REVIEW: Krispy Kreme Mini Crullers and Bites

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Krispy Kreme Mini Crullers and Bites All

What are Krispy Kreme Mini Crullers and Bites?

Krispy Kreme was top of everyone’s minds a few years ago, with devotees swearing by their pillowy soft Glazed Original (which happened to coincide with the company’s IPO, hmmmm…).

The hype has diminished since, but Krispy Kreme remains a force in the world of chain doughnut shops and a stalwart presence on market shelves. Its latest offering is a variety of Mini Crullers and Bites, with the promise of more limited time offerings in the future.

How are they?

Original Glazed Mini Crullers

Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Mini Crullers

Krispy Kreme seems to be trying to replicate a French Cruller, which is usually the same dough as an eclair (Pâte à Choux, for you fancy lads and ladies). A real French Cruller is very light, with a distinct chewiness.

These seem more like a light cake doughnut piped into a cruller shape. The texture is far from fresh, though that’s par-for-the-course in mass-produced grocery store pastries. If I close my eyes, I can pretend these are day-olds instead of I-have-no-earthly-idea-maybe-last-month?-olds, which can’t be said for every doughnut on store shelves.

It should be said that Krispy Kreme has offered bags of Mini Crullers in stores for a while now, so I’m uncertain what’s new about these. Most promotional photos depict individual packs of two crullers, but all the boxes of Mini Crullers I purchased held a single large bag.

Purchased Price: $3.88
Size: 12 oz box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 crullers) 250 calories, 15 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 20 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 18 grams of sugar including 17 grams added sugars, and 2 grams of protein.

Blueberry Mini Crullers

Krispy Kreme Blueberry Mini Crullers

This tastes exactly like every mass-produced blueberry pastry I’ve ever had. It’s the same sweetened, fried dough with blueberries (courtesy of the “blueberry flavored bits” no doubt) that I’ve tasted a hundred times before. You can’t go wrong with that combination, but I’m left unconvinced that these offer anything unique.

The assets and liabilities of this product line begin to come into focus here. Barring catastrophe, they’re going to be tasty, but I don’t know if any will be standouts.

Purchased Price: $3.88
Size: 12 oz box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10

Nutrition Facts: (2 crullers) 260 calories, 15 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar including 18 grams of added sugars, and 2 gram of protein.

Limited Time Lemon Mini Crullers

Krispy Kreme Limited Time Lemon Mini Crullers

Lemon pastries can sometimes be overly lemony, but these are pleasingly mild. There’s an essence of lemon suffusing the cake that allows me to appreciate the flavor without feeling like I’m being sprayed in the face with Lysol. The lack of poppyseeds makes me realize that I have no idea what purpose they have ever served in pastries. Have we all been duped? Are poppyseeds a lie?

Purchased Price: $3.88
Size: 12 oz box

Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10

Nutrition Facts: (2 crullers) 260 calories, 16 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 18 grams of sugar including 18 grams added sugars, and 2 gram of protein.

Original Glazed Bites

Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Bites

The Glazed Bites are very similar to the Crullers. The crumb may be slightly denser, but the oil has infiltrated to a comparable degree. The actual texture similarly middling, so the super sweet Krispy Kreme glaze is doing a lot of work to cover for a product that is better than the pack of gas station Donettes, but doesn’t offer much more.

Purchased Price: $3.97
Size: 8 oz box/5 pouches
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10

Nutrition Facts: (4 Bites) 210 calories, 14 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar including 11 grams of added sugars, and 2 grams of protein.

Chocolate Bites

Krispy Kreme Chocolate Bites

Take an Original Bite, add cocoa powder, and you have a Chocolate Bite. It’s good. If there’s a problem, it’s that I’m made to think of a brownie bite, which begs comparison to Little Debbie’s Cosmic Brownies — greatest of all grocery snack items. So, for those keeping score — Pro: tastes good. Con: not as good as a completely unrelated product.

Purchased Price: $3.97
Size: 8 oz box/5 pouches

Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10

Nutrition Facts: (4 Bites) 190 calories, 10 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 1 grams of fiber, 14 grams of sugar including 12 grams of added sugars, and 3 grams of protein.

Apple Cinnamon Bites

Krispy Kreme Apple Cinnamon Bites

The spiced apple flavor is surprisingly robust considering how subtle the other flavored varieties have been. It’s very spice-forward, with apple flavor following. In a collection of products that have yet to offer a standout entry, these rise above the others.

Purchased Price: $3.97
Size: 8 oz box/5 pouches
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10

Nutrition Facts: (4 Bites) 220 calories, 14 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 13 grams of sugar including 12 grams added sugars, and 2 grams of protein.

Limited Time Strawberry Bites

Krispy Kreme Limited Time Strawberry Bites

You know how I applauded the Lemon Crullers for not over knocking me over with lemon flavor? These are like those, except this time, I want to be knocked over! Yes, I’m a mercurial guy when it comes to food. Strawberry flavor is something that can take center stage, but these have the same understated fruit essence. That’s not a problem, but I’m left wanting more.

Purchased Price: $3.97
Size: 8 oz box/5 pouches
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10

Nutrition Facts: (4 Bites) 220 calories, 14 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar including 11g added sugars, and 2 grams of protein.

Anything else you need to know?

It’s been said that the peak doughnut experience is a warm Krispy Kreme fresh out of the fryer, which is only briefly available while a location’s “Hot Light” is on. I must admit I’m a bit resentful that the nearest Krispy Kreme is almost two hours from me. No, not because I’m unwilling to drive two hours and then stalk a Krispy Kreme, but because I am. It’s only a matter of time. Who wants that kind of knowledge about themselves?

But until that fateful day, a lifetime of nuking grocery store pastries tells me that these will be well served by 20 seconds in the microwave. The heat elevates the aroma, the glaze melts slightly, and the crumb softens. The Crullers become so delicate as to fall apart, though the Bites remain easily handled. 10 out of 10 would microwave again.

Conclusion:

Krispy Kreme Mini Crullers and Bites Closeup

I’m not sure the Krispy Kreme products on grocery shelves ever lived up to the hype (pilgrimage to my “local” shop pending). Is there really much of a difference between A Krispy Kreme Glazed Original and Dunkin’s, or Kwik Trip’s Glazers? Perhaps if they’re hot (grumble…)? These Crullers and Bites continue the Krispy Kreme tradition of maybe being better than the competition, but not outstanding.

REVIEW: Swiss Miss Lucky Charms Hot Cocoa Mix

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Swiss Miss Lucky Charms Hot Cocoa Mix Box

What is Swiss Miss Lucky Charms Hot Cocoa Mix?

Swiss Miss brand hot cocoa mix with Lucky Charms marshmallows for a mashup of epic magically delicious proportions. If your brain is more fashion-oriented, then all you need to know is: Swiss Miss X Lucky Charms.

How is it?

Swiss Miss Lucky Charms Hot Cocoa Mix Packets

This one is pretty easy. It’s a mashup of two well-known delicious things. Some questions to help you out on this one if you are on the fence. Do you like Swiss Miss instant hot cocoa mix? Do you like dehydrated marshmallows? Do you like fun and colorful things? Are you part-leprechaun? If you answered YES to at least three of these, you will love this item.

It’s not revolutionary by any means, but it is fun. The hot cocoa is like you remember from those snow days off from school with a surprisingly very rich chocolate flavor for a simple instant mix.

Swiss Miss Lucky Charms Hot Cocoa Mix Marbits

The marbits seem to be the actual ones plucked out straight out of the cereal box with the new assortment shapes represented. They add nice colors to the stark brown beverage, and since they are larger, they don’t immediately disintegrate once added in.

I also like that, depending on how quickly you consume them, they have varying levels of crunchiness. Unfortunately, there weren’t that many marshmallows, but I guess that’s the price of having fun-branded ones. Someone’s gotta pay those licensing dollars!

Anything else you need to know?

Swiss Miss Lucky Charms Hot Cocoa Mix Cup

I used eight ounces of water in my creation, but you can also use milk for a richer taste. It doesn’t suggest one, so feel free to go wild based on what you have in the fridge or what your preferences are. I wonder what Lucky’s go-to milk in leprechaun land is. (UNICORN MILK???)

As mentioned before, this mix isn’t revolutionary in its flavor profile. However, it is novel in that it is Swiss Miss’s first official collaboration with another well-known brand. So congrats on that Swiss Miss!

Conclusion:

Swiss Miss Lucky Charms Hot Cocoa Mix Top

This is a neat take on hot cocoa that blends Swiss Miss’s nostalgic chocolatey goodness with those elusive but colorful and well-known marshmallows. Could you have already made this with things in the grocery store? Yep. Do the unique shapes and colors add immensely to the flavor experience? Absolutely not.

However, it’s the perfect beverage for a cold, winter day when you crave something more fun to drink, and dare I say it? Magically Delicious!

Purchased Price: $12.99
Size: 9.18 oz box
Purchased at: Amazon
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 Envelope Cocoa and 1 Envelope Marshmallows) 180 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 37 grams of carbohydrates, 31 grams of sugar, 1 gram of dietary fiber, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Witch’s Brew Kit Kat

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Witch s Brew Kit Kat Bag

What is Witch’s Brew Kit Kat?

Hershey’s has turned witch’s brew into its latest Kit Kat flavor. What does witch’s brew taste like? Well, it aligns perfectly with Halloween, witches, and the color green: marshmallow!

Wait…marshmallow??

How is it?

Witch s Brew Kit Kat Layers

As with the other limited edition Kit Kats, the flavor lies in the light-green-colored crème coating. The inside is standard Kit Kat fare.

Does Witch’s Brew taste different from standard Kit Kats with white crème? Yes!
Does it taste like a marshmallow? I guess so. It’s sweeter than white crème, but marshmallows are not known for their strong flavor.

Is it enjoyable? Yes!

Anything else you need to know?

Though the flavor has a dubious connection to our beloved October holiday, I adore the witch on the package! There was an old episode of Bewitched where Samantha and her aunts were furious that Darrin’s client wanted an ugly crone on his Halloween candy packaging.

Witch s Brew Kit Kat Cauldron

This Kit Kat witch might be green and warty, but she’s so adorable that Samantha would hopefully approve. Well done, Hershey’s design team!

Conclusion:

Marshmallow seems like a lazy and forgettable flavor for witch’s brew. I mean, is that really what you get when you mix the eye of newt and toe of frog? But even though trick-or-treaters might forget this Kit Kat once they have finished their Halloween haul, at least they’ll enjoy it while it’s around.

Purchased Price: $3.50
Size: 9.8 oz bag
Purchased at: Dollar General
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 packages) 140 calories, 8 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 25 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 13 grams of sugar, 11 grams of added sugars, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dairy Queen Oreo Fudge Brownie Blizzard

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Dairy Queen Fudge Brownie Blizzard Cup

It’s the Blizzard of the Month for August and perhaps the most straightforwardly named Blizzard in history. As you might have surmised, it has Oreo cookies, brownie pieces, and cocoa fudge with vanilla soft serve blended together in the magic DQ Blizzard machine.

Dairy Queen Fudge Brownie Blizzard Top

It’s like one of The Fast and the Furious movies, which according to Wikipedia, is now known as Fast & Furious for those of you who are sticklers for accuracy on movie franchise names. Regardless of whether there’s an ampersand or not, you basically know what to expect going into any movie featuring Vin Diesel — things are going to explode, and you’ll have a satisfying, albeit predictable, experience (assuming you enjoy explosions and not having to think about the plot).

Will you tell your friends how great the movie was, or will you even remember the movie’s actual name in a month or two? Probably not, and that’s what we have here.

Chances are you’ve had an Oreo Blizzard in one form or another (maybe even the Oreo Firework one that actually did blow up, or at least had popping candy). And chances are you’ve had a Blizzard with brownie pieces and/or cocoa fudge. So there’s nothing earth-shattering here (much like every movie featuring another F&F star, The Rock, unless you want to count the earthquake disaster movie San Andreas), but as I’ve said in some past Blizzard reviews, that doesn’t make it any less tasty.

This is kind of like a greatest hits edition of a Blizzard, and it definitely hits the spot, even if it’s not as fancy-looking as some of its Blizzard friends.

Dairy Queen Fudge Brownie Blizzard Spoon

If there is any surprise here, it’s that the textures of the Oreo and brownies work great together. Because both look nearly identical, especially covered in fudge-infused soft serve, you are never quite sure what’s going into your mouth.

While that can be problematic in some situations, like at a middle school lunch table when a friend wants you to taste some grayish mystery meat. In this case, it provides a nice bit of intrigue. Will it be the crunch of Oreo cookies, the chewiness of brownies, or a mixture?

Oreo cookies and brownies also have a difference in chocolatiness, so that adds another level to the flavor. The cocoa fudge amps it up more, but not so much that I feel it’s choco overload.

If you are looking for something unique or with an exciting name, there are plenty of good options on the DQ Summer Blizzard Menu. But if you have a hankering for a familiar, chocolatey treat, you can’t really go wrong with the Oreo Fudge Brownie Blizzard.

Purchased Price: $3.59
Size: Small
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Small) 1,480 calories, 62 grams of fat, 30 grams of saturated fat, 2 gram of trans fat, 100 milligrams of cholesterol, 760 milligrams of sodium, 210 grams of carbohydrates, -2 grams of dietary fiber, 160 grams of sugar, and 28 grams of protein. (These figures from the DQ website appear to be inaccurate, as some are almost double those of similar Blizzards, and having a negative number of grams of dietary fiber seems implausible.)

REVIEW: Lay’s Flavor Icons Potato Chips

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Lay s Flavor Icons Potato Chips Bags

This is one of my favorite times of the year.

Seriously, I love it when Lay’s does its big multi-flavor rollouts, whether it be the jealousy-inducing “Do Us a Flavor” finalists, the recent music inspired flavors, or its “Tastes of America” campaign that these new “Flavor Icons” seem to be a continuation of, I’ve pretty much enjoyed every single special chip they’ve put out.

This year, the “Flavor Icons” are chips inspired by foods from famous American eateries. As an East Coast guy, I’ve personally dined at two of the five, so I guess I can say I have a frame of reference on a couple of these flavors.

I’ll rapid-fire through these reviews starting with the two places I’ve eaten at:

Lay’s Kettle Cooked Grimaldi’s New York Style Pizza (Brooklyn, NY)

Lay s Kettle Cooked Flavor Icons New York Style Pizza Potato Chips

Grimaldi’s is a chain of pizza places that originated where I originated, Brooklyn. I haven’t had it in years, but I do recall thinking the pizza was a little overrated. Needless to say, it’s a super famous NYC pizza joint, and that was a blasphemous opinion to anyone I mentioned it to.

Anyway, these chips hit me like a massive nostalgia bomb when I popped open the bag and got a whiff of the old Keebler Pizzeria Chips. I was probably in elementary school last time I had those, but it all came back to me.

Speaking of memories, these hit me right in my taste receptors because WOW(!!!), they tasted exactly like how I remember Grimaldi’s. The chain makes a very saucy pizza, and they definitely gave their secret recipe to Frito Lay. I’d describe it as “gourmet,” with all the ingredients you’d expect from a pizza sauce – onion, garlic, oregano, basil, olive oil, etc.

I’m more of a cheese guy, so I loved the fresh mozzarella flavor and tiny bit of parmesan on the backend. I do not think they needed to be kettle-style, but it reminded me of a crisp pizza crust, so it worked. Pizza is usually hit or miss in chip form. These may be the best pizza chips I’ve ever had.

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 7 3/4 oz bag
Purchased at: ShopRite
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (18 chips) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 180 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of total sugars, 1 gram of fiber, and 2 grams of protein.

Lay’s Geno’s Philly Cheesesteak (I’ll give ya a hint, PA)

Lay s Flavor Icons Philly Cheesesteak Potato Chips

I’ll tread lightly because I don’t know how to talk about Philly cheesesteaks without breaking the rules. Last time I went to Philly, I got a steak at Geno’s… then I walked across the street and got one at Pat’s, so I don’t have a preference. Cheesesteaks are just awesome.

These chips start out tasting just like Cheddar and Sour Cream, but as I went on, I started to get a “meat” flavor I guess you’d classify as beefy. Beef and even a hint of peppers remain as an aftertaste. So, it starts with the cheese “whiz” (did I do that right?) and some onion, and ends with the beef and peppers. It’s actually pretty complex, and I thought these were excellent.

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 7 3/4 oz bag
Purchased at: ShopRite
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 15 chips) 160 calories, 10 grams of fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 210 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of total sugars, 1 gram of fiber, and 2 grams of protein.

Lay’s Wavy El Torito Carnitas Street Taco (Marina Del Ray, CA)

Lay s Wavy Flavor Icons Canitas Street Taco Potato Chips

Now we get to the places I’ve never been to. Carnitas were my go-to Mexican order before I decided to stop eating pork. Well, I broke my resolution because these chips actually have pork listed as an ingredient. They definitely taste like charred pulled Mexican-style pork, albeit weakly.

They start with a very slight sweetness that I attributed to the sauce El Torito must use to simmer the pork. There’s a little blast of lime and fresh chopped onion in there too. There’s a weird, dull “dryness” to these that I persuaded myself was supposed to mimic the tortilla. These don’t POP as much the rest of the lineup, but they’re still pretty tasty, and I love that they’re Wavy.

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 7 3/4 oz bag
Purchased at: ShopRite
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (15 chips) 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 210 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of total sugars, 1 gram of fiber, and 1 gram of protein.

Lay’s Cocina Azul Chile Relleno (Albuquerque, NM)

Lay s Flavor Icons Chile Relleno Potato Chips

Full transparency, I didn’t even know what this was – some kinda egg and cheese mix stuffed inside a pepper? Sure, why not, that sounds good. Well, after eating the chip, I’m gonna make it my duty to seek out the actual dish.

These chips smell and taste like a light queso dip. The chile pepper tastes both crisp and vibrant while giving off the perfect amount of heat. They’re not really too spicy, which I appreciated. There is also definitely an “eggy” taste, like cheesy scrambled eggs that peek out towards the finish. These are probably the saltiest of the bunch, and I imagine some may think they’re too mild overall, but I’m a big fan.

Purchased Price: $1.89
Size: 2 5/8 oz bag
Purchased at: 7-Eleven
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (15 chips) 160 calories, 10 grams of fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 180 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of total sugars, 1 gram of fiber, and 2 grams of protein.

Lay’s Party Fowl Nashville Hot Chicken (Guess Where, TN)

Lay s Flavor Icons Nashville Hot Chicken Potato Chips

Now I’ve had plenty of hot chicken in my life, but I’ve never had Nashville-specific hot chicken, so forgive me if I say anything out of line.

As you’d expect, these are the hottest chip in the bunch. I’d put them slightly under the standard “Flamin’ Hot” heat, which keeps them very snackable. These are undeniably chicken-flavored, but they mostly tasted like crispy chicken skin to me.

They had that “dryness” that I mentioned in the Carnitas review, that I can’t quite find a better word for. I like it, though. The hot sauce flavor doesn’t have any particular ingredient I can pinpoint. Google tells me they usually use cayenne and brown sugar, but I didn’t necessarily get that, nor were they listed as ingredients.

There’s a pickle on the bag, but I don’t believe this has any pickle flavor. I would have loved a little splash of dill, but not a huge deal.

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 7 3/4 oz bag
Purchased at: ShopRite
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (15 chips) 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 190 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of total sugars, 1 gram of fiber, and 2 grams of protein.

Lay s Flavor Icons Potato Chips 2

So, there ya have ’em. I pretty much loved all five, but a couple were near perfect. I can’t be super confident that three are perfectly accurate to the specific restaurant dish they’re copying, but judging from the two I know, I bet they’re pretty spot on.

Maybe I’m just an easy (Frito) lay, but I’m really impressed. These might be the most complex flavor profiles Lay’s have tackled to date, and they nailed ’em. Basically, every intended ingredient of each dish came through for me. That never happens.

According to the bags you have until 9/10/20 to try these. Don’t drag your feet. Otherwise, you’ll have to drive coast to coast to try the real things.

Oh, and if anyone from Frito Lay is reading this, I dare you to make my last flavor submission – Onion Knish with Spicy Mustard!

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