REVIEW: Snickers Oats (Thailand)

Snickers Oats

What is Snickers Oats?

Official word is that these are Snickers bars (nougat, peanuts, caramel, chocolate coating) with oats added. Sounds simple enough. I’m actually surprised these haven’t surfaced earlier.

Now, I’m no fan of oatmeal (and by that, I mean I can’t stand that devil’s pancake batter) but I have been known to polish off a container of oatmeal cookies in one sitting when there weren’t other cookies around. They’re not my go-to, but I always think “oh, right – these are pretty good,” when I’m actually eating them. I wasn’t sure if these would be oat-meal-y (blech) or oat-cookie-y (mmm-kaaaayyy).

Snickers Oats 2

How is it?

These are true to the description – Snickers + oats. The nougat is supposed to be the garden variety, but to me the texture was denser and the flavor was more cake-like.

When I cut away the chocolate coating, the inside was PACKED with oats. With the caramel and chocolate coating, it amounted to a cross between a middle-of-the-road granola bar and a middle-of-the-road oatmeal cookie. The combination left me kinda meh. It’s somehow less exciting than a plain Snickers. In fact, I would deem these the Colin Robinson of Snickers bars – I sorta dozed off and don’t really remember eating the rest of it. It might have stolen my life force.

Snickers Oats 3

Anything else you need to know?

I have not seen these in specialty stores, so ordering online is the way to go if you really must have the blandest Snickers.

Snickers Oats 4

Conclusion:

If you wear a lot of beige, regularly comment on the weather, and listen to Nickelback (yeah, I know, it’s an easy and dated joke, but I’ve yet to encounter a rabid Nickelback fan who’ll fight back), you’re gonna love this Snickerzzzzzzz bar. Novelty junkies – steer clear.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: (2) 20-gram mini bars
Purchased at: Mexican Candy Lady
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 mini bars) 184 calories, 7.6 grams of fat, 3.2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 2 milligrams of cholesterol, 78 milligrams of sodium, 25.4 grams of carbohydrates, 1.4 grams of fiber, 18.9 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Little Caesars Stuffed Crazy Bread

Little Caesars Stuffed Crazy Bread

With Little Caesars’ latest cheesy concoction, it came, it saw, and, probably a little too much, it conquered the market on pizza side-items with the recently released Stuffed Crazy Bread, wherein the middle of its dream-worthy breadsticks are absolutely filled with a river of “gooey cheese.”

And I only say “a little too much” because, if I’m being honest, after sampling these crazy champions of cheesy-bread, I have to ask, “Why even bother ordering the pizza when you can have this instead?”

We can all agree that Little Caesars’ Crazy Bread is already a much-loved and much-needed foodstuff. With their buttery outside covered in a dusting of garlic salt and Parmesan cheese, they are a side-piece that, most days, beats Little Caesars’ pizza as far as pure taste goes, especially when paired that tangy marinara dipping sauce, also filled with secret herbs and spices.

Little Caesars Stuffed Crazy Bread 2

But this newest incarnation takes things to a whole other level of high-caloric snacking. While the outside is still that lovingly baked bread we all know and care for, it’s when you tear a stick into two that the warm cheese stretches in a dull yellow string, steaming from the inside.

Little Caesars Stuffed Crazy Bread 3

And while Little Caesars’ press release calls this product “gooey cheese,” it works for me. It’s a dairy flavor unbeknownst to my dumbfounded hunger, but it’s a texture I’m more than settled with, combining wonderfully with the said Crazy Bread. The marinara dipping sauce that comes with the bread gives it that little extra oomph that I always crave.

Perhaps the only flaw in this, I feel, is for those people with big families with big hungers. Compared to old school Crazy Bread’s eight-pieces per bag, the Stuffed Crazy Bread is stuffed crazily into a bag with only three thick pieces. While this trio definitely suits me, I can see why this low count would ruffle certain thickly-thrifty feathers.

Regardless, more competition than a complement, Little Caesars’ Stuffed Crazy Bread is a filling meal that, though extensively carbo-loaded and thoroughly cheese-heavy, makes for a great taste itself. It’s worthy of being a heavy lunch or a light dinner or, if you can handle it, possibly both.

Purchased Price: $3.49
Size: 3 pieces
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 980 calories, 38 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 1960 milligrams of sodium, 126 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugar, and 36 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Talenti Gelato Layers Banana Caramel Crunch and Lemon Berry Pie

Talenti Gelato Layers Banana Caramel Crunch

Talenti Gelato Layers are one of the most eye-catching products in the ice cream aisle. In their clear, pint-sized plastic containers, we can see the components stacked on top each other as if we’re looking at a cross section of a dessert planet.

Two of the newest varieties are Banana Caramel Crunch and Lemon Berry Pie.

Banana Caramel Crunch’s layers include banana pudding gelato, pie crust pieces, dulce de leche, more banana pudding gelato, and more pie crust pieces. Lemon Berry Pie features lemon gelato, graham pieces, blueberry sauce, a second lemon gelato layer, and pie crust pieces.

There’s definitely banana flavor in the Banana Caramel Crunch, but as for caramel and crunch, it’s a bit lacking. The creamy base is excellent, and I’d be happy if Talenti offered it its own pint. It has a mild flavor and is not as sweet as a ripe banana.

Talenti Gelato Layers Banana Caramel Crunch Back

When the gelato, dulce de leche, and pie crust are in one spoonful, it tastes like…bananas. To be more specific, the caramel seems to add something to the gelato’s flavor to make the two taste like something that reminds me of a banana that’s still a little green. As for the “crunch” part, the pie crust pieces are as soft and silent as the rest of the dessert. So feel free to eat this next to your sleeping loved one.

Talenti Gelato Layers Lemon Berry Pie

As I was eating the Lemon Berry Pie one, I kept thinking it tastes like a dessert other than pie — lemon cheesecake. Although, isn’t a cheesecake technically more a pie than a cake? Ugh. No time to sit and ponder about that because this review won’t write itself.

Talenti Gelato Layers Lemon Berry Pie Back

Anyhoo, it seems as if the tanginess from the blueberry sauce and the lemon gelato create a tang that’s similar to cheesecake. The graham cookies and pie crust don’t enhance the pint’s flavor, and they also don’t provide contrasting textures with the other ingredients.

Talenti Gelato Layers Lemon Berry Pie Sauce

Look, I ate both easily without any regard for weight gain or guilt because they’re tasty. But I felt the gelato’s flavor dominated both pints, and I wish the dulce de leche and blueberry sauce stood out more. I guess it also doesn’t help that there are two base layers in each pint and a thin amount of sauce. Also, I would’ve liked something that provided a crunch. But if you love banana or lemon, which aren’t too common in the ice cream aisle, it’s worth a purchase.

DISCLOSURE: I received free samples from Talenti/Unilever. Doing so did not influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 1 pint
Purchased at: Received from Talenti (sold wherever Talenti products are sold)
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Banana Caramel Crunch), 6 out of 10 (Lemon Berry Pie)
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) Banana Caramel Crunch – 280 calories, 11 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 75 milligrams of sodium, 41 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 32 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein. Lemon Berry Pie – 250 calories, 11 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 36 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 28 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Klondike Donuts

Klondike Donuts

Klondike Donuts would’ve been more impressive looking if they had the standard round shape of the fried treat instead of appearing like the food love child of a Dunkin’ donut and Wendy’s beef patty.

The line of frozen novelties come in three donut-inspired flavors — Boston Cream, Frosted Strawberry, and Triple Chocolate.

Klondike Donuts Boston Cream Shell

According to the Klondike website, Boston Cream is filled with sweet egg custard swirls and the flavor of a Boston Cream Donut, and it has a milk chocolatey coating with white chocolatey drizzles.

Let’s state the obvious: Boston Cream Donuts don’t have holes in them. That, plus the square shape, makes it look as if Klondike took a lot of liberties with what donuts are.

Klondike Donuts Boston Cream Shell Interior

The frozen dairy dessert with egg custard swirls does remind me of the filling of a Boston Cream Donut, but not as sweet. But the milk chocolatey coating helps convince my taste buds that it, as a whole, is similar to the filled donut.

Of the three, this was my second favorite of the bunch.

Klondike Donuts Frosted Strawberry Shell

Frosted Strawberry is inspired by a strawberry jelly filled donut. It has strawberry frozen dairy dessert, a strawberry swirl, milk chocolate coating, rainbow sprinkles… Wait, there are? (Looks at one) Oh, there are, but they’re partially hidden in the coating. There’s also a white chocolatey drizzle.

Klondike Donuts Frosted Strawberry Interior

What’s great about a jelly filled donut is how the flavor is potent when a bite is taken and the fruity filling oozes or squirts out. But this treat lacked that level of fruitiness. The chocolate almost completely hides the strawberry frozen dairy dessert from my taste buds. But all the blame shouldn’t be put on the shell alone. When I tried the pink frozen dessert by itself, it was milder than the strawberry in any Neapolitan ice cream I’ve had.

This was my least favorite of the three.

Klondike Donuts Triple Chocolate Shell

Finally, there’s Triple Chocolate, which is the best of the bunch. According to Klondike, it has a chocolate cakey fried donut flavor with a dark chocolatey coating, dark crunch pieces, and a milk chocolatey drizzle.

Klondike Donuts Triple Chocolate Interior

I assumed the frozen dessert had the “chocolate cake fried donut flavor.” But after trying it, it turns out that the creamy filling is the least chocolatey tasting part of the bar. Much like the previous two, the creamy interior has a mild taste. Instead, the fried donut comes from the dark chocolatey coating, dark crunch pieces, or both. However, to get that donut-like flavor when eating the treat whole, I had to savor each bite to pick up on the nuances in the bar that separate it from a typical dipped chocolate ice cream bar.

Like all Klondike treats, the coating isn’t too thick. So biting into them will cause fissions throughout the rest of the chocolate. So my Public Service Announcement to you is to eat them over a plate, the wrapper they come in, or a bowl of ice cream that could use some toppings.

Klondike Donuts are perfectly fine frozen dairy dessert novelties, especially the Boston Cream and Triple Chocolate varieties, since their flavors do somewhat make me think of the round treat.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free samples from Klondike/Unilever. Doing so did not influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 6-pack
Purchased at: Received from Klondike
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Boston Cream), 5 out of 10 (Frosted Strawberry), 8 out of 10 (Triple Chocolate)
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) Boston Cream – 230 calories, 12 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 75 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 18 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Frosted Strawberry – 230 calories, 12 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 50 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 21 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Triple Chocolate – 210 calories, 12 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 50 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Biscoff Sandwich Cookies

Lotus Biscoff Sandwich Cookies

What are Biscoff Sandwich Cookies?

Lotus took its iconic airline Biscoff cookie, made them into smaller circles, and then combined two of them with a filling (Vanilla, Milk Chocolate, or Biscoff Cream).

If you are not familiar with these cookies, then I am guessing you have not been on a commercial flight since the 1980s. They are those delicious, crunchy, dark beige cookies with a thoughtful mix of spices and a caramelized taste that often get provided on flights. Does anybody else shyly ask for an extra package from the flight attendant?

How are they?

These retain the unique Biscoff taste and feel, which makes sense given the cookie to filling ratio. I am glad the distinctive characteristics of the cookie were not lost and these are as delightful as the original.

Lotus Biscoff Sandwich Cookies Wrappers

The aroma that came from opening all three packages was scrumptious and almost calming. Maybe it is just me, but the smell is reminiscent of being on an airplane, knowing that your plane has now reached its desired altitude, and cruising along safely for you to lean back and be kindly served cookies and coffee.

Lotus Biscoff Sandwich Cookies Closeup

First, I tried the vanilla one. Of all three filling varieties, it has the strongest taste and is consequently my least favorite. The filling tastes like vanilla frosting and is almost too sweet. If you love how the original Biscoff cookie is just sweet enough, but does not have the heavy sugary feeling as other desserts, you might not enjoy these. On the other hand, maybe the added sweetness and sugar to a crunchy cookie is your thing.

Next, I tried the chocolate one. This was my favorite. It is less sugary-sweet than the vanilla, but still offers a subtle addition of sweetness and flavor that complements the cookie well.

Lastly, I tried the Biscoff Cream filled one. Obviously, if you take Biscoff cookies, crush and cream them, and then put the cream inside two others, the end product is going to taste like a Biscoff cookie (which is great). Not surprisingly, these have more of the iconic taste than the other varieties in the lineup. However, unlike the original, these offer a soft texture that hits right after that lovely crunch.

It should be noted that Biscoff does not label the cream as cookie butter, and while the filling is still soft relative to the cookie, it does not have the same texture as what comes in a jar.

Update: I contacted Lotus’ customer service and they told me its cookie butter is being used as the filling.

Anything else you need to know?

Lotus Biscoff Sandwich Cookies Tops

These are not Oreo and should not be approached as an Oreo spin-off. I have different preferences and expectations for an Oreo vs. Biscoff. For example, I typically prefer more creme with my Oreo and was initially surprised by the smaller-than-expected amount of filling in this product.

However, the amount of filling is actually perfect and allows for an added mini bonus of texture and taste (with the vanilla and chocolate flavors) without taking away from the Biscoff flavor itself. The cookie is still the captain of the airplane, it is just now joined by a supportive first officer.

Conclusion:

Overall, these are just as delicious as the original Biscoff cookies. If you are looking for a little extra something to the already enjoyable treat, then the vanilla and chocolate flavors might be right for you. If you love the Biscoff taste, you may appreciate the texture difference with the cookie-flavored cream one.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free samples of the product from Walmart. Doing so did not influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: FREE (retails for $1.98)
Size: 150 grams (1 package)
Purchased at: Received from Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Vanilla), 10 out of 10 (Milk Chocolate), 9 out of
10 (Biscoff Cream)
Nutrition Facts: (3 cookies) Vanilla – 160 calories, 8 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 80 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 12 grams of total sugars, 12 grams of added sugars, and 1 gram of protein. Milk Chocolate – 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 12 grams of total sugars, 12 grams of added sugars, and 2 grams of protein. Biscoff Cream – 160 calories, 8 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 10 grams of total sugars, 10 grams of added sugars, and 1 gram of protein.