Frankford KFC Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans Review

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Frankford KFC Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans packaging

Jelly bean season is upon us, and the folks at Frankford Candy have given us the unholiest collaboration of Eastertide: Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans.

The colonel is Colonel Sanders—the KFC guy.

If you think that sounds terrible, you are correct. These jelly beans are not AI, but I wish they were.

The flavors are fried chicken, sweet corn (maybe we should call him Kernel Sanders?), and gravy. I didn’t expect these to be good, and yet even my low expectations remain unmet.

Frankford KFC Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans fried chicken

When I open the bag, I get a strong, off-putting savory smell. I often enjoy mixing savory and sweet (pineapple on pizza, Pumpkin Spice Cup Noodles), but this is not one of those times.

Frankford KFC Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans gravy

Even the beige color palette is unappetizing. The corn flavor is yellow, the gravy flavor is orange-yellow, and the fried chicken flavor is Caucasian skin with freckles. At least the texture is pretty typical for a jelly bean.

Frankford KFC Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans corn

The flavors aren’t all that different from each other; they are all strong umami, savory flavors with a fruity sweetness. If I concentrate, the fried chicken flavor does make me imagine juicy meat inside a crispy batter, but that’s not something I want in a jelly bean. The corn bean has a very faint corn flavor; it’s the best (i.e., least disgusting) of the three. And I detect an onion note in the gravy bean.

Even after I have eaten them, a weird, unpleasant aftertaste lingers in my mouth. I think these are worse than the notorious turkey dinner candy corn.

Taste the KFC Rainbow

It is difficult to find anything to enjoy about these. So why am I rating them a 2 out of 10 instead of a 1 out of 10? Well, they’re not so repulsive that I need to spit them out. They’re close, but they’re not quite there. And also, I’m pretty sure they’re meant to be amusing and ridiculous, and they’re probably meant to be a little gross. In that way, they’re a roaring success.

Don’t put these in a plastic egg for the annual egg hunt unless you want to ruin a kid’s Easter.

Purchased Price: $3.00
Size: 4 oz bag
Purchased at: Five Below
Rating: 2 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (22 pieces) 110 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 27 grams of sugar (includes 27 grams of added sugar), and 0 grams of protein.

Reese’s Crunchy Peanut Ice Cream Bar Review

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Reese's Crunchy Peanut Ice Cream Bar orange box

Over the last year or so, there has been a growing line of Reese’s frozen novelties — almost more than you could shake an ice cream bar stick at. You’ve probably seen them with their striking orange boxes. The latest addition is the Reese’s Crunchy Peanut Ice Cream Bar, featuring Reese’s peanut butter-flavored sauce, ice cream, peanut pieces, and a milk chocolate-flavored coating. Yes, it’s made with 100% real ice cream, but it’s not keeping it 100 because that coating is decidedly not 100% real milk chocolate.

Reese's Crunchy Peanut Ice Cream Bar milk chocolate flavored coating

It’s shaped like a standard candy bar — a Snickers, a Milky Way. That got me thinking: wouldn’t it be infinitely cooler if these were shaped like Reese’s peanut butter cups, like those frozen novelties that were available several years ago? It would give the packaging some shelf appeal beyond the already shelf-appealing Reese’s orange boxes.

What about a stick, you ask? HA! Don’t make me laugh. A peanut butter cup-shaped ice cream bar doesn’t need a stick. The only stick to be concerned with is sticking it in your mouth.

Now, I know some of you might be put off by the milk chocolate-flavored coating because that makes it sound cheap. But I assure you it tastes, melts, and shatters fine — for what it is. However, if this not-quite-chocolate showed up on an actual Reese’s peanut butter cup, I would take back my pitchfork from Lucifer, make my way to Pennsylvania, and turn Hershey into Hellshey. I will not stand for that. But on an ice cream bar that’s already working with a Reese’s peanut butter flavor that doesn’t quite taste like the stuff in the actual candy, I can extend the same grace to the coating.

Reese's Crunchy Peanut Ice Cream Bar peanut pieces, ice cream, and peanut butter sauce.

The smooth peanut butter sauce and the crunch of the peanuts do a great job of making me not care about the chocolatey coating, and the combination of all the components makes this genuinely enjoyable. After eating a couple of bars — not in a row, I should clarify — I’m not entirely sure that the ice cream itself is peanut butter-flavored or something else, but the bar’s nutty flavor as a whole is quite strong regardless.

The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is one of the great flavor pairings, and even a product with a milk chocolate-flavored coating can still be pretty good. What this Reese’s product need more of, though, is the sweet-salty contrast that makes an actual Reese’s peanut butter cup so addictive — the thing that makes me want to eat the second cup in a regular pack and all four in a King Size. These are good, but not that kind of good. If you want the peanut butter and chocolate combo in ice cream bar form and you’re okay with the trade-offs, this will 100% do the job.

Purchased Price: $10.99
Size: 12 fl oz box/6 2 fl oz bars
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) 140 calories, 4 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 115 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 11 grams of sugar (includes 8 grams of added sugar), and 3 grams of protein.

Butterfinger French Toast Bar Review

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Butterfinger French Toast wrapper front design

Every time I review a novelty sweet, I issue a rating out of 10. This is a process I almost always agonize over, as though I will later need to justify my assessment in a court of candy law. When I weigh the final consideration that will knock a rating down a point or elevate it to greatness, I often ask: “Is this new flavor better than the original variety?”

The question is almost always rhetorical, because the classics—the Reese’s, Kit Kats, and Snickers—are so embedded in our hearts and taste buds that they set an almost unsurpassable standard. But Butterfinger is making me consider this question seriously, as its limited-edition offerings—most recently, Marshmallow and Salted Caramel—have been exceptional. The new, breakfast-inspired Butterfinger French Toast bar continues this pattern of success.

Butterfinger French Toast light orange confection coating

Butterfinger French Toast consists of the classic, crispy peanut butter core and a French Toast-flavored confectionary coating. I half-expected this bar to taste like a knockoff of any Cinnamon Toast Crunch candy, but its combination of flavors stands out as unique. The coating is a well-balanced combination of maple syrup and cinnamon. It tastes like what coats maple-dipped peanuts, but creamier and less sugary (although still very sweet!) with an added dash of cinnamon for good measure. There is also a subtle buttery flavor that makes the bar smell and taste like a sweet breakfast, not just maple or maple cinnamon.

Butterfinger French Toast crispity and crunchity center

I thought the flavored coating might clash with the peanut butter center, but I am happy to be wrong again. The toffee-like quality of the center complements the creamy coating, and the nutty, slightly salty flavor adds dimension to all the sweetness. No single flavor is fighting for attention at this breakfast table.

The French Toast flavor completes one year of Butterfinger’s exciting three limited-edition flavors. Consider them the Powerpuff Girls of candy bars: sugar, spice, and everything nice, a descriptor that could belong to the French Toast variety alone.

Butterfinger French Toast crispity and crunchity center part two

So, are these flavors better than the original chocolate coating? Should Butterfinger get out of the chocolate game entirely and specialize in flavored crème coatings? It’s hard to say, but I hope the brand continues to cook up more innovative offerings.

Purchased Price: $2.19
Purchased at: Giant Eagle
Size: 1.9 oz (54 g) bar
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 250 calories, 11 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 2 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 21 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein

REVIEW: M&M’s Bakery Collection

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M&M's Bakery Collection wrappers

M&M’s are one of those candies that consistently pump out different varieties, and the new Bakery Collection features three flavors inspired by baked goods. We’re encouraged to scan a QR code and vote for our favorite from the following contenders: Lemon Meringue Pie, Chocolate Cherry Cupcake, and Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll. I found these at Walgreens and heard more than one employee remark that they weren’t particularly interested in trying any of them.

It’s somewhat incomprehensible to me that anyone wouldn’t want to try a new snack, even if it sounds terrible (yeah, I bought those Swedish Fish Oreos), but I kind of have to agree – none of these really excite me. They exist, though, and that’s enough for me to fork over seven dollars and hope I’m not left mumbling curses through a mouthful of Lemon Pledge-flavored morsels.

Lemon Meringue Pie

M&M's Bakery Collection Lemon Meringue Pie shells

Lemon Meringue Pie M&M’s are a white chocolate variety, about the size of a regular M&M but rounder due to a crispy rice center. The yellow, white, and peach-colored candies have a light lemon scent and a lemon flavor that I don’t find akin to a cleaning product, but I also can’t say I enjoy. The color scheme does better at imitating its inspiration than the taste and texture do. Perhaps fans of Crispy M&M’s will enjoy these, but crunch doesn’t align with lemon meringue pie in my mind, and I wish the center were some sort of tart lemony cream or jam instead.

M&M's Bakery Collection Lemon Meringue Pie center

At my wedding, I had a bunch of candy jars that I waited until the last minute to fill (who knew you were supposed to prepare for events like that in advance?), and in my haste, I ended up throwing some Lemonheads in the same jar as some chocolate Sixlets. Later that night, my very honest friend Chris informed me that this was a terrible combination, and I explained I hadn’t intended them to be eaten together. These M&M’s are what I think that combo must have tasted like. I’m sure some people will enjoy the lemon and crunch, but I want nothing to do with them. Chris, stay away from these.

Size: 3.22 oz bag
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/3 pack) 150 calories, 7 grams of total fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 50 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 18 grams of total sugars, and 1 gram of protein.

Chocolate Cherry Cupcake

M&M's Bakery Collection Cherry Chocolate Cupcake shell colors

Chocolate Cherry Cupcake pieces are a thicker size, so you’d expect something in the center, but they’re pure chocolate. This seems like a missed opportunity because the inclusion of a tiny cake bit or something that mimicked it (not crispy rice!) could justify the cupcake moniker. The good thing is that the interior features a smooth combination of milk and dark chocolate, and the deeper notes of the dark chocolate are incredibly welcome.

These have a syrupy cherry flavor, more like a cherry cordial than anything else. There’s been a Cherry Cordial M&M before, but it lacked dark chocolate, and if we can just consider this iteration an upgrade on that, I’m alright with it.

Size: 2.47 oz bag
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 pack) 170 calories, 8 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 22 grams of total sugars, and 1 gram of protein.

Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll

M&M's Bakery Collection Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll shell colors

Lastly we have Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll. While this treat isn’t commonplace in any bakery I’ve ever been to, I have called Peanut Butter M&M’s my favorite since their debut, so these hold some promise. The basic size and structure here is right on; they look like the candy I know and love. For a brief moment, or perhaps if you’ve never had the original peanut butter before, you could bite down on these and be pleased with the perfect ratio of candy coating, milk chocolate, and creamy peanut butter center. But then the cinnamon creeps in. It’s not a hot cinnamon, and there’s nothing really wrong with it except that the original product was somehow much better without it.

M&M's Bakery Collection Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll innards

If we’re trying to make a cinnamon roll M&M, I’m not sure why we skipped a cream cheese frosting element and went straight to peanut butter. Instead of pulling something fresh from the oven, they’ve just corrupted a perfectly good batch of peanut butter M&M’s.

Size: 2.83 oz bag
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/3 pack) 140 calories, 8 grams of total fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 55 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 13 grams of total sugars, and 3 grams of protein.

When you throw this many candy-coated chocolate pebbles at the wall, there are bound to be some that just don’t stick. Unfortunately, all three flavors from the Bakery Collection fell into this category for me. The winner of the fan vote gets to stay on shelves, but I wouldn’t be upset if all of these disappeared.

Purchased Price: $3.29 each (buy 2 get 1 free)
Purchased at: Walgreens

REVIEW: Reese’s Marshmallow Big Cup

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Reese's Marshmallow Big Cup wrapper

While the “2026 is the new 2016” online trend dies down, Reese’s continues to time travel through the candy aisle. 2026 could be the new 2006, and we have the Reese’s Marshmallow Big Cup to prove it.

Yes, Reese’s released a limited-edition marshmallow variety two decades ago. I’m surprised that it has taken so long to return to peanut butter and marshmallow, a combination that inspired such greatness as Fluffernutter sandwiches and the best s’more you’ve ever tasted. Since 2006 was likely the last time I ate a Fluffernutter sandwich, I was eager to dive into this Big Cup.

Reese's Marshmallow Big Cup chocolate coating

The Reese’s Marshmallow Big Cup’s milk chocolate shell contains a thick, dense layer of peanut butter filling along with a thinner layer of marshmallow-flavored filling. The fillings are separated by a thin layer of chocolate, similar in structure to other recent varieties, including the Lava Cup and Caramel Cup.

Reese's Marshmallow Big Cup layers

The Big Cup’s marshmallow crème filling isn’t the fluffy stuff you find in a jar, or the gooey stuff left behind on a roasting stick. Rather, this component is thick, smooth, and a little sticky, almost like a viscous powdered sugar glaze. The flavor definitely reads as marshmallow: a creamy, sugary flavor, but with a pronounced vanilla taste that teeters on too artificial.

The crème’s artificial quality is noticeable by itself, but it dissipates when combined with the delicious-as-always peanut butter. The marshmallow flavor holds up to the peanut butter’s potency, which surprised me. Marshmallow is a subtle flavor to begin with, and I’ve found that these Big Cups with dual fillings don’t have quite enough of the secondary filling to be impactful. Even though this Big Cup’s peanut butter layer is over twice as thick as the marshmallow layer, there is Fluffernuttery goodness to be enjoyed.

Reese's Marshmallow Big Cup split

The marshmallow filling is like Timbaland in some of 2006’s biggest hit songs: not the star, but a vital featured player. Marshmallow fans may want more marshmallow crème, or even a mallow top to bolster the thin layer. I would have enjoyed an extra dose of marshmallow in theory, but maybe not in reality given the artificial tinge of the filling.

If the Reese’s Marshmallow Big Cup is our portal to 2006 nostalgia, I am ready to wear boho fashion, listen to The Fray, and take way too long to text on a pink Razr phone. Unlike most of these things, peanut butter and marshmallow will always be timeless.

Purchased Price: $2.78
Purchased at: Walmart
Size: 2.8 oz (79 g) King Size package
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per cup) 190 calories, 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 23 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein

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