REVIEW: Papa Johns Salted Caramel Blondie

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Papa Johns Salted Caramel Blondie Tray

As someone who developed a chocolate allergy as a teenager, I frequently battle cravings for brownies. Blondies sound like an appealing alternative, except for the fact that they’re often studded with pesky chocolate chips. That’s why I felt like I was receiving a personal present from Papa John himself when I learned that the pizza chain had released a new limited edition Salted Caramel Blondie, a delicious dessert with nary a speck of chocolate in sight.

The ingredients it does contain, though, are up for debate. The name seems to make it quite clear, as does the Papa Johns website, which specifically cites “caramel chips.” But I confess: I’m not buying that story. That’s because the rich, orange-y brown chips happen to look, smell, and taste exactly like butterscotch chips. I wasn’t upset by that exactly, but I was confused!

I thought that if the chips (which are embedded in the top layer of the blondie but don’t permeate throughout) didn’t scream salted caramel, then maybe the blondie itself would, but that wasn’t the case either. The blondie had perhaps a speck of saltiness, but I couldn’t detect any caramel. It had a sweet, buttery taste that could call to mind a lot of things, but, strangely enough, it reminded me most of a syrup-drenched waffle.

Papa Johns Salted Caramel Blondie thinness

Though a bit uncanny, the blondie tasted great, and its texture was just as good. While it wasn’t very thick, it was impressively dense. The fudgy texture of the inside contrasted appealingly with the perfectly crisp outer layer. I would have appreciated a bit more moistness—this thing was more solid than any blondies I’ve made (which, believe me, is a lot!)—but on the whole it felt closer to a homemade baked good than I expected.

If you want to maximize bang for your buck, you can get the Salted Caramel Blondie as part of the Papa Pairing combos menu, which offers a discount if you purchase this dessert alongside at least one other item, but I enjoyed it even at full price.

Papa Johns Salted Caramel Blondie closeup

If you’re a die-hard salted caramel fan or an opponent of false advertising, you might be disappointed, but if you’re someone who just loves a good non-chocolate dessert, I think you should check the Salted Caramel Blondie out…even if its flavor is a little ambiguous.

Purchased Price: $9.49
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 square) 200 calories, 10 grams of fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 15 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Berry Sangria Refresher

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Snowflakes are in the air, turkeys are on sale at the grocery store, and festive decorations are starting to spring up all around my neighborhood. That can mean only one thing: holiday seasonal menu items are BACK!

With that declaration having been made, it was time for me to venture out to the wilds of my own (literal) backyard and head over to Dunkin’ to see what Santa brought me.

Along with the usual cookie and candy-themed items on offer was something new and distinctly different from the other holiday items: the Berry Sangria Refresher.

If you aren’t familiar with Dunkin’ Refreshers, they are non-coffee ways to get a nice caffeine boost, in fruit flavors, and they can be mixed with either tea, sparkling water, or lemonade, depending on your particular store’s selections. I tried both sparkling water and lemonade in the new Berry Sangria flavor so I could compare and contrast for you.

Sparkling Water Version

Light, carbonated, and berry-forward, this was an absolute delight to drink. As the name implies, it was very refreshing, with blueberry as the most prominent note, then a gentle mixed berry flavor, and a nice, slightly bitter finishing note that really did remind me of wine.

The sparkling water was an excellent accompaniment to the bold flavors. I thoroughly enjoyed this beverage, and it surprisingly fits in with a holiday-themed menu. It’s almost enough to make me forgive DD for discontinuing my beloved Halloween Blood Orange Refresher a few years back… almost.

Lemonade Version

While I did like this version, I have to admit I liked the sparkling water one a bit more. Something about the lemonade’s sweetness detracts from the sangria’s flavor. That bitter end note was diminished, and the whole drink felt a bit heavier, a bit less refreshing.

That said, it wasn’t bad at all, and if you like lemonade, this is an interesting new twist on an old classic with a burst of caffeine added—basically, a win in my book.

Purchased Price: $3.39 (Sparkling Water), $3.89 (Lemonade)
Size: Medium
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Sparkling Water), 7 out of 10 (Lemonade)
Nutrition Facts: Sparkling Water – 130 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 20 grams of total sugar, and 0 grams of protein. Lemonade – 250 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 20 milligrams of sodium, 60 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 56 grams of total sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla

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Taco Bell Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla sleeve

Flat burrito.

That was the first thought that rolled into my head when I pulled out Taco Bell’s Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla from its sleeve. Despite accurately describing what I received and what the promotional photos show, “flat burrito” would obviously be a worse name for a Taco Bell menu item than “rolled quesadilla.”

However, it might be a decent name for a pop punk band. If you’re trying to come up with one, feel free to take it. You can always change it later.

Just like pop punk chord progressions, the ingredients list here is very simple: seasoned steak, a three-cheese blend, spicy ranch, and fire-roasted poblano peppers in a warm tortilla.

Taco Bell Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla innards

I presume this is the first time poblano peppers have been put in a Taco Bell product, which is particularly surprising because I had the perception that the Tex-Mex place had incorporated every possible pepper at this point into its products. But I’m glad the green vegetables are there because they add some color, crunch, and a mild peppery flavor that’s somewhat similar to standard green bell peppers.

At first, I thought the poblano was spicy, but it turned out to be the spicy ranch sauce we’ve seen in many other Taco Bell products. The tangy, mildly spicy sauce complements the other ingredients without overwhelming them.

I’m not sure if this rolled quesadilla had more or the same amount of meat as the standard quesadillas, but it sure tasted and looked super meaty in every bite. As for the three-cheese blend, it provided a hint of cheesiness in the flour tortilla.

Taco Bell Steak & Poblano Rolled Quesadilla length

Overall, it’s a fine tasting menu item, and the addition of the poblano peppers is nice. However, let’s get back to its flat, long burrito shape. Because it’s not fanned out like Taco Bell’s standard quesadillas, it looks less substantial. And that would be fine if it had a less substantial price than the other quesadillas, but it’s just slightly cheaper.

Purchased Price: $6.59*
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 530 calories, 28 grams of fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 70 milligrams of cholesterol, 1280 milligrams of sodium, 43 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugar (including 2 grams of added sugar), and 25 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.

REVIEW: Little Caesars Stuffed Crunch Crust Pizza

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Little Caesars Stuffed Crunch Crust Pizza whole

Happy 30th Birthday, Pizza Hut’s Stuffed Crust Pizza!

Thanks to Little Caesars Stuffed Crunch Crust Pizza and my desire to create a decent introduction for this review, both of which prompted me to look up the history of the stuffed crust pizza, I wouldn’t have known Pizza Hut’s Stuffed Crust had reached its thirtieth year of existence. So let’s celebrate the best way I can think of, which is by reviewing a stuffed crust pizza from a Pizza Hut rival.

To be honest, over the past 30 years, I’ve gotten tired of regular stuffed crust pizza. It was innovative back then, but now it’s just cheese and bread. By the way, why hasn’t anyone put cheese, sauce, and meat or vegetables into the crust, creating a pizza stuffed crust pizza?

Little Caesars Stuffed Crunch Crust Pizza side

Little Caesars isn’t new to stuffed crust, and this is an upgrade that, according to the pizza chain, features “a toasted, cheese-stuffed crust brushed with buttery garlic flavor and finished with herbs and breadcrumbs.” As you can see from the photo above, my order’s crust looks a little naked, or maybe it didn’t spend enough time in the oven to make it all golden brown, but I assure you that despite how it looks, it’s gosh darn good.

Little Caesars Stuffed Crunch Crust Pizza cheese in crust

Even though there’s no mention of cheddar in the description, the thing that instantly popped into my head after my first bite into the crust was that its flavor reminded me of Papa Johns Cheddar Crust Pizza, which was surprisingly tasty when I tried it a few weeks ago. Actually, it’s one of my favorite things I’ve had this year. So I’m excited that I’m tasting something similar with this pizza, and I’m also wondering where the mozzarella flavor went. As for that buttery garlic flavor, I didn’t taste it with the end crust, but I did notice it with the rest of the pizza, which it enhances.

Little Caesars Stuffed Crunch Crust Pizza crust closeup

However, it’s not just the flavor that has impressed me; it’s also the crunchy texture. Although now that I think about it, crispiness would be a better way to describe what the breadcrumbs add to the end crust. As I was biting into it, I thought its crispiness was like what I get with French fries. However, while the texture was delightful, it’s also fleeting if the pizza sits out for too long. So eat it fresh.

From tip to crust, I enjoyed every bit of Little Caesars’ Stuffed Crunch Crust Pizza. It’s a limited-time offering, but I really hope it becomes permanent and a staple so that 30 years from now we can celebrate its birthday.

Purchased Price: $11.99*
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 slice) 365 calories (no other nutritional information is available on the Little Caesars’ website).

*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.

REVIEW: Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza

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Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza size

“I love it when you call me Grand Papa…Throw your pizza (dough) in the air if you a true playa.”

Probably not what Notorious B.I.G. had in mind. But honestly? Fitting for the absolute swagger of this new pizza.

Papa Johns just launched its biggest pizza (and biggest box) ever with the new 18-inch Grand Papa. While bigger isn’t always better – Papa John’s is my Number One, so I went in optimistic.

The pizza chain also dropped a Salted Caramel Blondie the same week. However, the star here is the debut of Papa Johns’ savory deli-style pepperoni – larger slices, milder and more savory than the standard pepperoni, and very Italian-sub energy.

Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza box size

To compare, I ordered the Grand Papa alongside a regular mushroom pizza.

First: the box. It was massive. The kind of massive that doesn’t fit in your fridge, which felt like Papa John’s way of saying “finish this in one sitting.” (Half kidding. Mostly.)

Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza big pepperoni

The pizza itself was noticeably huge and thin-crusted. The first bite was a flavor bomb. The three-cheese blend and Italian seasoning hit totally differently than with a regular Papa Johns pie, and the crust was perfectly thin with zero soggy spots. The new deli pepperoni? Legit. I’m usually a cup-and-char girly, but I’d absolutely love to taste this pepperoni in other menu items, like a Papadia.

Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza slice next to normal slice

Papa Johns Grand Papa Pizza slice doing horizontal mamba with normal slice

It was so flavorful I didn’t even reach for the garlic butter – even though there was basically no crust to dip anyway. After tasting my two orders side by side, the regular pizza tasted bland and much more tomato-forward to me. Hard to believe they use the same “original” dough.

At $19.99 vs. $16.99 for a regular large, it isn’t even that big of a premium.

And honestly? For the size, flavor, and the deli pepperoni glow-up, it felt completely worth it.

My only hesitation is whether this thin crust can handle my usual topping chaos (your girl likes more than just pepperoni, even if it is deli pepperoni) – but time, and a few future orders, will tell.

Purchased Price: $19.99
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 slice) 380 calories, 17 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 960 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of total carbohydrates, 4 grams of sugar, 0 grams of dietary fiber, and 17 grams of protein.

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