Can someone tell me what number Nabisco has reached with unique flavors of Oreo cookies? It has to be in competition with the number of volumes of Now That’s What I Call Music (which is up to 64, by the way. I still remember rocking out to volumes 14, 15, 16 and 17 with my brother as pre-teens). A few new flavors hit the shelves, including these Limited Edition Chocolate Hazelnut Oreo Cookies.

My first thought – which I’m guessing is everyone’s first thought – is “Are these going to taste like Nutella?” The sweet, smooth Italian spread has a flavor of hazelnut cocoa, which made me think these cookies would taste similar.

Keep reading, my friends…

I applaud Nabisco for the smaller package sizes they’ve had with the limited edition cookies. That way you’re not stuck with a huge amount if you don’t like them, and your waistline will thank you if you do. As I opened the package, there’s a strong scent that in my opinion wasn’t super pleasant. I couldn’t place it exactly, but maybe a little artificial?

That aside, I grabbed a serving of two cookies and dug in. At first bite, the cream inside is smooth. I’m talking super smooth – even more so than the vanilla cream in a regular Oreo cookie. Dare I say, even creamier than a Double Stuf Oreo. But here’s the catch: No trace of hazelnut found. The cream tasted like good old chocolate. My husband even tried them and he said the same thing. He tasted a hint of hazelnut on the second bite, but I still struggled.

These cookies definitely taste better than they initially smelled. I enjoyed the smooth, rich cream in the middle, and I like that they were sweet, but not overwhelmingly sweet. But I’m disappointed in the lack of hazelnut. If Nabisco is going to make a chocolate hazelnut Oreo, then they might as well partner with Nutella and make a Nutella Oreo. It would be more authentic and recognizable. My husband deemed these “Nutella’s cheaper brother.”

I debated with what to rank these cookies because here’s the dilemma: I enjoyed the taste, but they don’t taste as they are marketed. They are a nice alternative to your standard Oreo – I like flavors that have the vanilla cookies because I love vanilla-based desserts. But they missed the mark with the chocolate hazelnut flavor, and I’m interested to know if others felt the same.

(Nutrition Facts – 2 cookies – 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 80 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 11 grams of sugar, 1 gram of protein.)

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 10.7 oz package
Purchased at: Giant Eagle
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: Smooth cream in the middle. I wish all Oreo cookies had cream this smooth.
Cons: Lack of hazelnut. They just taste like a vanilla and chocolate cookie.

I have never met an Oreo I didn’t like.

That said, not all Oreos hit the mark. Some of them taste too artificial, and some of the special flavors are too similar to the regular ones. I had lots of questions going into the Hot & Spicy Cinnamon Oreo. Would it taste like cinnamon candy? Would the cinnamon clash with the chocolate cookie? So many possible outcomes!

It has always bothered me that the serving size for Oreo cookies is only two cookies. Let’s be honest: nobody is ever going to eat only two of them, especially since there are at least three ways of eating them.

The first way I wanted to eat it was by isolating the red creme. How’d they do with making it taste like cinnamon candy as promised on the package? They nailed it! It tastes just like Red Hots/cinnamon bears/your favorite cinnamon candy of choice, but with the flavor of Oreo creme mixed in. I wouldn’t call it hot, though it might be too spicy for the smallest children. The texture is the same grainy goo of most Oreo cookies.

The second way I wanted to try it was the boring way: just biting directly into it. This would be a chance for it to mess up: would the cocoa cookie clash with the cinnamon candy–flavored creme? Nope! The cinnamon shines through without overpowering the cookie. We’re two for two.

But how about the third and best way to eat milk’s favorite cookie?

As much as I liked the cookies dry, they’re even better in milk. The cinnamon is more flavorful, yet still not overbearing, in a dipped cookie. I wondered if the cinnamon would clash with the milk, but it doesn’t.

I had thought these would be a good April Fool’s Day prank. You could buy a package of the plain Winter Oreos with the red creme, then replace them with cinnamon and trick your friends. But now that I’ve tried them, I realize that would be a benevolent prank, because the Hot & Spicy Cinnamon Oreo Cookies are better than the original.

At the risk of giving you high expectations and then having them dashed when you try them yourselves, I will say this: these are the best Oreos I have had. They are also the best cinnamon-flavored product I have had.

(Nutrition Facts – 2 cookies – 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 13 grams of total sugars, 13 grams of added sugars, and less than 1 gram of protein.)

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 10.7 oz package
Purchased at: Lee’s MarketPlace
Rating: 10 out of 10
Pros: Tastes like cinnamon candy, but it doesn’t clash with the chocolate cookie. Tastes better with milk. The best Oreo I have had. The best cinnamon treat I have had.
Cons: Serving size is only two cookies. I might have made your expectations too high. I fear that people won’t buy these and they will be discontinued.