QUICK REVIEW: Pillsbury Grands! Limited Edition Cinnamon Rolls with Strawberry & Cream Flavored Icing

/ / Reviews / 1 Comment

Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls Strawberry Cream

What is it?

Pillsbury has released Limited Edition Grands! Cinnamon Rolls that are essentially regular cinnamon rolls with a specialty icing. The strawberry & cream flavored icing comes in a generous tub. Don’t be intimidated by the Pepto-Bismol coloring.

Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls Strawberry Cream 2

How is it?

If you’re a fan of Pillsbury’s normal cinnamon rolls, there’s nothing disappointing about these. The cinnamon flavor was on par, and I loved the icing. The fact it was a little difficult to scoop out of the tub was negated by the epic melting capabilities on a warm roll. The strawberry flavor is pretty authentic – it’s not too sweet or artificial – and it pairs extremely well with the cinnamon. Not sure why Pillsbury didn’t put this combo together sooner.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls Strawberry Cream 3

The tube comes with five cinnamon rolls, and although they are “pre-cut” in the dough, it was a slight challenge to pull them apart and separate. Since they’re pretty large, one is satisfying. My cinnamon roll baking method is to lay them out on a pizza pan instead of a round cake pan (for easier grab-and-go access), and I’m glad I did since these were pretty big once baked and ready. Oh, your hands WILL get pretty messy, but it’s definitely worth it.

Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls Strawberry Cream 4

Conclusion:

Looking to switch up your Sunday brunch routine? If so, these are a must-purchase. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual offerings. Good work, Pillsbury!

Purchased Price: $3.50
Size: 17.5 oz. tube
Purchased at: Meijer
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 roll) 300 calories, 7 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 520 milligrams of sodium, 56 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 24 grams of sugars, and 5 grams of protein.

QUICK REVIEW: Dairy Queen S’mores Blizzard

/ / Reviews / 7 Comments

Dairy Queen S mores Blizzard

What is it?

One of two returning Blizzards available on Dairy Queen’s Summer 2018 Blizzard Menu. The S’mores Blizzard adds marshmallow-filled chocolates and graham pieces to vanilla soft serve.

How is it?

Amazing, but I’m a sucker for seasonal flavors. Be it Starbucks’ PSL, carrot cake, or whatever the heck flavor red velvet is, I’m the reason flavor scientists can spend more time at the beach than in the lab.

S’mores in particular is a weakness of mine. Run out of new flavor ideas? Slap a seasonal cliché on the package, and I’ll devour it. Cookies, gum, hell if you made it smell good enough I’d even think about it for a s’mores deodorant.

OK, maybe not, but if my Google-fu had returned a result, I’d probably be wearing it right now.

Dairy Queen S mores Blizzard 2

Back to the ice cream. The graham flavor extends beyond the chunks of cracker and is exquisitely infused into the vanilla base. Graham’s golden-brown hue and gritty texture is a component of every bite. Pleasantly numerous, the milk chocolate candy is smooth and packed with gooey, marshmallow goodness. My wife says I’m crazy, in this context not just in general, but I swear I got a hint of a toasted marshmallow vibe. Maybe it was just a heavier graham presence on occasion that provided earthier notes.

Is there anything else I need to know?

There’s marshmallow topping mixed into the base as well, but it is overpowered by the graham and seems like an afterthought. If that’s a draw for you, you will probably be disappointed by the graham-first flavor. 

Conclusion:

Dairy Queen S mores Blizzard 3

This Blizzard has me begging for s’more as it sets the standard for s’mores-flavored ice cream. DQ nailed the rarely seen graham flavored base and, for me at least, conjured fond memories of the Hershey’s S’mores Candy Bar (R.I.P.) with the marshmallow filled chocolates.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: Mini
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Mini) 400 calories, 17 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 56 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 44 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Limited Edition Pop-Tarts Splitz (2018)

/ / Reviews / 4 Comments

Kellogg s Limited Edition Pop Tarts Splitz 2018

Pop-Tarts Splitz first showed up back in 2007 and soon after crawled back into the Pop-Tarts vault where Dulce de Leche and Guava Mango Pop-Tarts reside.

Yes, I know exactly what you’re thinking now. Not that there were Dulce de Leche and Guava Mango Pop-Tarts, but that brands have been turning S’s into Z’s for over a decade now and they should stop.

With the original Splitz, the flavors used were so basic and one-worded — Chocolate + Vanilla, Strawberry + Blueberry, and Chocolate + Strawberry.

The 2018 version has flavors that, mostly, aren’t so basic and use more than one word — Strawberry + Cheesecake and Sugar Cookie + Brownie Batter. Like the original, they look like kindergarten finger-painting drawings of clouds or hills, depending on which side is facing you.

Frosted Strawberry and Drizzled Cheesecake

Kellogg s Limited Edition Pop Tarts Splitz Strawberry Cheesecake

Strawberry tastes like, well, I mean, if you haven’t had a Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tart that’s on you. You should’ve had it at least once by now. They’re good and it’s what I eat when I want to joke around with the Food Pyramid by saying, “Look, I’m going to have a serving of fruit.” As for the other side, there’s no tang. So it’s hard to consider it cheesecake. At times, I think it’s marshmallow, but it’s definitely not cheesecake.

Kellogg s Limited Edition Pop Tarts Splitz Strawberry Cheesecake 2

The flavor combo is begs to be eaten together. So maybe through food science or food magic, combining them will create a strawberry cheesecake-like flavor. They don’t. There’s a tanginess from the fruity filling, but it doesn’t help flip my mind into thinking it’s cheesecake. It tastes like a Strawberry Pop-Tart. Even toasting it doesn’t help bring out the cheesecake flavor.

Drizzled Sugar Cookie and Frosted Brownie Batter

Kellogg s Limited Edition Pop Tarts Splitz Sugar Cookie Brownie Batter

The other Pop-Tarts Splitz variety has a lighter crust than the Strawberry + Cheesecake one. I guess it’s supposed to represent the color of sugar cookies, while the darker one looks like the crust you’d find under a cheesecake.

Unlike the other variety, this combo seems more like one that shouldn’t be eat combined. Although, that’s not going to stop me from doing so because sugar cookie brownies sound magical.

Kellogg s Limited Edition Pop Tarts Splitz Sugar Cookie Brownie Batter 2

The dark filling tastes like brownie batter, but kind of loses that when combined with the crust and the icing. Its flavor wavers between brownie batter and standard chocolate. Despite that, it’s my favorite of the four sides. As for sugar cookie, it’s a variety

Sadly, combining the two doesn’t create an awesome new hybrid flavor. The stronger brownie batter overwhelms the milder sugar cookie, much like the strawberry hides the cheesecake in the other. So I guess it’s best to eat the two sides separate.

Both varieties are tasty but also aren’t mind-blowing. However, the cookie-brownie combo stands out because of its flavors and the cheesecake flavor is lacking with the other one, making it a bit of a letdown. So if you’re split about which variety to try, go for the Sugar Cookie + Brownie Batter.

DISCLOSURE: I received free samples, but doing so did not influence my review.

(Nutrition Facts – 1 pastry – Strawberry + Cheesecake – 190 calories, 40 calories from fat, 4.5 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 1.5 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 1 gram of monounsaturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 36 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein. Sugar Cookie + Brownie Batter – 200 calories, 50 calories from fat, 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 1 gram of monounsaturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 8-pack (Strawberry + Cheesecake)
Size: 16-pack (Sugar Cookie + Brownie Batter)
Purchased at: N/A
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Strawberry + Cheesecake)
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Sugar Cookie + Brownie Batter)
Pros: Brownie batter filling taste like what it’s supposed to. Better flavor combos than the previous Pop-Tarts Splitz. Sugar cookie tastes like a sugar cookie.
Cons: Cheesecake flavor not noticeable. Combining the strawberry and cheesecake sides makes it taste like a regular Strawberry Pop-Tart. Combining the sugar cookie and brownie batter sides make it taste like brownie batter. Still using Z’s to replace S’s.

QUICK REVIEW: Great Value Associates Choice Apple Pie Ice Cream

/ / Reviews / 3 Comments

Great Value Associates Choice Apple Pie Ice Cream

What is it?

Great Value Associates Choice Apple Pie Ice Cream features vanilla custard flavored ice cream with an apple butter ribbon and cinnamon sugar shortbread pieces.

You know that small diner down the street? The one that will totally blend up a piece of their apple pie in a milkshake if you ask? Ideally, that’s what this is, just in your grocer’s freezer instead.

How is it?

I’m not sure what the difference between vanilla ice cream, frozen vanilla custard, and “vanilla custard flavored ice cream” is, but this tastes like plain vanilla ice cream to me. It’s good ice cream with a mild cinnamon spice flavor, but vanilla ice cream nonetheless. After it gets a bit melty, a very subtle apple flavor appears and completes the pie flavor.

Great Value Associates Choice Apple Pie Ice Cream 2

The shortbread pieces have a 50/50 shot of being either impressively crispy or as soggy as you’d expect. Their flavor contribution is modest in either case.

Is there anything else I need to know?

The apple butter ribbon is almost completely absent, which is a shame because it’s an unconventional ice cream inclusion that could’ve elevated it above other store brand ice creams.

Great Value Associates Choice Apple Pie Ice Cream 3

Plus, I really like apple butter, so I was looking for it. Believe me, I dug as greedily and fervently as the Dwarves of Moria. If I had delved any deeper into that carton, a Balrog of Morgoth may have been awakened. Then my ice cream would’ve melted.

Conclusion:

Great Values Associates should be a bit choosier. It’s not a bad product, but some shortcomings keep it from achieving its full potential.

Purchased Price: $4.49
Size: 48 fl. oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (68 grams) 150 calories, 7 grams grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 50 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Keebler Whoopsy! Fudge Stripes Cookies

/ / Reviews

Keebler Whoopsy Fudge Stripes Cookies

Is “accidentally” coating shortbread cookies completely with fudge instead of being dipped on one side and drizzled really worthy of a whoopsy?

I can think of several true whoopsies that could happen to Ernie and his fellow Keebler Elves.

If Keebler Club Crackers were shaped like Ritz Crackers, that would be a whoopsy. If Ernie the Elf burned down the Hollow Tree by accident, that would most definitely be a whoopsy. But the new Whoopsy! Fudge Stripes Cookies don’t seem to be as bad as those hypothetical situations.

Keebler Whoopsy Fudge Stripes Cookies 2

The fudge enrobes the shortbread cookie, making it look like its wearing a skintight Speedo body suit so that it can do laps in a glass of milk. At some angles, they look like thin donuts dipped in chocolate icing.

But, it’s might be a bit too skintight since the fudge sinks into every nook and cranny of the cookie’s design, allow us to see the outline of what’s underneath. It’s like seeing the shape of your innie or outie belly button or nipples from the way a skintight Speedo bodysuit stretches.

Keebler Whoopsy Fudge Stripes Cookies 3

Despite the extra fudge, the cookie within provides a hearty crunch. I somewhat expected the chocolatey exterior to dampened the crispiness, like with a fudge-covered Oreo, but the layer’s thinness doesn’t affect the baked good’s snap.

The extra coating also doesn’t affect the shortbread’s flavor. I mean, it tastes like a regular Fudge Stripes Cookie, but, obviously, fudgier. The flavor of the sweet and buttery cookie under the coating still comes through. But the difference between it and the original version is so slight that it disappoints me a little.

There’s nothing intriguing about Whoopsy! Fudge Stripes Cookies. They have more of something they had a lot of to begin with, and that’s it. Yeah, more fudge is nice, but they’re not better or worse than the original, which is pretty gosh darn tasty. If there was a significant difference between it and the original, like Oops! All-Berries Cap’n Crunch Cereal and Crunchberries Cereal, then it would be a bit more exciting.

With that said, if you enjoy the classic cookie from Keebler, I guarantee you’ll like these.

DISCLOSURE: I accepted a free sample of these cookies from a PR firm representing Keebler. Doing so did not influence my review in any way.

(Nutrition Facts – 2 cookies – 170 calories, 8 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 80 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.)

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 11.5 oz.
Purchased at: Received from Keebler
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Tastes like a regular Fudge Stripes Cookie, but slightly fudgier. Crunchy shortbread cookie. More fudge.
Cons: Not really a true whoopsy. Not that different from original Fudge Stripes Cookies. Accidentally burning down the Hollow Tree.

Scroll to Top