I have not been a huge fan of the recent mug mix obsession. I love the concept and the experimentation that has come about from them (a pancake breakfast version? – sure!, a color changing one? – neat!) and I have seen some glimpses of hope for the future but for the most part to me they have been sugary abominations to the point of inedibility.

Betty Crocker’s newest line takes the mug mixes and turns them in a new chilled dessert direction. They retain the same easy directions to prepare and also the addition of drizzle toppings: Thoroughly mix the powdered contents with some milk, chill in the refrigerator for at least five minutes and VOILA chilled dessert bliss for one.

There are four flavors at launch: Lemon Mousse with Lemon Drizzle Topping, Chocolate Mousse with Chocolate Ganache Topping, Key Lime Mousse with Lime Drizzle Topping, and French Vanilla Topping with Salted Caramel Topping.

Lemon Mousse

I picked a good one to start with as the lemon one is pretty tasty. It has a pleasant citrusy flavor throughout both the mousse and the topping. With the mousse, it’s a little more subdued and definitely a sweeter take on lemon.

I love the way the topping complements it because it’s more intense, but also crazily tart and tangy. This one is fun to eat as the experience shifts based on the amounts of each per bite.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 4-pack box
?Purchased at: ShopRite
?Rating: 9 out of 10
?Nutrition Facts: (1 Mix & Topping) 240 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 380 milligrams of sodium, 48 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 38 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Chocolate Mousse

If at first glance you weren’t sold on these and thought why I would pay for more just elevated pudding that I have to make myself, then definitely don’t purchase the chocolate one. If you are a chocolate lover then you are likely to be pleased, but it comes in a form that tastes nearly identical to those shelf stable lunch box puddings.

That’s all I thought of when eating, even if the format is a bit thicker and fancily aerated. The topping isn’t that great either. It’s chocolatey but in a slightly gritty form as if it was Hershey’s iconic syrup, but there was something a little off about it.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 4-pack box
?Purchased at: ShopRite
Rating: 5 out of 10
?Nutrition Facts: (1 Mix and Topping) 290 calories, 11 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 360 milligrams of sodium, 46 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 35 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

Key Lime Mousse

I thought this variety would be exactly like the lemon one except with a pleasant key lime flavor. As a whole, it does evoke a key lime pie, but there were some shortcomings. The appearance of the topping is underwhelming as it is a very dingy yellow green not as vibrant as the packaging would leave you to believe. The lime flavor is in both components, again at a stronger concentration in the topping, but overall it leads to more of a sour taste than a crisp, tart, and tangy lime.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 4-pack box
?Purchased at: ShopRite
?Rating: 7 out of 10
?Nutrition Facts: (1 Mix and Topping) 230 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 380 milligrams of sodium, 47 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 38 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

French Vanilla Mousse

I took a nibble of each before they chilled and I thought this one would be my favorite as the flavor was off the charts delicious. It had a French vanilla flavor so intense that it tasted like Breyer’s French vanilla but in straight liquid form. When prepared, the flavor is still there, but it’s a bit too sweet and a hair artificial tasting. The caramel topping is also good. It’s very buttery, but again a tad sweet and with the mousse together both become a bit heavy.

Purchased Price: $3.19
Size: 4-pack box
?Purchased at: ShopFoodEx.com
?Rating: 7 out of 10
?Nutrition Facts: (1 Mix and Topping) 250 calories, 6 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 430 milligrams of sodium, 47 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 39 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Other Things:

• I first used a spoon to mix these but realized I needed something more substantial and even though I whisked them, all four had a slightly gritty texture that I could feel. When you prepare, don’t skimp on the stirring.
• The texture is hard to describe. They are definitely a step above lunch box puddings by being a little thicker and obviously closer to a true mousse, but they fall short of a restaurant’s offering with the aforementioned grittiness coming from a do-it-yourself creation. So, thick and creamy but slightly gritty.
• The box mentions some alternate preparation instructions for your preferences or if you have a lack of time – you can get a firmer mousse by chilling in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, or you can chill faster by placing in the freezer for 2 minutes.