Update: We reviewed it! Click here to read our review.
Last year, Mars gave us Chili Nut M&M’s to tingle our taste buds. Later this year, Nestle will offer Smokin’ Hot Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups, a limited edition spicy version of their not-as-good-as-Reese’s peanut butter cups. According to Candy Hunting, cayenne pepper is added to the peanut butter to give it a spicy kick.
I didn’t know athletes were clamoring for a smooth finish with their Gatorade. I’ve never said to myself, “Damn, that Gatorade is harsh going down.” (Spotted by Gary A at Acme.)
If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.
There are two things that strike me as odd about these new Red Velvet Kit Kat bars.
The first is that they are white, without a hint of red, even though red is literally in their name. I guess red velvet has moved beyond being associated with Valentine’s Day for its color, and now it’s the flavor that’s iconic. I’m fine with that, especially since in this case it means there’s no artificial coloring.
The second thing is that red velvet is even a flavor for this and other candies. I’ve had many red velvet cakes and cupcakes, but I still don’t know what its flavor is. I mean, I know it’s a cake made with buttermilk and a small amount of cocoa, but what does that even taste like? And how can it come across in an item that doesn’t list buttermilk in its ingredients?
But when I open up the fragrant bag, and look at the pale coating, I get it:
Red velvet cakes are always topped with cream cheese frosting. And these are not really Red Velvet Kit Kats, but rather Cream Cheese Frosting Kit Kats. I think it’s pretty self-explanatory why they didn’t call them that.
The bag smells strongly of cream cheese. The inside of the bars is just the same as Milk Chocolate Kit Kats, but the outside coating is definitely reminiscent of cream cheese, even though there’s no cheese in the ingredients. I actually expected it to taste a lot more fake than it does. But it’s also kind of off-putting at first. A cheesy tang is not what I anticipate when I eat Kit Kats.
You know what? I wasn’t really a fan of these at first. But as I’ve eaten more, I’ve come to enjoy them. Initially I liked them less than regular Kit Kats, but now I don’t think they’re worse than the regular ones. They’re just different. These are more flavorful than plain ol’ Milk Chocolate Kit Kats, for better or for worse. I love cream cheese frosting, but if that’s not your thing, you probably won’t like Red Velvet Kit Kats.
I was going to rate these six, but I’m giving them a seven. They’ve grown on me.
(Nutrition Facts – 5 pieces – 220 calories, 100 calories from fat, 12 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 35 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)
Purchased Price: $3.59
Size: 10 oz. bag
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Flavor grew on me. Tastes like cream cheese frosting. No artificial coloring.
Cons: Cheesy tang is not what you expect from Kit Kats. No buttermilk, unlike a real red velvet cake.
Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.
New flavors and previous flavors with other styles of Yoplait yogurt. Go Yoplait! Make our options even more vast! (Spotted by Amanda Y and Carla at Walmart.)
Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.
Little Caesars is offering a new dessert as part of their new 5 Items for $5 Menu. The Cinnamon Loaded Crazy Bites is a family-size serving of Crazy Bites tossed in cinnamon and sugar and then covered with cinnamon roll topping and cream cheese icing.
The other four items on the value menu include 8-piece Caesar Wings, a family-size version of the chain’s Bacon Cheddar Loaded Crazy Bites, a large pepperoni Classic pizza, and four 20-ounce Pepsi products.
If you’ve tried the Cinnamon Loaded Crazy Bites, let us know what you think of them in the comments.
(Image via Little Caesar’s website)