REVIEW: Vanilla Cupcake M&M’s

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The trouble with vanilla cupcake flavor is — just what IS it? Is it simply a marketing ploy because vanilla is “too boring” on its own? What exactly is added to a vanilla item to make it taste like a cupcake? If you asked me what a vanilla cupcake tastes like, I’d say vanilla – in which case, does it need any additions to make it taste like a cupcake? It feels like I’m lost in a hall of mirrors.

Enter Vanilla Cupcake M&M’s. I hoped they would solve this existential crisis for me, since Hershey’s Cupcake Kisses fell short on that task.

The purple & polka dot theme of the packaging is attractive, but I’m not sure I would’ve chosen the Green M&M character for this bag. Cupcakes are fun and silly – the “sexy” M&M (insert eye roll here) vamping seems out of place here. Yellow’s goofy personality would be a better fit. And it would fill my head with J.K. Simmons’ voice saying “Beecher, want a vanilla cupcake?”

The aroma inside the bag was 80 percent vanilla, 20 percent…something else. Something I imagine is meant to remind one of frosting, but comes off as a chemical-y approximation.

The intense pastel hues of these M&M’s made my eyes very happy. They definitely belong in a cute bowl on display next to a bouquet of spring flowers.

Inside, these are the white chocolate/candy coating base we’ve seen in other recent flavor releases like White Cheesecake and Boo-terscotch.

If given a blind taste test of these M&M’s, I would swear they were vanilla milkshake flavored. I picked up on the strong vanilla flavor and I got the milky white chocolate, but the essence of “cupcake” evaded me. The frosting-esque smell didn’t carry over to the taste buds, either.

So did these M&Ms fail at capturing that certain cupcake je ne sais quoi? Or were they right on target, since they tasted like vanilla – exactly as a vanilla cupcake would? I DON’T KNOW!

What I do know is they were delicious and I promptly ate the entire bag. If you like white chocolate M&M’s – and can ponder vanilla cupcake philosophy better than I – give these a go.

(Nutrition Facts – 1.5 oz – 210 calories, 100 calories from fat, 10 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 28 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein..)

Purchased Price: $2.55 (on sale)
Size: 8 oz. bag
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: Beautiful, happy spring colors. Strong vanilla milk flavor.
Cons: A vanilla cupcake this is not. (Or is it?? My head hurts.)

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 2/17/2017

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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.

Sargento Sweet Balanced Breaks
Sargento Sweet Balanced Breaks 2

I’d love to know what Sargento R&D has learned about foods that should never be paired with cheese. (Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

Kellogg’s Despicable Me Fruit Snacks
Kellogg’s Monster High and Monopoly Fruit Snacks
Kellogg’s Paw Patrol Fruit Snacks

It wouldn’t surprise me if they all taste the same. It also wouldn’t surprise me if I type the same thing next year when Kellogg’s releases a bunch of new kids fruit snacks. (Spotted by Robbie at Target.)

Red Robin Whiskey River BBQ Sauce and Camp Fire Sauce
TGI Fridays Sauces and Marinades

Yes! I can enjoy the sauces of TGI Fridays without having to hear the sounds at a TGI Fridays. (Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

Sonoma Creamery Bacon Cheddar Crisps

(Spotted by Sylvia at Costco.)

Skinny Pop Popcorn Mini Cakes (Sharp Cheddar and Cinnamon & Sugar)

(Spotted by Elizabeth L at Shaws.)

Nature’s Child Strawberry Pudd’n Pouches

I think this is an old product, but during my Google searches to double-check, it appears it’s new. Can someone in the comments just say it’s old, even if you have no idea if it is, just to ease my mind. (Spotted by Rachel C at Target.)

Siggi’s Vanilla Whole Milk Drinkable Yogurt

There are also strawberry and blueberry flavors. (Spotted by Rachel C at Whole Foods.)

Quaker Garden Tomato & Basil Rice Cakes
Quaker Popped Sea Salt & Lime Rice Crisps

I should really give rice cakes another chance. Oooh, potato chips are on sale! (Spotted by 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. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Pepsi 1893 Citrus Cola and Black Currant Cola

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If Pepsi is making more 1893 flavors, it must’ve sold more than 1893 cases of their 1893 Original and Ginger Colas. (Spotted by Zach at Safeway.)

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. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Lay’s Kettle Cooked Garden Tomato & Asiago Potato Chips

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Yup. Garden tomato & asiago is a fitting flavor for Lay’s Kettle Cooked. The chip gets all the “classy” flavors, like sharp cheddar, aged cheddar & black pepper, cream cheese & chive, and olive oil & herbs. (Spotted by Carla 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. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

REVIEW: McDonald’s Fried Guava Pie

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Two things you should know about McDonald’s pies in Hawaii.

  1. They’re fried. Hawaii is one of the few places in the United States that offers fried McDonald’s pies. (Oddly, we are also the healthiest state in the country.)

  2. We have local seasonal pie flavors many of you would call “exotic.” The Haupia Pie features a coconut-flavored filling with gelatinous pieces and the Taro Pie has a purple filling with gelatinous cubes.

McDonald’s Hawaii’s newest fried pie doesn’t have jellylike cubes, but it does have a thick guava-flavored filling. To be honest, I’m surprised our local McDonald’s didn’t come out with a guava pie sooner because guava is our state fruit.

And if you look that up on the internet, you’ll learn it’s not. But we use the fruit in enough products that it should be.

Even though we love the tropical fruit, the 50th state can’t brag about it being the first one to have McDonald’s guava pies. Florida can claim that fact that no one from there will brag about. Although, not to brag, theirs was baked.

The exterior of the Fried Guava Pie looks like the skin of someone who was in a freak chemistry laboratory accident. But, man, that bubbly skin is crispy like the best fried chicken you’ve ever had. It has a level of crispiness that you wish McDonald’s chicken filets, patties, and McNuggets had.

The viscous pink filling has a flavor that reminds me of the canned guava nectar I drank as a kid, but warm. Perhaps, too warm (and maybe a bit too sweet). My taste buds are so used to having that delicious flavor ice cold that it’s weird to taste it at a higher temperature. It’s like drinking warm soda. Also, a few chomps had a sweet chemical zing to them. It was a turnoff to my taste buds, but it wasn’t in every bite so it didn’t prevent me from eating the whole pie.

Haupia and taro are foods I don’t eat, but love them when in the form of McDonald’s fried pies. With guava and McDonald’s Fried Guava Pie, it’s the opposite.

(Nutrition Facts – 210 calories 60 calories from fat, 7 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 140 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 16 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $1.00
Size: N/A
Rating: 5 out of 10
Pros: Flavor reminds me of canned guava nectar. Super crispy shell. Fried pies.
Cons: Occasional chemical bite. It’s weird tasting a flavor I usually consume cold. Regional pie variety. Wikipedia saying Hawaii’s state muffin is the coconut muffin.

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