Condiment

REVIEW: Nutella Peanut Spread

Sean / May 5, 2026 / Reviews / 2 Comments

For the first time in over 60 years, Nutella has a new flavor.

No, it’s not following the last decade’s trend of endless wild creations like Cotton Candy Oreo, Cappuccino Lay’s, or hot dog’d pizza crusts, but rather, a more nuanced, fitting addition: peanut. The classic Italian spread made of hazelnuts, sugar, palm oil, skimmed milk powder, and cocoa that has delighted International consumers since 1964 gets a much more American twist, packaged in a vibrant yellow container.

The big question is: what do you do with a jar of Nutella? Drizzle it on fruit, put it in crepes, spread it on graham crackers, use it like hot fudge on an ice cream sundae? All are valid, and I have done those things, but mostly, I like to eat it with a spoon. I want to taste that beautiful, dense, sweet intensity in isolation. And that gorgeous sugary rush is on full display here, but it’s also notably different.

Nutella Peanut is advertised as “thicker” than standard Nutella, but to my eye (and tongue), it’s almost identical in its thickness. “Thickness” meaning it’s a lot thinner and smoother than the density of a shelf-stable peanut butter, and will drip off of a spoon easily to drizzle if held for a while. It has the same stunning glossy sheen as the original and shares most of the same ingredients, too, just swapping out the skimmed milk powder for peanuts, making this spread vegan, as well.

Despite the inclusion of the brand’s signature nut, the biggest difference here is that the hazelnut is very much an afterthought, or at least after-taste. The ingredients list sugar, then peanuts and peanut flour, then oil, followed by cocoa, hazelnuts, and salt — and that’s pretty accurate to how it comes across. The initial hit of flavor is sweetness and peanuts, followed very quickly by cocoa with just a whisper of hazelnut in the finish. It’s so faint that if you told me this had no hazelnut at all, I would totally believe it. At its core, it tastes like a chocolate peanut butter with the velvety smooth texture and sugar-laden flourish of Nutella.

If you prefer peanuts to hazelnuts, like me, this totally works, but if you’re nuts for hazelnuts, you might be disappointed. Even as much as I love peanuts and peanut butter, I can’t deny that this new-Tella is a bit less distinct than the original. But it’s refreshing to see a brand put a different yet accessible spin on its core product.

There’s no doubt that the signature texture and mouthfeel Nutella is known for is there, and it does it without sacrificing any of its decadent appeal. Nutella has always been more akin to a frosting than a nut butter, and this new spin brings a prominent pop of peanut to the king of luscious cocoa spreads.

Purchased Price: $6.09
Size: 13 ounces
Purchased at: Amazon
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (37g) 200 calories, 13 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 45 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 14 grams of total sugars, and 5 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Jif Peanut Butter & Chocolate Spread

Marvo / August 19, 2024 / Reviews / 4 Comments

Jif has created its Peanut Butter & Chocolate Spread to compete with Nutella, or as referred to on this Jif jar and in the rest of this review, “the leading hazelnut spread with cocoa.” In the back of my mind, I recall another Jif peanut butter and chocolate spread, but I don’t remember when it happened. If only there was a site that’s been around for over 20 years that focuses on new store products. It would probably know.

The foods I tried this Jif Peanut Butter & Chocolate Spread with were unadventurous — whole wheat bread, plain Greek yogurt, and apple slices. I also tasted it straight from the jar with a spoon. They all were wonderful and tasty ways to consume the spread. The peanut butter and chocolate are balanced so well that if you blind taste-tested it, it might be difficult to tell if a peanut butter brand added chocolate to its product or a chocolate brand made a spread and added peanut butter.

However, while tasty, it lacks that addictive quality that makes me steal Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and all its chocolatey and peanut buttery ilk from my kid’s Halloween stash. Yes, I am a monster, a monster that loves Reese’s. I would never sink to that slime of the Earth level to steal this spread from my son. Also, I don’t find it as great tasting as the leading hazelnut spread with cocoa, which I find more decadent.

But there are a few things about Jif’s Peanut Butter & Chocolate Spread that the leading hazelnut spread with cocoa can’t compete with — it has 50 percent less sugar and has more than twice the protein. It also has a thicker consistency and spreads, not surprisingly, like peanut butter.

As I mentioned earlier, the leading hazelnut spread with cocoa is more decadent than this, but both are great. However, with its protein and lower sugar content, Jif’s Peanut Butter & Chocolate Spread could be eaten daily, while the other seems like a sometimes spread because it’s more of a treat.

DISCLOSURE: I received free product samples from Jif. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 15 oz jar
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 Tbsp) 200 calories, 15 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 13 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar (including 8 grams of added sugar), and 5 grams of protein.

Condiment Jif Peanut Butter

REVIEW: Heinz Dip & Crunch

Tiffany / August 4, 2022 / Reviews / 5 Comments

What is it?

Inspired by #FoodTok (TikToks about food), Kraft Heinz’s new Dip & Crunch is a combo pack of burger sauce and crushed-up potato chips (crunchers).

Apparently, it’s a social media trend to dip your burger into different sauces and coat them with potato chips for more flavor and texture. Who knew?!

Dip & Crunch launched in two flavors – secret sauce and spicy sauce.

How is it?

I don’t know why, but I felt compelled to purchase McDonald’s to pair with this. My usual homemade burger just didn’t feel right for the occasion!

The sauces were both orange-ish in color. The secret sauce had floating bits of relish, as expected, whereas the spicy one looked a bit smoother.

They both smelled pungent and vinegary with a mayo-like linger. The crunchers smelled stale because oil was the only thing I could discern. They looked like regular ol’ potato chips – a la Lay’s Original as opposed to wavy or kettle style. It tasted stale and was texturally a bit soft, but I wasn’t expecting much from the crunchers because Heinz doesn’t make chips on the regular.

But it does make condiments! So, I was a little disappointed by the secret sauce. It didn’t really do much to enhance my burger’s flavor. There was a smidge of tanginess but overall wasn’t very flavorful. However, I really enjoyed the spicy one. It ate like spicy mayo – spicy, tangy with a bit of sweetness. I was pleasantly surprised that it actually had some heat to it!

Anything else you need to know?

I honestly preferred to Dip & Crunch my McNuggets and fries instead. My favorite combination was the McDonald’s Sweet & Sour Sauce with the potato crunchers. The Mickey D fries’ texture compensates for the chip’s staleness, and the fast food sauce provided better stickage.

Conclusion:

I like playing with my food, and this is a fun way to do just that. With free sauces at fast food joints and way fresher potato chips, if self-crushed, I probably won’t buy this again.

Purchased Price: $1.89 each
Size: 2.75 oz
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 5 out of 10 (Secret Sauce), 6 out of 10 (Spicy Sauce)
Nutrition Facts: (1 package) Secret Sauce and Crunchers – 430 calories, 40 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 480 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of total sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Spicy Sauce and Crunchers – 440 calories, 41 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 480 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of total sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

Chips Condiment Heinz

REVIEW: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Creamy Cinnamon Spread

Marvo / April 25, 2022 / Reviews / 5 Comments

According to the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Creamy Cinnamon Spread’s jar, it’s a product of Greece. But after touching the jar, pulling back the foil lid, and trying to keep the tan condiment on a butter knife, I began to wonder if it’s also a product of grease.

Before getting a chance to sample the spread, my first experience with the CTC spread was wondering why my fingers felt as if I’d just eaten pizza after touching the unopened glass jar. After inspecting the screw-on plastic lid and foil safety seal, it appears there wasn’t any leakage. But when I tried to remove the foil seal, only the golden top layer peeled away, leaving behind a fragile paper layer that broke into pieces as I attempted to remove it. I suspect this happened because the sample I received from B&G Foods was transported on its side, and the oils in the spread partially penetrated the foil seal.

As for the spread itself, it’s goopy, has an aroma that makes me wonder if I should stick a wick in it, and comes in a color that a paint brand might call “Camel Hump Tan.” Well, I’m used to goopy because the Smuckers Natural Peanut Butter I use slides off the knife as easily as this CTC spread does. Its ingredients include canola and palm oils, which might explain this cinnamon condiment’s viscosity and oiliness.

While it’s goopy and smells a little off, its flavor is surprisingly delicious. Along with being a product of Greece, the jar also says it “delivers the epic taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch with notes of brown sugar and graham flavor.” However, it doesn’t have me thinking this is a Cinnamon Toast Crunch-flavored slurry. But it does taste like something as tasty as the cereal — cinnamon rolls. Well, more specifically, the sweet stuff within the cinnamon rolls’ rolls. You know, the best part. There’s also a noticeable brown sugar flavor (which makes sense since it’s the spread’s first ingredient), but I didn’t get any graham notes.

I spread it on bread, dipped pears into it, and swirled it in my overnight oats. With every application, I got a bold and wonderful cinnamon roll-like flavor. If I had the inclination and ability to bake up a batch of cinnamon rolls, I’d use this instead of the standard icing. Overall, its taste makes up for it being as slippery as a greasy pig.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free product sample from B&G Foods. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 10 oz jar
Purchased at: Received from B&G Foods
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 tbsp/30 grams) 160 calories, 9 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 75 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 18 grams of sugar (16 grams of added sugar), and 2 grams of protein.

Cereal Cinnamon Toast Crunch Condiment

REVIEW: Boar’s Head Apple Pie Dessert Hummus

Karen / March 31, 2022 / Reviews / 14 Comments

What is Boar’s Head Apple Pie Dessert Hummus?

For some reason, and I don’t know why this happened, someone at Boar’s Head decided that apple pie and hummus belonged together. Weirdly, they were right.