REVIEW: Clif Bar Coffee Collection Minis

/ / Reviews / 1 Comment

Clif Bar Coffee Collection Minis

What are Clif Bar Coffee Collection Minis?

These are new flavors of Clif Bar’s Coffee Collection, but smaller than the original members. They weigh less than half the regular bars (0.99 ounces vs. 2.4 ounces). While the full-size bars are available in Dark Chocolate Mocha, Caramel Macchiato, and Vanilla Almond Latte, the Minis come in Espresso and Cappuccino. There are 20 bars in a box.

According to Clif Bar’s website, the Espresso Minis have crunchy pieces of chocolate-covered coffee beans and a hint of sweet cocoa. The Cappuccino Minis have rich roasted coffee, white chocolate-flavored chunks, and crunchy pieces of chocolate-covered coffee beans.

How are they?

Clif Bar Coffee Collection Minis Espresso

If you’ve had chocolate-covered espresso beans, you’ll know what the espresso ones taste like, although the flavor isn’t as bold as what you’d get with the choco-coated beans. As for the Cappuccino version, the coffee flavor is a bit muted, and, overall, the bars are sweeter than the Espresso variety. With both, I occasionally get the crunch of the java beans, which are sustainably sourced from Colombia, if you were wondering.

Clif Bar Coffee Collection Minis Cappuccino

Beyond the coffee, there are the other ingredients that make up all Clif Bars, which always seem to make them look like construction material to me. While they’re all there to keep the bars together and give them their chewy and crispy textures, they don’t play too much of a role with both flavors. If anything, they perhaps lower the coffee-ness a little.

Overall, I enjoyed both, but prefer the more robust flavor of the Espresso Minis.

Anything else you need to know?

These do contain a good level of caffeine. According to the box, one has about the same amount that’s in an espresso shot. What does that mean? The side of the packaging explains that each bar has 60-70 milligrams of the stimulant.

I’ve been replacing my daily early afternoon iced coffee with one of these Clif Bars, and they seem to give me the same energy boost that gets me through the rest of my workday.

Conclusion:

While I like the flavor, convenience, and caffeine content of these Clif Bar Coffee Collection Minis, it’s the last two that stand out to me. It’s nice to consume a pick me up without having to walk over to the kitchen (or Starbucks) to get a caffeinated beverage.

Purchased Price: $10.43 (on sale)
Size: 19.80 oz. box/20 pack
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Espresso), 7 out of 10 (Cappuccino)
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) Espresso – 100 calories, 2 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 90 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein. Cappuccino – 100 calories, 2 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

SPOTTED: Nature Valley Almond Latte Minis Sweet & Salty Nut Chewy Granola Bars

/ / Spotted on Shelves / 1 Comment

Nature Valley Almond Latte Minis Sweet Salty Nut Chewy Granola Bars

I don’t care if it’s coffee-flavored. I just want Nature Valley chewy granola bars to have caffeine. (Spotted by Dorothy at Walmart)

REVIEW: Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert

/ / Reviews / 1 Comment

Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert

What is Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert?

It’s vanilla frozen dairy dessert, a cereal swirl, and Lucky Charms marshmallows from the folks at Dreyer’s. It made its debut with a Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ice Cream. Yes, the CTC one is ice cream, although light ice cream, and this is frozen dairy dessert. Sometimes life isn’t fair.

How is it?

It tastes better than it looks.

Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert Top

I mean that the vanilla base looks like dirty snow to me, and since most of what I see is that base, it’s slightly unappealing. The bright colors from the Lucky Charms marshmallows are definitely a visual contrast to the frozen dairy dessert base. However, most of them in my container had melted into shapeless color globs, making the view from above look like a canvas drop cloth under a first grader’s painting or the Care Bears not taking care of Care-a-lot.

As for the cereal swirl, I don’t know if it exists because it’s not noticeable visually or texturally. Is the dirty snow base actually a fusion of the vanilla base AND cereal swirl?

This frozen dairy dessert does a great job of incorporating all the flavors in a bowl of Lucky Charms. ALL. THE. FLAVORS. The marshmallows, the milk, AND the sweetened oat cereal are all there with every frozen spoonful. And because Lucky Charms is one of my all-time favorite cereals, this 1.5 quart-sized treat tastes delightful. But, after eating one-fifth of the tub, its flavor also makes me think of ice cream in a crunchy sugar cone.

Anything else you need to know?

Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert Marbits

Because it’s frozen dairy dessert, it’s super easy to scoop out. Also, I’m disappointed the marbits lack that freeze-dried mouthfeel. Instead, they’re just soft melted sugar globs.

Conclusion:

This treat captures Lucky Charms wonderfully, and I recommend it if you’re a fan of the cereal. I could be cliche and write Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert is, um, you know. But I won’t. But it is, um, you know.

Purchased Price: $2.80
Size: 1.5 quart tub
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 160 calories, 5 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 70 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

SPOTTED: Yoplait Go-Gurt Slushie Fizzy Yogurt Snacks

/ / Spotted on Shelves / 1 Comment

Yoplait Go Gurt Slushie Fizzy Yogurt Snacks

I think all yogurt should be fizzy. Chobani Fizz Flip has a nice ring to it. (Spotted by Leonard G at Harris Teeter.)

REVIEW: Stouffer’s Classic Lasagna Bites and Chicken Pot Pie Bites

/ / Reviews

Stouffer s Classic Lasagna Bites Right

SALISBURY STEAK BITES!!!

And that was the first thing that popped into my head after learning Stouffer’s was taking some of its classic dishes and turning them into snacks. Sadly, Salisbury steak and mac & cheese didn’t get snackified, but the popular frozen food brand is now offering Classic Lasagna Bites and Chicken Pot Pie Bites.

The Classic Lasagna Bites feature crispy breading stuffed with meat sauce and Italian style herbs, mozzarella cheese, and noodles. The chicken pot pie version has a flaky golden crust stuffed with white meat chicken, peas, carrots, and a creamy gravy.

Stouffer s Chicken Pot Pie Bites Right

There are multiple ways to prepare them — conventional oven, convection oven, air fryer, or an unconventional air fryer that involves a dragon breathing on them. Since I lack an air fryer, the patience to wait for a conventional oven, or a dragon, I went with the convection oven instructions that involves baking them at five minutes at 450 degrees, flipping them, and then having them sit in the oven for another four minutes (five minutes for the lasagna ones).

Stouffer s Chicken Pot Pie Bites Closeup

After my first bite of the Chicken Pot Pie Bites, my mind instantly thought, “This needs more gravy.” It’s not dry or anything, and it’s impressive that Stouffer’s was able to fit everything it did into a nugget that’s smaller than a Tamagotchi. Heck, there are whole frickin’ peas in them, plus everything else. Still, when I think of a chicken pot pie, I imagine a gravy pool with all the other ingredients wading in it.

But beyond that slightly nitpicky detail, these do remind me of the comfort food. Although with each bite I’ve had so far, I taste the peas, but not so much the carrots, and the crust doesn’t seem to be buttery or flaky to me. It’s similar in texture to what’s on the lasagna one.

Stouffer s Classic Lasagna Bites Closeup

As for the Classic Lasagna Bites, if it weren’t for the noodles, I’d mistake these for pizza rolls. The combination of herbs and meat reminds me of Italian sausage, but the cheese and sauce complete the pizza image in my mouth. They taste as if they have more sauce in them than the amount of gravy in the chicken pot pie ones. Look, I’m not going to complain about these tasting like pizza rolls, because I found myself enjoying these more than the other variety.

But I am going to grumble about the crust on both. They’re not what I’d consider crunchity crispy, but they’re definitely not soft. Although my choice of preparation might be the reason for their texture. I should really invest in a dragon oven. The crusts are also thick, which is understandable since what they hold could ooze out during the heating process (which surprisingly didn’t happen). But they also seem to tone down the flavors of the ingredients within them.

If you regularly heat up Stouffer’s Classic Lasagna or Chicken Pot Pie, these Bites are a unique way of experiencing those classic entrees, although they’re not as flavorful or filling.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free samples of the products. Thanks Stouffer’s! Doing so did not influence my review in any way. But I hope by doing this review, I’ve encouraged Stouffer’s to create Salisbury Steak Bites. Also, the box images used are from Stouffer’s.

Purchased Price: FREE (MSRP of $4.99 – $5.99)
Size: 12 oz. boxes
Purchased at: Received from Stouffer’s
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Chicken Pot Pie), 7 out of 10 (Classic Lasagna)
Nutrition Facts: Chicken Pot Pie Bites (4 pieces) 190 calories, 10 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 500 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 6 grams of protein. Classic Lasagna Bites (5 pieces) 230 calories, 10 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 630 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein.

Scroll to Top