Author: Mark

REVIEW: Shake Shack Chocolate Spice Shake

Mark 5 Comments

Shake Shack Chocolate Spice Shake Cup

What is the Shake Shack Chocolate Spice Shake?

Chocolate Spice is one of three holiday shake flavors at Shake Shack this season. Its website describes it as “holiday-spiced chocolate frozen custard blended with crumbled chocolate cookies, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon.”

How is it?

As I sipped my shake, I thought, “This is a sophisticated chocolate shake!”

In my first sip, I did get a bit of cinnamon. But overall, this shake tasted like dark chocolate. It’s certainly unlike any other chocolate shake I’ve had.

Honestly, I didn’t realize that the cookie pieces were cookies. I just thought they were a special kind of chocolate that quickly dissolved in my mouth, like chocolate candies that don’t get hard when they’re cold. They didn’t clog my straw (thanks for the compostable straw, Shake Shack!), and they were a wonderful addition to the shake.

Shake Shack Chocolate Spice Shake Top

The only element that was lacking was the cinnamon. I detected it at first, but then it just blended in with the “sophistication” of the shake. After I finished, I could taste it lingering in my mouth, but the chocolate overpowered it.

I live for seasonal things. This shake was amazing, but it just didn’t seem very seasonal to me.

Anything else you need to know?

This was my first time ever going to Shake Shack, and if there was one closer to my house, I would totally go more often. But my wallet and my body are thankful that I don’t have one nearby.

Conclusion:

Shake Shack’s Chocolate Spice Shake is a classy take on a classic shake. Just don’t expect a ton of spice.

Purchased Price: $5.79
Size: N/A
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Not available on website. At least 840 calories.

Click here for our previous fast food reviews.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Froot Loops Candy Canes

Mark 9 Comments

Froot Loops Candy Canes Box

What are Kellogg’s Froot Loops Candy Canes?

Rainbow-colored candy canes that taste like Froot Loops! Should we start referring to Toucan Sam as Toucane Sam?

Uh, sorry.

How are they?

Froot Loops Candy Canes Necklace

After the disappointing Froot Loops Peeps this past spring, I didn’t have high hopes for the candy canes. Do they actually taste like Froot Loops?

Yeah, they really do!

My brain keeps expecting there to be some Froot Loops dust or Froot Loops milk around. But nope, it’s just a typical candy cane that tastes like Froot Loops.

I expected these to be fruitier, like the ubiquitous, multicolored cherry candy cane. But these are first and foremost a cereal-flavored candy. I know that sounds weird, but it’s true! I will forever be a mint-thusiast, but these are as good as any non-minty candy cane. (Well, except for those Life Savers Butter Rum Candy Canes, if they’re still being made.)

Anything else you need to know?

Froot Loops Candy Canes Tree

Besides being eaten, candy canes are best used for decorating trees or gingerbread houses. The rainbow stripes would make these ideal for various decorating themes: tropical, children, pride, psychedelic, whatever makes your days merry and bright. But just like the cereal, the colors are a little muted.

Also, there’s a caution label on the back: “Hard candy may contain sharp edges that can cause injury. Please enjoy carefully.” If you’ve ever had a candy cane before, you already knew that.

I believe these are only available at Kroger stores and online.

Conclusion:

Froot Loops Candy Canes Cereal

Kellogg’s Froot Loops Candy Canes are surprisingly true to their namesake cereal. If you like the cereal and you like candy canes, go for ’em.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample of this product. Doing so did not influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: Free
Size: 5.93 oz. box
Purchased at: Received from Kellogg’s
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 piece) 60 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of sodium, 14 grams of carbohydrates, 11 grams of sugar (includes 11 grams of added sugar), and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Hershey’s Sugar Cookie Kisses

Mark 7 Comments

Hershey s Sugar Cookie Kisses Bag

For as long as I can remember, the Hershey’s Kisses have been literally ringing in the holiday season.

But as iconic as that commercial is, I have no reason to buy those red- and green-wrapped Kisses. That may have been exciting in the 1980s and ’90s, but in the 21st century, we like seasonal flavors to go with our seasonal wrappers.

Fortunately, Hershey’s has done exactly that by gifting us with its new Sugar Cookie Kisses, described as “sugar cookie flavored white creme with cookie pieces.”

When I open the bag, there’s a strong scent, but it doesn’t remind me of sugar cookies. It’s just vague sweetness.

Hershey s Sugar Cookie Kisses Star

Each Kiss is wrapped in silver foil with classic shapes printed on it: trees, stars, ornaments, hearts, and bells. It’s a subtle touch that brings me joy.

Inside the wrappers, the Kisses are standard white creme with red and green cookie pieces throughout. They’re nice and festive, but how is the taste?

Hershey s Sugar Cookie Kisses Split

Well, I don’t know how the creme is supposed to be “sugar cookie flavored,” but it tastes like regular white creme to me. The cookie pieces are crunchy like you’d find in a standard Hershey’s Cookies’ N’ Creme bar, just without the chocolate flavor. This summer, Hershey’s had Red White & Blue Cookies’ N’ Creme Bars. These Kisses remind me of those, almost exactly. But they certainly don’t taste like sugar cookies.

There is one way I am able to get a sugar cookie flavor. Instead of chewing, I let the white creme melt in my mouth until I have a lump of cookie pieces, then I chew on those. And they do taste like sugar cookies! I just wish the Kisses tasted like that no matter how I choose to eat them.

Hershey s Sugar Cookie Kisses Bowl

Even though I’m a little disappointed in Sugar Cookie Kisses, I’m not mad at Hershey’s. I appreciate that it creates these different seasonal flavors, and I hope it keeps doing so. Next year, if it used ginger cookies instead of these plain ones, that could be speculoos-tacular!

Purchased Price: $4.29
Size: 9 oz bag
Purchased at: Smith’s Marketplace
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (7 pieces) 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 15 grams of sugar, 12 grams of added sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dairy Queen Pumpkin Cookie Butter Shake

Mark 5 Comments

Dairy Queen Pumpkin Cookie Butter Shake Cup

What is the Dairy Queen Pumpkin Cookie Butter Shake

While the Fall Blizzard Menu gets all the attention, Dairy Queen has also launched a new autumnal shake. It’s a pumpkin shake (made with real pumpkin puree) with cookie butter flavoring. I think it’s supposed to be topped with a sprinkling of nutmeg, but I didn’t get any.

How is it?

This shake really nails everything it tries to be. I taste the pumpkin spice flavor that is so iconic and comforting this time of year. I also notice the speculoos cookie butter (you know, like the Biscoff cookies you get on an airplane), and there are even minuscule, crunchy cookie crumbs.

The ratios of pumpkin, spices, cookie crumbs, and ice cream are perfect. It’s delightful!

Dairy Queen Pumpkin Cookie Butter Shake Top

They gave me a spoon, but I consumed the whole thing with a straw.

Anything else you need to know?

I literally have nothing bad to say about this shake’s flavor.

So why am I not giving it a 10 out of 10?

Well, pumpkin shakes have been around longer than the pumpkin craze, and cookie butter has been quite popular in recent years. Both pumpkin spice and cookie butter have similar flavor profiles. So while this shake is wonderful, it’s not really new territory.

Conclusion:

Don’t let the Blizzards’ publicity distract you from this gem of a shake.

Purchased Price: $2.39
Size: Small
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Small) 520 calories, 210 calories from fat, 23 grams of fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fatty acid, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 270 milligrams of sodium, 67 grams of carbs, 1 gram of fiber, 56 grams of sugar, and 11 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Witch’s Brew Kit Kat

Mark 8 Comments

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.