish.

Both crème flavors pair beautifully with the Oreo wafers. It is fun to try all possible combinations of crème against cookie, but ultimately each one is delicious. The choice to include both Golden and chocolate cookies invites the interactive experience of mixing and matching to your preference. As one bite, the cookie is an excellent mixture of everything—butter, chocolate, sweetness, and salt—but I really like savoring the components separately.

Visually, two kinds of cookies plus a crème swirl makes a stunning product, but that’s not all. Each chocolate cookie is embossed with one of nine possible designs. Post Malone fans will recognize nods to artistry, including a sunflower for his 2018 single. Another perk: a QR code on the packaging leads you to a music-themed personality quiz that determines your custom-flavored crème swirl. (Mine? Maple apple. Oreo, once you run out of music stars to collaborate with, I am available.)

While brand collaborations can range from obvious to desperate, Oreo and Post Malone have created something special that represents both the celebrity’s artistic and taste preferences while fostering the brand’s creativity. Post Malone Taste Twist Oreos put a unique and engaging twist on the terrible urge to eat an entire row of sandwich cookies. The swirly crème is a standout for the brand, and the Golden-chocolate cookie duo is perfect for Oreo fans who—like Posty himself—do not limit themselves to one genre of flavor.

Purchased Price: $4.99
Size: 10.68 oz package
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 cookies) 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and less than 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Oreo Loaded Cookies

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“Everything old is new again” is a famous quote that I should probably attribute to the original writer, but that dude ain’t around anymore. I’m sure he wouldn’t care.

For the sake of the following review, I’m going to attribute said quote to the R&D genius over at Nabisco/Mondelez who came up with the brilliant idea to stuff Oreos with Oreos.

Yep, we’ve reached the point in time where Oreo flavor spinoffs have come so full circle that we can now buy Oreo-flavored Oreos… and I’m not mad about it.

Two years ago, I reviewed “The Most Oreo,” and I gotta be honest here, folks, I think the new “Oreo Loaded” is just “The Most Oreo” with a fresh coat of paint. I’m consciously choosing not to re-read that review until I finish this one to see if I came to the same conclusion.

Ok, actually, “Oreo Loaded” being an exact replica of “The Most Oreo” isn’t entirely true. While they are both essentially “cookies and crème” flavored Oreos (I know, just go with it), I do not believe we reached “most” levels with the Oreo Loaded. These have a little more than your standard “Double Stuf” but do not reach the ludicrous thickness of “The Most Oreo.”

These land between “The Most Oreo” and “Double Stuf” calorically, so I think my thesis checks out.

Look, it’s a big fat Oreo with a little more Oreo essence thrown in. This is a slam dunk positive review. Do you like Oreos? Want an even fatter Oreo? Me too. These are very good, but allow me to nitpick just a bit.

The amount of crème is enough to where you start to notice just how chalky it is. I think the added element of “REAL Oreo cookie crumbs” (I know, just go with it) in said crème makes it dryer and a bit less palatable than you’re used to.

These are also easily the most brittle Oreos I’ve ever had. Perhaps I got a bad batch, but every single cookie I ate – every single one – broke into pieces in ways unnatural to an Oreo. For a sandwich cookie, I usually get a pretty clean halved bite with Oreos; here, each bite breaks the wafers into quarters at least. Also, I broke numerous cookie discs while doing the classic Oreo twist. It’s as if the crumbs in the crème were extracted directly from the cookies, ruining their structural integrity.

That’s it. Other than the excruciating lack of creativity, I have no complaints. I bought a pack of obese Oreos, and baby, I liked me some obese Oreos. Sure, they were a little gritty, a little crumby, and I could only enjoy about three in a sitting, but they are legitimately great.

2025 seems to already be the year of “everything old is new again” (… I know, just try to go with it?), but I guess we can take a little comfort in obese Oreos. I wanted to rail on how “Oreo stuffed Oreos” are almost insultingly repetitive, but I just can’t. I like Oreos. Maybe next time when Nabisco releases “Oreo Reloaded,” it can stuff Oreos with Hydrox and really shock the world.

Purchased Price: $4.88
Size: 13.37 oz package
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 Cookies) 180 calories, 9 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, and less than 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Irish Creme Oreo Thins Cookies

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Over the holiday season, when work days tend to be lighter to nonexistent and relatives tend to be more existent, I often forgo the milk in my coffee and choose to spike it with Irish cream instead. If you aren’t familiar, Irish cream is a liqueur based on whiskey with cream and additional flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and coffee. Since its invention in the 1970s, it’s become popular as a drink on its own, mixed into cocktails, and as a dessert flavoring. Just in time to help me replace my holiday creamer of choice, Oreo is debuting Irish Crème Oreo Thins, a permanent addition to its Thins lineup.

This was my first foray into Oreo Thins territory, and while I was a bit put off by the price tag, I couldn’t help but find this package and its subtle Emerald Isle theme attractive. I wasn’t prepared for opening this and finding that the thin layer of plastic that stands between you and eating these cookies would give way to the most intense Irish cream smell. It was immediately apparent that this flavor was spot on. I was almost caught off guard by how accurate the scent was and how well it continued to the flavor.

This is not one of those cases where something calls itself “brownie” flavored and then tastes like generic chocolate. This is Irish cream flavor, perfectly harnessed. It smells and tastes a bit boozy, and while I’m sure these are safe to give anyone, I think this is definitely an adult Oreo. The crème is smooth and not excessively sweet, with whiskey and chocolate notes that are complemented by the dark cocoa cookies.

For the sake of research, I dipped one in Irish cream, but that may not be the best course of action since you’re just doubling up on the same flavor. These Thins pair very well with milk, which mellows them, but are also really nice on their own. They won’t be for everyone but if you like Irish cream at all, I can’t imagine not enjoying these. I continue to be impressed by their flavor accuracy and how well it fits this format. It’s perfect as an Oreo Thin because more of this cream would almost be too much.

In terms of flavor being on point, I would rate these 10 out of 10. I don’t find the Thins to be quite as satisfying to eat as regular Oreos, but since they’ve been around for about a decade now, I’m going to consider them their own thing and this Irish Crème variation is a damn fine product. Oreo could have slapped a bunch of shamrocks on this package and pushed them for St. Patrick’s Day, but I appreciate that they didn’t. These cookies feel kind of sophisticated but also fun and certainly welcome any time of year, like a cool Oreo cousin. With a name like Erin, I’m contractually obligated to like anything Irish, but I’d score these highly even without the bias.

Purchased Price: $6.49
Size: 11.78 oz package
Purchased at: Jewel
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (4 cookies) 140 calories, 6 grams of total fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of total carbs, 11 grams of total sugars, and 1 gram of protein.