REVIEW: Little Debbie Chocolate Old Fashioned Donuts

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Little Debbie getting old fashioned.

National Donut Day falls on the first Friday in June, but I missed the holiday this year due to unforgivable negligence. I’m remedying my error one month later with the help of Little Debbie, our snack cake queen. Her newest offering—Little Debbie Chocolate Old Fashioned Donuts—joins last summer’s successful original flavor variety.

Old Fashioned Donuts are cake donuts known for ridged, crispy exteriors and tender, dense interiors. They lack yeast, relying on baking powder for rise, and often have a slightly tangy flavor due to buttermilk or sour cream. Like an ill-proofed yeast donut, these Little Debbie creations haven’t quite reached their potential.

It looks like a moon rock...or just a rock from any other planet.

The exterior texture is spot on. The craggy surface of the donut has plenty of nooks to catch the generous glaze. The heavy glaze has dried smoothly, contributing its own soft crust that does not turn sticky and ruin your keyboard as you try to communicate your thoughts about donuts to the world.

Inside is not as pleasing as the outside.

The dense, crumbly interior is not as successful. It is just too dry and thick to do justice to a donut’s cake-like texture. The melt-in-your-mouth glaze gives the donut an illusion of moisture, but generally the interior is more reminiscent of a stale brownie.

I imagine this is what Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin saw when they landed on the moon.

The flavor is fine: very sugary from the glaze coat with cocoa-y flavor that is noticeable, but not strong or rich. There is a little artificial aftertaste that may be trying to mimic a buttermilk tang, but it hits a sour note.

These are less than a dollar for each.

These donuts are available in 3-oz single-serve packages or in a big pack of six. The donuts are, as advertised, big—hence the higher price point. They would be easy to share or use towards greater extravagance—heat them up in the air fryer, add ice cream, and make a sandwich. There are no limits on National Donut Day.

Luckily, National Donut Day can be any day if you keep its holiday spirit in your heart all year long. Despite their well-textured exterior and sweet glaze, Little Debbie Chocolate Old Fashioned Donuts didn’t quite scratch my itch for celebration.

Purchased Price: $5.49
Size: 15.43 oz package (6 donuts per box)
Purchased at: Wegmans
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 1 donut) 380 calories, 25 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 37 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 25 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Lindt Tokyo Style Matcha Strawberry Bar

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Not Dubai-chocolate.

If grocery store shelves are any indication, the Dubai chocolate craze is still going strong: the combination of creamy, crunchy, and visually striking is too compelling to go away overnight. But if your layover in Dubai has lasted a little too long, Lindt can place another stamp in your culinary passport. Its new Tokyo Style Matcha Strawberry bar utilizes a similar formula that supported Dubai chocolate’s success—but with a vibrant flavor profile that pays homage to Japanese tea culture.

The bar consists of a white chocolate base infused with matcha, finely ground green tea known for its earthy flavor. Matcha also boosts the filling, which includes freeze-dried strawberries and genmai, which is roasted brown rice commonly blended with green tea.

So green

The chocolate bar is a beautiful spring green color with a fruity, slightly floral aroma. Matcha can be a polarizing flavor, and if the thought of the sometimes-grassy drink turns YOU green, this white chocolate will please your palate. The matcha flavor is not prominent; it seems to work backstage to tone down the white chocolate’s sweetness. The chocolate is smooth, gently sweet, and not overly rich, with a little strawberry essence and a whisper of earthy matcha in the finish.

Matcha middle

The green filling is an amalgamation of flavor and texture: matcha, freeze-dried strawberries, and brown rice (per the product description), as well as almond paste, almonds, kadayif, and hazelnuts (per the ingredients list).

It's not the prettiest.

Despite everything going on, the flavors don’t feel muddled. The strawberry flavor is deliciously bright, and the genmai is toasty, slightly nutty, and pops with crunch. The genmai is both a highlight and a detriment, because its deep roasted flavor can carry a burnt aftertaste. These textural components are held together by a thick, not-too-sweet matcha filling.

This is a strange comparison, but it’s the best I’ve got. This chocolate bar reminds me of Special K with Red Berries cereal, re-envisioned as an elegant Swiss chocolate bar: light sweetness, toasty crunch, and berries. Just add matcha milk. I wonder if the Lindt chocolatiers pair that cereal with their morning matcha lattes.

Compared to Lindt’s Dubai chocolate bar, the Tokyo Style Matcha Strawberry bar is more intentionally designed and successful in its inventive, balanced flavor profile. For both bars (and most similar varieties of trendy chocolate), price will always be a contested factor. Despite my slight preference for the Tokyo Style Bar, I’m still not convinced that either bar’s ingredients, thin layer of filling, and overall size warrant the hefty price tag. Call me cheap, but I factored my doubt into my overall rating.

You'll be spending a lot of green to eat this green bar.

Tea drinkers who love bitter, grassy notes should seek satisfaction from their favorite café, but fans of sweet confections should try Lindt’s Tokyo Style Matcha Strawberry bar. If you enjoy Dubai chocolate but are ready for a change, the product is a sweet, green alternative with a bright berry flavor and interesting genmai crunch. Maybe that ubiquitous pistachio-and-chocolate combination has finally met its matcha.

Purchased Price: $14.99
Purchased at: Target
Size: 5.1 oz (145 g) bar
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 2 pieces, or 1/5 bar) 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Nabisco Crispers (US)

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Nabisco Crispers pouches

If Tim Hortons and All Dressed chips are any indication, our neighbors to the north have great taste in snacks. When I learned that Nabisco Crispers, a fan-favorite Canadian snack, was headed to the States, I was eager to try all flavors featured in the rollout: Ranch, Dill Pickle, and BBQ.

Crispers’ Canadian origin is only part of its heritage. Baked and not fried, Crispers uses the tagline: “Not a chip. Not a cracker. They’re Crispers.” A hybrid snack, Crispers are made with a combination of wheat flour and potato flour. Thus, to the uninitiated, much of the fun of trying Crispers is playing Maury Povich, tracing which two familiar snacks reproduced to create this new light and crispy snack cracker.

Nabisco Crispers comes in 3 flavors: BBQ, Dill Pickle, and Ranch

My vote? Wheat Thins and Pringles. Crispers are thin, wavy crackers with a subtle wheat flavor. They are hearty enough to provide a nice crunch but light enough to snap easily, making the serving size very easy to devour. We’ll await the test results on the product’s tasty parentage, then go on to the next judgement: which flavor is best?

Nabisco Crispers Ranch

It may boil down to your personal preference, because each flavor is enjoyable but not aggressive enough to dominate your palate long after your last bite. The Ranch one has a light herby flavor with a hint of garlic powder and creamy buttermilk quality. Of the three varieties, Ranch tastes the mildest, but showcases the wheat flavor of the base the most.

Nabisco Crispers Dill Pickle

The Dill Pickle variety is my favorite of the three. Its flavor is the boldest, balancing refreshing dill flavor with a sharp, tangy brininess. Each crisp in the bag packs a pickle-y punch.

Nabisco Crispers BBQ

The BBQ flavor is typical of what you’d find on a barbeque potato chip: sweet, savory, and smoky. In my taste test, it was the least consistently seasoned. Some crisps are only dusted, while others are coated generously. The more seasoned crisps promise an additional surprise: a little kick of heat in the back of the throat.

Nabisco Crispers graphics

If you keep baked snacks in your pantry, make some extra room for Nabisco Crispers. Fans of Baked Lay’s or Goldfish crackers will love the light, non-greasy texture and variety of flavors. I hope the line expands to include some of the more unique flavors offered in Canada (like Gochujang or Szechuan), but until then, who is up for a trip across the border?

Purchased Price: $2.64 each
Purchased at: Walmart
Size: 5.11 oz (145 g)
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Ranch), 9 out of 10 (Dill Pickle), 8 out of 10 (BBQ)
Nutrition Facts: Ranch (per 22 pieces) – 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Dill Pickle (per 23 pieces) – 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. BBQ (per 23 pieces) – 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

Butterfinger French Toast Bar Review

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Butterfinger French Toast wrapper front design

Every time I review a novelty sweet, I issue a rating out of 10. This is a process I almost always agonize over, as though I will later need to justify my assessment in a court of candy law. When I weigh the final consideration that will knock a rating down a point or elevate it to greatness, I often ask: “Is this new flavor better than the original variety?”

The question is almost always rhetorical, because the classics—the Reese’s, Kit Kats, and Snickers—are so embedded in our hearts and taste buds that they set an almost unsurpassable standard. But Butterfinger is making me consider this question seriously, as its limited-edition offerings—most recently, Marshmallow and Salted Caramel—have been exceptional. The new, breakfast-inspired Butterfinger French Toast bar continues this pattern of success.

Butterfinger French Toast light orange confection coating

Butterfinger French Toast consists of the classic, crispy peanut butter core and a French Toast-flavored confectionary coating. I half-expected this bar to taste like a knockoff of any Cinnamon Toast Crunch candy, but its combination of flavors stands out as unique. The coating is a well-balanced combination of maple syrup and cinnamon. It tastes like what coats maple-dipped peanuts, but creamier and less sugary (although still very sweet!) with an added dash of cinnamon for good measure. There is also a subtle buttery flavor that makes the bar smell and taste like a sweet breakfast, not just maple or maple cinnamon.

Butterfinger French Toast crispity and crunchity center

I thought the flavored coating might clash with the peanut butter center, but I am happy to be wrong again. The toffee-like quality of the center complements the creamy coating, and the nutty, slightly salty flavor adds dimension to all the sweetness. No single flavor is fighting for attention at this breakfast table.

The French Toast flavor completes one year of Butterfinger’s exciting three limited-edition flavors. Consider them the Powerpuff Girls of candy bars: sugar, spice, and everything nice, a descriptor that could belong to the French Toast variety alone.

Butterfinger French Toast crispity and crunchity center part two

So, are these flavors better than the original chocolate coating? Should Butterfinger get out of the chocolate game entirely and specialize in flavored crème coatings? It’s hard to say, but I hope the brand continues to cook up more innovative offerings.

Purchased Price: $2.19
Purchased at: Giant Eagle
Size: 1.9 oz (54 g) bar
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 250 calories, 11 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 2 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 21 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein

REVIEW: Reese’s Marshmallow Big Cup

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Reese's Marshmallow Big Cup wrapper

While the “2026 is the new 2016” online trend dies down, Reese’s continues to time travel through the candy aisle. 2026 could be the new 2006, and we have the Reese’s Marshmallow Big Cup to prove it.

Yes, Reese’s released a limited-edition marshmallow variety two decades ago. I’m surprised that it has taken so long to return to peanut butter and marshmallow, a combination that inspired such greatness as Fluffernutter sandwiches and the best s’more you’ve ever tasted. Since 2006 was likely the last time I ate a Fluffernutter sandwich, I was eager to dive into this Big Cup.

Reese's Marshmallow Big Cup chocolate coating

The Reese’s Marshmallow Big Cup’s milk chocolate shell contains a thick, dense layer of peanut butter filling along with a thinner layer of marshmallow-flavored filling. The fillings are separated by a thin layer of chocolate, similar in structure to other recent varieties, including the Lava Cup and Caramel Cup.

Reese's Marshmallow Big Cup layers

The Big Cup’s marshmallow crème filling isn’t the fluffy stuff you find in a jar, or the gooey stuff left behind on a roasting stick. Rather, this component is thick, smooth, and a little sticky, almost like a viscous powdered sugar glaze. The flavor definitely reads as marshmallow: a creamy, sugary flavor, but with a pronounced vanilla taste that teeters on too artificial.

The crème’s artificial quality is noticeable by itself, but it dissipates when combined with the delicious-as-always peanut butter. The marshmallow flavor holds up to the peanut butter’s potency, which surprised me. Marshmallow is a subtle flavor to begin with, and I’ve found that these Big Cups with dual fillings don’t have quite enough of the secondary filling to be impactful. Even though this Big Cup’s peanut butter layer is over twice as thick as the marshmallow layer, there is Fluffernuttery goodness to be enjoyed.

Reese's Marshmallow Big Cup split

The marshmallow filling is like Timbaland in some of 2006’s biggest hit songs: not the star, but a vital featured player. Marshmallow fans may want more marshmallow crème, or even a mallow top to bolster the thin layer. I would have enjoyed an extra dose of marshmallow in theory, but maybe not in reality given the artificial tinge of the filling.

If the Reese’s Marshmallow Big Cup is our portal to 2006 nostalgia, I am ready to wear boho fashion, listen to The Fray, and take way too long to text on a pink Razr phone. Unlike most of these things, peanut butter and marshmallow will always be timeless.

Purchased Price: $2.78
Purchased at: Walmart
Size: 2.8 oz (79 g) King Size package
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per cup) 190 calories, 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 23 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein

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