REVIEW: Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Chocolate Peanut Cereal

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They're g-r-r-reatly disappointing. I should've Photoshopped that on the box.

If I were dressed up as a tiger with a red bandanna again, I’d say about Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Chocolate Peanut Cereal, “They’re g-r-r-reatly disappointing.”

What original Frosted Flakes has gotten right is how to turn plain corn flakes into corn flakes as sweet as cakes. But this cereal doesn’t hit that level of sweetness. Oh, don’t get me wrong, it’s far from being a cereal that nutrition influencers that sell products with dubious claims would approve of, but it’s not sweet enough to make the 10-year-old in me get out of bed in the morning.

They look chocolatey, but taste is whole different story.

While their dark brown coating makes them look and smell quite chocolatey, they don’t have a flavor that equals their appearance or scent. They’re noticeably less chocolatey tasting than Cocoa Pebbles and Cocoa Puffs, which is disappointing for a cereal that is being marketed to the same folks who consume those classic cereals, whether they’re actual kids or just kids at heart.

I initially thought maybe its chocolatey level is the way it is because it needs to allow the peanut flavor to come through. However, I’ve eaten enough peanuts to make Mr. Peanut use his cane as a weapon when he sees me, so I know what I’m supposed to taste, but I don’t detect it here. What my taste buds do notice is something that’s kind of fruity, which might be the result of combining the chocolate and this cereal’s attempt at a peanut flavor.

I’m extremely surprised Frosted Flakes didn’t go with a peanut butter and chocolate combination, because that’s a more eye-catching and mouth-watering combo. While chocolate and peanut instantly bring Peanut M&M’s to mind, the appeal of peanut butter and chocolate is a lot stronger.

The milk looks chocolatey, but taste is whole different story.

Along with a red bandanna-wearing tiger, the box’s front cover also promises that the cereal makes chocolatey-flavored milk. But while it looks as brown as what’s in a bottle of Nesquik, after the cereal sits in milk for a while, its chocolatiness is as tame as a newborn tiger cub.

Even though I’m stuck with a family-size box, it’s okay enough that I’ll get through it eventually. However, these dressed-up Frosted Flakes could gr-r-r-reatly use a bit more chocolate and a lot more peanut flavor.

Purchased Price: $5.69
Size: 22.3 oz box
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup/39 grams – cereal only) 140 calories, 1 gram of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 33 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 12 grams of sugar (includes 11 grams of added sugar), and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Strawberry Cinnabon Delights

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They're also available as a 2-pack.

Taco Bell’s new Strawberry Cinnabon Delights are simply a mild variation on the Cinnabon Delights we’ve been eating at the chain for years now. But that’s the appeal of the revamped product — it takes what we already love and changes it up just enoughto make it feel different but not too different. It’s a safe bet for a limited time only fast food snack … maybe too safe.

Weirdly enough, the new product comes in two comically disparate sizes. You can get a 2-pack for about $3 or you can splurge for the 12-pack version that’ll run you well over $8 once applicable state and local taxes are factored in. You’d think there’d be a middle ground, medium-sized product on the table, but like “fetch” in Mean Girls, six-packs of Strawberry Cinnabon Delights just aren’t happening.

I opted for the 12-pack because hey, you have to eat something while watching blender infomercials at two in the morning. The first thing you’ll notice is the smell. The bag emits a very strong scent of strawberry (of the artificial persuasion), and you also get a nice, greasy, fried dough smell that automatically tricks you into thinking your kitchen is a top-secret Dunkin’ location. You get a whiff of these things, and you will be entranced.

If you’ve ever had a Munchkin from Dunkin’ before, it’s more or less the same thing here — except the Delights are jam-packed full of cream cheese frosting. And as the name implies, the exterior dough ball is speckled with a nice dusting of strawberry-flavored sugar. It can be a little faint in low-light situations, but you can definitely see red speckles all over these things.

Taste-wise, the Delights are pretty much exactly what you’d expect. That’s the best thing about the product — and its biggest weakness at the same time. I guess the question is how much of a cream cheese-to-strawberry-flavoring-to-fried-dough ratio you prefer. I’d argue that it’s probably something like 45 percent cream cheese, 45 percent fried dough and 10 percent strawberry. As powerful as the strawberry scent may be, the overall product doesn’t taste that much like the fruit it’s imitating. Granted, it’s more flavorful than a generic grocery store brand strawberry doughnut hole, but the gap isn’t as wide as you might anticipate.

The good news about these Delights is that they’re perfect for instant gratification snacking. Alas, it’s such a mild recalculation of the standard Cinnabon Delight formula that it kind of feels like an unnecessary field trip. If you already love the product, you’re more than likely going to love these, but if you’re not a fan, I doubt these strawberry variants will win you over.

The price point is the real backbreaker here. For two Delights you can literally destroy in ten seconds, it’s a bit expensive, especially considering it almost costs as much as some full-sized cereals. With this particular product, Taco Bell is obviously pitching to people who already enjoy the regular Delights. It’ll likely please them, but newcomers might be a little disappointed in how non-special this special edition dessert tastes.

Purchased Price: $7.39
Size: 12-pack
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (One piece) 80 calories, 6 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 35 milligrams of sodium, 7 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar (includes 4 grams of added sugar), and less than 1 gram of protein.

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: Blue Bell Black Raspberry Fudge Ice Cream

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Black raspberry not blackberry

I do not know much about pomology, and in fact did not know the word existed until about two minutes before I started typing this sentence.

For the non-pomologists out there, which I’m guessing is just about everyone reading this, it means the study of fruits and nuts, and in particular, their cultivation. Why is this relevant? Because I had to pretend to be a pomologist, poorly, I might add, to figure out Blue Bell’s new Black Raspberry Fudge Ice Cream.

If you showed this to me, I'd tell you it's a blackberry.

The packaging, to my untrained eye, appears to show a blackberry, but I guess that’s actually a black raspberry. According to my tens of seconds of pomology research, a black raspberry has a hollow core and is sweeter than the solid-cored blackberry, which is also a great phone that I weirdly still miss. Adding to the confusion, the list of ingredients for this includes both black raspberries and blackberries. And don’t get me started on blue raspberries, which apparently only exist in Slurpees and snow cones and not in nature.

The flavor is also available in a pint size.

Anyway, now that the pomology lesson is complete, let’s talk about how this ice cream tastes. As a veteran eater of many blackberry cobblers, I can tell you this has a distinct, wonderful blackberry flavor. Could it also be black raspberry? I guess…I’m not sure I’ve ever had a black raspberry, so I can’t say for sure. But I am certain that the dark chocolate-flavored chunks are plentiful and delicious with a truly fudgy flavor, and they are quite thick, adding a nice crunch.

Moar swirls!!!

My only complaint is that the chocolate fudge swirl is sparse, and it would have been great to have thicker ribbons of it throughout. That’s just a minor issue, though, because the pairing of whatever berry flavor this is with chocolatey fudge chunks and swirl is perfectly rich and decadent.

It's so purple!

It’s always a tough call on whether to pick up a pint or a half gallon for an ice cream review, but I made the right choice with the big tub, and there is no danger of the dreaded ice crystals forming because the contents are unlikely to make it until next week.

Purchased Price: $8.99
Size: Half Gallon
Purchased at: Brookshire Brothers
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 240 calories, 13 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 75 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 25 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Bush’s Apple Pie, Dill Pickle, and Rocket Pop Baked Beans

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Not an April Fool’s joke

On May 20, I saw that Bush’s Baked Beans was selling a three-pack of limited edition summer flavors: apple pie, dill pickle, and rocket pop. Right away, I knew I had to try them. I’m not overly enthusiastic about baked beans per se: I’ll eat them at the potluck, but I don’t seek them out. But I am enthusiastic about all the new apple pie and rocket pop flavors coming out this summer, and I enjoy pickles. So I went on the Bush’s website and bought the box that morning. It was very generously priced at $5.25 to commemorate Memorial Day on 5/25.

If you were lucky, you could've picked up this special edition box from the Bush's website.

The box sold out on the website, but never fear if you missed out. The apple pie and dill pickle flavors are available exclusively at Walmart stores, and the rocket pop flavor is available from the Walmart website. (You will, however, miss out on the snazzy can opener and can sleeve that came in the Bush’s box.)

All three flavors have the usual comforting texture of Bush’s Baked Beans, with soft navy beans and a viscous syrup. The flavor is the only thing that’s innovative here. Interestingly, the apple pie and dill pickle are both labeled as vegetarian, but the rocket pop includes pork stock.

Apple Pie

Bush's Apple Pie Baked Beans.

When I open the can of apple pie beans, it smells like my mother’s mince pie on Thanksgiving. It’s a combination of spice, fruit, and a little bit of savoriness.

The taste, on the other hand, is not as strong. There are definite spices and a hint of apple flavor, but nothing about it really tastes like apple pie. It’s much less hearty than original Bush’s Baked Beans. It’s not bad; it’s just a little bland.

Dill Pickle

Bush's Dill Pickle Baked Beans

The scent on the dill pickle one isn’t very strong, but there’s no mistaking the dill pickle flavor. It works well with the beans, and the saltiness and the slight sourness give it a robust quality. It’s not as sour as a real pickle, thankfully. I think this should be a permanent option.

I’m looking forward to eating the leftovers!

Rocket Pop

Bush's Rocket Pop Baked Beans

Rocket pop flavor consists of cherry, lime, and blue raspberry. When I open this can, it smells like candy. Oh no, what am I in for?

Baked beans are already sweet, since they’re made with brown sugar. But this flavor is sickeningly sweet. It tastes like a kid dropped their lollipop in the pot while the beans were cooking, and not even a good lollipop. There’s no way I could detect the individual cherry, lime, and raspberry flavors. They do not play well with the beans, so it’s just a generic fruity flavor, closer to a cough drop than an actual rocket pop.

I understand why they decided not to sell this flavor in stores.

Conclusion:

Bush's summer flavors, plus some swag in this special edition box.

The box with the baked beans also includes pictures of hot dogs and lemonade. I’m not confident in Bush’s ability to make lemonade beans that would actually taste good, but a hot dog version could work. Maybe for 2027?

I love the creativity behind this project, and Bush’s got me to buy its beans, which I don’t normally do. I’m happy the brand did this, even if only one of the three flavors was successful.

Purchased Price: $5.25
Size: 27.9 oz can (Apple Pie), 26.9 oz can (Dill Pickle), 28 oz can (Rocket Pop)
Purchased at: Bush’s Beans website
Rating: 5 out of 10 (Apple Pie), 7 out of 10 (Dill Pickle), 3 out of 10 (Rocket Pop)
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 cup) Apple Pie – 160 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 360 milligrams of sodium, 33 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of dietary fiber, 13 grams of sugar including 10 grams of added sugar, and 7 grams of protein. Dill Pickle – 120 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 500 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of dietary fiber, 4 grams of sugar including 1 gram of added sugar, and 7 grams of protein. Rocket Pop – 160 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 34 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of dietary fiber, 14 grams of sugar including 10 grams of added sugar, and 7 grams of protein.

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