REVIEW: Selena Gomez Oreo Cookies

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As Selena Gomez’s hit song said, the heart wants what it wants. My heart wants more Oreo collaborations—not because I crave connection to a favorite star, but because Oreo’s celebrity collaborations yield interesting and inventive flavors. As we junk food fans know, wild possibilities are endless. If we work together, can we manifest a Judge Judy or Weird Al Yankovic Oreo?

In the meantime, I’ll let Selena Gomez Oreo Cookies imbue some glamor and spice in my life. Dressed in pink foil packaging, the cookies follow the Post Malone Oreo as the latest limited edition Oreo-celebrity collaboration. Selena’s signature Oreo is a “horchata-inspired” sandwich cookie. Broken down, the sandwich consists of chocolate cinnamon wafer cookies and two crèmes: chocolate cinnamon and sweetened condensed milk with cinnamon sugar.

Yes, you read “cinnamon” three times in that last sentence. While the individual cinnamon-kissed components are fantastic, the spice somewhat dominates the cookie. The wafers taste like cinnamon cookies touched with cocoa, something like chocolate speculoos. Both cremes are delicious, but the sweetened condensed milk crème is so good that future Oreo muse Weird Al might write a song about it. Its rich milkiness carries a hint of caramelization that makes regular Oreo crème seem like a sugary bore in comparison. Its cinnamon sugar crystals add more flavor than texture without much noticeable grit or crunch.

As one bite, the Oreo loses the nuances that make each component exciting. Cinnamon takes over, and while the cocoa is enough to make the cookie taste different from any number of Cinnamon Toast Crunch products on the market, it’s not enough to taste very chocolatey. I’m not sure both cremes needed cinnamon elements, and I would have loved more of the condensed milk creme to balance out the flavors. Like a cup of cinnamon hot cocoa on a cold day, the cookies’ unexpected combination of sweetness and spice hits the spot, but I didn’t like them as well as the Post Malone Oreos.

Like that product, the Selena Gomez cookies include embossed wafer designs (like headphones, a heart, and the star’s signature) and a QR code on the package that leads to exclusive content for fans.

Whether you adore Selena (Selenators, there’s an embossed wafer dedicated to you!) or cinnamon (cinna-minions, show yourselves!), these Oreos are a must-try. While I would have preferred more chocolate or condensed milk creme, I will still finish the package as I dream up new collaborations. If Selena can convince costars Steve Martin and Martin Short to collaborate on a Double Stuf Oreo, I’ll buy a second package.

Purchased Price: $5.29
Size: 10.68 oz package
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 cookies) 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and less than 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Crispy Chicken Strips and Spicy Ranchero Crispy Chicken Taco and Burrito

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Right after the introduction of Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Nuggets, I felt it was inevitable that Taco Bell would eventually follow up with chicken tenders and shared that with no one who could confirm I actually thought that. Why did I come to this conclusion back then? Well, I had a gut feeling because Taco Bell didn’t stuff those chicken nuggets into a flour tortilla that ended up in my gut.

So here we are with the chain’s new Crispy Chicken Strips made in the same way as its nuggets. And they also come stuffed in tortillas! You can purchase them as a two-strip pack with your choice of dipping sauce. Or you can get one of them in a taco with cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce, purple cabbage, and your choice of Spicy Ranchero Sauce or Avocado Ranch. Or you can get two of them in a burrito with the same stuff that’s in the taco. Since I felt like I needed to spice up my life, I decided to order the taco and burrito with the Spicy Ranchero Sauce. However, I also picked up an order of chicken strips.

Let’s start with the Chicken Strips on their own, which I got with a Spicy Ranch Sauce. Compared with the chain’s nuggets, which have a satisfying crunch, these strips had an exterior that was less so. It also didn’t stick to the chicken very well, as after my first bite, I noticed the coating started to peel off from the poultry. Of course, your results may vary.

The lightly seasoned coating, infused with Mexican spices, tastes fine and is similar to the nuggets, but it is enhanced by a sauce. While they taste fine and the poultry is tender, I don’t think I’d repurchase them because an order is just TWO pieces that made the sleeve they came in look very roomy.

Although it’s the same chicken, I enjoyed the strips much more in the taco and burrito. Oddly, even though they have the same ingredients, I preferred the messier taco over the burrito because I felt like I could better taste all the ingredients in it.

The highlight of both was the Spicy Ranchero Sauce, which complements the spices in the chicken’s coating. The peppery and smoky condiment made every bite a tasty one, and while “spicy” is in its name, I thought it was pretty mild. No Baja Blast Mountain Dew is needed. There were also acidic bursts from the tomatoes in the pico de gallo and an intense cheesiness from the cheddar.

As for texture, I felt that the chicken maintained most of its crispiness in the taco better than in the burrito. That makes sense since I know through personal experience with bubble wrap that it can get quite stuffy in a burrito. However, not all crunch is lost with the burrito because the purple cabbage does maintain some in the flour tortilla sauna.

Overall, if you want to experience Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Strips, I’d recommend getting either the taco or burrito that features them. Again, getting them on their own seems like you’re not getting your money’s worth because it’s only two. Though, I think my gut would feel better if it came with three for the same price.

Purchased Price: $4.99 (Chicken Strips), $3.59 (Taco), $7.19 (Burrito)
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Chicken Strips), 8 out of 10 (Taco), 7 out of 10 (Burrito)
Nutrition Facts: Crispy Chicken Strips – Not currently available on the Taco Bell website. Spicy Ranchero Crispy Chicken Taco – 240 calories, 10 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 640 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar (including less than 1 gram of added sugar), and 11 grams of protein. Spicy Ranchero Crispy Chicken Burrito – 500 calories, 20 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 1310 milligrams of sodium, 58 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar (including 1 gram of added sugar), and 23 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Pink Spritz Refresher

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Leading up to summer – and definitely when it officially arrives – I think we all have similar goals. We’d like to be doing something that isn’t our daily grind, ideally not sweating our faces off, and sipping on a beverage that transports us to somewhere else. If we have to be where we are and a bit jealous of anyone on a vacation (even if they’re probably wearing a sunburn and more mosquitos than their pictures indicate), we deserve a refreshing drink that promises fizz, fun, and a splash of something extra.

Dunkin’ sees this need and offers us the Pink Spritz Refresher, a fruity mix of guava, passion fruit, and orange served over ice and shaken with sparkling water. Continuing its trend of celebrity endorsements, the ad for this drink features Paige DeSorbo of Summer House fame. Is this worth mentioning? I can’t say because I’m pretty uncool and have never seen that show. I can tell you about the drink though!

I read our recent review of the Tropical Guava Refresher, and when I received my Pink Spritz Refresher, questions immediately formed in my head. My drink was pink-forward in color but also carried an orangey sunset tinge. It looked kind of…familiar. Thirsty and ready to find out what it tasted like, I took a sip and found it pleasantly tart, sweet, and bubbly. I initially thought the flavor of passion fruit came through most with guava coming in second and orange being mostly in the background. As a passion fruit fan, I’m pleased to see that flavor gaining popularity and making more appearances. The overall blend was reminiscent of a tropical punch and sort of made me feel like I was drinking tropical Jolly Ranchers. The sparkling water had the right amount of carbonation, with plenty of crisp bubbles, yet still remained laid-back and not overly bubbly.

As I continued to sip and thought more about what I was tasting, things were leaning in the guava direction. I looked at my Dunkin’ app and checked the ingredients. It turns out that the Pink Spritz Refresher uses the same concentrate as Tropical Guava, but where the Guava version is made with green tea, the Spritz version uses sparkling water. Dunkin’ is calling this the Summer of Refreshers, but in light of this development, perhaps it’s also the Summer of Redundancy? I suppose it was silly of me to think that they’d have two different flavors that both featured guava in the rotation at the same time, but I do feel a bit like the folks at Dunkin’ are trying to pull the sun hat over our eyes. At the price of $3 for a medium all summer long, I can’t be mad about it. The Pink Spritz is true to its refreshing moniker and a very enjoyable thirst quencher if you’re craving something cold and caffeinated to take your tastebuds to the tropics.

Purchased Price: $3.32 ($3 deal in-app, regular price $4.39)
Size: Medium
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 130 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 31 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 28 grams of total sugar, and 1 gram of protein

REVIEW: Taco Bell Mike’s Hot Honey Diablo Sauce

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Mike’s Hot Honey has been a popular condiment for over a decade. The sweet and spicy sauce has been found in just about every corner of the food world, collaborating with the likes of KFC, Red Robin, Dunkin’, and DiGiorno. Oh, that’s not enough for you? How about Utz, Blue Diamond, Keebler Club Crackers, and Boulder Canyon?

Now you can add Taco Bell to the list with the limited-time Mike’s Hot Honey Diablo Sauce, which rolled out with the rerelease of the Crispy Chicken Nuggets. It can also be added to the Nacho Fries or purchased à la carte.

Taking a sniff, the sweet honey was the first note, followed by the signature smoky essence from the Diablo. Trying the sauce on its own, the lime flavor was a punch to the mouth. It was overwhelming at first, but once the honey and chipotle showed up, it became more pleasant.

Dipping a chicken nugget into the sauce, the texture and appearance were reminiscent of sweet and sour sauce. The initial bite was a little overwhelming at first as there were a lot of flavors hitting me at once. The honey and lime came on strong, but an underlying smokey heat quickly became the primary flavor. The combination of chilies from Mike’s Hot Honey with the chipotle and red chilies from the Diablo sauce made for a mouth-numbing kick.

The sweetness of the honey, however, comes in clutch to dull the spice just enough to keep me coming back to dip my chicken. There was a consistent heat in my mouth, but it never went into uncomfortable territory while eating my five nuggets. Their crunchy tortilla coating was a perfect delivery service for the sauce. The chicken’s flavor didn’t detract from the dip but added a savory component to help stay balanced. I wouldn’t be surprised if a social media “hack” of shaking the nuggets with the sauce in the box pops up sooner rather than later.

The dip also works well with the “bold Mexican spices” of Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries. Also, for science, I tried it with a plain chip and found it less enjoyable than it was with the nuggets or fries.

The collaboration between Mike’s Hot Honey and Taco Bell’s Diablo sauce creates a unique and surprisingly balanced taste profile. That initial lime kick might surprise you, but the balance of sweet honey and smoky, numbing heat keeps you dipping. The crispy nuggets are the perfect match, adding savory crunch without getting lost. This limited-time offering is a bold, flavorful item that’s definitely worth trying for those who enjoy a “swicy” meal.

Purchased Price: $4.69 (side with Crispy Chicken Nuggets) OR $0.80 (à la carte)
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 45 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 11 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Cheddar BBQ

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Some BBQ purists are disgusted by the inclusion of cheese with BBQ. I come from the undisputed BBQ capital of the world (take a hike, Texas) and disagree with this sentiment. A nicely melted slice of cheddar does wonders on a burger featuring BBQ sauce. One of the most popular menu items from one of the best BBQ spots in my city (and so, by default, one of the best BBQ places in the world) is the “Z-Man,” a sandwich featuring smoked, sliced brisket, onion rings, a dab of BBQ sauce, and a beautifully smoked slice of provolone cheese all on a Kaiser roll.

So, what I’m saying is that cheese and BBQ are a winning flavor combination, and you can’t convince me otherwise.

It was with this in mind that I had high hopes for the new Flamin’ Hot BBQ Cheddar Cheetos. Well, except for the fact that I never eat Cheetos. It’s not that I don’t like them — it just never crosses my mind to buy them. Oh sure, if I’m on a gently swaying pontoon under a blistering summer sun, and you hand me a bag, I’ll dabble. But left to my own devices in the snack aisle, nine times out of ten, I’m choosing either some sort of Doritos or a potato chip. However, if Frito Lay keeps these around, that may change.

Everything is upfront with these crunchy little curls of deliciousness — the heat, the rich cheddar flavor, the mildly sweet tang of the BBQ sauce, and there’s even a noticeable smokiness that imbues within each piece a degree of unexpected complexity. There is no nuance here — you get what you get in each bite and I appreciate that.

I also appreciate the uniformity. We all know that not every Dorito is created equal; while some triangles are coated with a thick dust of powder, others are as dry as a recently Lasik’d eye. With these Cheetos (and maybe it’s all Cheetos? I may need to dig a little), every bite is as fulfilling as the bite before, and there’s a commodity in the known. I was also surprised by the seemingly muted heat. I’ve had “Flamin’ Hot” things before, and I often find it a stupid heat — hot for the sake of hot. I’m not sure if the smoky BBQ cheesiness balanced these out or what because although there was a nice, mild burn, it wasn’t aggressive or obnoxious.

If you’re an anti-cheesian with regard to BBQ, these may not be for you. But if you hold no such prejudice, or you’re at least open to experimentation, I’d highly recommend snagging a bag of these when you see them. I don’t think you’ll regret it.

Purchased Price: $4.43
Size: 8.5 oz bag
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (28g) 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1.5 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 140 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

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