REVIEW: Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Bars

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Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars box

For as long as I have consistently perused the mainstream frozen foods aisle at grocery stores, two things have always stayed true: Ben & Jerry’s makes the best widely available pints, and Häagen-Dazs has the best bars. But that gap may be closing. To kick off the new year, Ben & Jerry’s has an all-new line of ice cream bars, in an array that pays homage to some of your favorite Ben & Jerry’s pints, which include Cookie Dough and Strawberry Cheesecake.

Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars exterior

If there is any flavor that is now ubiquitous with Ben & Jerry’s, it has to be Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (I know Cherry Garcia is great too, but, c’mon!). As the first company to put dough into their pints it makes sense that this is the one it is pushing forward with the hardest, as it will be available in both grocery four packs and single servings in convenience stores like 7-Eleven. Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough bar is vanilla ice cream with gobs of chocolate chip cookie dough, dipped in chocolatey coating with cookie pieces.

Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars interior with vanilla ice cream and cookie dough

Ben & Jerry’s has a good, solid vanilla base that comes through in this bar. The decently-sized cookie dough chunks pop up a respectable amount, about four per bar, which gives every other bite a hefty helping of gritty brown sugar flavor and texture. While the base and mix-in are solid, the real surprise element that brings the experience together is the cookie pieces mixed into the chocolate. The little extra bit of grit and nuanced cookie flavor, along with the melty cocoa taste, really elevates it to something more than your typical frozen confection, and it’s great.

Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars box

On another band of the flavor spectrum, we have the Strawberry Cheesecake bar, which is cheesecake ice cream with strawberry swirls, dipped in white chocolatey coating with graham cracker pieces. I have never personally been a fan of the Strawberry Cheesecake pint, but this bar iteration is absolutely fantastic. The cheesecake ice cream is smooth and only subtly tangy, while the swirls provide a sweet acidity with a sugary finish that truly is a match made in heaven.

Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars exterior with white creme and graham pieces

Yet again, what really makes this bar shine is the coating. Not only is the white chocolate delightfully sugary and decadent, but the graham pieces bring a bolder crunch and saltiness that make for one of the better ice cream bars from any company I have had in years.

Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars interior with cheesecake ice cream and strawberry swirls

The concept with these new novelties is simple, but they are executed wonderfully. The Ben & Jerry’s ice cream bars serve as a snapshot of what digging into one of their more storied pints can be in a fraction of the time and calories. And if you’re feeling generous, they’re easy to share, too.

DISCLOSURE: I received free product samples from Ben & Jerry’s. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 4 2.5-ounce bars
Purchased at: Received from Ben & Jerry’s
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Cookie Dough), 9 out of 10 (Strawberry Cheesecake)
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) Cookie Dough – 200 calories, 12 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 17 grams of total sugars, and 3 grams of protein. Strawberry Cheesecake – 200 calories, 11 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 90 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 21 grams of total sugars, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Mr Pibb Zero Sugar (2025)

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Mr Pibb Zero Sugar (2025) 20 ounce bottle

Although Mr. Pibb originally debuted in the mid-70s as Coca-Cola’s answer to a Dr Pepper-dominated market, it’s always felt newer than that. As a child growing up in the 90s, I could have sworn it came out during that time, part of the same era as 1997’s now-nostalgia-bait classic Surge. But maybe Coca-Cola just ran really aggressive ads targeting youth at the time that made Pibb seem cool, new, and fresh — like Surge. In any case, it went away in 2001, became Pibb Xtra, and outside of Coca-Cola Freestyle machines, I pretty much never saw it in California, especially the Zero Sugar variety.

Now, at the end of 2025, Coca-Cola is no doubt preying on that millennial nostalgia, bringing Mr. Pibb back into rotation with regular and zero-sugar varieties. The new Pibb is catapulting onto the soda scene with 30% more caffeine and a “bolder, spicy cherry flavor.” I know Coca-Cola has a lot of faith in this comeback because I have never seen Pibb Xtra at my local grocery store, and this popped up within a day of its announcement online, and the nostalgia baiting worked.

I have always loved Dr Pepper, and before the zero-sugar sodas took the crown, Diet Dr Pepper was always one of the most faithful and impressive calorie-free sodas on the market. I was a Dr. Pepper boy but grew up in a Coca-Cola household, so Pibb has a special spot in my heart, even if it was an imitator of something quintessentially Texan dating back to the early 1900s. And I must say, this new Pibb is incredible.

Mr Pibb Zero Sugar (2025) bubbles

2025’s Mr. Pibb definitely has a sharper cherry flavor than what I remember of the old recipe (and had from the AMC freestyle machine last week), but not as forward as the Cherry Dr Pepper you can get on shelves today. Mr. Pibb is smooth and profoundly sweet with a nice peppery bite in the finish that leaves a pleasant, slight creaminess and invites you to drink more. When it comes to the boosted caffeine, this 20-ounce bottle has 90 milligrams, whereas Coca-Cola has 57, Diet Coke has 78, and the staple champion of high-caffeine sodas, Mountain Dew, has 91. It’s safe to say this reformulated Pibb brings a legitimate extra boost for the caffeine crowd.

Mr Pibb Zero Sugar (2025) in a glass

Caffeine content aside, from a flavor and enjoyment standpoint, it is fantastic. I will go so far as to say this is one of the greatest, most faithful, and refreshing zero-sugar renditions of a soda that has ever been created. It is up there with A&W Zero Sugar Root Beer, Dr. Pepper Zero, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar for one of the most satisfying calorie-free drinks money can buy, and it might even be my new favorite. I drank three bottles in preparation for this review to make sure I wasn’t drunk on nostalgia, and I can confirm, the new Mr. Pibb delivers resoundingly.

Purchased Price: $2.29
Size: 20 fl oz bottle
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bottle, 20 ounces) 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 60 milligrams of sodium, 0 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of total sugars, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal

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Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal Box

Stranger Things is in the midst of a generational run when it comes to brand collabs months before a show or movie releases. The fifth and final season of the popular Netflix show begins its three-part rollout on Thanksgiving, but branded products began popping up on shelves as early as July and August. I’m looking at you, God-awful Chocolate Strawberry Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies that were so bad we didn’t even review them here — yuck. From Cake Bites to Klondike Ice Cream Cones to frozen pizzas and endless amounts of clothing, candy, and candles, the Stranger Things finale is not coming or going quietly.

Fortunately for the cereal-lovers (me), whereas most brands phone it in with a generic-flavored colorful puff cereal to promote their movie or show (Wednesday, Wicked, Bluey, etc), the brand new Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch is not only an under-utilized flavor, but perfectly on theme for the show. Demogorgon Crunch is a syrup-flavored cereal with Upside Down marshmallows, in the shape of a flashlight, a demogorgon, and a d20 die.

Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal close up

If you are wondering where Eggo Cereal went, I have your answer: right here. Eggo cereal has never been as punchy, intense, and downright delicious as Post’s Waffle Crisp, and the same remains true for this “new” spin by Kellogg’s. But it makes perfect sense. In the show, Eleven eats tons of Eggo waffles, and there is already a new line of Eggo waffles out for the show’s final season. I can’t be mad at a company for doing an obvious slam dunk move and pulling it off. The hefty cereal pieces bear a nice, slightly mild maple flavor with a touch of butteriness that works well as a dry snack and holds their own in milk perfectly.

Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal in a bowl

Generally speaking, marshmallows make every cereal better, and this is no exception. The marshmallows have a very sweet, vanilla-leaning flavor that is more pronounced than most cereal marshmallows and stands out well against the maple notes. My one major complaint is that, compared to Lucky Charms or my beloved Monster Cereals, the marshmallow-to-cereal-ratio is a bit lacking. To be fair, the cereal pieces here have a lot more flavor than most marshmallow-laden breakfast boxes, but I still could use more with this otherwise really satisfying release.

Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal back of box

The box design and theming of Demogorgon Crunch is a 10 out of 10. I love the retro look and feel of the entire presentation, and the product is good enough to keep around on shelves beyond just a promotional item, too. This is the first time I have tried a maple cereal with marshmallows, and I am in favor of bringing this one back once it inevitably vanishes into the Upside Down after the promo cycle ends.

Purchased Price: $6.99
Size: 12.1 ounces
Purchased at: Target.com
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 1/3 cup. 40g) 150 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 150 milligrams of sodium, 34 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 14 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Skittles Gummies Fuego

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While seemingly every candy brand is hell bent on making its products airy and crispy with the freeze-dried fad, Skittles is bringing the salty, squishy heat with a new line of Fuego Gummies. This, of course, is in addition to their already available freeze-dried Pop’d line, but regardless, it’s welcome to see something different coming out in the fruity candy market.

Skittles Gummies Fuego offers five flavors, spanning some of the Original flavors along with some Tropical ones — strawberry, lemon, watermelon, lemon, mango, and raspberry. The gummies themselves aren’t flavored any differently than a normal pack, but rather come rolled in a mixture of chili powder and salt that brings new taste, texture, and life to the Gummies experience.

There is no added lime, but the gritty, spiced up salty flavor tossed generously on every fruity candy reminds me a lot of Tajin seasoning, and I really like it. I’ve had several other gummies, like peach rings, tossed in Tajin and sold as a direct collaboration, so the pairing works great.

What sets these apart from a bag of peach or apple rings tossed in Tajin is the smaller size and variety of flavors that come in one package. It’s a lot more fun, and most of them come across really well. The mango and watermelon feel perfectly in line with the fruits that organically pair with a salty, slightly spicy chili profile found in many Mexican candies. The strawberry and lemon stand out as the most distinctly Skittles-tasting. There’s something about the original Skittles strawberry that is so unique to the brand, and I’ve always loved it. While it still stands out as Skittles strawberry or lemon, the salty chili amplifies and complements the familiar flavor delightfully.

The only one that doesn’t really work for me is the raspberry, and I usually enjoy raspberry-flavored candies. The company doesn’t call it blue raspberry, but the candy is blue and has that more artificial-leaning aggressive candy taste that clashes a bit with the salted chili powder coating. It’s not awful, but it’s the one I want to come back to the least, and would have happily swapped it out with a more established Skittles Tropical flavor, like pineapple or banana, to make this Fuego bag perfecto.

Purchased Price: $2.19
Size: 5.8 ounces
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (12 pieces, 31g) 100 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 115 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 24 grams of total sugars, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Mountain Dew x Trolli Cherry-Lemon

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Every year since 2019, Mtn Dew, no, sorry, Mountain Dew (they decided to spell it out again) has unleashed a spooky-themed mystery flavor under the name VooDEW. The freaky flavored opaque grey bubbly liquid ranged from the inaugural candy corn to “fruit candy chews” to 2023’s official collaboration with Airheads candy for a branded cherry flavor. But now Mountain Dew VooDEW is a ghost of the past, at least for 2025. Skipping over the frightful mystery contest in favor of a straight-up co-branded candy collab, this year’s newest Dew is a Trolli Cherry-Lemon gummy, available in only zero sugar.

While this absurdly vibrant red soda may lack the suspenseful surprise of the VooDEW branding, what it doesn’t lack is a punch when it comes to flavor. The cherry lemon gummy presence is just as bold as the coloring, with a strong cherry that verges on syrupy without ever going into the “not good” territory. It’s a big pop of cherry followed by lemon and the classic Dew flavor, which is already lemony in its own right.

The taste of this Trolli collaboration reminds me a lot of the early 2000s fan (and personal) favorite Code Red, with just a touch more citrus flare than I recall from Code Red, which favors the cherry. I imagine that side by side, there may be some additional nuance that comes out, but I’m not sure how much more gummy flavor can be injected into an already potent sweet mix like the foundation of Dew. In the same breath, it does taste remarkably like the yellow and red Trolli gummy worm, so it’s also quite accurate.

Regardless of whether this is a sneaky re-skin or not, it’s a close enough and tasty enough comp for a SKU whose zero sugar version is nowhere to be found in my area. As someone who tries to avoid full sugar drinks, I’m really enjoying this zero sugar Trolli Dew. It is a super sweet, almost-too-much-but-just-enough type of soda that is unique but familiar enough that I can absolutely see myself buying a 12-pack of cans and having no issue finishing it over the course of spooky season.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 20 ounces
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 Bottle) 15 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 85 milligrams of sodium, 1 gram of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of total sugars, 0 grams of protein.

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