REVIEW: Dairy Queen Oreo Reese’s Blizzard

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Dairy Queen Oreo Reese’s Blizzard top

If you know anything about philosophy, please do not read this review because I’m about to mangle the work of 14th-century friar William of Occam (or Ockham if you prefer that spelling). As I understand it, Willie had some kind of magic razor, and it told him that simple and logical is better than complex and improbable. I might not have that exactly correct, but philosophy is open to interpretation, right?

What does the world’s worst interpretation of the principle of Occam’s razor have to do with Dairy Queen’s October Blizzard of the Month? Well, the new Oreo Reese’s Blizzard is about as basic and old school as possible, and yet it’s also glorious. DQ Blizzards have been around for 40 years, but somehow they have never combined two of the most popular components, Oreo cookies and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Until now.

This one isn’t extreme or potentially explosive like some previous Blizzard names imply, and there’s nothing fancy in it like truffles or red velvet. The name is completely unimaginative, and yet this Blizzard is wondrous for its simple splendor.

Dairy Queen Oreo Reese’s Blizzard Oreo pieces

I thought the chocolatiness of the Oreo might clash with and overpower the more subdued peanut butter flavor of the Reese’s, but just like my explanation of Occam’s razor, I was wrong. The crunch and potency of the Oreos certainly are more noticeable than the Reese’s, but they both complement each other and provide that great chocolate-peanut butter combination.

Dairy Queen Oreo Reese’s Blizzard toppings

I also thought the DQ mixologist tried to skimp on the ingredients in my Blizzard, but once I broke through the mostly barren surface, I found a wealth of large Oreo pieces and an ample amount of Reese’s. Together, the taste was not wholly unfamiliar, as I’ve had countless Blizzards with either one, but it was also different enough to be very satisfying. So I can’t say this is my absolute favorite Blizzard, but it definitely earns a high ranking. And not that DQ asked me, but if they were to mix in some of those decadent cheesecake bites, then this might be the perfect combination.

Purchased Price: $4.99
Size: Small
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 760 calories, 32 grams of fat, 32 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 400 milligrams of sodium, 106 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 85 grams of sugar, and 16 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Burger King Franken-Candy Sundae

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Burger King Franken-Candy Sundae with Halloween crown

Burger King has had fun with its Halloween-themed menus in recent years, and this year is no different.

From least interesting to most interesting (in my opinion), the 2025 menu includes the following: Mummy Mozzarella Fries, mozzarella sticks in a mummy box; Vampire Nuggets, chicken nuggets shaped like bats and fangs; the Jack-O-Lantern Whopper, with bacon, American cheese, and an orange bun with black sesame seeds; and the Franken-Candy Sundae, vanilla soft serve with “franken-candy” purple syrup, Oreo crumbles, and green and purple popping candy. It is this last item that I’m reviewing here.

Burger King Franken-Candy Sundae with Oreo crumbs and popping candy

The vanilla soft serve is soft and liquid-y enough that I was able to consume it with a thick metal straw. It’s just what you expect: sweet and satisfying, if uninteresting. And Oreo crumbles need no introduction. They add both flavor and textural contrast.

Burger King Franken-Candy Sundae with purple Franken-Candy syrup

The interesting parts of the sundae come from the “franken-candy syrup” and the popping candy. The syrup mostly sticks to the side of the cup, and I can’t really tell what it’s supposed to taste like: It’s just sweet, and the name “franken-candy” doesn’t offer me any clues. It does taste like candy, but I don’t know what kind. Texturally, it’s something like melted white chocolate.

The popping candy is coated in a confection to keep it from popping prematurely, and I felt a need to let some of the pieces melt in my mouth so I could savor the popping qualities. If I just bite down on them, they’re mildly crunchy. I can only guess that the popping is supposed to mimic the electricity Dr. Frankenstein used to bring his creature to life.

Burger King Franken-Candy Sundae soft serve

Like Dr. Frankenstein, Burger King has simply stitched together preexisting ingredients to create something new. But unlike Frankenstein’s monster, this sundae is visually appealing and tasty. All the elements work together for a fun, tasty, and slightly spooky treat.

I associate popping candy with Fourth of July fireworks, so I would love to see BK bring this back in a red, white, and blue version for the summer.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 360 calories, 13 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 55 grams of carbohydrates, 270 milligrams of sodium, 0 grams of fiber, 42 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Pringles Smoky Mesquite BBQ and Smoky Bacon

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Pringles Smoky Mesquite BBQ and Smoky Bacon Cans

When I look at these new Pringles Smoky flavors, I can’t help but think the Pringleneers (Pringles engineers) are running out of steam. Or should I say smoke? Available in three varieties — Smoky Mesquite BBQ, Smoky Bacon, and Smoky Cheddar — they appear to be previous flavors with additional smokiness or flavors that Pringles has offered before. For this review, I found only the barbecue and bacon flavors. I’ll smoke out the cheddar one later.

I don’t know about you, but I can tell when I love a Pringles flavor when I end up eating more than half the can without realizing it, at a pace that makes it seem like my hand is a car’s piston and the Pringles can is an engine’s cylinder. However, my gluttony and repetitive arm motions remained in check with both Pringles Smoky varieties I tried.

Pringles Smoky Mesquite BBQ up close
Pringles Smoky Mesquite BBQ

Barbecue didn’t come to mind when I tried the Smoky Mesquite BBQ Pringles. Its aroma somewhat reminded me of ketchup or All-Dressed chips, and its flavor evoked Asian flavors similar to those found in Lay’s chips I’ve had from China. There’s a bit of lime flavor that’s really noticeable among the onion and garlic powders. But all of that flavor doesn’t draw my taste buds or my hands to the Pringles can.

Pringles Smoky Bacon close up

The Smoky Bacon seems to taste slightly different than the previous bacon-flavored Pringles. I suppose that difference could be considered a “smokiness,” but I feel as though it has a meatier flavor than what I remember the original Bacon Pringles had. However, despite their bolder flavor, I couldn’t say I thoroughly enjoyed the potato crisps. While I feel they taste fine, that greasy flavor that comes with bacon-flavored products is something I can only enjoy in doses.

Because I’m snacking on these slower than a sloth on a sidewalk, I decided to stack the two flavors, and what I tasted was something that made me think of SPAM for some reason. And now that I have that in my head, I’d really like to taste a Hormel SPAM and Pringles collaboration. That would be more exciting than these Smoky flavors.

Purchased Price: $2.59 each
Size: 5.5 oz cans
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 5 out of 10 (Smoky Mesquite BBQ), 5 out of 10 (Smoky Bacon)
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz/about 14 crisps) Smoky Mesquite BBQ – 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. Smoky Bacon – 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears

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Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears Bag

In honor of the conclusion of Alaska’s annual Fat Bear Week, I too am preparing for hibernation—with Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears. Rather than scoop up salmon or forage for lush greenery, I ordered a 1.5-pound bag of the new dipped treats online. (So far, they’ve been spotted in this quantity only at Costco and Sam’s Club, but both stores are too far from my forest.)

I’m a huge fan of Reese’s Dipped Animal Crackers, so I was thrilled to see Reese’s add to its confectionery menagerie. Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears are a similar species, but they swap the animal cracker for a crunchy graham cookie. Like the crackers, these Bears are covered in a thick layer of peanut butter candy confection with a chocolate-dipped base.

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears in the bag

Speaking of fat bears, Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears are not your toddler’s Teddy Grahams. These cookies vary in appearance—some are on the slim side, while others have honey jar tummies—but overall, they are comparable to the animal crackers in size. I am sure dipping a smaller cookie in peanut butter coating would have lost the distinctive bear shape, despite making it easier to toss them into one’s gaping maw.

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears family

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears two sides

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears size

As the bag promises, the bears boast a strong crunch. In this respect, they are more like a crunchy cookie than a crumbly Honey Maid cracker. The cookie’s honey graham flavor is noticeable, but it doesn’t overwhelm the peanut butter flavor, which remains the star of the show. The peanut butter candy crème coating is smooth and sweet, pairing well with the hint of chocolate. The flavor is similar to enjoying a graham cracker spread thickly with sweet peanut butter and a sprinkle of chocolate chips. As a sweet snack or casual dessert, they are absolutely delicious.

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears bite

The main differences between Reese’s Dipped Animal Crackers and Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears are that the bears are a little crunchier, and you can taste their flavor more than the animal crackers, which are pretty mild to begin with. The subtle difference detracts from the novelty of the new bears, but they are so tasty that it doesn’t matter.

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears bag back

While I initially balked at the size of this bag, I may need to order another one before hibernation season kicks off. If you are a fan of Reese’s Dipped products, you will bear-ly be able to resist these.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 24 oz package
Purchased at: ebay
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3 pieces) 130 calories, 6 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Starbucks Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte with Vanilla Protein Cold Foam

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Starbucks Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte Cup

Do you know those math problems where you try to figure out how many combinations or possibilities something has? I feel like the new Starbucks protein options are the real-life version. Between the protein-boosted milk or protein cold foam that you can add to any beverage, the combos are endless. There’s also a protein menu already created if the thought of that gives you drink paralysis.

I opted to choose from the protein menu, going for the Iced Sugar Free Vanilla Protein Latte with the vanilla protein cold foam added. (Note that adding the cold foam is an additional $2, and if you want the protein-boosted milk, it’ll cost you $1 extra.) I oftentimes order an iced non-fat vanilla latte, so I thought this would be a great comparison.

Starbucks Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte close up

Let’s start with my most important takeaway. I really didn’t notice too much difference between this drink and a non-protein version. The protein is really a behind-the-scenes effect. The protein-boosted milk can give you up to 36 grams in a grande, and the cold foam can provide 15 grams.

Starbucks Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte cold foam

The one thing I did observe is that the protein powder did make the drink a little thicker and creamier – in a good way. The cold foam stayed intact much longer than it usually would, which I think is a win. The cold foam also had a nice, strong vanilla flavor. For those wondering if you can taste the protein powder, I did not. No noticeable taste difference (and I have tried protein powders before that DO make something taste strongly like it!).

All in all, if added protein is necessary for your diet or workout goals, this is a nice option. But otherwise, for me, it was kind of “meh.” I liked the drink itself, but it wasn’t life-changing. I can see myself getting one of these to help recover after a long run, but it won’t be a common occurrence.

Purchased Price: $6.75
Size: Grande
Purchased at: Starbucks
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (iced latte only): 200 calories, 4 grams of total fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 12 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 gram of dietary fiber, 9 grams of total sugars, 29 grams of protein and 150 milligrams of caffeine.

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