The Impulsive Buy

QUICK REVIEW: Lindt Limited Edition Snickerdoodle White Chocolate Truffles

Mike / November 29, 2018 / Reviews / 4 Comments

What are Lindt Snickerdoodle White Chocolate Truffles?

In search of a seasonal treat that didn’t involve pumpkin, spices, peppermint, or any of the usual suspects, I came across Lindt’s Snickerdoodle White Chocolate Truffles. After years of spiced lattes and eggnog mochas, I’m ready for something different.

These truffles have a snickerdoodle-flavored white chocolate ganache center surrounded by a white chocolate shell with cookie inclusions.

How are they?

Clearly, these won’t appeal to the white-chocolate-isn’t-really-chocolate-and-shouldn’t-exist crowd, but those grinches would probably object to snickerdoodle being called a seasonal flavor in the first place.

Both the shell and center have a flavor reminiscent of speculoos cookies, which are like fancy European snickerdoodles made with brown sugar and spices. The cookie pieces remain crispy and add a bit of crunch, something I usually don’t care for in my chocolate. In this case, it brought to mind the eponymous cookie, so I didn’t mind.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Pro Tip: Maximize your enjoyment of these truffles by not munching down on them like they’re M&Ms. Pop one in and let your body heat melt the outer shell. By the time that happens, the ganache center will also have begun to melt, and then burst out in a flavor avalanche. Yes, I’ve put too much thought into this, but I’m serious about my chocolate.

Conclusion:

These truffles don’t taste like grandma’s snickerdoodles, which might disappoint some. Personally, I’ll take the deeper, more complex flavor of a speculoos over an ordinary snickerdoodle anytime. (Sorry, Grandma.)

Purchased Price: $4.49
Size: 6 oz. package
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3 truffles) 220 calories, 17 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 35 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 15 grams of total sugars includes 12 grams of added sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

FAST FOOD NEWS: McDonald’s Signature Crafted Recipe Mushroom & Swiss

Marvo / November 29, 2018 / Fast Food News / 2 Comments

Update: We reviewed it! Click here to read our review.

This new McDonald’s Signature Crafted Recipe Mushroom & Swiss should not be confused with the McDonald’s Signature Crafted Recipe Swiss Mushroom Melt that sprouted up about this time last year and then shriveled away soon after, never to be seen again.

Last year’s version featured 1/4 lb. beef patty, seasoned mushrooms, two slices of Swiss cheese, and a garlic and herb sauce (which, if you didn’t read the link above, ruined the burger). This year’s comes with a 1/4 lb. fresh beef patty, seasoned mushrooms, a slice of Swiss cheese, crispy onions strips, and a creamy bistro aioli on an artisan roll.

The burger has 660 calories, 36 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat, 1.5 gram of trans fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 920 milligrams of sodium, 52 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 33 grams of protein.

Of course, like all Signature Crafted Recipes, it’s also available with Buttermilk Crispy Chicken or Artisan Grilled Chicken. And, if 1/4 lb. of beef isn’t enough for you, you can get a Double Mushroom & Swiss Burger that includes two beef patties and two slices of cheese.

If you’ve tried the newest Signature Crafted Recipe, let us know what you think of it in the comments.

(Image via McDonald’s.)

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: M&M’s Milk Chocolate Bars (2018)

Marvo / November 29, 2018 / Spotted on Shelves / 2 Comments

M&M’s Crispy Mint Milk Chocolate Bar

M&M’s Crispy Milk Chocolate Bar

M&M’s Almond Milk Chocolate Bar

M&M’s Peanut Milk Chocolate Bar

M&M’s Milk Chocolate Milk Chocolate Bar

I don’t even know if I’m using the proper names for these. For example, is it M&M’s Crispy Mint Milk Chocolate Bar or Crispy Mint M&M’s Milk Chocolate Bar? But if it’s the latter then folks might think, even though it’s clear on the wrapper, that this has Crispy Mint M&M’s. But, if the former is correct, then we’d get the M&M’s Milk Chocolate Milk Chocolate Bar. Oh, AP Styleguide, you’re no help. (Spotted by Bob K 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.

Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if the product is old, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

QUICK REVIEW: Hershey’s Milk Chocolate & Reese’s Pieces Bar

Denis / November 29, 2018 / Reviews / 4 Comments

What is the Hershey’s Milk Chocolate & Reese’s Pieces Bar?

The love child of a Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar and Reese’s Pieces, or as the Hershey’s marketing folks put it “the ultimate celebration of the top two iconic chocolate franchises that will melt your heart to pieces for a once-in-a-lifetime epic treat.”

How is it?

Based on the aforementioned tagline, I was fully prepared for a life-changing, out-of-body experience that I would eventually tell my grandchildren about. Sadly, the little yet-to-be-born rascals will instead have to listen to other stories, like the time I saw The Rock at the airport. But despite not quite living up to the WWE-style marketing hype, this is a tasty treat.

The Reese’s Pieces stand out nicely from the milk chocolate and provide a solid crunch that is obviously absent from a plain chocolate bar. The candy also adds a light peanut butter flavor that complements the creamy chocolate perfectly without making you think you are just eating a flattened peanut butter cup.

Is there anything else you need to know?

If the photos don’t give it away, the Reese’s Pieces are actually minis. There is also a king size version of this, but I didn’t have any luck finding it. If that one has a thicker bar with full-size Pieces, it might offer a bit more crunchiness. Also, whoever designed the wrapper apparently doesn’t believe in equality in the candy world, because the Hershey’s part covers much more than half.

Conclusion:

At first glance, I figured this wouldn’t be much different than just chucking some Reese’s Pieces in my mouth along with a bite of a Hershey’s bar, but having the Pieces embedded in the chocolate takes this to the next level. It might not be an epic candy creation — like Reese’s Pieces were — but it’s a nice change of pace from the standard chocolate bar.

Purchased Price: $1.29
Size: 1.55 oz. bar
Purchased at: Walgreens
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) 220 calories, 12 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 66 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 25 grams of sugar and 3 grams of protein.

Candy Hershey's Reese's

SPOTTED ON SHELVES (SEASONAL EDITION) – 11/29/2018

Marvo / November 29, 2018 / Spotted on Shelves / 9 Comments

Here are some new seasonal products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments.