SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 10/2/2017

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Marketside Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

Marketside Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

Marketside Turtle Molten Lava Cake

Marketside Turtle Molten Lava Cake

Marketside Gourmet Pretzel Crunchers

Marketside Gourmet Pretzel Crunchers

Unknown Brand Sliced Caramel Praline Creme Cake

Unknown Brand Sliced Caramel Praline Creme Cake

(Spotted by Bob K at Walmart.)

The Bakery Caramel Apple Snickerdoodle Cookies

The Bakery Caramel Apple Snickerdoodle Cookies

(Spotted by Stephanie A at Walmart.)

Smartfood Delight Chipotle Aged Cheddar Popcorn

Smartfood Delight Chipotle Aged Cheddar Popcorn

(Spotted by Carla at Walmart.)

Keebler Butter Garlic Snack Stacks Club Crackers

Keebler Butter Garlic Snack Stacks Club Crackers

(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

Kraft Shredded Smoky Bacon Cheddar Cheese  2017 Carla at Fred Meyer

Kraft Shredded Smoky Bacon Cheddar Cheese

(Spotted by Carla at Fred Meyer.)

Pillsbury s Best Pizza Dough  Thin Crust and Classic Crust

Pillsbury’s Best Pizza Dough (Thin Crust and Classic Crust)

(Spotted by Mary at H-E-B.)

Old El Paso Thick Cut Tortilla Chips  Canada

Old El Paso Thick Cut Tortilla Chips (Canada)

(Spotted by @JunkFoodJeff at FreshCo in Canada.)

Sprouts Hazelnut Coffee K Cups

Sprouts Hazelnut Coffee K-Cups

(Spotted by Rachel C at Sprouts.)

Nissin Top Ramen Soy Sauce Flavor

Nissin Top Ramen Soy Sauce Flavor

(Spotted by Richard at Brookshire’s.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

WEEKEND READING – 9/30/2017

Burger King A 1 Halloween Whopper

Here are a few interesting junk food-related stories from the past week or so. Enjoy.

Burger King’s Halloween Whopper: Two Years Later. (via Dinosaur Dracula)

The Gooey History of the Fluffernutter Sandwich (via Mental Floss)

Here’s why you see Sonic ads even when there isn’t a location anywhere near where you live (via Business Insider)

We Spoke to the Guys Making ‘Gay Taco Bell’ and ‘Drive-Thru Olive Garden’ Commercials (via Munchies)

New Clothing Line From Taco Bell and Forever21 Is Reason To Just Give Up (via Consumerist)

PUMPKINUNDATION 2017 – 9/30/2017

Here are some new pumpkin products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments.

La Colombe Seasonal Batch Pumpkin Spice Draft Latte

La Colombe Seasonal Batch Pumpkin Spice Draft Latte

(Spotted by Beth V at Harris Teeter.)

Cake Mate Pumpkin Spice Cupcake Frosting

Cake Mate Pumpkin Spice Cupcake Frosting

(Spotted by Bob K at Wegmans.)

Good Karma Dairy Free Pumpkin Spice Nog

Good Karma Dairy Free Pumpkin Spice Nog

(Spotted by Robbie at Whole Foods.)

Limited Edition Yoplait Whips Pumpkin Spice Yogurt

Limited Edition Yoplait Whips! Pumpkin Spice Yogurt

(Spotted by Carla at Walmart.)

Brandless Pumpkin Shiffon Pie

Brandless Pumpkin Shiffon Pie

(Spotted by Bob K at Walmart.)

Pastabilities Organic Pumpkin Pasta

Pastabilities Organic Pumpkin Pasta

(Spotted by Bob K at Wegmans.)

North Coast Organic Pumpkin Spiced Apple Sauce

North Coast Organic Pumpkin Spiced Apple Sauce

(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

Sprouts Pumpkin Spice Almond Butter

Sprouts Pumpkin Spice Almond Butter

Sprouts Organic Cinnamon Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches

Sprouts Organic Cinnamon Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches

(Spotted by Rachel C at Sprouts.)

Royal Delights Pumpkin Spice Dessert Mix

Royal Delights Pumpkin Spice Dessert Mix

(Spotted by Carla at Walmart.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

QUICK REVIEW: Limited Edition Nature Valley Pumpkin Spice Crunchy Granola Bars

Limited Edition Nature Valley Pumpkin Spice Crunchy Granola Bars

I have found that the term “pumpkin spice” generally means one of three things: (1) real pumpkin and spices, (2) artificial pumpkin flavor and spices, and (3) just spices. In my experience, the items that have actual pumpkin are almost always better than those without. (Pumpkin Spice Cheerios > Pumpkin Spice Life.)

These Limited Edition Nature Valley Crunchy Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars have real pumpkin flakes, but unfortunately, they don’t follow that pattern.

Limited Edition Nature Valley Pumpkin Spice Crunchy Granola Bars 2

There’s nothing particularly egregious about these bars. It’s just that they don’t meet expectations. I shared a pack with my coworker, and he said, “If I were blindfolded, I couldn’t tell these from the Oats ’n Honey ones.”

If you’ve had that green-wrapped variety, you know what you’re getting with the pumpkin spice version—very crunchy, very dry, and crumbs all over the place. I ate mine with milk because they’re so dry. There is a little bit of spice to it, but not a lot, and I don’t detect the pumpkin at all.

Limited Edition Nature Valley Pumpkin Spice Crunchy Granola Bars 3

Since the Nature Valley commercials always show people doing something outdoorsy while they consume these, I took my second pack on a short trail run. I thought the dryness would not be suitable for the outdoors, but on the contrary, I found the crunchiness and oat-y flavor surprisingly pleasant in nature, and it didn’t matter if the crumbs made a mess! Still wouldn’t be my first choice, though.

Kashi makes their own Pumpkin Spice Flax Crunchy Granola Bars, which they sell year round (although they seem to be getting harder to find). Even though those don’t have pumpkin flesh in them, I recommend the Kashi version over Nature Valley. They’re very similar, but I think Kashi has more spice, and it has more protein and fiber and fewer calories.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 6 2-bar packs
Purchased at: Smith’s (Kroger)
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 bars) 190 calories, 60 calories from fat, 7 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbs, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

COMING SOON: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios Cereal

Update: We reviewed it! Click here to read our review.

I’m surprised it’s taken this long for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios to become a reality. Chocolate Cheerios has been around for years and there was once a peanut butter-flavored Cheerios. While pumpkin spice is the popular flavor during the fall, chocolate and peanut butter is the most popular flavor combo EVER.

The cereal was announced over social media with photo above. According to the photo’s caption, it’s made using real cocoa and peanut butter, and it’s coming real soon.

(Image via Cheerios Facebook page.)