REVIEW: White Chocolate Strawberry Shake M&M’s

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I must admit that my relationship with these new White Chocolate Strawberry Shake M&M’s – whose rosy, heart-filled packaging seems tailor-made for Valentine’s Day – began with a bit of a shock. In my state of simultaneous and equally intense hunger and excitement, I may have forgotten to actually look closely at the bag, which clearly shows the three M&M colors that less impatient consumers can expect, before ripping it open. So I was baffled to see a sea of green in addition to the more strawberry-centric reds and pinks.

Of course, I’d already spent a not-insignificant portion of my own green to secure this bag (this flavor doesn’t seem to be widely available yet, so in my eagerness to review, I purchased – and, sure, overpaid for – these from a third-party seller on Walmart.com), so a little confusing coloration wasn’t going to deter me. Plus, I guess you could argue that the green represents the stem of the strawberry? Alternatively, maybe it was just an excuse to get that glamorous green M&M mascot on the packaging, and that’s fair!

Anyway, the aforementioned frenzied bag tearing released a welcome cloud of sweet smells into my room, appropriately strawberry-y but with a strongly saccharine underlying note that seemed ever so slightly artificial, a tell-tale sign of white chocolate’s presence. I reached into the generously filled bag to start my taste test and was immediately amused that the size and shape seemed to vary for each individual piece, from “normal M&M that just put on some weight during the holidays” to “Noticeably Larger and Chunkier” to “DOWNRIGHT SPHERICAL.”

So, how do these sometimes mysteriously colored, pleasantly fragrant, and appealingly rotund M&M’s actually taste? Anyone fearing that the “White Chocolate Strawberry Milkshake” name was just a ploy to re-release an old flavor under a fresher title (2016’s White Strawberry Shortcake might come to mind) can rest assured that they actually live up to the moniker quite well.

The “milkshake” element promises a creaminess that is certainly delivered, with the white chocolate providing a lovely, rich, just-short-of-being-too-sweet base for the strawberry flavor, a mellow, floral fruitiness that is identifiable but not overpowering. Sure, this means that the general taste skews a tad more milkshake than it does strawberry, but with my (some might say controversial) love of white chocolate, that wasn’t a problem for me. I can see others begging to differ, but hey, we’re here on a blog that reviews junk food, not fruit! I particularly enjoyed the texture too – you know that oddly satisfying snap when you break through an M&M’s candy shell and sink your teeth into the smooth, rich chocolate within? Since these are so hefty, that moment is gloriously amplified.

The recommended serving size is 16 pieces, and if all my praise-singing thus far isn’t enough of a testament to how tasty they are, I should also let you know that in the course of reviewing I consumed significantly more than that without even realizing. Pringles talks a big game with its “Once you pop, you can’t stop,” but I think these are addictive enough to merit their own rhymey slogan too. “Once you M&M, you won’t condemn”? … Okay, it’s a work in progress. One I won’t mind brainstorming over just a few more handfuls!

Purchased Price: $6.25
Size: 7.44 oz bag
Purchased at: Walmart.com
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (16 pieces) 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 25 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 18 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Zapp’s Voodoo and Jazzy Honey Mustard Pretzel Stix

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It’s hard to stand out in the chip aisle. There are so many brands, flavors, and formats, and the most popular are repeated between competitors — sour cream & onion, something cheesy, something spicy, something cheesy AND spicy, etc.

So I have to give some kudos to Zapp’s for the sacred space they’ve carved out for themselves with the “Voodoo” flavor. The brand recently expanded its snack offerings with Sinfully Seasoned Pretzel Stix in two flavors — New Orleans Style Voodoo and New Orleans Style Jazzy Honey Mustard.

I expected the honey mustard one to be the milder flavor of the two, so I started with those. I was impressed by the amount of seasoning because they looked like they’d definitely leave you with some Cheeto-like finger residue. They delivered a classic honey mustard taste, leaning more towards the sweeter end of the spectrum. I did think the pretzel itself was a little dry and crumbly. But overall, these were a nicely balanced sweet honey and savory mustard snack.
?The more unique of the two was the Voodoo seasoning. A coworker once described Voodoo as “barbeque mixed with salt and vinegar,” and I don’t think that description is too far off! These pack a big punch, flavor-wise, and the paprika and turmeric give them a bright color. Although, I did notice significantly more broken pieces in the bag.

The flavor of these Voodoo Pretzel Stix is bright, acidic, and very similar to the Voodoo chips. They do lean a little sweet, similar to the honey mustard ones. It makes sense that the same seasoning wouldn’t taste the same on a pretzel as it would on a kettle chip. I also thought the Voodoo pretzels were a bit dry, but the flavor more than made up for it.

Overall I think if you’re a fan of Voodoo, you will want to get your hands on these. And as Utz owns a vast range of pretzel and chip formats, I’m hopeful for more iterations on the base carrier or maybe more of Zapp’s flavors in the future.

Purchased Price: $5.99 each
Size: 16 oz bag
Purchased at: Jewel Osco
Rating: Jazzy Honey Mustard (7 out of 10), Voodoo (8 out of 10)
Nutrition Facts: (15 pretzels) Jazzy Honey Mustard – 120 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 300 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Voodoo – 120 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 400 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dairy Queen Frosted Sugar Cookie Blizzard

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What is it?

It’s the December Blizzard of the Month featuring sugar cookie pieces, icing, and sprinkles. It shares the December spotlight with the Candy Cane Chill Blizzard, but that one is not new. This one is different than the similarly named Frosted Animal Cookie Blizzard from a couple of years ago.

How is it?

I did not have high expectations for this one based on the lackluster components and my notion that the sugar cookie flavor would not stand out in a vanilla ice cream base. Even with the bar set low, this was a miss for me, both in taste and presentation.

Now I’m not one who normally cares what a Blizzard looks like, and sometimes the top layer can be deceiving. At first sight, this gives off a bland and boring vibe, and it backs that up with a bland and boring taste. As you can see in the photos, my local DQ was apparently experiencing a sprinkle shortage. The DQ website notes the sprinkles are “festive” but fails to mention they have absolutely no taste. So it didn’t really matter that my particular Blizzard only had a smattering of festiveness.

I can’t really tell you what the icing brought to the table because I could only faintly distinguish that flavor in this. So that left the sugar cookie pieces as the only ingredient left to pick up the ball and score, but since sugar cookie pieces don’t have arms or legs, the ball remained on the field and no touchdown was recorded. Maybe I just got a bad batch of cookies, but they were not “soft” as the DQ website promised. They were quite crumbly and really had no flavor that I could describe, other than generic vanilla-ish cookie.

The sum of the parts of this Blizzard adds up to disappointment.

Anything else you need to know?

I don’t remember having the Frosted Animal Cookie Blizzard in 2020, but another reviewer on this site loved it. While that one has almost the same name, it does seem that it had a more complex variety of flavors, so maybe it’s time to petition DQ to bring that one back and sit this new version on the sidelines.

Conclusion:

I’ve never tried a new Blizzard that I didn’t finish, and I can confirm that my amazing streak of consistency is still intact. But if I had ordered a medium or large instead of a small, then I’m not sure if I would have completed the task. This is still ice cream and cookies, so it’s far better than anything containing kale or carrots, but it definitely ranks as one of my least favorite Blizzards.

Purchased Price: $4.99
Size: Small
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Small) 700 calories, 30 grams of fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 55 milligrams of cholesterol, 290 milligrams of sodium, 95 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 74 grams of sugar, and 13 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Stuffed Puffs Big Bites Cinnamon Toast Crunch Filled Marshmallows

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Stuffed Puffs Big Bites Cinnamon Toast Crunch Filled Marshmallows Pouch

Cinnamon Toast Crunch is one of the greatest cereals of all time. The original Stuffed Puffs is what happens when graham crackers realize it’s the third wheel and lets chocolate and marshmallow finally be alone together.

As a fan of both, my eyes got as big as marshmallows when I first saw the promo photos for Stuffed Puffs Big Bites Cinnamon Toast Crunch Filled Marshmallows. Even before trying them, I thought a Cinnamon Toast Crunch-coated marshmallow with a Cinnamon Toast Crunch-flavored creme would be epic. But after trying them, my eyes are as puffy as marshmallows from all the crying about how NOT epic they are.

Okay, I didn’t cry, but I’m a little disappointed with these.

Although the cereal is pulverized into dust, I expected some crunch from the coating. There is a crunch, but after getting up close and personal with these, it turns out it doesn’t come from the cereal.

Stuffed Puffs Big Bites Cinnamon Toast Crunch Filled Marshmallows Crystals

Instead, it comes from opaque crystals dotted across the surface. The light crunch is similar to the sugary coating on Peeps, but because those crystals aren’t everywhere, like on Peeps, the cereal dust’s soft texture gets exposed. Cinnamon Toast Crunch’s lowercase crunch is part of what makes it so great and to not have it here is saddening.

Also, the coating lacks a noticeable Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavor. I think there’s a hint of it, but I’m surprised it doesn’t stand out for something that covers so much surface area. So lack of crunch and flavor makes it seem like the cereal is really there for looks and not much else. If the crushed cereal wasn’t so smashed, the coating might have had an authentic cereal crunch and a bit more flavor.

Stuffed Puffs Big Bites Cinnamon Toast Crunch Filled Marshmallows Innards

While the exterior doesn’t remind me of the popular cereal, the creme filling somewhat does, and it provides all the cinnamon flavor. Although, I get more of a cinnamon roll vibe (and aroma) than a Cinnamon Toast Crunch vibe. But I’m not complaining about that because the filling is scrumptious. There are also crumbles in the creme, and I do notice them, but they have a soggy oat texture, and I’m wondering what’s the point of them.

Stuffed Puffs Big Bites Cinnamon Toast Crunch Filled Marshmallows Stack

I’ve enjoyed most Stuffed Puffs I’ve stuffed into my mouth, and, of course, every morning, afternoon, and evening is a little brighter after a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but this mashup of the two is just good and not great. Maybe I shouldn’t have had such high expectations, or I’m being a Snack Scrooge. I don’t know. But I’m just closing my eyes and shaking my head at what could’ve been.

DISCLOSURE: I received free product samples. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 5.9 oz pouch
Purchased at: Received from Stuffed Puffs (but are exclusively available at Walmart)
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 piece) 80 calories, 2 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar (including 10 grams of added sugar), and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Spam Figgy Pudding

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SPAM Limited Edition Figgy Pudding Can

I have reviewed some weird things during my six years at The Impulsive Buy.

But I’m pretty sure this new Spam Figgy Pudding is the weirdest. When I learned of its existence, I knew it would be so delightfully, seasonally unusual that I had to try it. I’m generally indifferent about regular Spam, but I’m a sucker for anything with a holiday theme.

(Spam’s website consistently treats its name as SPAM, but Merriam-Webster opts for Spam, so I’m going with that. It’s easier to type.)

SPAM Limited Edition Figgy Pudding Ingreidents

Here’s how the website describes it: “SPAM Figgy Pudding brings a blend of warm spices and seasonal ingredients that will be the star in many wintertime recipe favorites. With notes of cinnamon and nutmeg combined with fig and orange flavors, you’ll taste true holiday comfort that will have you caroling all season long.”

Now, I’ve never had a figgy pudding for at least three reasons:

  • I’ve never stepped foot in the UK.
  • The authentic recipes sound unreasonably complicated.
  • I am not 200 years old. (Yet.)

Therefore, I can’t compare it to a real figgy pudding. But with that caveat, how is it?

Well, there’s definitely a seasonal vibe to it. I taste spices (though I’m not sure I can pick out specific ones), and I taste fruit, especially orange, making it a little sweeter. If you like Spam, this is a fun, festive variation! My dad eats Spam regularly and doesn’t like this version as much as the classic, but he said it’s fine if you want a different flavor.

SPAM Limited Edition Figgy Pudding Pancake

Now, I didn’t know what to do with a brick of the stuff, but fortunately, the website has several recipes. I opted for the Spiced Dutch Baby Pancake. I followed the instructions as well as I could, except I didn’t have a 10-inch cast-iron skillet like the recipe called for. I ate it with the recommended cranberry butter (thanks, Thanksgiving leftovers!), maple syrup, and powdered sugar.

SPAM Limited Edition Figgy Pudding Pancake Slice

This was a weird dish, to be sure. But I’m a fan of mixing sweet and savory, and the Figgy Pudding Spam paired well with the sweeter elements and the spices of the pancake. I mean, it’s still Spam, so there’s something mildly off-putting about it. But I had no problem finishing the pan.

Spam Figgy Pudding is only available in a two-pack (mine came in a cardboard sleeve that fell apart in transit). I’m still trying to figure out what I’ll do with the second can, but I’m sure I’ll find a good use for it!

SPAM Limited Edition Figgy Pudding fried

Because this is a novelty food, it’s more expensive than the original Spam. As far as the food itself goes, it’s not worth the price. But if you are a die-hard Spam fan, or you just like trying weird products, go for it!

Purchased Price: $14.13 plus shipping
Size: 2 12-oz cans
Purchased at: Walmart.com
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 oz) 180 calories, 15 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 600 milligrams of sodium, 4 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar (including 4 grams of added sugars), and 7 grams of protein.

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