REVIEW: Dark Chocolate Reese’s Puffs Cereal

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Dark Chocolate Reese’s Puffs Cereal box

Every so often, an innovation comes along that doesn’t just tweak the original but completely upstages the OG. The new Dark Chocolate Reese’s Puffs Cereal does exactly that.

Apparently, this is the first new Reese’s Puffs flavor combination since the cereal debuted in 1994?! That feels wild, considering there have been limited-edition shapes (bats, bunnies), Minis (which I loved), and other variations like Big Puffs and Peanut Butter Lovers. But flavor-wise, Reese’s Puffs has always stuck with milk chocolate…until now.

And honestly? I am obsessed. General Mills tried to position this as a “midnight snacking” cereal – something clever about dark chocolate and late-night eating – but let’s be real: I ate this all day. I had it as a snack. I had it for dinner. No regrets because this is what Reese’s Puffs should be.

Dark Chocolate Reese’s Puffs Cereal dry closeup

This version uses real Hershey’s cocoa, and you can actually see the dark chocolate cereal pieces as well as taste them. Not just “cereal chocolate” flavor. The chocolate finally pulls its weight and does the Reese’s candy justice. After eating this, the original Reese’s Puffs just taste like peanut butter puffs to me.

Dark Chocolate Reese’s Puffs Cereal and regular Reese's Puffs Cereal comparison

Texture-wise, it matches the original, meaning it doesn’t completely pulverize the roof of your mouth. From a flavor perspective, General Mills describes it as a richer, deeper take on the peanut butter and chocolate combo, and that description holds up. The cocoa-forward chocolate balances the peanut butter perfectly, and the cereal finally honors the candy. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are my all-time favorite, for the record.

Dark Chocolate Reese’s Puffs Cereal in milk closeup

I tried it both dry and with milk, and enjoyed it both ways. It doesn’t really turn the milk into peanut butter chocolate milk, but I’ll let that slide because the cereal itself tastes so good.

At first, I felt annoyed that I had to buy a giant family-size box of this new flavor. But, this is the Reese’s Puffs glow-up we didn’t know we’d been waiting nearly 30 years for.

They’ve reassured fans that the current classic isn’t going anywhere, but I’m officially petitioning for this dark chocolate version to become the new classic.

Purchased Price: $4.93
Size: 19.7 oz
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 10 out of 10

Nutrition Facts: (1 cup / 39g) 160 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 1 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 1 polyunsaturated fat, 2g of monounsaturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar (including 12 grams of added sugar), and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Burger King SpongeBob Squarepants Bikini Bottom Bundle

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ARE YOU READY, KIDS?

Ready for what, you ask?

Ready for the most epic collab of 2025: Burger King x SpongeBob, aye-aye!

Burger King celebrates the new movie with a full lineup of limited-time offerings, all decked out in true squarepants fashion. And yes, Wendy’s rolled out its “Krabby Patty Kollab Meal” last year, but sorry – BK knocks it out of the pineapple with this one.

The sea of offerings and the adorable packaging put me in full Bikini Bottom mode before I even placed an order. They even handed me a SpongeBob-themed paper crown. I’m 99% sure it belonged to a kids’ meal, but that didn’t stop me.

The Bikini Bottom Bundle is the clear MVP because it includes all four limited-time items: the Krabby Whopper, Mr. Krabs’ Cheesy Bacon Tots, Patrick’s Star-berry Shortcake Pie, and the Pirate’s Frozen Pineapple Float.

Burger King SpongeBob Squarepants Bikini Bottom Bundle slush and crown

The float came out first, and like SpongeBob waiting for the bus at Rock Bottom, I refused to wait. My eyes begged it to be a Dole Whip cousin, but it landed closer to a 7-Eleven Slurpee – icy, not creamy. Still, the tanginess surprised me in a good way, and it worked perfectly as a palate cleanser. The press release promised “tropical cold foam,” but if it existed, it vanished faster than Plankton’s plans.

On the drive home, my car smelled incredible – like someone melting butter in the backseat. The Bikini Bottom box works as both packaging and aromatherapy.

Burger King SpongeBob Squarepants Bikini Bottom Bundle tots box

Burger King SpongeBob Squarepants Bikini Bottom Bundle tots innards

Upon arrival, I dug right into Mr. Krabs’ Cheesy Bacon Tots. They come in an absurdly cute treasure chest. They’re coin-shaped (very on brand for Mr. Krabs), savory, salty, and satisfying. I wanted gooier cheese, but that’s just me nitpicking.

Burger King SpongeBob Squarepants Bikini Bottom Bundle Whopper yellow bun

Then I moved on to the main course: SpongeBob’s Krabby Whopper. It looks exactly like what 10-year-old me dreamed a Krabby Patty would look like: a bright yellow square bun. The color comes from “natural spice,” which I assume is code for turmeric. One bite in, the classic flame-grilled Whopper flavor hit instantly. Nostalgia achieved. Ten-year-old me would have screamed; current me still felt pretty jazzed.

Burger King SpongeBob Squarepants Bikini Bottom Bundle pie box

Burger King SpongeBob Squarepants Bikini Bottom Bundle pie

I wanted to end the meal on a high note, as dessert is my favorite meal, of course! However, Patrick’s Star-berry Shortcake Pie was rough. Visually, it’s adorable. Taste-wise, not so much. The cookie crust has a soggy bottom, the filling leans too heavily into Cool Whip territory, and the strawberry flavor tastes overly artificial. I tapped out after one bite.

But whether you’re a SpongeBob superfan or just squarepants-curious, the Bikini Bottom Bundle delivers. Four new LTO items, special packaging, toys, crowns…BK didn’t phone this in; it went full send.

BK now stands for “Bringing Krabby vibes,” because this collab lands as fun, flavorful, and just the right amount of chaos. Grab the bundle, channel your inner kid, and dive in.

Purchased Price: $15.39
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Float), 8 out of 10 (Tots), 8 out of 10 (Whopper), 1 out of 10 (Pie)
Nutrition Facts: Pirate’s Frozen Pineapple Float (1 medium drink) – 250 calories, 9 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 110 milligrams of sodium, 45 grams of total carbohydrates, 41 grams of sugar, 0 grams of dietary fiber, and 9 grams of protein. Mr. Krabs’ Cheesy Bacon Tots (8 pcs) – 260 calories, 11 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 990 milligrams of sodium, 33 grams of total carbohydrates, 2 grams of sugar, 0 grams of dietary fiber, and 8 grams of protein. SpongeBob’s Krabby Whopper – 780 calories, 49 grams of fat, 16 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 120 milligrams of cholesterol, 1620 milligrams of sodium, 54 grams of total carbohydrates, 9 grams of sugar, 4 grams of dietary fiber, and 35 grams of protein.Patrick’s Star-berry Shortcake Pie – 260 calories, 12 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of total carbohydrates, 23 grams of sugar, 0 grams of dietary fiber, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza

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Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza size

“I love it when you call me Grand Papa…Throw your pizza (dough) in the air if you a true playa.”

Probably not what Notorious B.I.G. had in mind. But honestly? Fitting for the absolute swagger of this new pizza.

Papa Johns just launched its biggest pizza (and biggest box) ever with the new 18-inch Grand Papa. While bigger isn’t always better – Papa John’s is my Number One, so I went in optimistic.

The pizza chain also dropped a Salted Caramel Blondie the same week. However, the star here is the debut of Papa Johns’ savory deli-style pepperoni – larger slices, milder and more savory than the standard pepperoni, and very Italian-sub energy.

Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza box size

To compare, I ordered the Grand Papa alongside a regular mushroom pizza.

First: the box. It was massive. The kind of massive that doesn’t fit in your fridge, which felt like Papa John’s way of saying “finish this in one sitting.” (Half kidding. Mostly.)

Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza big pepperoni

The pizza itself was noticeably huge and thin-crusted. The first bite was a flavor bomb. The three-cheese blend and Italian seasoning hit totally differently than with a regular Papa Johns pie, and the crust was perfectly thin with zero soggy spots. The new deli pepperoni? Legit. I’m usually a cup-and-char girly, but I’d absolutely love to taste this pepperoni in other menu items, like a Papadia.

Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza slice next to normal slice

Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza slice doing horizontal mamba with normal slice

It was so flavorful I didn’t even reach for the garlic butter – even though there was basically no crust to dip anyway. After tasting my two orders side by side, the regular pizza tasted bland and much more tomato-forward to me. Hard to believe they use the same “original” dough.

At $19.99 vs. $16.99 for a regular large, it isn’t even that big of a premium.

And honestly? For the size, flavor, and the deli pepperoni glow-up, it felt completely worth it.

My only hesitation is whether this thin crust can handle my usual topping chaos (your girl likes more than just pepperoni, even if it is deli pepperoni) – but time, and a few future orders, will tell.

Purchased Price: $19.99
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 slice) 380 calories, 17 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 960 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of total carbohydrates, 4 grams of sugar, 0 grams of dietary fiber, and 17 grams of protein.

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.

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