REVIEW: Lemon Creme Pie Pop-Tarts

Lemon Creme Pie Pop Tarts Box

What are Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts?

Pop-Tarts has experimented with inventive flavors like sodas, cupcakes, and even Jolly Ranchers, but this time the brand is keeping it classic with a toaster pastry inspired by the summertime favorite, lemon cream pie.

Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts join a lineup of new flavors hitting shelves, including Peach Cobbler, Banana Crème Pie, Tropical Mango, and the limited edition Mister E Flavor.

How are they?

Although lemon is a simple (and, to me, underrated) flavor, Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts dressed up for their debut. Each tart features a swipe of pastel icing and crunchy golden sprinkles that lend extra sweetness and flair.

Lemon Creme Pie Pop Tarts Split

The pastry carries a subtle lemon taste, like a flavored shortbread. Thinking about the inspiration dessert, I expected the filling to be lighter and creamier, the sort of texture found in a Strawberry Milkshake variety. Instead, the filling is that of a standard fruit Pop-Tart: concentrated and a little jam-like.

Lemon Creme Pie Pop Tarts Frosting

The lemon flavor is sharp and citrusy but artificial, with a hint of vanilla mixed in. The filling tastes good, but the vanilla flavor doesn’t represent a cream element that well. A streak of vanilla or even marshmallow cream filling would have helped to recreate the experience of enjoying a fluffy, creamy pie.

Lemon Creme Pie Pop Tarts Filling

While I have bigger dreams for the filling than Pop-Tarts realized, I still wish there were more of it. The thin layer sits in the center of the tart, as the thick edges protect all of the lemony goodness. More filling, please, Pop-Tarts! This is how the “Is a Pop-Tart a ravioli?” debate got started!

Anything else you need to know?

Fresh from the toaster, these are still enjoyable, but I found the pastry lost its lemon-tinged flavor when heated. (I tend to prefer my Pop-Tarts untoasted, an opinion that others react to as though I’ve just spit on the graves of their ancestors, so I was surprised to see that the box suggests serving them frozen. Does eating frozen Pop-Tarts classify as deviant behavior?)

Conclusion:

Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts deliver scant filling and simpler flavor than their name suggests. They won’t replace your favorite variety but are tasty enough to satisfy a citrus craving.

Purchased Price: $2.19
Size: 13.5 oz box / 8 pastries
Purchased at: Wegmans
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 2 pastries) 380 calories, 10 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 340 milligrams of sodium, 69 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 28 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Mexican Street Corn Cheetos

Mexican Street Corn Cheetos Bag

Mexican Street Corn, often referred to by its proper street name, elote, which roughly means “corn cob” in Spanish, is grilled corn covered in mayonnaise or sour cream, topped with chili powder, Cotija cheese, and lime.

Growing up in California’s Bay Area, I came across this savory delight every week, oftentimes from street vendors also peddling Chicharones de Harina, fried orange wheel chips soaked in lemon juice and Valentina hot sauce, and on a lucky day, mango adorned with a generous sprinkling of Tajín. Needless to say, these are good eats.

I’ve also come across a more modern trend where the traditional Cotija cheese that cakes the outside of the grilled corn is replaced with crunched up Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, which brings me to the natural progression and potential dream creation of Mexican Street Corn Cheetos.

The bag boldly states “TANGY – SPICY – CHEESY” on both the front and back, so before digging in, even though I’ve had actual elote, I know exactly what I’m expecting. The aroma from the slightly slime-colored but eye-catching green bag nails those three elements. I get a citrusy tang flirting with spice and a general fried smell wafting up from the uniquely yellow-tinted crunchy Cheetos.

Mexican Street Corn Cheetos Pour

The first thing I notice in the flavor is the cheese, but it’s not the typical cheddar-meets-nacho kind of artificial cheese that defines Cheetle seasoning. It’s sharper with a touch of that umami quality you get from parmesan with its earthiness and slight funk. Not only is it cheesy, but it’s also creamy, with the distinct tang of sour cream that really stands out with a hint of buttery richness as well. Cotija cheese is really similar to parmesan when dried and aged, and I’m impressed with the depth and uniqueness of this cheesy flavor that is truly as luscious as something that’s crunchy can be.

Mexican Street Corn Cheetos Closeup

The cheesiness is followed quickly by the taste of lime and rounded out by spice, but it’s far from the type of spicy usually associated with the brand. It’s a much more of an ancho chili powder taste than heat, and the flavor does a pretty good job of emulating the balance of an elote experience, which isn’t particularly hot. There are also notes of garlic and onion floating in the background.

Since the first ingredient in Cheetos is enriched corn meal, it goes without saying that the corn-flavored chips have an inherent corniness to them that permeates every bite. The only thing absent from the profile of an actual elote stick is the sweetness of fresh corn, which Trader Joe’s added to its sensational Elote Organic Corn Chip Dippers (my favorite chip of all time). But I don’t really mind that missing element here. The cheesiness’s depth and tang are impressive, and they make these Cheetos unlike any that I’ve had before.

Purchased Price: $1.99
Size: 3.25 oz bag
Purchased at: 7-Eleven
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (21 pieces – 28 grams) 160 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Cookies ‘n Creme Stuffed Puffs

Cookies  n Creme Stuffed Puffs Bag

What are Cookies ‘n Creme Stuffed Puffs?

The food (mad) scientists at Stuffed Puffs have introduced a new cookies and creme variety to its permanent flavor lineup of stuffed marshmallows. This flavor takes the familiar vanilla marshmallow and wraps it around a white creme and chocolate cookie crunch center. ??

How are they?

The cookies and creme flavor is always so tricky to me. It’s a seemingly simple combination that can fail spectacularly. Sometimes they are spot on, but other times it almost feels like they got close and said, “Meh, good enough.” Luckily, in the case of these marshmallows, they nailed it.

The marshmallow exterior is a standard sweet, vanilla flavored marshmallow. Fluffy, squishy, and perfectly delicious on its own. However, it holds a sweet treasure within: a nugget of creme blended with bits of crunchy chocolate cookie.

Cookies  n Creme Stuffed Puffs Innards

The center is gray in color due to the blending of the creme and cookies. It can be jarring if you’re accustomed to a very defined black and white presentation when you think of cookies & creme, but in the words of the singing candelabra Lumiere: “Try the gray stuff, it’s delicious!”

The center’s flavor is very reminiscent of the Oreo branded candy bars/chocolate eggs. There’s a good balance between the very sweet creme and crunchy chocolate cookie bits.?

Anything else you need to know?

When I first tried them, they had been sitting in a box outside my house for a bit which made them slightly warmed and soft. I tried to replicate this in my microwave to varying degrees of success. Next time I’ll just put them in a cardboard box into the Florida sun for an hour to get them perfect.

Conclusion:

Cookies  n Creme Stuffed Puffs Split

After finally trying my first Stuffed Puff, I have to say I’m impressed. Even though they didn’t make it past just eating them straight from the bag, they are certainly good enough to try in other ways. There’s a “krispie treat” recipe on the back of the bag that is calling to me.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample of the product. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 8.6 oz bag
Purchased at: Received from Stuffed Puffs
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 pieces) 140 calories, 4 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 30 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 1 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Muddy Buddies Pretzel Bites

Muddy Buddies Pretzel Bites Pouches

What are Muddy Buddies Pretzel Bites?

General Mills extends its Muddy Buddies line with crunchy pretzels covered in sweet coating and powdered sugar. Pretzel Bites come in two varieties: Peanut Butter & Chocolate and Cookies & Cream.

How are they?

A decade after introducing Chex Muddy Buddies, General Mills has asked, “What else can we muddy, buddy?”

The answer to that question (and countless life dilemmas, really) is “When in doubt, add salt.”

Thus, Muddy Buddies Pretzel Bites were born. With their flavor, texture, and ability to be eaten by the bowlful before you realize what you’ve done, pretzels seem like a natural swap for Chex cereal pieces as vehicles for sweet coating.

Muddy Buddies Pretzel Bites CPB Pour Size

Tearing into the Peanut Butter & Chocolate variety first, I was surprised by their small size. The pebble-sized pretzels are made for nibbling rather than biting. They could easily blend into a trail mix or masquerade as a dessert topping.

Muddy Buddies Pretzel Bites Chocolate  Peanut Butter Split

Although the bites are small and the coating looks thin, the peanut butter and chocolate taste is big, complementing the pretzel taste and texture well. While the pretzel salt isn’t discernible on its own, it seems to enhance the chocolate and peanut butter. This was a welcome change from the Chex version, which I’ve found to lack flavor despite its sweetness.

Muddy Buddies Pretzel Bites Cookies  Cream Pour

The Cookies & Cream variety delivers the same size and satisfying crunch, but this time with a white cream coating and chocolate cookie crumb speckles. The bites smell and taste like the inside of an ice cream shop: that sugary, creamy vanilla that is somehow both rich and refreshing.

Muddy Buddies Pretzel Bites Cookies  Cream Split

While the chocolate cookie crumbs don’t contribute much to the flavor, the saltiness is much more noticeable than in the Peanut Butter & Chocolate variety.

Anything else you need to know?

For the uninitiated, the homemade version of muddy buddies has long been a staple of holiday parties and other celebrations, especially in the Midwest. (In northwestern Pennsylvania, where I live, the delicacy is most commonly called puppy chow, a name that I admit is not particularly appetizing but to which I have a begrudging loyalty.) As social media has made the treat and its several variations more popular, it’s exciting to see “muddiness” being embraced.

Conclusion:

Muddy Buddies Pretzel Bites deliver big flavor and crunch in a tiny bite. Sweet and salty fans might prefer Cookies & Cream, while Peanut Butter & Chocolate traditionalists will enjoy the twist on the original product.

Purchased Price: Free
Purchased at: Received from General Mills
Size: 4 oz (113 g) bags
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Peanut Butter & Chocolate), 7 out of 10 (Cookies & Cream)
Nutrition Facts: (per 1/3 cup) Peanut Butter & Chocolate – 130 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 240 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Cookies & Cream – 130 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 11 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Papa John’s Parmesan Crusted Papadia

Papa John s Parmesan Crusted Papadia Full

In the pizza chain innovation playbook, it’s a must to mess with the crust. So Papa John’s stayed true to form with the new Parmesan Crusted Papadia.

While it’s a standard play to jazz up the crust, the execution is actually pretty genius because it takes a unique offering in the crowded chain pizza space and makes it more unique. It also delivers exactly as promised — a Papadia with a nice crispy parmesan exterior.

The addition can be ordered with any of the existing varieties. It’s a one-dollar upcharge. I went with my favorite one thus far — the Meatball Pepperoni.

After opening its box, I could immediately tell it was cheese crusted from its golden hue. It was like someone folded a doily made of cheese onto the Papadia.

Papa John s Parmesan Crusted Papadia Seeing Crust

The visible shredded dairy melded onto the surface was reminiscent of the pizza chain’s garlic parmesan crust. But this version is so much better because of the added surface area and the wispy cheese edges like the overflow on a grilled cheese sandwich. 2?r now equals C for cheese!!!

Said cheese doily didn’t take away from or overpower the existing meat and tomato sauce flavors. It complemented them really well with extra savoriness that culminated in a much cheesier taste than the original version. I also enjoyed the added texture to each bite. It’s not crunchy like eating Cheetos, but rather it’s more like a light crispness, similar to eating a parmesan crisp!

Papa John s Parmesan Crusted Papadia Bites

With all that said, this cheese-crusted version was a little less “handheld happiness” than the original, as the parmesan crust left quite the oily residue.

All things considered, I would pay the extra dollar for the crispy goodness again and again.

I’m actually secretly hoping that this catches on at other chains and even local pizza joints. Can you imagine an added cheesy exterior like this on a folded NY-style pizza?! SHEEEEEESH (as the TikTokers would say).

This is innovation at its finest, people!! Simple but effective and delicious.

Purchased Price: $7
Size: N/A
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Not available on website, but here’s the info for a regular Meatball Pepperoni) 940 calories, 49 grams of fat, 21 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 140 milligrams of sodium, 2390 milligrams of sodium, 79 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 42 grams of protein.