BACK ON SHELVES: Limited Time Only Doritos Roulette (2016)

Limited Time Only Doritos Roulette (2016)

Doritos Roulette is back! So gather your friends, purchase cartons of milk, have ice cold pitchers of water ready, open the bag, and let’s find out who sweats. Here’s our review from 2014. (Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)

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.

FAST FOOD NEWS: McDonald’s Testing Toppings for their Hotcakes

McDonald's Hotcake Toppings

For decades the only two toppings you were given for your McDonald’s Hotcakes were butter and pancake syrup. But the fast food chain is now testing other toppings. Impulsive Buy reader Brad H sent in this photo taken at a McDonald’s in Naperville, IL.

The options include whipped cream with strawberries or chocolate chips, or just whipped cream. They are also topped with a cherry. The ingredients appear to be items that are normally found in McDonald’s kitchens. The whipped cream and cherries are used as toppings for the chain’s milkshakes, the chocolate chips are from the McCafé Frappé Chocolate Chip, and the strawberry topping might be the same stuff on the strawberry sundae.

These are ingredients that McDonald’s have had for a while, so I’m surprised the chain hasn’t done this sooner.

If you’ve seen these topping at a McDonald’s near you, let us know in the comments.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 9/26/2016

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.

Pillsbury Spooky Bat Cutout Sugar Cookies

Pillsbury Spooky Bat Cutout Sugar Cookies

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Kroger.)

Archer Farms Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice and Caramel Apple Snack Bites

Archer Farms Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice and Caramel Apple Snack Bites

Archer Farms Limited Edition Caramel Apple and Pumpkin Spice Caramel Corn

Archer Farms Limited Edition Caramel Apple and Pumpkin Spice Caramel Corn

Archer Farms Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Glazed Pepitas

Archer Farms Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Glazed Pepitas

Archer Farms Limited Edition Apple Cider Granola

Archer Farms Limited Edition Apple Cider Granola

Archer Farms Limited Edition Apple Fritter Quick Bread Mix

Archer Farms Limited Edition Apple Fritter Quick Bread Mix

Archer Farms Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Almonds

Archer Farms Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Almonds

Archer Farms Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Glazed Pecans

Archer Farms Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Glazed Pecans

Archer Farms Limited Edition Apple Cinnamon Trail Mix

Archer Farms Limited Edition Apple Cinnamon Trail Mix

(Spotted by Amanda Y, Carla, and Rachel C at Target.)

Hammond's Caramel Apple Toffee Peanuts Sea Salt Caramel Double Ups

Hammond’s Caramel Apple Toffee Peanuts Sea Salt Caramel Double Ups

Hammond's S'mores Lollipops

Hammond’s S’mores Lollipops

Hammond's Caramel Apple Lollipops

Hammond’s Caramel Apple Lollipops

Hammond's Pecan Pie Lollipops

Hammond’s Pecan Pie Lollipops

(Spotted by Rachel C at Target.)

Sprouts Cranberry Pumpkin Crisps

Sprouts Cranberry Pumpkin Crisps

(Spotted by Sylvia at Sprouts.)

Gabi & Lisette Milk Chocolate Spiced Pumpkin and Vanilla Cream Caramels

Gabi & Lisette Milk Chocolate Spiced Pumpkin and Vanilla Cream Caramels

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Target.)

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.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 9/23/2016

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.

Cold Stone Creamery Peanut Butter Cup Perfection Hot Cocoa

Cold Stone Creamery Peanut Butter Cup Perfection Hot Cocoa

Cold Stone Creamery Birthday Cake Remix Flavored Hot Beverage

Cold Stone Creamery Birthday Cake Remix Flavored Hot Beverage

I guess this is how Cold Stone Creamery is going to make money when most people don’t want to eat ice cream because the weather’s too cold. (Spotted by Carla at Walmart.)

Pillsbury Pumpkin Cutout Sugar Cookies

Pillsbury Pumpkin Cutout Sugar Cookies

Why doesn’t Pillsbury make Pillsbury Doughboy shaped precut cookies? (Spotted by Sylvia at Vons.)

Limited Edition Dr. Oetker Pumpkin Spice Mug Cake

Limited Edition Dr. Oetker Pumpkin Spice Mug Cake

Limited Edition Dr. Oetker Apple Spice Mug Cake

Limited Edition Dr. Oetker Apple Spice Mug Cake

I only know about Dr. Oetker because of Mug Cake. I have no idea what other products they offer. (Spotted by Robbie at Big Lots.)

Limited Edition ThinkThin Coconut Pecan Pie Protein & Fiber Bars

Limited Edition ThinkThin Coconut Pecan Pie Protein & Fiber Bars

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the fall season than by eating a coconut pecan pie protein and fiber bar. (Spotted by Ben P at Target.)

Clear American Organic Sparkling Water (Lime and Lemon)

Clear American Organic Sparkling Water (Lime and Lemon)

Please don’t tell me the water is “organic.” (Spotted by Breanna B at Walmart.)

Limited Edition Nestle Coffee-mate Espresso Chocolate

Limited Edition Nestle Coffee-mate Espresso Chocolate

I liked this better when it was dressed up as Darth Vader. (Spotted by Robbie at Target.)

Snyder's of Hanover Itty Bitty Minis Pretzels

Snyder’s of Hanover Itty Bitty Minis Pretzels

The itty bitty pretzel climbed up into my mouth. It made me thirsty and I washed it down with stout. (Spotted by Rachel C at Macey’s.)

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.

REVIEW: Brach’s Brunch Favorites Candy Corn

Brach's Brunch Favorites Candy Corn

Who’s up for some sugar wax?

Brach’s is back once again with a new concoction – Brunch Favorites Candy Corns.

I can’t tell you the last time I had “brunch.” I had a Taco Bell Lupper yesterday, but brunch? It’s been a while. I don’t even really know which foods I associate with brunch. I just think all you can eat buffet or Eggs Benedict, which I’ve somehow never had in my sheltered life.

Because of my lack of brunch sophistication, I “blind” bought these like they were a mystery bag. I paid the flavors no mind because I wanted to try and guess which each was simply by taste. I caught one had pancakes, but I honestly didn’t even absorb what the others were. I tried to look away as to not have the flavors in my subconscious, even as I took pictures.

You don’t believe me, do you?

Humor me.

When I tore ope the Ziploc style bag that I can NEVER reseal, I was hit with a blast of maple. It was pleasant, but also had a “stale” air to it, if that makes sense.

Brach's Brunch Favorites Candy Corn 2

These were my guesses prior to confirming the flavors.

1. Brown, Pink, and White – This was strawberry for sure. There was also a touch of maple. I guessed these were the pancakes with strawberry syrup?

2. Yellow, Tan, and Yellow – These were buttery and had the same maple notes, but reminded me of marshmallow. My guess was “who the heck knows. Canadian Marshmallow treats or something.”

3. Brown, Yellow, and Light Brown – These tasted like a chocolate cookie/brownie batter prior to cooking, but had a bready taste as well. I pegged them as a dessert. Honestly, they tasted like every chocolate candy corn I’d ever had.

Here’s a very specific flavor I tasted as I munched all at once. Have you ever ordered a diner stack of pancakes that took too long to eat? I kept thinking of that – a cold, syrup soaked pancake with a clump of butter.

After all that, I checked the bag. Ok, so I was kinda on the right track.

Humor me.

Number 1 was Waffles and Strawberry. Number 2 was French Toast and Maple Syrup, and number 3 was Chocolate Chip and Pancakes. Oh.

Brach's Brunch Favorites Candy Corn 3

That’s it? Are these exclusively “brunch” flavors? To me that “unch” is really stretching it. It seems like they just started with the same base flavor and added strawberry, chocolate, and maple to each separately.

I realize there aren’t many “brunch” foods that can made into a candy corn flavor. Unless Brach’s wants to go Jelly Belly on us and make Shrimp Cocktail and Mimosas, I guess this is pretty much the best they could do. The problem is waffles, pancakes, and French toast taste similar. When you try to mimic those flavors in this form they’re all pretty indistinguishable. Maybe “Brunch Favorites” wasn’t the best idea.

My biggest problem is that no matter what flavor candy corn is, it always just ends up tasting like regular candy corn in the end. I think it has to do with the fact candy corn has such a unique and distinct texture. By the time I chew up the waxy cones it just elicits thoughts of every other candy corn I’ve ever had. Is it just me? While eating all three at once, strawberry shined through, but it still just ended up tasting like candy corn. Like wax that turns into a clump of wet granulated sugar.

These are decent at best. I wouldn’t skip brunch for them.

(Nutrition Facts – 19 pieces* – 140 calories, 0 calories from fat, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 70 milligrams of sodium, 36 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 28 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein..)

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 15 oz. bag
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 5 out of 10
Pros: Standard fare candy corn. Brach’s trying to branch out more. The strawberry corns had “natural” flavors if you’re into that. These are still a solid candy bowl filler.
Cons: A stretch of the word “brunch.” There was considerably more French Toast than the other 2 flavors. Cold Pancakes. Leave the butter to real corn. These damn Ziploc packages. Only at Target. *The fact they couldn’t just calculate 20 pieces bothers me to no end