REVIEW: McDonald’s Buffalo Ranch Sauce and Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy

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McDonald's Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy with sauce container

McDonald’s pulled a little Buffalo Ranch stealth drop – no press release, no fanfare. It just quietly slid it into the app and let social media do the rest.

If the name sounds familiar, you’re not imagining things. There was a Buffalo Ranch McChicken nearly 12 years ago, but this 2025 version is different.

It’s a fully blended sauce, available in several forms: in the Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy, in a Snack Wrap, or as a dipping sauce for McNuggets or McCrispy Strips.

Buffalo Ranch sauce up close

The first thing that hits you is the color. The bright shade of orange somehow scratches a nostalgic itch – the same one left over from drinking Squeezits and squeezing purple ketchup as a kid.

The dip packaging even gives me Selena Gomez Oreo energy for some reason. It’s the same size sauce container, but with a shiny maroon-ish lid—western-coded, complete with a little horseshoe.

And the more I think about it, the less I understand why Buffalo Ranch is western-coded.

I also noticed that McDonald’s felt the need to write THE new Buffalo Ranch on the lid – taking a page straight from The Ohio State. So maybe, from now on, I should refer to it as The New Buffalo Ranch. Yeehaw.

Buffalo Ranch sauce with McCrispy Strips

Flavor-wise, buffalo leads the charge, distinctly in the Frank’s RedHot family: tangy, vinegary, and familiar in the best way. The ranch isn’t overpowering but shows up in the creaminess, adding just enough body and cooling balance to round things out. The heat is fairly mild to me, but builds pleasantly.

McDonald's Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy with bacon sticking out

McDonald's Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy with top bun off

I tried The New Buffalo Ranch in two ways, as a dip and in the McCrispy sandwich. The dip was solid, especially with McCrispy Strips, but the sandwich is where it really shines. I initially thought there wasn’t enough sauce, but it turned out to be plenty. The combo of tangy pickles, smoky bacon, and that creamy-spicy sauce hits every note: salt, heat, fat, acid!

It might’ve dropped without fanfare, but it doesn’t deserve to stay under the radar. The New Buffalo Ranch is a delicious and bold way to switch up your Mickey D’s order!

Purchased Price: $7.29 (Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy), $5.99 (McCrispy Strips with Buffalo Ranch Sauce Cup)
Rating: 9 out of 10 (Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy), 8 out of 10 (McCrispy Strips with Buffalo Ranch Sauce Cup)
Nutrition Facts: Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy – 650 calories, 37 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 1730 milligrams of sodium, 49 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 32 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Cheez-It Hot Honey Crackers

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Swicy is everywhere these days. Sweet plus spicy makes the ultimate flavor hack. Heat tames the sweet, sweet rounds out the spice, and your taste buds ride the flavor rollercoaster.

Now Cheez-It joins the swicy chat with its new limited-time Hot Honey Cheez-It Crackers.

I’ll admit, I felt skeptical for two reasons:

First, Cheez-It cheese is distinct, and I didn’t know if hot honey could hold its own without being overtaken. On my charcuterie boards, hot honey usually pairs well with mellow cheeses like Gruyère – not cheddar.

Second, outside of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or Takis, I rarely trust a snack’s “heat” claims. Spice levels usually disappoint.

Still, I stan Cheez-It. So of course I copped.

First impression: no real smell. Like most Cheez-It boxes, opening the liner just hits your nose with… cardboard. For a second, my brain swore it caught Italian seasoning (probably because I stared at those specks of seasoning), but nope – just cardboard.

Digging in, the crackers looked inconsistent. Some carried a heavy dusting, others barely any. The cracker itself also looked lighter, which made me wonder if this was a white cheddar base – or maybe lighter meant “honey” and darker meant “heat.” The plot thickened.

Then I popped one in my mouth. Skepticism: shattered. These deliver.

Sweetness lands first, heat follows, and it all layers over that familiar Cheez-It cheese that wedges itself in your molars (it’s glorious, don’t come at me). The balance works, and together they hit eat-a-whole-box-in-a-sitting level of snackable.

Using white cheddar as the base? Boss move. The person who made that call knew precisely what they were doing. The heat doesn’t reach Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or Takis territory, but it’s real and builds into a warm, satisfying kick.

It doesn’t matter if the cracker looks lightly seasoned, pale, or the usual Cheez-It orange. If every piece carried maximum seasoning, the flavor might overwhelm, but the mix keeps you reaching back. This limited time flavor smashes.

Final verdict: Run, don’t walk! Hot Honey Cheez-It earns a spot, at least a trial run, in your snack rotation.

Purchased Price: $3.77
Size: 12.4 oz
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (27 crackers – 30g) 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Oreo Reese’s Cookies

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Butterfly clips, low-rise jeans, Ed Hardy jeans, and apparently Oreo Reese’s Cookies are all back in rotation. What’s old is new again.

If you’re feeling déjà vu too, you’re not wrong. Back in 2014, there was that split-filling Oreo – half chocolate crème, half Reese’s peanut butter crème. Fast forward to 2025, and the upgrade is a full peanut butter crème filling with Oreo cookie crumbs mixed in for texture.

But the brands didn’t stop at just another cookie. They went full “platform launch” in marketing-speak with three delights: Reese’s Oreo Cups, a Crumbl collab (from the cookie chain known for its weekly rotating menu), as well as a Reese’s cup with Oreo baked in.

According to a Wall Street Journal article, this mashup wasn’t just product development; it was more like a secret affair between chocolate and peanut butter – recipes guarded like love letters, prototypes smuggled in foil. Food scientists worked in code, tweaking formulas for nearly a year until each product “met the parents.”

So, how do they actually taste?

The Oreo version: What really stood out first was the packaging. Instead of the usual Oreo sleeve, it came in a box with a separate inner sleeve stamped with both Oreo and Reese’s logos. My friend even asked if it was ice cream sandwiches because the packaging looked so different.

But once I opened it and took a bite, it was mostly just another peanut butter Oreo. The cookie flavor overpowered the filling, and the balance felt off. Maybe a golden cookie or a Thins wafer would have allowed the peanut butter to shine more.

Oreo also added cookie crumbs to the filling, but it didn’t do much for me. I wasn’t sure if it was meant for texture, flavor, or just visual interest. As it stands, the chocolate cookie steals the spotlight. Normally, I wouldn’t mind, since I think the cookie is the best part of an Oreo, but if you’re marketing this as Reese’s (my all-time favorite), it doesn’t deliver.

The Crumbl cookie (bonus taste-test): Since their collab hit the same week, I had to snag it. And honestly? Totally different story. That giant, soft cookie leaned all the way into peanut butter, and I loved it. Salty, creamy, almost fluffy in texture – admittedly not quite Reese’s peanut butter, but way more satisfying.

I admire the effort that went into this collab, but the cookie-aisle version felt more rerun than reboot. Both were limited-time drops, yet Crumbl’s oversized take is the only one I’ll be keeping an eye out for when it makes its way back to its stores!

Purchased Price: $4.99
Size: 10.81 oz
Purchased at: Meijer
Rating: 6 out of 10 (8 out of 10 for Crumbl’s version!)
Nutrition Facts: (2 cookies – 29g) 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 11 grams of sugar (includes 11 grams of added sugar), and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Vernors Boston Cooler

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Ah, Michigan. Home of American autos, Detroit-style pizzas…and Boston Coolers?

One of these things is not like the other. But nearly 160 years ago, Vernors joined the soda world from, you guessed it, a pharmacy – just like many of its fizzy forebears.

Vernors is ginger ale, but not the sharp, spicy kind you’d find in a ginger beer. Think Canada Dry, but even more mellow in my opinion.

A Boston Cooler is like a root beer float – only the “root beer” part is Vernors ginger ale.

The origins of the seemingly random name? Murky at best.

Some trace it to Boston Boulevard in Detroit’s historic Boston-Edison neighborhood. Others say marketers liked the ring of “Boston” over “Detroit.” Another theory? It was once a generic name for any soda + ice cream combo. Whatever the real story, Vernors trademarked “Boston Cooler” in 1967 for its ginger ale ice cream bar, and by the ’70s, it had become a Detroit staple.

As a current Michigander, I had to ask the born-and-raised Michiganders. The response was lots of nostalgic nods as well as friendly reminders that “we call it pop here, not soda.”

So when the limited-time Vernors Boston Cooler soda pop hit shelves, I had to give it a try.

My first impression, though: heavy artificial vanilla. Think A&W Cream Soda on the nose. As I kept sipping, my brain tried to convince me it was tasting a creamsicle. The vanilla was overpowering – so much so that the Vernors flavor felt like an extra in the background rather than the supporting actor. Sweet, yes. Fizzy, yes. But that signature “ginger” note? Not really there.

All in all, it was kind of a letdown. I think I’d rather try the original ginger ale ice cream bar for the full experience. Still, if you’re curious (or just craving a taste of Michigan nostalgia), grab it while it’s around. You’ll find it in 12-packs of 12-ounce cans, 20-ounce bottles, and 2-liter bottles.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 2 liter bottle

Purchased at: Meijer
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 140 calories, 0 grams of fat, 55 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 38 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein

REVIEW: KFC Kentucky Fried Pickles

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The Colonel has entered the (pickle) chat!

As mentioned in my Popeyes Fried Pickle review, I’m a proud pickle enthusiast. While I’ve since run out of pickle toothpaste, I’ve moved on to delights like pickle de gallo and pickle chips. Shake Shack’s version recently let me down, but that’s a review for another day.

Let me rewind for a moment. The Colonel and I go way back. As a kid, KFC was my go-to. Apparently, it’s slipped to #4 nationally now, but back then, it was my #1 weekly tradition. I loved the silky, overprocessed mashed potatoes and especially those biscuits. KFC was a summer staple in my household.

Fast-forward to today. I hadn’t been to KFC in a minute, but when I heard about its new fried pickles, I was drawn in like a magpie to something shiny. This time, the shiny thing was golden-fried pickle coins.

These pickles are part of KFC’s new “Comeback Era” menu, a refresh inspired by customer feedback. They’re described as “golden-fried dill pickle slices that are the perfect crispy bite.” No signage was up yet at the location I visited, but the staff kindly clued me in: 8 pieces for $3.79 or a 45-piece family pack for $14.99. The family pack was tempting, but I hesitated. What if they weren’t good?!

I played it safe and chose the 8-piece. They arrived hot and fresh in a nugget box. I had hoped for something more pickle-themed, but not a big dill.

First test: shape. Coin-shaped, not spears. That’s a win; I’m firmly in the “coins have better crispy-to-cuke ratio” camp. They were also properly golden-fried – so far, so good.

The breading was flavorful, similar to Popeyes’, but without the Cajun kick. That tracks, since Cajun isn’t really KFC’s thing. I chose ranch as a dipping sauce, but it wasn’t really necessary. The pickles held their own. I did feel noticeably thirstier after eating them, though, which hadn’t happened with Popeyes.

However, there was a bit of sogginess between the breading and the pickle, and they were definitely oily. My napkin had the receipts after just eight pieces.

All in all, Popeyes still holds the S-tier fried pickle crown among national chains. But since theirs were limited-time only, KFC will do for now. I may even spring for the 45-piece!

Unfortunately, it’s also a limited-time item, so I’ll be on the hunt for my next fix soon. One of these chains really needs to make it permanent already!!

Purchased Price: $3.79
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 8pc – 290 calories, 16 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 1400 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

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