Tag: Candy

REVIEW: Candy Corn Red Vines

Mark 4 Comments

Candy Corn Red Vines Box

What are Candy Corn Red Vines?

Everyone’s favorite* red licorice** is now orange! But not only is the color new, but it also tastes like candy corn. (Supposedly.)

*Favorite unless you prefer Twizzlers, or Wallaby, or. . .

**OK, it’s not technically licorice, but who cares?

How are they?

So, what do Candy Corn Red Vines taste like?

Nothing.

Well, that’s not quite true. They taste like marshmallows. Which also taste like nothing.

Candy Corn Red Vines Candy Corn

I had some Brach’s candy corn to go with these Orange Vines, and the candy corn was positively flavorful in comparison. Let that sink in: these twists make candy corn taste flavorful.

Candy Corn Red Vines Orange

Texture-wise, these are like regular Red Vines. They are chewy, and I feel like I want to eat several, but once I finish one, it feels like I’ve already had two or three.

Anything else you need to know?

Candy Corn Red Vines Inside the Box

The ingredients list includes “natural and artificial flavor.” For the life of me, I can’t figure out what that could possibly be.

I can remember a lot of candy corn products from roughly a decade ago: Hershey’s Kisses (2007), Tootsie Dots (2009), Jones Soda (2009), M&Ms (2011), Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (2011), Oreo (2012), Charms Pops (2013), Hershey’s bars (2014), Jet-Puffed Marshmallows (2014), Spangler Circus Peanuts (2014), Peeps (2015), Hostess CupCakes (2015), Russell Stover Pumpkin (2018), and Pez (2018?).

I’m happy to revive the trend (if only for the novelty), but I wish Red Vines had brought a stronger offering.

Conclusion:

Well, at least they’re not gross. They’re just bland.

Purchased Price: $1.25
Size: 4 oz. package
Purchased at: Dick’s
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3 Twists) 100 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar including 12 grams of added sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Skittles Shriekers

Mark 4 Comments

Skittles Shriekers Bag

What are Skittles Shriekers?

There are five Skittles flavors in this mix: shocking lime (light green), ghoulish green apple (darker green), rattled raspberry (purple), citrus scream (light orange), and spine-tingling tangerine (darker orange). Most of them are normal, but “some are so sour they will make you shriek!”

Skittles Shriekers Fun Size

It’s the same idea as the Zombie Skittles I reviewed two years ago, but without the repulsive rotten flavor.

How are they?

I like all the flavors! Tangerine is the most sophisticated flavor, but lime and green apple are also fantastic. Raspberry and citrus are less interesting, but I still like them.

The sour ones have the same flavors as the non-sour ones, but they get more sour the more you chew (unlike regular Sour Skittles, which have a sour coating on the outside). They’re less sour than Warheads, more similar to Sour Patch Kids. They didn’t make me shriek, but my eyelids twitched!

Skittles Shriekers Skull

These trick-or-treat fun-size packages have about fifteen Skittles each, but only two or three are sour. That’s a shame, because they’re a lot of fun! With the Zombie variety, you didn’t want too many gross ones, but this variety would benefit from more sour.

Anything else you need to know?

Aesthetically, both the packaging and the candy itself are more Halloweeny than previous varieties. I dig it!

Skittles Shriekers Skeleton

But that skeleton made me have a nightmare that I took corpses and skeletons from a mausoleum to Carrie Underwood’s house.

Conclusion:

Skittles Shriekers Spoons

I am so happy Skittles didn’t merely change the flavors for Halloween; instead, the candy is an experience. It’s definitely an improvement on the intentionally disgusting Zombie packs.

I just wish there were more sour ones.

Purchased Price: $3.00
Size: 10.72 oz. bag (20 fun-size packs)
Purchased at: Dan’s
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 pack/15 grams) 60 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of sodium, 14 grams of carbohydrates, 11 grams of total sugar, 11 grams of added sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Snickers Almond Brownie Squares

Julie 3 Comments

Snickers Almond Brownie Dark Chocolate Squares Wrapper

What are Snickers Almond Brownie Squares?

Following last year’s Peanut Brownie Squares, this Snickers bar features brownie filling, almonds, and a layer of caramel enrobed in a dark chocolate coating.

How are they?

Snickers Almond Brownie Squares are the brand’s second candy bar/brownie mash-up. Although I had tried the Peanut variety, I couldn’t remember much about it, which isn’t an indictment of the product’s quality as much as a wake-up call that I eat so much chocolate I can’t keep it all straight.

Snickers Almond Brownie Dark Chocolate Squares 4 Pieces

Once I tried the Almond Brownie Squares, the memories came flooding back: neat little chocolate squares! Luscious caramel! A soft, rich brownie filling! Together, the ingredients form a tasty treat that reminds me of eyeing a pan of freshly baked brownies, agonizing over whether I want a corner or an edge piece.

The two variables of this bar are the dark chocolate coating and the almonds. Compared to the milk chocolate in the Peanut variety, this bar’s dark chocolate is a better complement to the rich brownie center. It adds just a bit of bitterness that rounds out the very sweet caramel and super chocolate-y brownie.

Snickers Almond Brownie Dark Chocolate Squares Split

(Side note: Although the brownie filling looks like a baked dessert, don’t be fooled: it is actually confectionary, somewhat nougat-like. Although the brownie flavor is spot-on, the composition and texture of this bar are not pastry-like.)

Almond pieces are embedded within the brownie filling, but I wish there were more. They are small and scant, adding little texture and flavor. I recognize that nuts are rarely the star of baked brownies, where they are often reserved for topping anyway. But here, they get too lost in the luxury of the chocolate candy.

Anything else you need to know?

I could only find the share size, but Snickers Almond Brownie Squares will also be available in singles and stand-up pouches.

Conclusion:

Dark chocolate and soft brownie filling are a chocolate match made in Snickers heaven, but the almond component is lackluster. Dark chocolate fans or lovers of the Peanut Brownie Squares will enjoy this latest creation, but those who believe a brownie isn’t a brownie without nuts may be happier at a bake sale.

Purchased Price: $1.48
Size: 2.52 oz (4 squares)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 1/2 package – 2 squares) 180 calories, 9 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 90 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 18 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: All Lime Skittles

Vin 4 Comments

Limited Edition All Lime Skittles Share

What are Limited Edition All Lime Skittles?

It’s all lime all the time in this Lim(e)ited Edition Skittles release.

How are they?

I was never a big fan of the great Skittle switch of 2013. That’s when lime was unceremoniously replaced by apple. They just kept green, swapped the flavors, and acted like it was no big deal.

Limited Edition All Lime Skittles Pour

I’ll assume the higher-ups figured “citrus” was already well represented by lemon and orange, so no one would miss lime. After eating this bag, I realized how much I missed lime. I’m clearly not the only one, otherwise this All Lime release wouldn’t exist, right?

Limited Edition All Lime Skittles Original

In fairness to apple, and just to make sure my memories were correct, I also bought a regular bag of Skittles so I could compare the flavor combinations.

Apple is just too sweet.

I mean, these are Skittles, they’re supposed to be sweet, but I definitely prefer the overabundance of that slightly sour and sharp citrus bite to the sweetness of the strawberry and grape. With apple, the sweeter flavors outcandy the citrus, and it’s a weaker end product. Lime is just the superior green Skittle.

Anything else you need to know?

Limited Edition All Lime Skittles Guns Out

I’m technically rating the All Lime bag alone, so I can’t pretend I’m a huge fan of eating the same flavor over and over no matter which flavor it is. I’ll always prefer a mix. Even the best flavors get old after a few handfuls… of which there are many because these – like wayyyyyy too many candies these days – only seem to be available in Share Size.

[rant] Can we chill with the King/Share Sizes? It could just be my crippling loneliness speaking, but when I buy a Share Size, I usually eat it myself. I don’t wanna share, and half the candies on the racks these days only come in these giant portions. Stop making me eat so much. [/rant]

Conclusion:

Maybe it’s the fact Sour Skittles are my all-time favorite mix, but I want the citrus flavors to reign supreme in my red Skittles bag. Apple doesn’t even shine. It’s easily the worst flavor in the current lineup.

I think we should go back to the good old days and just put lime back in its rightful home… then maybe in 8 years I can come back and review “All Apple” Skittles and probably change my tune.

Purchased Price: $2.19
Size: 4 oz. Share Size
Purchased at: Wawa
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz) 110 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 mg of cholesterol, 5 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of total carbohydrates, 21 grams of total sugars, 0 grams of fiber, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Fruity Cereal Kit Kat

Sean 10 Comments

Fruity Cereal Kit Kat Wrapper

One of the best progressions in junk food over the last four years has been Hershey’s edging closer and closer to mimicking Nestle’s insane Kit Kat flavor production in Japan.

While stateside we’re still nowhere near the heights of experimentation reached overseas, we’ve had a myriad of interestingly flavored wafer bars that began with 2017’s relatively blasé California Strawberry from the Flavors of America line. Since then, we’ve been gifted Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Sweet Cinnamon, Lemon, Raspberry, Birthday Cake, Key Lime Pie, Witch’s Brew, and the latest exciting addition: Limited Edition Fruity Cereal.

Kit Kat is one of those candy bars that I don’t want to call underrated because they’re very popular but feels at times underappreciated, even by myself, in its purest form. Milk, white, and dark without any limited time bells and whistles always deliver on a light and crispy sweet treat whenever they cross my path. This new Fruity Cereal version falls right in line with the expectation set by their core lineup; it’s refreshing, tasty, and not extreme in the slightest.

Fruity Cereal Kit Kat Fingers

The opaque pink color dotted with specs looks like it could be crumbs straight out of a bag of Fruity Pebbles. The bar carries a gentle fruity aroma that smells more white chocolate sweet than distinctly berry or citrus. The flavor goes along with the muted color, which is not necessarily bad; it just doesn’t punch me in the face. I get creamy white chocolate followed by a mild strawberry (a spooky hint of Franken Berry, perhaps?) that finishes with the lemon-lime citrusy zing I associate with most “fruity” cereals.

Fruity Cereal Kit Kat Layers

When I think fruity cereal, I autopilot to Fruity Pebbles, my personal favorite. This Kit Kat makes my brain go right to Froot Loops, which I’ve always enjoyed but associate with less of a citrus intensity and overall flavor wallop than Pebbles. Maybe it’s also recency bias from the amazing Fruity Pebbles Candy Bar that came out earlier this year, studded with actual cereal that leaves me searching for that magnitude of flavor. In any case, this Kit Kat is good!

Although the flavor is mild, it’s enjoyable. There’s a distinct creaminess that comes with any variety of Kit Kat, which takes center stage here. While it doesn’t knock my socks off the way my first Japanese Green Tea Kit Kat did or come close to the absolute perfection of Pumpkin Pie, it’s a solid ode to a crunchy breakfast that any Loops or Pebbles fan can break off a piece of.

Purchased Price: 88 cents
Size: 1.5 ounces
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 package) 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.