REVIEW: Coca-Cola Holiday Creamy Vanilla

Coca-Cola Holiday Creamy Vanilla Cans

I’m very familiar with regifting.

My son’s Paw Patrol coloring book, which he received from a relative for his birthday, eventually became a birthday gift for his classmate. You might ask, “How dare I take a gift away from my five-year-old child?”

Well, how dare you assume my child actually likes Paw Patrol? He calls it Pawful Patrol because it’s too silly, predictable, there are too many different shows, and the pups are on everything when we go shopping.

Anyway, as someone who regifts, I can see what Coca-Cola is doing with its “new” Holiday Creamy Vanilla flavor. It tastes like Coke is regifting us Vanilla Coke in a fancy holiday wrapper, which is why the quotes are around the word “new” in the previous sentence.

The festive gold and red can states that the cola is “creamy vanilla flavored” and features a swirl that looks like sepia-toned whipped cream, soft serve, or shaving cream. The pretty can also says “Contains No Dairy.” No kidding. It also doesn’t have anything I’d call creamy or holiday-ish.

Coca-Cola Holiday Creamy Vanilla in measuring cup

I thought “creamy” meant it would have a stronger vanilla flavor than Vanilla Coke, but I actually think it has about the same vanilla level as I remember the original Vanilla Coke having, or maybe slightly less. Also, I believed “holiday” meant it would have some different spices or be a slight reformulation of the original Coca-Cola recipe to highlight certain ingredients. But, nope, it tastes pretty much like regular Coca-Cola Vanilla to me.

Now, tasting like Vanilla Coke isn’t a dealbreaker. It’s slightly behind Cherry Coke as my favorite flavored Coca-Cola variation, so I won’t complain about having to drink 12 cans of this regifted Coke flavor that tastes like it. Oh, it’s also available in 20-ounce bottles, and there’s a zero sugar version.

But if I don’t drink all of them, I guess I could give them as gifts and turn them into stocking stuffers.

Purchased Price: $13.99*
Size: 12-pack/12 fl oz cans
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 150 calories, 0 grams of fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 42 grams of carbohydrates, 42 grams of sugar (including 42 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 34 milligrams of caffeine.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

4 Other Things I Consumed This Week: 11/7/2025

Huel Peach & Hibiscus Daily Greens

Never again. I don’t care that it has 42 vitamins, minerals, and superfoods. Even if I got it for free, I would not drink another Huel Daily Greens. The can says, “Powerful greens in every sip,” but it was a bit unpleasant to power through every sip for me. I couldn’t even get through one-fourth of the can. Let me tell you my horror story.

For the most part, this is one of those rare products that smells worse than it tastes, and that might be the nicest thing I’m going to say about this. A savory mushroom smell came out of the can the instant I opened it. While not at all pleasant, I thought it made sense since Lion’s Mane mushroom powder is one of the highlighted ingredients. However, that aroma later became an issue, which I’ll get to in a moment.

The number of juice concentrates in this drink would make you think they could overcome the mushrooms, and they do to some extent. Let’s see now, there’s strawberry, sour cherry, red raspberry, apple, carrot, cranberry, and blueberry.

But despite all that, the sip is like a roller coaster over a landfill. It starts with that savory mushroom flavor dropping onto your tongue, then the fruitiness rises above the less pleasant flavors, making things taste like a tolerable fruity and peachy mushroom soup, and then the aftertaste drops your taste buds back to Earth(y). Also, any burps will have you reliving the aftertaste. Better hope you don’t get hiccups at this time. Oh, here’s another nice thing I’m going to say about this drink: It’s still mostly unpleasant and I needed something to get rid of the taste in my mouth, but I didn’t gag.

But back to that aroma. I thought maybe things would be better after I let it sit in the fridge. Do not let it sit in your fridge! Better yet, do not buy this! That mushroom odor will spread throughout the air-tight box and make any open baking soda box in your fridge tap out, wishing it had been used for baking fruitcakes that will go uneaten instead. Even as I typed this, the open can was next to me, and its aroma silently assaulted my nostrils. So I dumped the rest of the can down the drain, and left the empty can in the sink. I thought that was the last I’ll have to deal with it.

However, minutes later, I could smell it again from the can, which was 15 feet away. Squirting some dish soap and filling it with water seemed to have corralled the odor problem for now. Not sure if I want to recycle the can or throw it in with the other trash so it’ll be burned.

Huel Daily Greens come in other flavors, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they have the same blech-ness. If you’re a Lion’s Mane mushroom fanatic, you should try this. And if you like it, you should wait until they’re on Target Clearance for 99 cents to buy them all. But please open them in the privacy of your own home. But for the rest of you, don’t even think about it. Just hurl your cart past these Huel drinks.

Nestle Tokyo Banana Kit Kat

This Japanese Kit Kat flavor has been around for several years, and I feel like I’ve had it before, but I didn’t document it on this site or in my camera roll. Bad food blogger! Not taking pictures of everything you eat!

My older brother gave me a variety of Kit Kat flavors he collected on a recent trip to Japan, and this was the one that stood out because I LOVE banana-flavored stuff, and it’s the only one I instantly recognized without having to read Japanese writing. Anyhoo, these are delicious, and I’m EXTREMELY sad my brother gave me only one.

If you’re not familiar with Tokyo Banana, you can read more about it here. Basically, think of it as an elegant Twinkie with a sponge cake-like coating and banana creme within it. This Kit Kat, though, has banana-flavored creme between the wafers with a chocolate coating. So I guess think of it as eating a chocolate-covered banana-flavored Kit Kat.

McDonald’s The New Buffalo Ranch

Tiffany recently reviewed the sauce and one of the McCrispy Sandwiches, but I finally got to taste it with the Chicken McNuggets in my $5 Meal Deal. (Pro tip: The Meal Deals come with small drinks, but when you go to the checkout page and edit your Meal Deal, you can change it to a large without an up-charge. Well, at least, I’ve been doing that.)

Anyhoo, back to the sauce. I’m having a hard time believing this is different from other Buffalo sauces I’ve had from McDonald’s. It might be creamier or something, but it still has a familiar vinegary and buttery flavor. Although, if my memory is correct, the previous Buffalo sauces were spicier. If there are notes of ranch, my taste buds didn’t notice them. With that said, it’s a tasty McNuggets sauce, but it’s not quite good enough to surpass my beloved Hot Mustard.

Clear Simple Eats Peach Mango Creme Clear Protein Water

It seems like I’m trying a protein drink every week. Well, what can I say? I’m like a moth to a light when it comes to protein drinks. Or maybe it’s all the influencers in my Instagram feed that tell me I need to consume more protein. This clear protein water from Clear Simple Eats comes in a variety of flavors, like Blackberry Vanilla, Raspberries & Cream, and this Peach Mango Creme. Why does Raspberries & Cream use “Cream,” while Peach Mango Creme uses “Creme”? Well, that’s not clear to me. You walked yourself into that one, those of you who thought that question.

The drink is clear and colorless, but there’s some stuff floating on the surface, which I assume is the grass-fed whey protein that provides 20 grams of protein and gives it a slightly grainy texture you’d expect from a whey protein drink. It has no sugar; its sweetness comes from stevia leaf extract. There’s no juice, but it has a lovely peach mango flavor, with the peach standing out just a tad more. However, I’m not sure about the “creme” part.

Click/Tap here for our previous Other Things I Consumed posts.

REVIEW: Kit Kat Peppermint Stick

Kit Kat Peppermint Stick wrapper

In the shift from spooky season to holiday cheer that happens overnight, the junk food subculture marks the equally important transition from pumpkin spice season to the winter of merri-mint. While I stock my candy cupboard with mint chocolate like Andes or York Peppermint Patties year-round, the white chocolate (or, more often, white crème) and peppermint concoctions of the winter season represent a flavor pairing as timeless as milk and holiday cookies.

Kit Kat Peppermint Stick makes me wish these flavors were more accessible throughout the year, but if wishes were horses, we’d all enjoy free sleigh rides.

Kit Kat Peppermint Stick coating

The Kit Kat’s white crème base is a sweet combination of creamy vanilla and peppermint flavors. The peppermint is refreshing and noticeable, but not overwhelming. On the scale of pastel dessert mints to Life Savers Pep-O-Mint (which I cannot taste for more than three seconds without spitting them out and re-pledging my allegiance to Wint-O-Green), the minty strength lies slightly above an Andes mint. Anyone who likes mint but is wary of a toothpaste quality will welcome these Kit Kats to their holiday candy dish.

Kit Kat Peppermint Stick center

The Kit Kat’s pleasant creaminess does temper what could be a sharp peppermint flavor. The combination reminds me of peppermint ice cream, a milder version of the seasonal Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses, or Russell Stover’s long-gone Rosebud Mints. If you still remember the latter, you may need to ask Santa for an anti-wrinkle cream this year.

Like many peppermint candies, Kit Kat Peppermint Stick contains an extra flourish in the form of “crunchy candy bits,” which are essentially crunchy red and green nonpareils. They add a light crunch and visual interest, but no additional flavor. I like them as an alternative to candy cane pieces; they don’t detract from the light crunch of the wafers.

In addition to the single-size bar, Kit Kat Peppermint Stick is available in a bag of individually wrapped snack-size pieces. Whether you are adding a festive flair to your holiday celebrations or hoarding candy under the justification that it contains peppermint oil and is therefore a useful digestive (Who would do that? Not me!), add Kit Kat to the top of your Nice List.

Purchased Price: $1.24
Size: 1.5 oz (42 g) bar
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 220 calories, 11 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 30 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 21 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dairy Queen Peppermint Bark Blizzard

Dairy Queen Peppermint Bark Blizzard in a cup

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Dairy Queen gives us the new Peppermint Bark Blizzard. Sure, December might have been a more logical time to introduce this flavor, but I am glad that DQ only loosely follows the calendar because this is a delicious early Christmas gift.

I can’t give DQ any points for creativity with the straightforward name of this Blizzard, and it has an equally uninspiring look, as the peppermint bark pieces have a lot of white, which helps them hide in the vanilla soft serve. But once they get into your mouth, they deliver a wonderful flavor.

Dairy Queen Peppermint Bark Blizzard top

The DQ website says the peppermint bark has “white and milk chocolatey layers sprinkled with peppermint candy cane pieces,” and I truly could taste all three components. The white chocolate was a nice addition, as that’s not a typical Blizzard ingredient, and the candy cane pieces added a pleasant crunch despite being quite small. The milk chocolate was perhaps the least noticeable of the three, but it provides some contrast and a familiar flavor.

Dairy Queen Peppermint Bark Blizzard  mix-ins

I don’t mean this in a bad way, but this Blizzard is kind of like a Liam Neeson movie in that you pretty much know exactly what you are going to get. No, this Blizzard does not have giant plot holes or gratuitous violence, and it won’t threaten you in a deep, guttural voice, but it delivers what is promised. It’s just vanilla ice cream with peppermint bark. There are no surprises, but if you like ice cream, candy canes, and chocolate, well, then you are going to like this. Yes, it’s rather simple, but that’s OK. In fact, this one is more than OK.

This is a splendid Blizzard, and unlike Neeson’s latest flick “Ice Road: Vengeance,” which is somehow both predictable and unbelievable, I highly recommend it.

Purchased Price: $4.49
Size: Mini
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 350 calories, 13 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 110 milligrams of sodium, 54 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 47 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Baskin-Robbins Pistachio Chocolate Bar Ice Cream

Baskin-Robbins Pistachio Chocolate Bar Ice Cream scoop

I can’t say I’ve ever had Dubai-style chocolate because it’s not Dubai-gas-cheap. Seriously, I understand why gas is cheap in Dubai, but why is Dubai chocolate so expensive? Is it also expensive in Dubai, where gas is cheaper than bottled water here? Baskin-Robbins’ Flavor of the Month – Pistachio Chocolate Bar – is inspired by the pricey chocolate bar that’s gotten more lasting attention than ruby chocolate.

The scoop features a mix of pistachio and chocolate-flavored ice creams, pistachio pieces, and chocolate crunch swirls. Sadly, no kadayif (finely shredded filo pastry). But with the green pistachio ice cream and the dark-ish chocolate swirls, it brings Dubai chocolate to mind.

Baskin-Robbins Pistachio Chocolate Bar Ice Cream spoonful

Eating just the two swirled ice creams in one spoonful didn’t have a good balance; the pistachio dominates. The nut pieces included only made the pistachio flavor stronger. It’s only when the stronger-tasting chocolate crunch swirls came into play that this had a better balance, and that’s when I truly loved the scoop. I spent the rest of my time with my scoop making sure I got a bit of swirl with every spoonful. Thankfully, they were plentiful. I also loved its gritty and crunchy texture.

Baskin-Robbins Pistachio Chocolate Bar Ice Cream swirl

The pistachio pieces, which there are a lot of, didn’t have as hearty a snap as those in a bag of Wonderful Pistachios, but they did have a nice crunch. Honestly, the swirls had a more pleasing texture.

As a fan of pistachio ice cream, I thoroughly enjoyed this scoop with its great flavors and textures. It’s definitely worth a taste if you’re into pistachio ice cream. While it’s also not Dubai-gas-cheap, it’s about half the price of many Dubai chocolate offerings.

One last thing. While Baskin-Robbins Pistachio Chocolate Bar Ice Cream was extremely pleasing, I’m a little disappointed there wasn’t a Thanksgiving-themed flavor for this year’s November Flavor of the Month after last year’s Brie My Guest and 2023’s Turkey Day Fixin’s.

Purchased Price: $5.07*
Size: 4 oz scoop
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 330 calories, 21 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 130 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 22 grams of sugar (including 16 grams of added sugar), and 6 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did. Also, I purchased this at a Baskin-Robbins in a high-rent mall.

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