REVIEW: Firecracker Pop Oreo Cookies

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Firecracker Pop Oreo patriotic packaging.

During this semiquincentennial summer, there are a number of new red, white, and blue products, and one of the most intriguing is this Firecracker Pop Oreo. Designed to mimic a patriotic ice pop, it features layers of cherry, lemon, and blue raspberry creme between vanilla cookies.

I think the name is a bit peculiar. Both “firecracker” and “pop” sound like there will be popping candy, as was done for previous years’ Firework Oreo. There’s no popping candy here, just as an ice pop does not pop. Also, “Firecracker” sounds like it could be an official collaboration with the Popsicle brand. (Most companies opt for a more generic name, like “rocket pop” or “summer ice pop.”)

This is not the first time we’ve seen Fourth of July colors for Oreos. In 2012, it had vanilla Oreos with blue and red creme, and in 2020, they had unfortunately timed Olympics Oreos with red, white, and blue creme between chocolate cookies. This 2026 version is unique, though, because there are flavors to go with the colors.

Am I supposed to say the Pledge of Allegiance while looking at this picture of the red, white and blue cremes?

When I open the package, I smell a fruity scent, maybe dominated by raspberry. And the cookies are gorgeous to look at.

The classic vanilla Oreo cookie on a spoon.

I like looking at them, but I also like tasting them! The vanilla wafer was a good choice: It’s sweet and crunchy without an overpowering flavor that would clash with the creme.

Red, a peeking white, and blue cremes.

And about that creme: The layers have a distinct, almost refreshing, artificial fruit flavor, just like an actual “firecracker pop” or a chewy candy. I can’t say that any of the individual flavors dominate when eaten all together.

An ice pop is inherently very sweet, and since there are three creme layers in this cookie, there’s more sweetness than a typical Oreo has. Even so, I don’t think it’s excessively sweet. (I mean, if you’re buying Oreos, you already know what you’re getting into.) Also, the thickness means there’s a lot more squishing than with a regular or Double Stuf Oreo. Opening the cookie and isolating the creme seems more satisfying in this Firecracker Pop edition.

Aargh! Poor white creme!

I attempted to separate the layers to see if each color is a different flavor. This was challenging to do, especially for the white layer, but I can confirm that each layer tastes different. Red is an especially vibrant cherry, like a red snow cone.

And since it’s Oreo we’re talking about, I had to try the cookies in milk. The milk neither enhanced nor ruined the flavor; it’s purely a textural difference.

I am delighted that Firecracker Pop Oreos exist and that they were executed so well. I worry these are a one-summer wonder, and we won’t see them again, but I really hope we do.

Purchased Price: $4.49
Purchased at: Smith’s (Kroger)
Size: 11.46 oz
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 cookies) 180 calories, 9 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 80 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 15 grams of sugar (includes 15 grams of added sugar), and less than 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Burger King BBQ Bounty Whopper and Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries

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That BBQ Bounty Whopper box is super cool. It also reminds me of an AT-AT.

Burger King has a whole menu dedicated to the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu movie. Only in theaters…until it shows up on Disney+ in several months. There’s the BBQ Bounty Whopper, Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries, Imperial Cheddar Ranch Tots, and Grogu’s Blue Cookie Shake.

If you’re interested in trying the Whopper and the Chicken Fries and want to save a few bucks, order the online exclusive Lone Bounty Meal, which features the special Whopper, four pieces of the new Chicken Fries, and a small drink. That’s what I ended up getting, though I’m heartbroken it wasn’t called the Mando Combo Meal or at least the Mando Meal. But I’ll survive.

The inside of the box says "Have It The Way."

The Whopper features a quarter-pound flame-grilled beef topped with melty Swiss cheese, crispy pickle chips, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and a creamy BBQ Bounty sauce on a sesame seed bun, and served in a carton shaped like the Mandalorian’s helmet. Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries are seasoned with Parmesan and garlic and served in a Grogu carton with a side of garlic sauce. Unfortunately, my four-piece order did not come with the adorable carton. I’m dismal about that, but I’ll survive.

Grogu would be camouflaged in that lettuce.

With the BBQ Bounty Whopper, I was expecting something similar to the other Western burgers I’ve had, since the barbecue sauces used are usually predictable. But after a few bites, I realized that the BBQ Bounty sauce was different. It’s sweet and peppery with a Tex-Mex vibe, and I’m not sure I’d even call it a barbecue sauce. It’s okay tasting, but some eaters might find it a little weird.

Split View time!

The Whopper as a whole did not wow my taste buds. I liked the crispy pickle chips, which added a mild vinegary pickle flavor and an equally mild crunch. However, despite coming with bacon, I didn’t taste it. And the same can be said about the Swiss cheese. The lettuce, which surprisingly was actually green (maybe in honor of Grogu), added a bit of a crunch, while the tomatoes provided an acidic kick that cut through the saltiness. But the overall experience left me feeling slightly disappointed, like learning Grogu’s name and having to stop calling him Baby Yoda. But I’ll survive.

Four pieces of chicken fries is a boring sleeve.

With the Chicken Fries, I didn’t taste a hint of Parmesan or garlic in the breading, which made me wonder if I received an order of regular Chicken Fries. However, even the images on the Burger King website didn’t show any seasoning, so my order could have been correct, and the seasoning flavor was nonexistent.

No seasoning to be seen on the Chicken Fries.

All the garlicky heavy lifting is done by the dipping sauce, which looks similar to what Papa Johns’ serves with its pizza. However, it’s less garlicky, salty, and rich. While it tastes decent, I wish this Burger King sauce had leaned harder into the garlic.

I wish the sauce was green in color. Instead we get a boring garlic butter color.

I also wish Burger King added some spinach or something to turn the sauce Grogu Green. Feel free to take that name, Sherwin-Williams. Peeling back the lid to find green sauce would’ve somewhat made up for the lack of flavor from the Chicken Fries breading. As for the chicken within the breading that lacks parmesan or garlic flavor, it was tender and a little juicy.

The BBQ Bounty Whopper and Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries are decent, but they’re not can’t-miss items. And if you do miss them, you’ll survive.

Purchased Price: $11.49 (meal)
Rating: 5 out of 10 (Whopper), 5 out of 10 (Chicken Fries)
Nutrition Facts: BBQ Bounty Whopper – 920 calories, 55 grams of fat, 19 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 125 milligrams of cholesterol, 1680 milligrams of sodium, 71 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 16 grams of sugar, and 44 grams of protein.

Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries – 250 calories, 13 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 690 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 14 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Dirty Soda

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Dunkin's Dirty Soda is a combination of Pepsi, coffee milk, cold foam, and love.

I’ve reviewed sodas, and I’ve reviewed Dunkin’s coffee milk-based Dunkalatte. But I never expected to review those two things simultaneously… until, for better or worse, Dunkin’s new Dirty Soda entered the scene.

“Interesting,” I thought idly when I first saw the word “soda” on the limited-time Spring menu. “I guess they’re trying to branch out to beverages other than coffee.” When I realized that this soda actually contained coffee as well, I practically did a spit take.

The sippy lid helps prevent cold foam from ending up on your nose. If you have a long tongue that probably doesn't matter.

If, like me, you’re struggling to wrap your mind around this concept, let me break it down: this new beverage mixes Pepsi, coffee milk, and a Sweet Cold Foam topping. If you remember 2022’s polarizing viral concoction “Pilk” (Pepsi + milk), this is essentially that, but with a jolt of java to boot.

Dirty soda often involves adding creamer to a soda, which, while making it sweeter, doesn’t tend to alter the existing flavor profile radically. The two main ingredients here, though—cola with its notes of caramel and spice and coffee milk with its notes of, well, the two things in its name—both bring distinctive personalities to play.

Look at that cold foam! It looks like, um, foam.

My first sip was such an overwhelming textural experience that it took me a few minutes to even process the taste. The velvety richness of the coffee milk is underlaid with the Pepsi’s acidic fizz and capped off by the fluffy super-sweetness of the cold foam. Creamy, bubbly, airy, this drink has it all! Once my taste buds realized what was happening to them, they were struck by the interplay between the bitterness of the coffee, the milkiness of the cold foam, and the deep cola flavor lurking beneath it all. These disparate flavors come together to form a molasses-y earthiness that almost reminded me of root beer. The uncanny combination made me feel, not entirely unpleasantly, like I was consuming some sort of medicinal tonic or faerie elixir.

Take a deep hard look into the cup of Dunkin's Dirty Soda. Does it make you feel dirty to be so deep inside it?

…Okay, you may notice that I’ve gone on about how unique this drink is, but I haven’t actually said whether it’s any good. Much like how Dunkin’ Dirty Soda is hard to define, that question is hard to answer.

The positives: this drink is certainly exciting. I found something quite charming about a massive global chain selling what sounds like it should only be accessible by unleashing a toddler at a soda fountain. I appreciate the creativity and ambition!

I guess it's not too dirty from the side.

That being said, I think it might just be too weird to work. The clashing flavors and textures never quite perfectly gel. Plus, unlike other beverages with clearly defined roles (like coffee when you’re tired or soda when you’re craving a sweet treat), it’s hard to imagine many customers regularly being in a state of mind where they’re craving a Dunkin’ Dirty Soda specifically.

…That also being said, if Dunkin’ ever wants to bring this weird drink back and make it even weirder, I’d be all in. Cherry Pepsi or caramel coffee milk, anyone?

So I say: live a little! Give this one a shot… even if you never want to do it again.

Purchased Price: $5.11
Size: Small
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 240 calories, 119 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 220 milligrams of sodium, 82 grams of carbohydrates, 43 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Nabisco Crispers (US)

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Nabisco Crispers pouches

If Tim Hortons and All Dressed chips are any indication, our neighbors to the north have great taste in snacks. When I learned that Nabisco Crispers, a fan-favorite Canadian snack, was headed to the States, I was eager to try all flavors featured in the rollout: Ranch, Dill Pickle, and BBQ.

Crispers’ Canadian origin is only part of its heritage. Baked and not fried, Crispers uses the tagline: “Not a chip. Not a cracker. They’re Crispers.” A hybrid snack, Crispers are made with a combination of wheat flour and potato flour. Thus, to the uninitiated, much of the fun of trying Crispers is playing Maury Povich, tracing which two familiar snacks reproduced to create this new light and crispy snack cracker.

Nabisco Crispers comes in 3 flavors: BBQ, Dill Pickle, and Ranch

My vote? Wheat Thins and Pringles. Crispers are thin, wavy crackers with a subtle wheat flavor. They are hearty enough to provide a nice crunch but light enough to snap easily, making the serving size very easy to devour. We’ll await the test results on the product’s tasty parentage, then go on to the next judgement: which flavor is best?

Nabisco Crispers Ranch

It may boil down to your personal preference, because each flavor is enjoyable but not aggressive enough to dominate your palate long after your last bite. The Ranch one has a light herby flavor with a hint of garlic powder and creamy buttermilk quality. Of the three varieties, Ranch tastes the mildest, but showcases the wheat flavor of the base the most.

Nabisco Crispers Dill Pickle

The Dill Pickle variety is my favorite of the three. Its flavor is the boldest, balancing refreshing dill flavor with a sharp, tangy brininess. Each crisp in the bag packs a pickle-y punch.

Nabisco Crispers BBQ

The BBQ flavor is typical of what you’d find on a barbeque potato chip: sweet, savory, and smoky. In my taste test, it was the least consistently seasoned. Some crisps are only dusted, while others are coated generously. The more seasoned crisps promise an additional surprise: a little kick of heat in the back of the throat.

Nabisco Crispers graphics

If you keep baked snacks in your pantry, make some extra room for Nabisco Crispers. Fans of Baked Lay’s or Goldfish crackers will love the light, non-greasy texture and variety of flavors. I hope the line expands to include some of the more unique flavors offered in Canada (like Gochujang or Szechuan), but until then, who is up for a trip across the border?

Purchased Price: $2.64 each
Purchased at: Walmart
Size: 5.11 oz (145 g)
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Ranch), 9 out of 10 (Dill Pickle), 8 out of 10 (BBQ)
Nutrition Facts: Ranch (per 22 pieces) – 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Dill Pickle (per 23 pieces) – 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. BBQ (per 23 pieces) – 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Nutella Peanut Spread

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Nutella Peanut yellow jar

For the first time in over 60 years, Nutella has a new flavor.

No, it’s not following the last decade’s trend of endless wild creations like Cotton Candy Oreo, Cappuccino Lay’s, or hot dog’d pizza crusts, but rather, a more nuanced, fitting addition: peanut. The classic Italian spread made of hazelnuts, sugar, palm oil, skimmed milk powder, and cocoa that has delighted International consumers since 1964 gets a much more American twist, packaged in a vibrant yellow container.

The big question is: what do you do with a jar of Nutella? Drizzle it on fruit, put it in crepes, spread it on graham crackers, use it like hot fudge on an ice cream sundae? All are valid, and I have done those things, but mostly, I like to eat it with a spoon. I want to taste that beautiful, dense, sweet intensity in isolation. And that gorgeous sugary rush is on full display here, but it’s also notably different.

Nutella Peanut is a thick as regular Nutella

Nutella Peanut is advertised as “thicker” than standard Nutella, but to my eye (and tongue), it’s almost identical in its thickness. “Thickness” meaning it’s a lot thinner and smoother than the density of a shelf-stable peanut butter, and will drip off of a spoon easily to drizzle if held for a while. It has the same stunning glossy sheen as the original and shares most of the same ingredients, too, just swapping out the skimmed milk powder for peanuts, making this spread vegan, as well.

Just eat Nutella Peanut with a spoon. Although apples would be good too.

Despite the inclusion of the brand’s signature nut, the biggest difference here is that the hazelnut is very much an afterthought, or at least after-taste. The ingredients list sugar, then peanuts and peanut flour, then oil, followed by cocoa, hazelnuts, and salt — and that’s pretty accurate to how it comes across. The initial hit of flavor is sweetness and peanuts, followed very quickly by cocoa with just a whisper of hazelnut in the finish. It’s so faint that if you told me this had no hazelnut at all, I would totally believe it. At its core, it tastes like a chocolate peanut butter with the velvety smooth texture and sugar-laden flourish of Nutella.

Look at that Nutella sheen.

If you prefer peanuts to hazelnuts, like me, this totally works, but if you’re nuts for hazelnuts, you might be disappointed. Even as much as I love peanuts and peanut butter, I can’t deny that this new-Tella is a bit less distinct than the original. But it’s refreshing to see a brand put a different yet accessible spin on its core product.

There’s no doubt that the signature texture and mouthfeel Nutella is known for is there, and it does it without sacrificing any of its decadent appeal. Nutella has always been more akin to a frosting than a nut butter, and this new spin brings a prominent pop of peanut to the king of luscious cocoa spreads.

Purchased Price: $6.09
Size: 13 ounces
Purchased at: Amazon
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (37g) 200 calories, 13 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 45 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 14 grams of total sugars, and 5 grams of protein.

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