REVIEW: Twix Snickerdoodle

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Soft, chewy cinnamon sugar snickerdoodle cookies are a cozy classic associated with winter holidays, but they are delicious in all seasons. Case in point: I associate them with Father’s Day, when I would often bake a large batch for my dad, a renowned cinnamon fiend. One year, I mistakenly baked enough snickerdoodles for a small army of dads. I suggested leaving a tin outside for our mail carrier, who was a family friend. Unwilling to share his treat, my dad protested that “if you leave him snickerdoodles today, he’ll get spoiled and start expecting them every time.”

The mail carrier did end up with his snickerdoodles that day, and this is all to say that the new Twix Snickerdoodle may leave me spoiled and expecting all of the brand’s subsequent novelty flavors to be successful.

The milk chocolate-coated candy is imbued with cinnamon flavor in both the caramel and the biscuit. The cinnamon cookie is subtly spiced, like a scantily coated snickerdoodle. The caramel is more forceful in its flavoring, teetering on too artificial, and generates warmth in the aftertaste that reminds me more of cinnamon hard candy than cookies. This quality of the caramel is subtle unless you strip the caramel from its cookie (which I did, for science). The milk chocolate helps to mellow the intense flavor into a more balanced bite.

Despite this, flavoring two components of the bar was the right choice because the spiced cookie alone would not have been enough flavor. I liked the candy enough to forgive Twix’s cinnamon wizard for his liberal hand.

Together, the sweet milk chocolate, buttery spiced caramel, and crispy cookie represent everything we love about original Twix, but with a warm twist perfect for the upcoming season. While I love milk chocolate and cinnamon together, I wonder if a cream cheese or yogurt-flavored candy coating would mimic the tang that cream of tartar brings to snickerdoodles. No such candy bar exists to my knowledge, but you, the cinnamon wizard, or the cream cheese chancellor may have resources that I do not.

Twix Snickerdoodle’s sugar and spice will pair nicely with your autumn chai or holiday candy dish. Are they good enough to refuse your friends, family, or mail carrier a taste? You decide.

Purchased Price: $1.69
Purchased at: Giant Eagle
Size: 1.41 oz (40 g) bar
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 200 calories, 9 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 80 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 20 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein

REVIEW: Apple Pie a la Mode Oreo Cookies

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The story goes that Isaac Newton discovered gravity after an apple fell from a tree and hit him on the head, and I like to think that that’s the same way an executive at Oreo came up with the inspired idea for its new Apple Pie a la Mode flavor.

As soon as I opened the package, the autumnal smell that wafted up to greet me (like I’d just poured a batch of fresh apple cider!) was a signal that things were about to get good. Visually, these look more or less like Golden Oreos, except the cookies are a smidge darker and the crème is tan instead of white. They’re also quite hearty, closer in crème level to a Double Stuf than a regular Oreo—more on that to come!

I can’t help but play with my food, so I neatly twisted off the top cookie in my first Oreo and sampled it alone. This was a multifaceted flavor; buttery, with notes of apple and cinnamon coming on stronger in the aftertaste. The crème was noticeably fruitier, which felt appropriate. Biting into two toasty cookies with the luscious crème within was a neat and satisfying way to replicate the experience of a tender pie crust encasing a gooey filling (and got bonus points for being much less messy). If you can manage some restraint, though, I would suggest it; in larger mouthfuls, the flavor was a bit overwhelming, feeling too synthetic for my liking, which wasn’t a problem when I was just taking dainty little nibbles.

At first, I thought the “à la mode” aspect might just be marketing jargon to spice things up (which I slightly resented, finding apple pie plenty compelling on its own), but then I pondered the double helping of crème. It occurred to me that perhaps that extra layer was meant to mimic the creaminess of the ice cream served atop a dessert in a la mode style. With this new perspective, I appreciated how the extra richness and sweetness in that robust filling allowed me to visualize myself snacking on a warm piece of pie decked out in slightly melty vanilla ice cream. A quick look at the marketing copy online confirmed that the crème is specifically meant to be “apple pie and vanilla ice cream-flavored,” and while advertising the vanilla flavor in a crème that’s famously vanilla-flavored feels a little like low-hanging fruit, I can’t deny that it works. The combination was nostalgic and comforting.

If you typically enjoy a non-chocolate Oreo, these are certainly a worthy addition to the pantheon. In fact, even if you don’t typically enjoy a non-chocolate Oreo, these are complex and interesting enough that they might just change your mind. I myself have had a longstanding belief that fruit-flavored desserts are inferior, but Apple Pie a la Mode Oreos are good enough to make me eat my words… plus about five cookies in one sitting.

Purchased Price: $5.99
Size: 10.68 oz package
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (serving size of 2 cookies): 150 calories, 7 grams of fat,2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 80 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 11 grams of sugar, and less than 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Little Debbie Pumpkin Spice Creme Pies

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Little Debbie always purveys fall-themed treats. Besides its usual desserts, which simply have fall-themed sprinkles, frosting, or packaging (yawn), for years, it has had Pumpkin Delights cookies and Pumpkin Spice Rolls.

This year, there’s another pumpkin spice option: Oatmeal Creme Pies!

Oatmeal Creme Pies, in my opinion, are one of Debbie’s top snacks. Maybe even the top snack. So it’s kind of surprising it took this long to happen.

When I bite into these cookies, there is so much of the familiar Oatmeal Creme Pie: the chewy, toothsome, oaty cookies, combined with the nondescript creme filling that provides a satisfying textural contrast.

But with this variety, there’s an added bonus: These taste like fall!

There is a generic spiciness, the kind that appears in various fall treats. It’s subtle, so you don’t feel like you’re eating a candle, but it’s definitely a different flavor than ordinary Oatmeal Creme Pies. As far as I can tell, the spices are in the cookie, not the filling.

Despite the orange-colored filling, there is no pumpkin involved in these cookies. I must admit I find it annoying when companies label something as “pumpkin spice” when there’s no pumpkin involved. Might as well call it “zucchini spice” or “carrot spice.”

I’m really happy that Oatmeal Creme Pies have finally been pumpkin spice-ified (despite the lack of actual pumpkin), and I hope Little Debbie makes additional seasonal flavors for the classic cookie sandwich.

Purchased Price: $3.16
Size: 8-count box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cookie) 170 calories, 7 grams of total fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 1.5 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 2 grams of monounsaturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of total carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, 13 grams of sugar including 13 grams of added sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Papa Johns Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza

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Like geologists, Papa Johns has been into crusts recently. More specifically, turning the plain toasted bread-flavored end crust of a pizza into something worthy of consumption. Earlier this year, it dug up the Cheddar Crust Pizza, which I loved. And now that cheesy crust is passing its mantle to the new Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza, which features the chain’s core original crust seasoned with garlic parmesan sauce and a cheese blend of parmesan, romano, asiago, fontina, and provolone.

Much like my attempt to fit geology references into the paragraph above, I wondered if it was necessary to include five cheeses. Would eaters even be able to detect all five? Is this another situation like the number of blades in a disposable razor cartridge? Do we need five cheese crusts and seven blade razors? Well, unlike disposable razor blade cartridges with seven blades, the five cheeses here do make a tasty difference, even though I can’t detect all of them.

My order’s crust looked a tad overcooked. Although I assumed that was because of the catalog of toasted cheeses on it. When I took a bite of the crust, that browned layer gave my teeth delightful tremors with a crisp texture, and the soft dough below it had a pleasant chewiness. Then, the avalanche (oops, slipping back into geology references) of cheesiness came sliding over my taste buds. I can’t say one cheese stood out more than the other. Instead, it was a mingling of them. Also, some crust bites had a stronger flavor than others. But it’s almost as tasty as the Cheddar Crust Pizza.

However, the one flavor that seemed lacking, which I wish there were more of, was the garlic from the sauce. As someone who likes the pungent ingredient, I wanted garlic bread levels of the stuff, but it gets lost a bit among the cheeses. Which is not surprising since the chain’s Garlic Parmesan crust lacked a lot of garlic flavor. However, dipping the crust into Papa Johns’ obligatory Garlic Sauce can easily resolve this.

Much like the previously mentioned cheddar crust pizza, the crust on this menu item kind of reminds me of a cracker I’ve had. But it’s not instantly recognizable as the cheddar one, which I thought tasted like a Cheez-It.

As for the rest of the pizza, it’s what you’d expect from a Papa Johns’ pepperoni pizza. Mild mozzarella cheese, sweet pizza sauce, and salty and meaty pepperoni.

While Papa Johns’ limited time Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza isn’t as earth-shattering as its cheddar predecessor, I think it’s worth a try while it’s still around.

Purchased Price: $15.99*
Size: Large
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 slice) 320 calories, 11 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 790 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 13 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.

REVIEW: Crush Electric Blue Razz Soda

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Crush Electric Blue Razz Soda 1.

It’s new! It’s blue! It’s like, totally tubular to the max! It’s Crush’s Back to the 80s Electric Blue Razz soda, and if you tend to like blue raspberry flavored things, you’re going to love it!

The can design, featuring a subtle vaporwave style background and some pixelated blue raspberries, really nails the 80s aesthetic. I can totally picture Ms. Pac-Man herself chasing down those squared off fruits, desperate for a taste of blue razz. But luckily for us, no mazes are required if you want to get your hands on some! It only took me a quick stop at my local Walmart.

Crush Electric Blue Razz Soda 2.

As soon as I popped the top on the first can, I was met with a scent as familiar and cozy as a well-worn blanket. That sweet, slightly tart, very blue scent I’ve grown accustomed to from a variety of candies and other treats greeted me like an old friend.

Crush Electric Blue Razz Soda 3.

The flavor was spot on. A sweet, bright top note followed by a quick burst of tartness, but it’s not sour. It finishes off with a well-balanced fruit-forward aftertaste. This stuff was exactly what I wanted from a blue raspberry soda. It hit every note perfectly, the only thing keeping it from achieving a perfect 10 out of 10 score is that the flavor was a bit milder than I’d hoped. It’s definitely more subtle than say, Mountain Dew. It does, however, make truly excellent floats. And if you have a Ninja Slushi, it makes for a movie-theater-worthy blue slush with the perfect texture and viscosity. All in all, I love this addition to the summer soda lineup. I hope it sticks around for a while. But just in case it doesn’t, I’ll be stocking up.

Sidenote: if you’ve ever wondered about blue raspberries and why they are just a flavor and aren’t an actual fruit, the answer is to help easily distinguish it from other “red” flavors and to replace a specific food dye that was discontinued in the 1970s. The more you know!

Purchased Price: $6.34
Size: 12 pack/12 oz cans
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Per Serving: 170 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 65 milligrams of sodium, 43 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 43 grams of total sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

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