Baskin-Robbins’ Flavor of the Month for April 2020 is Cotton Candy Crackle.
The pink-heavy treat features cotton candy-flavored ice cream with a cotton candy-flavored ribbon and yellow poppin’ candy pieces.
A small 2.5-ounce scoop has 200 calories, 10 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 55 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.
If you’ve tried it, let us know what you think of it in the comments.
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 (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) 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.
If you’ve seen the product, help out your fellow readers by letting them know in the comments what city and store you found it in.
Fudge Brownie M&M’s promise to be “everything you love about homemade brownies without even turning on the oven!”
How are they?
I was skeptical that candy could deliver the same experience as a baked good, but they really captured the essence of it!
The candy piece itself is large, like the size of a peanut M&M. But instead of a peanut center, it’s a chewy chocolate core that represents the fudge brownie.
There’s definitely something to be said about the textural contrast of the hard candy shell with the chewy center. That something is: it’s good and creates a candy eating experience that I haven’t had before.
On the flavor front, when I first eat it, I get the classic M&M’s taste from the shell, followed with a subtle fudgy note. This fudginess becomes more pronounced as the shell dissolves. I wouldn’t mind even more brownie flavor, but I get it – there’s only so much “batter” you can pack into a half-inch candy piece.
Is there anything else you need to know?
Aren’t M&M’s usually pretty uniform? I noticed that they were a bit lumpy looking. However, this did not take away from the flavor or overall eat for me!
Conclusion:
How many flavors are there now?! It’s a bit overwhelming on-shelf, but this one is worth a try — look for the light purple bag with Ms. Brown!
Purchased Price: $2.98 Purchased at: Walmart Size: 9.05 oz. Rating: 8 out of 10 Nutrition Facts: (1 oz/28g/11 pieces): 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 25 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 18 gram of sugar, and less than 1 gram of protein.
Here are some new store brand products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts about them in the comments.
Trader Joe’s Grilled Vegetables Simply Dressed with Oil, Red Wine Vinegar, Salt, Garlic & Pepper
(Spotted by Rachel C at Trader Joe’s.)
Great Value 90 Second Rice (Brown Rice, Long Grain & Wild Rice, and Roasted Chicken)Great Value 90 Second Rice (Jasmine Rice and Spanish Style)
(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)
7-Select Chocolate Bars (Red Sea Salt and Sweet Caramel)
(Spotted by Rachel C at 7-Eleven.)
Signature Select BBQ Flavored ChicharronesSignature Select Original ChicharronesSignature Select Hot & Spicy Chicharrones
Price Chopper Pics Limited Edition Maple Cream Cheese Spread
(Spotted by Tommy at Price Chopper.)
H-E-B Organics Fruit & Nut Trail MixH-E-B Organics Hot & Zesty Trail MixH-E-B Organics Harvest Trail Mix
(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)
Hill Country Fare Honey & Nut Toasted O’sHill Country Fare Multigrain Toasted O’s
(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)
If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) 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.
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.
This limited edition Kit Kat features frosting-flavored white crème and rainbow sprinkles.
How is it?
Artificial birthday cake flavor has its fans and its detractors, but, despite its arguable overuse, I am definitely a fan. The rich sweetness and pops of color always evoke childhood memories of opening a fresh can of Funfetti frosting — and plunging a spoon into its creamy depths.
However, I write this review now as a sophisticated adult who eats vegetables of her own accord and no longer considers Lunchables to be “unpretentious charcuterie boards.” (Okay, only most of this sentence is true some of the time.)
Nowadays, I enjoy birthday cake flavor mostly in smaller doses and when it is paired with a complementary flavor or texture. If you like Birthday Cake Oreo Cookies, but thought Birthday Cake Hershey’s Kisses left something to be desired, then we might be of the same icing ilk.
Birthday Cake Kit Kat meets this most important criterion, as its crispy wafer insides pair well with the sweet white crème coating. The crème’s frosting-inspired flavor is spot on. I detected a hint of buttery taste that is often lacking in other birthday cake products that rely too heavily on sugar and artificial coloring as substitutes for flavor.
The rainbow nonpareils stand out beautifully against the white crème coating, giving the candy a cheery, fun appearance. They also provide a bit of extra crunch, which is not evident in every bite. Initially worried that the sprinkles would overwhelm the product and result in a gritty texture, I was pleased with their subtle effect.
The only thing I did not like about this Kit Kat is that the oil in the coating left a feeling of “mouth coat” that I haven’t experienced with other Kit Kat products.
Is there anything else you need to know?
Celebrating its 85th anniversary of production this year, Kit Kat has experienced a recent renaissance, with the release of its Duos line and lemon and raspberry seasonal varieties — all of which I have really enjoyed. With more flavors rumored for release this year, Kit Kat is proving an old dog can learn new tricks.
Conclusion:
Birthday Cake Kit Kat executes a familiar flavor perfectly and enhances both texture and flavor with rainbow sprinkles. Kit Kat fans and frosting fiends will celebrate having another reason to visit the candy aisle.
Purchased Price: 88 cents Size: 1.5 oz (42 g)
Purchased at: Walmart Rating: 8 out of 10 Nutrition Facts: 220 calories, 12 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 35 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 20 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.
Well, it’s popcorn chicken from Jack in the Box. They’re bite-sized, breaded pieces of 100% all-white meat chicken that’s available in Classic and Spicy flavors. Every order comes with your choice of dipping sauce, and it comes in a container with a fun design that I’ll be adding to my fast food packaging collection that my son will inherit someday and promptly throw away.
How is it?
My order of Spicy Popcorn Chicken looks either spicy or burnt, but after eating a few, it’s definitely the former.
Its flavor reminds me of Jack’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich, but more intense and, maybe, slightly more heat. It tastes fine sans sauce, but I preferred to dip them into the ranch and honey mustard sauces I asked for.
But if I decided to order Jack’s Popcorn Chicken again, I’d go with the Classic one. Both varieties are good, but my taste buds seem to be drawn more to the golden brown ones.
Its breading is seasoned enough that I ended up mostly eating it without a dipping sauce. The chicken was surprisingly juicy with the meatier pieces, although the ones I ate at the bottom of the container weren’t as much.
Is there anything else you need to know?
Both varieties have a pleasant crunchy exterior that I wish Jack’s Chicken Nuggets had.
The Popcorn Chicken is available a la carte or as part of a combo box with double the chicken, small fries, and a small drink. The box has a suggested price of $4.99, but I bought it a la carte for $5.99 (the combo sells for $7.99 here on this rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean).
Don’t be like me and order it separately. Get the box. It’s worth it since it comes with double the chicken. The container may have a fun design, but it’s on the smallish side.
Conclusion:
I enjoyed Jack in the Box’s Popcorn Chicken more than its nuggets, which I find to be subpar when compared with McDonald’s and Wendy’s offerings. So give it a try, but get the combo box.
Purchased Price: $5.99 each* Size: N/A Rating: 7 out of 10 (Classic), 7 out of 10 (Spicy) Nutrition Facts:Classic – 260 calories, 9 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 1120 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 17 grams of protein. Spicy – 260 calories, 1 gram of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 3 grams of trans fat**, 45 milligrams of cholesterol, 1290 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 18 grams of protein.
*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.
**I’m pretty sure the fat numbers for the Spicy one, taken from Jack in the Box’s website, are incorrect.
