Tag: Dunkin Donuts

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer

Marvo 6 Comments

Dunkin Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer Bottle

It might just be me, but I think the new Dunkin’ Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer tastes like International Delight’s Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer. It wouldn’t surprise me, though, because they’re both made by the Danone company.

I’d do a taste test, but I’ve been having difficulty finding the seasonal International Delight flavor here on this rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. My calls to the Great Pumpkin have not been returned.

Dunkin Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer Descript

I want to say it maybe tastes a little more pumpkin-y than my memory of International Delight’s offering. There isn’t even anything that I could consider cake or icing-like.

But besides what my hazy memory can remember, there is a difference between the two. The Dunkin’ coffee enhancer is made with real cream. Well, cream and skim milk, to be exact, which International Delight creamers don’t have. Does that create a creamier creamer? I don’t think so.

There isn’t even a color difference. Maybe if Dunkin’ wanted to be cute, it could’ve made this Dunkin’ orange. But instead, it looks like most other creamers, so the coffee photo I took below could contain Dunkin’s Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer. Or it could be International Delight French Vanilla. Or maybe it’s Coffee mate’s Hazelnut. Or perhaps that’s a glass of storm water.

Dunkin Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer Color

Dunkin’s Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer is pretty much a pumpkin spice-flavored creamer without “pumpkin spice” in its name. If you’d like a slightly more natural pumpkin spice creamer than International Delight’s (or if the stores around you aren’t carrying it for some reason), but also don’t want to pay more for Coffee mate’s Natural Bliss version, this is a great tasting option.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 32 fl oz
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 Tbsp) 35 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 0 milligrams of sodium, 6 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 6 grams of sugar (including 5 grams of added sugar), and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Goldfish Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice Grahams

Sean 13 Comments

Goldfish Dunkin Pumpkin Spice Grahams Bag

When Pepperidge Farm opened the collaboration gates with its iconic line of Goldfish crackers last year, I was excited about the possibilities. Sure, Goldfish are known for “blasting” things and “extra crunch-ing” things but colliding with other established seasonings for a limited time is fun, especially when they’re done well. Both the Frank’s RedHot and Old Bay collabs were fantastic, but as someone closely watching for future Goldfish marriage partners, I never saw this one coming. The snack that smiles back has officially gone “basic” with Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice Grahams.

I love that the bag is shaped and colored like a bag of Dunkin’ coffee, but also thrilled that the Goldfish are pumpkin spice-flavored, not pumpkin spice latte. Rather than go the PSL route, the cracker-cookies aim to mimic the chain’s Pumpkin Spice Cake Donut, which is great for me because I don’t need any more caffeine than I’m already consuming.

Goldfish Dunkin Pumpkin Spice Grahams Pour

Immediately the aroma wafting from the bag is like a warm autumn hug with honey-kissed swirls of graham. This is my first pumpkin spice product of the season, and I’m giddy. The taste immediately hits me in all of my fall feelings — mild cinnamon and nutmeg back up a fantastic buttery sweet brown sugar molasses flavor accented by cloves. None of the spices are too aggressive, but they’re all accounted for.

The snack has a really great texture too. I would never call Cheddar Goldfish “dry” as an insult, but these are less so than your classic Cheddar variety. Like many crackers, normal Goldfish can build up to a salty paste when eaten quickly, and these carry a bit more moisture than their cheesy counterparts, crumbling with buttery ease. That gentle crumble makes them hard to stop popping into my mouth. It’s far too easy to down a 52-fish serving without thinking of closing the non-resealable bag.

Goldfish Dunkin Pumpkin Spice Grahams Swimming

The more I eat, the more the spices mellow, and the flavor fades to a mild but delicious graham that’s incredibly snackable. They’re like a more complex sibling to Cinnamon Teddy Grahams. The Goldfish don’t have the aggressive, in-your-face punch of Pumpkin Spice Cheerios, but I don’t think they need that. No matter how much they might like it, I’m not going to throw these fishies in a bowl to swim in milk, and I love how perfectly balanced the flavor is straight from the bag. When I take a break from the fish and return after eating something salty as a palate cleanser, the spice level is right back to being where it was — a mild but present mix of cloves and cinnamon with the subtlest touch of vanilla.

Goldfish Dunkin Pumpkin Spice Grahams Pumpkin

Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice Grahams don’t really remind me of a donut, and they don’t taste distinctly like pumpkin, but they do summon the flavors of the sweater weather season wonderfully. Perhaps if Pepperidge Farm finished the fish with a glaze like the donut pictured on the bag, they would do better to channel that flavor. But I like these Goldfish more than Dunkin’s donut, so I don’t mind its absence.

Purchased Price: I paid way too much to get a two-pack shipped from Goldfish, but you can get them at Target for $2.39
Size: 6.6 oz bag
Purchased at: Online
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (52 pieces, 30g) 140 calories, 5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Blood Orange Refresher

Vin 4 Comments

Dunkin Blood Orange Refresher Hand

I’d like to share a joke with you that I distinctly recall reading on a Popsicle stick.

What was the vampire’s favorite fruit?

G’head and take a few seconds to think.

Ready? Here we go. The vampire’s favorite fruit was…

“DRACberry!”

Yeah. It was, uh, it was the Dracberry. Look, it’s a weak joke. They always are. The fact that the answer wasn’t “blood orange” kinda made me want to chisel that popsicle stick into a stake and go vampire hunting.

I guess ol’ Vlad and the boys don’t like citrus? That’s a real shame because that probably means they won’t be trying Dunkin’s new Blood Orange Refresher.

I only look like a vampire, so I tried it, and I have some thoughts.

Just to refresh you on Refreshers, they are Dunkin’s line of B vitamin and green tea-infused fruit drinks, and they mostly live up to their name. Mostly.

Blood orange is a solid flavor addition to the menu, but I’m not sure it’s a worthy “Refresher.”

I’ll cut to the chase; the Blood Orange Refresher is basically just Dunkin’s attempt at an Orangeade. It smells and tastes like orange-flavored green tea. That’s not necessarily a bad thing –- mission accomplished. After the first sip, I thought it was the most refreshing Refresher I’ve tried.

Dunkin Blood Orange Refresher Top

While the orange flavor was vibrant and landed right in a sweet spot between typical fresh Tropicana style orange juices and the more sugared up fare that have to be labeled as “drinks,” I don’t necessarily associate “_____ades” with the word “refreshing.”

I could be alone here, but lemonade isn’t refreshing. It might be for a sip or two, but then it starts to dry my mouth out and just makes me thirstier. That’s exactly what happens here. This should be the drink that peps me up and quenches my thirst, not one that makes me wish I also bought a bottle of water.

With that said, it’s still a good flavor, and the green tea does the job. I think you can get away with replacing a coffee with one of these and get that boost of caffeine you crave, but once more, you’ll probably just be thirsty again once you finish.

Dunkin Blood Orange Refresher Cup

I’d also be lying if I told you this was distinctly “blood orange.” I’m not even sure I could articulate the subtle difference I was expecting, but it’s basically just “orange” flavored, so don’t assume any crazy new flavor experience.

So, in the end, this might be the least refreshing Refresher I’ve tried to date, but I guess I still give it a light recommendation. You can also order it cut with coconut milk, which might actually curb that sour drying finish a bit and help with the thirst problem.

I imagine using “blood” orange might be a thinly veiled Halloween tie-in, so I’d expect this flavor to hang around for at least a couple months. If not, get it quick because it could be replaced by “DRAC-berry” any day now.

Purchased Price: $3.69
Size: Medium
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 130 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 mg of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of total carbohydrates, 29 grams of sugars, 0 grams of fiber, 1 gram of protein, and 100 mg of caffeine.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Nutty Pumpkin Coffee

Holly 7 Comments

Dunkin Nutty Pumpkin Coffee Cup

Fall’s kick-off has (unofficially) become August 1st as the product boxes slowly shift towards the warm orange/red/yellows of the season. My inbox becomes a flurry of messages from stores letting me know what date they will start offering their various pumpkin-flavored items. After last year’s strong showing, I was looking forward to this year’s Dunkin’ pumpkin menu. The Nutty Pumpkin Coffee immediately caught my attention.

Starting with Dunkin’s Original Blend coffee, they add in a pumpkin spice swirl and hazelnut flavoring with a cream of your choice; you also can get it hot or iced. I was intrigued by the drink’s simplicity, especially compared to its cousin, the Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte. I generally dislike the pure pumpkin spice drinks as I find them thickly sweet. I like the flavor, but the sweetness is too much after about half.

Using the mobile ordering, I went for the iced version and oatmilk as my “cream.” Immediately, I was pleasantly surprised to not see that ring of flavoring that sometimes sinks to the bottom of Dunkin’ drinks. I still gave it a quick stir to make sure the components were mixed. With my first sip, I was greeted by a very smooth and delicious drink.

Dunkin Nutty Pumpkin Coffee Top

The blend of the coffee, pumpkin spice swirl, hazelnut flavor, and oatmilk offered the balanced fall beverage I had hoped for. During my mobile ordering, I noticed that the hazelnut is an unsweetened flavor, and I think that makes all the difference. The hazelnut added that nutty, earthy component I feel is often missing in pumpkin spice drinks. In this iteration, the pumpkin spice swirl still brought sweetness to the drink but didn’t overwhelm. The Original Blend Dunkin’ coffee adds the perfect amount of richness to the drink. The oatmilk also played a part in bringing down the overall sugariness, and it added that creamy deliciousness I look for in an iced coffee.

For me, Dunkin’ tends to be a bit of a wild card when it comes to its offerings, so having this drink being such an enjoyable experience was awesome. The Nutty Pumpkin Coffee was a pleasant surprise and a great kick-off to pumpkin spice season. It hits all the fall notes and gives me that autumn-in-a-cup experience that I enjoy while still wearing flip-flops and tank tops in 95-degree heat.

Purchased Price: $2.89
Size: Medium
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 260 calories, 9 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 130 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 38 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Brown Sugar Cream Cold Brew

Vin 2 Comments

Dunkin Brown Sugar Cream Cold Brew Cup

I recently drove past a billboard promoting Dunkin’s new Brown Sugar Cream Cold Brew, and I gotta say, it left me a little baffled.

Besides a nice doctored-up photo of the new brew, there were four words – “Iced Cold Liquid Hustle.”

I couldn’t help but wonder, “What the heck does ‘iced cold liquid hustle’ mean? Is that the new hip reboot of ‘America runs on Dunkin?’ Did I miss that memo? Why am I talking to myself?”

I drove a few miles down the highway, still thinking about those four words when I saw a Dunkin’. Well, let’s just say the ad worked because I hung a hard right into the lot, parked, and even decided to enter the building like some kind of hypnotized time traveler, unaware drive-thrus exist. I was about to find out what “iced cold liquid hustle” was all about.

So, was my Brown Sugar Cream Cold Brew iced? Yes. Yes, it was. Cold? Well, yeah, that’s implied. Liquid? Thankfully, it was liquid. But was it hustle? Um, ya know what? I hustled to get it, so yeah, I guess it was also “hustle.”

Dunkin’ left one word off, though – delicious.

Seriously, this is one of my favorite Dunkin’ additions in a long time – maybe a little too dessert-like to be an everyday coffee, but a satisfying treat.

My first sip transported me back to childhood because the flavor immediately reminded me of the original Coffee Coolatta. I honestly don’t even know if they’re still around because I haven’t had one in 20 years, but that sense memory immediately flashed back into my head.

It had an almost coffee ice cream flavor with slight notes of caramel and cinnamon. If there was a perfect center on a scale of black coffee to dulce de leche, this would be it.

Dunkin Brown Sugar Cream Cold Brew Foam

I get the chain’s sweet cream from time to time, and this was the thickest and smoothest application to date. Usually, the foam melts into the watery cold brew within a few sips, but here it held a nice sturdy head until I finally shook it into the coffee. I think it might be Dunkin’s best tasting cream, which is saying a lot because I truly enjoyed the Pumpkin flavor from last fall.

Dunkin Brown Sugar Cream Cold Brew Oatmilk

I should note I use oat milk as my dairy, so that could have made this a bit thicker and creamier, but it paired so well. I won’t pretend the overall flavor is extremely different from adding a pump or two of caramel to your iced coffee, but it’s definitely an improvement on that. If this flavor remains permanent, it’ll probably become my one shot go-to.

I’d love it if Dunkin’ made a donut with this same flavor profile. A nice brown sugar, cinnamon, and caramel cake concoction would instantly vault to the top of my donut list.

Dunkin Brown Sugar Cream Cold Brew Bottom

I guess advertising works. I mean, I’m a caffiend™, so I was almost definitely trying this at some point, but Dunkin’ got me that day, and I’m glad.

Next time you’re in the mood for some iced cold liquid, hustle into Dunkin’ and give this one a try. It’ll be there all summer.

Purchased Price: $3.25 (G.O.A.T. Milk is 25 cents extra)
Size: Medium
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 180 calories, 3 grams of fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 50 milligrams of sodium, 36 grams of total carbohydrates, 35 grams of total sugars, 0 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein.