REVIEW: Hershey’s Snickerdoodle Cookie Kisses

Hershey's Snickerdoodle Cookie Kisses bag design

Halloween has come and gone, and while the Pumpkin Spice Period isn’t totally over (you usually see some straggling items until at least Thanksgiving), we are now firmly entrenched in Christmas Food Season.

Everything is sugar-cookied or gingerbreaded, with the occasional item even getting nogged. The best Christmasization, arguably, is when things get snickerdoodle’d. I don’t remember “snickerdoodle” being so ubiquitously Christmas when I was young. But I also have a working theory that pumpkin spice wasn’t even a thing until about 15 years ago, so who really knows.

Hershey's Snickerdoodle Cookie Kisses foil wrappers

Well, I do love a snickerdoodle— regardless of the season, quite frankly— but I truly wasn’t expecting to enjoy these new Hershey’s Snickerdoodle Cookie Kisses as much as I did.

Part of my trepidation was likely due to the “white creme” base of these Kisses. Oftentimes, any cheap confection labeled “white creme” or “white chocolate” is waxy and prone to leaving a weird film in your mouth. These delightful little nuggets did nothing of the sort. Instead, there was a genuine bit of creaminess, which was surprising.

Hershey's Snickerdoodle Cookie Kisses cookie bits

The contrasting texture of the cookie pieces worked well, too, adding a light, sweet crunch. Speaking of, each Kiss had plenty of little cookie bits. They lent a subtle hint of cinnamon and sugar, and dare I say… butteriness? I didn’t expect as much nuanced flavor as these little Kisses provided.

In the end, I was left with a surprising amount of fondness for these Snickerdoodle Kisses. Will I eat this whole bag well before Christmas? Yes. And will I buy another bag to use for thumbprint snickerdoodle cookies? That actually sounds like a great idea.

Purchased Price: $4.97
Size: 9 oz bag
Rating: 8 out of 10
Purchased at: Walmart
Nutrition Facts: (7 pieces) 160 calories, 8 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 35 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 16 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kit Kat Peppermint Stick

Kit Kat Peppermint Stick wrapper

In the shift from spooky season to holiday cheer that happens overnight, the junk food subculture marks the equally important transition from pumpkin spice season to the winter of merri-mint. While I stock my candy cupboard with mint chocolate like Andes or York Peppermint Patties year-round, the white chocolate (or, more often, white crème) and peppermint concoctions of the winter season represent a flavor pairing as timeless as milk and holiday cookies.

Kit Kat Peppermint Stick makes me wish these flavors were more accessible throughout the year, but if wishes were horses, we’d all enjoy free sleigh rides.

Kit Kat Peppermint Stick coating

The Kit Kat’s white crème base is a sweet combination of creamy vanilla and peppermint flavors. The peppermint is refreshing and noticeable, but not overwhelming. On the scale of pastel dessert mints to Life Savers Pep-O-Mint (which I cannot taste for more than three seconds without spitting them out and re-pledging my allegiance to Wint-O-Green), the minty strength lies slightly above an Andes mint. Anyone who likes mint but is wary of a toothpaste quality will welcome these Kit Kats to their holiday candy dish.

Kit Kat Peppermint Stick center

The Kit Kat’s pleasant creaminess does temper what could be a sharp peppermint flavor. The combination reminds me of peppermint ice cream, a milder version of the seasonal Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses, or Russell Stover’s long-gone Rosebud Mints. If you still remember the latter, you may need to ask Santa for an anti-wrinkle cream this year.

Like many peppermint candies, Kit Kat Peppermint Stick contains an extra flourish in the form of “crunchy candy bits,” which are essentially crunchy red and green nonpareils. They add a light crunch and visual interest, but no additional flavor. I like them as an alternative to candy cane pieces; they don’t detract from the light crunch of the wafers.

In addition to the single-size bar, Kit Kat Peppermint Stick is available in a bag of individually wrapped snack-size pieces. Whether you are adding a festive flair to your holiday celebrations or hoarding candy under the justification that it contains peppermint oil and is therefore a useful digestive (Who would do that? Not me!), add Kit Kat to the top of your Nice List.

Purchased Price: $1.24
Size: 1.5 oz (42 g) bar
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 220 calories, 11 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 30 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 21 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

5 Other Things I Consumed This Week: 10/24/2025

7-Eleven Hawaii Pickle Juice Slurpee

7-Eleven Hawaii Pickle Juice Slurpee

This one came out at the same time as the Cinnamon Toast one I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. Oddly, I was more curious about this one because I’ve been enjoying all the pickle-flavored products that have crossed my taste buds. However, I will not be purchasing this Slurpee ever again, and I regret getting a medium size instead of a small.

Look, it tasted like sweet pickle juice. It was, as the kids I totally made up like to say, sou-weet. But I wish that sweetness was a bit stronger to tame that sourness, much like with the pickle mochi ice cream I had a few years ago. Even though I got a medium Slurpee, I did end up finishing it, but not in one sitting or two. After my initial tasting, I put it in the freezer and ate chunks over the next couple of days. But that cup was all I’ll be sticking into my mouth.

Slate Mocha Latte High Protein Iced Coffee

Slate Mocha Latte High Protein Iced Coffee

Protein plus calcium plus caffeine? That sounds like my kind of drink to give me a shortcut to reach my protein and calcium goals while still drinking my usual amount of caffeine. However, I’m not too high on this high-protein coffee’s flavor and texture.

Its consistency when I swirl it around in a glass doesn’t match what it feels like in my mouth. In a glass, it’s creamy, but in my mouth, it’s almost like water. The can states that there is no carrageenan, which explains how it feels in my mouth. As for its flavor, it doesn’t have a punch like other coffee drinks. I guess “flat” would be the best way to describe it, and I assume the stevia and monk fruit sweeteners are the reason for that.

However, it tastes okay and thankfully its texture isn’t gritty, so I could turn a blind tongue to its lacking taste and texture because of the 20 grams of protein, 550 milligrams of calcium, and 175 milligrams of caffeine.

Celsius Spritz Vibe Snowball Frost Energy Drink

Celsius Spritz Vibe Snowball Frost Energy Drink

This is the second Celsius flavor I’ve ever had. I don’t even remember the first one I had. With that said, I’m not saying Celsius Energy Drinks are unmemorable, because I do remember that first one was tasty.

I will not forget this Snowball Frost seasonal flavor because I’m writing about it here for posterity. But I also won’t forget about it because this flavor seems weird to me. With a name like “Snowball Frost,” I expected it to have a wintery flavor or a taste that matches the colors of winter, like a blue raspberry or blueberry to convey cold weather. Instead, it’s citrusy, which I do not associate with winter. I usually think of anything citrus as a summer flavor. However, I’m not quite sure what citrus fruit I’m tasting. I’m thinking possibly tangerine. It’s not OMG delicious, and I won’t cry tears of sadness when it disappears in spring. If you do see me tearing up, it’s because of my allergies.

Joyride Sour Blue Raspberry Strips

Joyride Sour Blue Raspberry Strips

I’ve been rolling my eyes at Joyride candies ever since they came out because of how little sugar they contain. How can CANDY with little sugar taste good? But after tasting these sour strips, I’m going to have to eat my words, which I’ll substitute with more Joyride candy. 

Because I didn’t give this candy the time of day, I didn’t know it had fiber. This package, which has just six sour strips, has 12 grams of fiber, which is 40 percent of your daily recommended amount. DANG! Yes, it’s much better to get fiber from actual food, but it feels like magic to get it from candy.

But the candy doesn’t taste like it has much fiber. It’s one or two levels of sourness below Sour Patch Kids, but it has a flavor that’s almost as good. And it does it with only 5 grams of sugar. As someone who’s trying to sneak more fiber in my diet, I think I’ll be taking more Joyride flavors for a joyride.

Cove Smurfberry Probiotic Soda

Cove Smurfberry Soda

Bacillus subtilis DE111 is a probiotic. It’s also now in my search engine history with “bison vs buffalo,” “Jason Statham catchphrases,” and “[REDACTED].”

I bought this soda for the probiotics and the Smurfs, but was a little smurfed at the lack of fiber since, as you’ve read above, I’m trying to find ways to sneak the nutrient into my body. I’m also extremely smurfed that this beverage is clear, with no hint of Smurf color. What the smurf is up with that?

According to the can, Smurfberry is supposed to taste like blue raspberry, and it does give me Louie-Bloo Raspberry Otter Pop vibes, but it’s subdued like it’s been watered down a little. It tastes good enough that I’m slightly curious about the other flavors in Cove’s cove. 

REVIEW: Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears Bag

In honor of the conclusion of Alaska’s annual Fat Bear Week, I too am preparing for hibernation—with Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears. Rather than scoop up salmon or forage for lush greenery, I ordered a 1.5-pound bag of the new dipped treats online. (So far, they’ve been spotted in this quantity only at Costco and Sam’s Club, but both stores are too far from my forest.)

I’m a huge fan of Reese’s Dipped Animal Crackers, so I was thrilled to see Reese’s add to its confectionery menagerie. Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears are a similar species, but they swap the animal cracker for a crunchy graham cookie. Like the crackers, these Bears are covered in a thick layer of peanut butter candy confection with a chocolate-dipped base.

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears in the bag

Speaking of fat bears, Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears are not your toddler’s Teddy Grahams. These cookies vary in appearance—some are on the slim side, while others have honey jar tummies—but overall, they are comparable to the animal crackers in size. I am sure dipping a smaller cookie in peanut butter coating would have lost the distinctive bear shape, despite making it easier to toss them into one’s gaping maw.

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears family

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears two sides

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears size

As the bag promises, the bears boast a strong crunch. In this respect, they are more like a crunchy cookie than a crumbly Honey Maid cracker. The cookie’s honey graham flavor is noticeable, but it doesn’t overwhelm the peanut butter flavor, which remains the star of the show. The peanut butter candy crème coating is smooth and sweet, pairing well with the hint of chocolate. The flavor is similar to enjoying a graham cracker spread thickly with sweet peanut butter and a sprinkle of chocolate chips. As a sweet snack or casual dessert, they are absolutely delicious.

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears bite

The main differences between Reese’s Dipped Animal Crackers and Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears are that the bears are a little crunchier, and you can taste their flavor more than the animal crackers, which are pretty mild to begin with. The subtle difference detracts from the novelty of the new bears, but they are so tasty that it doesn’t matter.

Reese’s Dipped Graham Bears bag back

While I initially balked at the size of this bag, I may need to order another one before hibernation season kicks off. If you are a fan of Reese’s Dipped products, you will bear-ly be able to resist these.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 24 oz package
Purchased at: ebay
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3 pieces) 130 calories, 6 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Skittles Gummies Fuego

While seemingly every candy brand is hell bent on making its products airy and crispy with the freeze-dried fad, Skittles is bringing the salty, squishy heat with a new line of Fuego Gummies. This, of course, is in addition to their already available freeze-dried Pop’d line, but regardless, it’s welcome to see something different coming out in the fruity candy market.

Skittles Gummies Fuego offers five flavors, spanning some of the Original flavors along with some Tropical ones — strawberry, lemon, watermelon, lemon, mango, and raspberry. The gummies themselves aren’t flavored any differently than a normal pack, but rather come rolled in a mixture of chili powder and salt that brings new taste, texture, and life to the Gummies experience.

There is no added lime, but the gritty, spiced up salty flavor tossed generously on every fruity candy reminds me a lot of Tajin seasoning, and I really like it. I’ve had several other gummies, like peach rings, tossed in Tajin and sold as a direct collaboration, so the pairing works great.

What sets these apart from a bag of peach or apple rings tossed in Tajin is the smaller size and variety of flavors that come in one package. It’s a lot more fun, and most of them come across really well. The mango and watermelon feel perfectly in line with the fruits that organically pair with a salty, slightly spicy chili profile found in many Mexican candies. The strawberry and lemon stand out as the most distinctly Skittles-tasting. There’s something about the original Skittles strawberry that is so unique to the brand, and I’ve always loved it. While it still stands out as Skittles strawberry or lemon, the salty chili amplifies and complements the familiar flavor delightfully.

The only one that doesn’t really work for me is the raspberry, and I usually enjoy raspberry-flavored candies. The company doesn’t call it blue raspberry, but the candy is blue and has that more artificial-leaning aggressive candy taste that clashes a bit with the salted chili powder coating. It’s not awful, but it’s the one I want to come back to the least, and would have happily swapped it out with a more established Skittles Tropical flavor, like pineapple or banana, to make this Fuego bag perfecto.

Purchased Price: $2.19
Size: 5.8 ounces
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (12 pieces, 31g) 100 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 115 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 24 grams of total sugars, and 1 gram of protein.

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