REVIEW: Dunkin’ Oreo Cloud Latte

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The Dunkin' cup looks groovy.

With summer around the corner, you might be picturing blue skies, fluffy clouds, and handfuls of smashed Oreos strewn about because everyone knows nothing says summer like chocolate sandwich cookies.

Okay, maybe they have no tangible connection to the season, but adding Oreos to something feels like a cheat code. It may not be groundbreaking, but odds are it’s going to be good. Dunkin’s new Oreo Cloud Latte combines espresso and milk with a chocolate cookie swirl and serves it iced, topped with marshmallow cold foam and a few spoonfuls of crumbled Oreos. These are original Oreos, mind you, not fever dream-inspired Sour Patch Kids ones or anything of that ilk, so the overall theme here is pretty standard cookies and cream.

That marshmallow cold foam looks groovy.

Dunkin’ calls its marshmallow cold foam a fan favorite, and it’s easy to see why. True to its namesake, it’s light and airy, crowning the beverage like a puffy cumulus cloud of sugary goodness. I recall trying this foam back in 2024, and I don’t know if it’s changed or I have, but I found the current iteration to be less distinctly marshmallowy than I remembered. Back then, it seemed to have a very pronounced marshmallow flavor and even texture, being somewhat sticky. This time around, I think even people who don’t like marshmallow can probably appreciate the foam. Maybe the crushed cookies it props up have the effect of mellowing the mallow because the first several sips are less like marshmallow fluff and much more reminiscent of classic chocolate Oreo cookies and their creme filling.

Those Oreo crumbs looks groovy.

This Oreo flavor continues throughout the drink thanks to the chocolate cookie swirl syrup that also contains Oreo pieces. It imparts an Oreo taste and not just a generic chocolate or mocha flavor. Between the foam, cookie bits, and swirl, it would be easy for this cloud concoction to drift into too sweet territory, but somehow it never does. The espresso tempers the sweetness, and I’m glad that the coffee notes come through because otherwise this would be like drinking a cup of milk and cookies. That would obviously be delicious, but it’s a much more rounded experience when you can taste the coffee. The nutrition facts here tell me that what I’m drinking is basically equivalent to a medium Oreo Blizzard, but I think we all know what we’re getting into with this kind of Dunkin’ drink. No one’s getting this to replace a cup of coffee; you’re getting this to treat yourself to an Oreo experience.

From start to finish, it’s a cool, sweet, creamy, quintessentially cookies and creme ride. This latte might not be innovative, but it is well executed, and if you’re looking for an excuse to sweeten up a summer day, you could certainly do worse. Not surprisingly, Oreos continue their tradition of playing well with dairy, and it turns out they play nicely with coffee too.

Purchased Price: $6.09
Size: Medium
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 650 calories, 30 grams of total fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 85 grams of total carbs, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 76 grams of total sugar, and 11 grams of protein

REVIEW: FLRT Energy Drink from Monster Energy

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All four FLRT flavors.

Ladies and gentlemen (but mostly ladies) meet FLRT, a new line of energy drinks from Monster Energy. The 12-ounce cans come in four different flavors and contain 200 milligrams of caffeine.

Before we go any further, let’s discuss the elephant in the room, or in this case the goofy flower that looks like I could’ve drawn it with the marker tool on my iPhone: these drinks are marketed towards women. Presumably designed to compete with beverages like Alani Nu, FLRT is more heavy handed in its attempt to court the female crowd. I think of energy drinks as being fairly gender neutral and I can’t quite understand exactly what FLRT is going for. I think the colorful cans are supposed to appear “youthful” but they look to me like something that would have been marketed to a preteen girl in the 90’s.

A bunch of claims that FLRT Energy can do for you

Alongside the usual energy drink claims of increased energy and focus, FLRT helps with collagen production, supports healthy hair and skin, and accelerates metabolism and burns fat. An asterisk after this last one points out that it only helps with metabolism and fat burning when combined with exercise and a healthy diet so don’t expect weight loss results unless you chug these before you go jogging or really aggressively flirting. The branding and purported health benefits don’t do much for me but they could still taste amazing so let’s get to drinking!

Strawberry Fling

I present to you, Strawberry Fiing

First in the cutesy titled lineup is Strawberry Fling. Pouring it into a glass reveals a light carbonation and pale pink hue. Expecting this to be my least favorite, I was pleasantly surprised to find it pretty enjoyable. It has a clean strawberry flavor that doesn’t ever strike me as medicinal. It’s sweet but not too sweet, with a hint of tartness and I’m not bothered by any lingering aftertastes that zero sugar drinks can have. I would happily drink this if it was given to me but it’s nowhere near as good as my favorite energy drink that features a strawberry flavor, Red Bull Amber. Amber blows Strawberry Fling out of the water, so I can’t see myself ever purchasing this.

Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 10 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 280 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of total sugar, 2 grams of erythritol, 0 grams of protein, and 200 milligrams of caffeine

Guava Lava

Introducing, Guava Lava.

In the green can is Guava Lava, with a peachy pink tint and the same gentle fizz. It also has a clean guava flavor that doesn’t seem to be mixed with anything else. It’s sweet without being overwhelmingly so, with a bit of tang and a nice tropical vibe. It goes down easy and as a guava fan living in a non-tropical climate, I’ll gladly sip on this and be reminded of a unique and delicious fruit that sadly never appears at my grocery stores.

Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 10 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 270 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of total sugar, 2 grams of erythritol, 0 grams of protein, and 200 milligrams of caffeine.

Berry Tempting

Heeeeere's Berry Tempting!

Next we have Berry Tempting, with a ruby color and a good, if not particularly unique, mixed berry flavor. What I think is a blend of raspberry and blueberry, this flavor is fine but it’s more noticeable in the overall taste and aftertaste that I’m drinking a zero sugar energy beverage. It feels familiar, like a worse version of other berry energy drinks I’ve had. I don’t dislike it, but I’m not tempted to get another one.

Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts:10 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 280 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of total sugar, 2 grams of erythritol, 0 grams of protein, and 200 milligrams of caffeine.

Sunset Squeeze

And here's Sunset Squeeze!

Lastly is Sunset Squeeze, with a color like a clear/white gummy bear and a tropical scent. This flavor, like the gummies it reminds me of, leans heavily into a sweet pineapple taste with the addition of some citrusy notes. It brings those beachy feelings but suffers from the same issue as some of the above: I notice the aftertaste more than I’d like to and it seems like familiar territory done a little less well.

Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 10 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 270 milligrams of sodium, 4 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of total sugar, 2 grams of erythritol, 0 grams of protein, and 200 milligrams of caffeine.

Overall these FLRT drinks are largely inoffensive from a flavor standpoint but they’re not exactly inspiring either. I enjoyed most of them enough that I could see where there might be a place for them, but I don’t think it’ll be in my fridge. I might pick up Guava Lava again if I was in need of a guava fix but the rest aren’t good enough to replace any of my usual energy drink go-to’s. I get the feeling that they’re trying a little too hard to be girly and not trying hard enough at being creative. If I were Monster Beverage, I’d flirt with the idea of going back to the drawing board.

Purchased Price: On sale, 2 for $5.00
Size: 12 fl oz cans
Purchased at: Jewel-Osco

Starbucks Iced Ube Coconut Macchiato Review

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Starbucks Iced Ube Coconut Macchiato layers

If you’re looking to put some Spring in your step, your mouth, or your Instagram stories, look no further than the Iced Ube Coconut Macchiato from Starbucks. While the new toasted coconut syrup and toasted coconut cold foam are permanent additions to the menu, this ube incarnation is only here for a limited time. Combining milk, espresso, and toasted coconut syrup, this drink is served over ice and topped with a layer of ube coconut cold foam and a toasted coconut topping. For those counting, that’s triple the coconut, so let’s hope this flavor profile is a pleasant one because they’re going all in on it.

This macchiato is visibly striking thanks to its thick top layer of purple cold foam. The foam gets its color from ube powder, and it’s definitely a head-turner. I could sense the eyes of many intrigued kids staring at the cup as the barista set it down; apparently, my Starbucks turns into a fifth-grade cafeteria at 4 pm.

Avoiding the chaos, I took my drink to go and noticed that the foam held up quite well despite the walk and didn’t immediately dissipate into the liquid below. The fuchsia foam is sweet and airy, with a velvety mouthfeel and a nice blend of vanilla and coconut. Does it taste like ube? It’s hard to say; ube is described as tasting sweet and nutty, with notes of coconut and vanilla, so perhaps this does actually taste like ube, but it’s getting a boost from the vanilla and coconut syrups the foam contains. Either way, it’s delightful. The little bits of coconut topping sprinkled over it have a pleasant chew, somewhere between coconut flakes and coconut candy.

Starbucks Iced Ube Coconut Macchiato coconut flakes and ube cold foam

The first few sips are mostly just sweet, though never cloying, and then the espresso integrates itself, bringing some bitter notes to balance things out. Things get increasingly coconutty as you go further into the drink, and it feels like a true coconut flavor as opposed to artificial or sunscreen-adjacent.

I was impressed that, even though this looks like it could be a gimmicky drink, it doesn’t fall into the category of dessert masquerading as coffee. You could drink this and feel like you’re having a normal, albeit purple, coffee drink and not just a cup of sugar. It’s also worth noting that you will look normal (well, assuming you look normal to begin with) after drinking this and won’t be left with a purple mouth.

The last time I had an ube macchiato, it came from Dunkin’ and was underwhelming in both appearance and flavor. Where they failed, Starbucks delivers in spades. At over $7 for a grande, I’m not sure I can afford to treat myself to this as often as I’d like, but it’s such a playful and enjoyable drink that I can’t be mad at it. If a perfect blend of vanilla, toasted coconut, and coffee sounds appealing to you, ube-tter get to Starbucks before this macchiato leaves the menu.

Purchased Price: $7.16
Size: Grande
Purchased at: Starbucks
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 380 calories, 18 grams of total fat, 12 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 43 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 41 grams of total sugar, 11 grams of protein, and 150 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: M&M’s Bakery Collection

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M&M's Bakery Collection wrappers

M&M’s are one of those candies that consistently pump out different varieties, and the new Bakery Collection features three flavors inspired by baked goods. We’re encouraged to scan a QR code and vote for our favorite from the following contenders: Lemon Meringue Pie, Chocolate Cherry Cupcake, and Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll. I found these at Walgreens and heard more than one employee remark that they weren’t particularly interested in trying any of them.

It’s somewhat incomprehensible to me that anyone wouldn’t want to try a new snack, even if it sounds terrible (yeah, I bought those Swedish Fish Oreos), but I kind of have to agree – none of these really excite me. They exist, though, and that’s enough for me to fork over seven dollars and hope I’m not left mumbling curses through a mouthful of Lemon Pledge-flavored morsels.

Lemon Meringue Pie

M&M's Bakery Collection Lemon Meringue Pie shells

Lemon Meringue Pie M&M’s are a white chocolate variety, about the size of a regular M&M but rounder due to a crispy rice center. The yellow, white, and peach-colored candies have a light lemon scent and a lemon flavor that I don’t find akin to a cleaning product, but I also can’t say I enjoy. The color scheme does better at imitating its inspiration than the taste and texture do. Perhaps fans of Crispy M&M’s will enjoy these, but crunch doesn’t align with lemon meringue pie in my mind, and I wish the center were some sort of tart lemony cream or jam instead.

M&M's Bakery Collection Lemon Meringue Pie center

At my wedding, I had a bunch of candy jars that I waited until the last minute to fill (who knew you were supposed to prepare for events like that in advance?), and in my haste, I ended up throwing some Lemonheads in the same jar as some chocolate Sixlets. Later that night, my very honest friend Chris informed me that this was a terrible combination, and I explained I hadn’t intended them to be eaten together. These M&M’s are what I think that combo must have tasted like. I’m sure some people will enjoy the lemon and crunch, but I want nothing to do with them. Chris, stay away from these.

Size: 3.22 oz bag
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/3 pack) 150 calories, 7 grams of total fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 50 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 18 grams of total sugars, and 1 gram of protein.

Chocolate Cherry Cupcake

M&M's Bakery Collection Cherry Chocolate Cupcake shell colors

Chocolate Cherry Cupcake pieces are a thicker size, so you’d expect something in the center, but they’re pure chocolate. This seems like a missed opportunity because the inclusion of a tiny cake bit or something that mimicked it (not crispy rice!) could justify the cupcake moniker. The good thing is that the interior features a smooth combination of milk and dark chocolate, and the deeper notes of the dark chocolate are incredibly welcome.

These have a syrupy cherry flavor, more like a cherry cordial than anything else. There’s been a Cherry Cordial M&M before, but it lacked dark chocolate, and if we can just consider this iteration an upgrade on that, I’m alright with it.

Size: 2.47 oz bag
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 pack) 170 calories, 8 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 22 grams of total sugars, and 1 gram of protein.

Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll

M&M's Bakery Collection Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll shell colors

Lastly we have Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll. While this treat isn’t commonplace in any bakery I’ve ever been to, I have called Peanut Butter M&M’s my favorite since their debut, so these hold some promise. The basic size and structure here is right on; they look like the candy I know and love. For a brief moment, or perhaps if you’ve never had the original peanut butter before, you could bite down on these and be pleased with the perfect ratio of candy coating, milk chocolate, and creamy peanut butter center. But then the cinnamon creeps in. It’s not a hot cinnamon, and there’s nothing really wrong with it except that the original product was somehow much better without it.

M&M's Bakery Collection Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll innards

If we’re trying to make a cinnamon roll M&M, I’m not sure why we skipped a cream cheese frosting element and went straight to peanut butter. Instead of pulling something fresh from the oven, they’ve just corrupted a perfectly good batch of peanut butter M&M’s.

Size: 2.83 oz bag
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/3 pack) 140 calories, 8 grams of total fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 55 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 13 grams of total sugars, and 3 grams of protein.

When you throw this many candy-coated chocolate pebbles at the wall, there are bound to be some that just don’t stick. Unfortunately, all three flavors from the Bakery Collection fell into this category for me. The winner of the fan vote gets to stay on shelves, but I wouldn’t be upset if all of these disappeared.

Purchased Price: $3.29 each (buy 2 get 1 free)
Purchased at: Walgreens

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Cocoa Loops Cereal

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Kellogg’s Cocoa Loops Cereal box

While some cereals churn out new varieties all the time, Toucan Sam has mostly been content to stay in his lane, or should I say loop, for sixty years. There have occasionally been marshmallows added, or the rings swapped for hearts for Valentine’s Day, but the fruity essence has remained largely the same until now. A new iteration, Cocoa Loops, has arrived on shelves and is slated to be a permanent addition to the Kellogg’s lineup. This feels overdue, but perhaps it took this long to perfect things?

The box features a delighted Sam along with his niece and nephews, stirring up some liquidy-looking chocolate batter that looks like it should become brownies, but the crew is somehow able to use their feather-fingers to form it into tiny hoops. There’s a pleasant cocoa scent upon opening the bag, not overwhelming but enough to let you know it’s a chocolate cereal. When eaten on its own, the cocoa flavor doesn’t come through as much as I’d like, and I don’t enjoy the chalky experience of eating it dry.

Kellogg’s Cocoa Loops Cereal dry

Cereal is one of the easiest foods to assemble, since it basically only requires you to pour it into a bowl and add milk. But I know there are a lot of people out there who, due to laziness or personal preference, sometimes skip the milk component. If you’re looking for a cereal to snack on by the handful, keep looking cause this isn’t it. But that’s not a deal breaker, let’s try it with milk!

Kellogg’s Cocoa Loops Cereal in milk

Cocoa Loops fares so much better with this addition. When given the chance to mingle with milk for a few moments, the corn and oat-based loops soften to a nice texture and aren’t quick to sog. The chocolate flavor is more pronounced, and it’s a big improvement, but I still don’t think I’d choose it over already established chocolate favorites in the aisle. The box declares that it “makes milk chocolatey!”, and as with most chocolate cereals, if you truly want to experience chocolate milk flavor and not just milk that’s a slightly darker shade, you’ll have to let that bowl sit around for a while.

Kellogg’s Cocoa Loops Cereal back of box

I’m unsure if it’s intentionally goofy in the name of being “loopy,” but I have to mention some bizarre aspects of the box art. We have one nephew sounding like a Bluey knockoff by introducing himself as Pluey, and according to a heart-shaped craft project on the kitchen shelf, these kids refer to their uncle as “Uncle Toucan Sam”. I get that they can’t call him Uncle Sam without sounding like they’re talking about the familiar red, white, and blue-clad figure, but something about this moniker seems strange and redundant. Cocoa Loops with milk are a perfectly acceptable but not especially remarkable cereal. Without milk, I think these are for the birds.

Purchased Price: $6.99
Size: 9.2 oz box
Purchased at: Mariano’s
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 ¼ cup) 140 calories, 2 grams of total fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of total carbohydrates, 4 grams of dietary fiber, 12 grams of total sugars, and 2 grams of protein.

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