REVIEW: Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria Light Ice Cream (Late 2018 Flavors)

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Ben & Jerry’s added four new flavors to its Moo-phoria Light Ice Cream line, just in time for the cooler days and nights of fall and winter: P.B. Marshmallow Swirl, Mocha Fudge Brownie, Cherry Garcia with a Twist, and Chocolate Cookie EnlightenMint.

Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria P.B. Marshmallow Swirl

Ben Jerry s Moo phoria P B Marshmallow Swirl

Remember Ben & Jerry’s Clusterfluff? Oh, wait a minute. That’s right. It got renamed to What A Cluster after some folks had a fluffin’ hissy fit over its name. So if you still have a pint, it’s sort of like the 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken error card of the ice cream world.

For those of you who don’t remember the flavor that had two names, it was kind of a frozen homage to the Fluffernutter — the peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich. Although, the ice cream had caramel cluster pieces.

Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria P.B. Marshmallow Swirl also seems to honor the sweet sandwich. It features peanut butter ice cream, marshmallow swirls, and peanut butter cookie pieces. Well, actually, peanut butter cookie balls. Oh, wait. Some folks might get a hissy fit over my use of “balls.” So, um, peanut butter cookie spheres.

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The ice cream base has a mild peanut butter flavor that gets enhanced with the cookie spheres. And there are A LOT of those spheres. It’s like the orbit of Jupiter in the container. Their texture is like Ben & Jerry’s cookie dough than actual cookies which is understandable since they’re sitting in ice cream, but I wish they had more of a crunch.

The marshmallow swirl, which I have an unhealthy relationship with that I’ve documented on this site, enhances the sweetness of the peanut butter. The swirl’s flavor seems to be less noticeable than other varieties I’ve had with it. There’s less of a vanilla-like flavor and more of a general sweetness. But the group of ingredients creates a nice tasty combo that might also be good between two white bread slices.

Purchased Price: $6.19
Size: 1 pint
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 cup) 160 calories, 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 70 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 16 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria Mocha Fudge Brownie

Ben Jerry s Moo phoria Mocha Fudge Brownie

I’m a bit of a coffee ice cream snob who prefers the coffee used in ice cream is fair trade, organic, comes from a country with a name I can’t pronounce (or find on a map), and, preferably, is hand-picked from of the dung of local monkeys that eat the coffee beans. I’m 90-95 percent sure the coffee used in Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria Mocha Fudge Brownie is none of those things.

But, the tasty combination of cold brew mocha ice cream with fudge brownies and toasted marshmallow swirls makes me not care the coffee used to make it isn’t hand-pulled from exotic animal droppings.

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The cold brew mocha base, which is new to me, tastes more like coffee than your typical coffee ice cream. Its flavor reminds me of the Dunkin’ Coffee Thins I had recently. The toasted marshmallow swirl helps sweeten everything and cut through the coffee flavor. Think of it as the coffee creamer in the pint that lessens the coffee punch. I thought the brownies would boost the chocolate flavor in the mocha ice cream, but they didn’t. Their chocolatey-ness was kind of a letdown.

There are some odd textures in the pint. First, there’s a grittiness that makes it feel as if there’s ground coffee mixed in with the ice cream base. At first, I thought it part of the brownies, but after getting to a brownie, I realized the textures of the two didn’t match. The brownies were gummy. That makes them easier to scoop, but I kind of want a more solid mix-in to create a contrasting texture.

Despite the issues, I enjoyed Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria Mocha Fudge Brownie. I think what helps is that the cold brew mocha coffee base has such a strong flavor that it makes the whole pint not taste like a light ice cream.

Purchased Price: $5.99
Size: 1 pint
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 cup) 150 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 20 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria Cherry Garcia with a Twist

Ben Jerry s Moo phoria Cherry Garcia with a Twist

SPOILER ALERT: The twist in Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria Cherry Garcia with a Twist isn’t an M. Night Shyamalan or Luke Skywalker learning Darth Vader is his father-level surprise.

What’s unique about this light ice cream is that it has both cherry AND chocolate flavored light ice creams with the cherries and fudge flakes. So it’s like a combination of the original Cherry Garcia and the Flavor Graveyard-resting Chocolate Cherry Garcia, but in a light ice cream formulation.

I didn’t get a chance to try the latter, which involved swapping the cherry ice cream in the original with chocolate. But if you’re hoping to get a little bit of that with this Moo-phoria flavor, you’re better off digging it out of the Flavor Graveyard instead of trying to dig it out of this pint.

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The chocolate base has, as expected because it’s light ice cream, a less potent flavor than Ben & Jerry’s standard version. And because of that, the cherry, which is lighter in flavor than what’s in the original, but stronger than the chocolate base in the pint, makes this taste like original Cherry Garcia almost any way I spoon it.

The only noticeable chocolate flavor I get is from the fudge flakes, which are in the original. I don’t know if the cherries and fudge flakes are lighter versions of what’s in a full calorie Cherry Garcia pint, but they don’t taste like they are.

If you’re a fan of Cherry Garcia, you’re going to enjoy this flavor. Yes, it does taste like a lighter version of the classic pint. But if Cherry Garcia FroYo isn’t doing it for you as a lighter version, then this might be a better scoop. So, in the end, maybe the twist is that Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria Cherry Garcia with a Twist doesn’t have a twist.

Purchased Price: $5.99
Size: 1 pint
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 cup) 140 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 25 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber 17 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria Chocolate Cookie EnlightenMint

Ben Jerry s Moo phoria Chocolate Cookie EnlightenMint

Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria Chocolate Cookie EnlightenMint is the third flavor the ice cream brand has shoehorned the word “mint” into. It follows EmpowerMint and Minter Wonderland. But, unlike those two, this is a light ice cream. It features a mint-flavored base with fudge truffles and chocolate cookies.

I’m reviewing this one last because, after comparing all four flavor, the base with this one seems lighter than the others. I’m not expecting to get a cool MINTerfresh clean feeling as I would after brushing my teeth, but I wanted more of a minty punch. The chocolatey mix-ins with the ice cream make it taste as if it should’ve been named Chocolate Cookie EnlighThinMint, but it’s not as addictive as the Girl Scout cookie.

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While I could count the number of chocolate cookie mix-ins with my fingers and toes, all I needed were my nipples to count the number of truffles. There was a giant truffle in the middle of the pint, one at the bottom, and that’s it — a total disappointMINT.

Although, the giant one may have been two truffles stuck together. But, even if counted that as two, I could still count the number of them with my nipples. More of the mix-in would’ve helped the pint. Their flavor reminded me of Whoppers, and they added a somewhat crunchy texture that counters the creamy base and soft cookie spheres. Of course, your pint may have much more of them.

Of the four new Moo-phoria flavors, Chocolate Cookie EnlightenMint is my least favorite. It’s adequate. Or, if I wanted to shoehorn the word “mint,” it’s adequMINT.

Purchased Price: $4.39
Size: 1 pint
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 cup) 160 calories, 7 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 65 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber 15 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

The original batch of Moo-phoria flavors didn’t wow me, but I found myself liking this bunch. Well, most of them. I think the telltale sign that I enjoyed these more is that I wanted to eat more of the pint, which I didn’t feel with the others.

DISCLOSURE: I received coupons from Ben & Jerry’s to try these, but I picked up the pints before the coupons arrived in the mail. To be honest, I probably don’t need to disclose this, but what’s a few more words in an almost 1,500 word review.

REVIEW: Ben & Jerry’s Exclusive Flavor Minter Wonderland

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Ben Jerry s Exclusive Flavor Minter Wonderland

“Imagine a wild ride through the wintriest, chocolate mintiest wonderland of ice cream filled with crunchy cookie swirls and marshmallowy drifts. Honestly, if this flavor was a toboggan, you’d already be on it.”

So says the back label of Ben & Jerry’s Minter Wonderland, which is dark chocolate mint ice cream with marshmallow swirls and chocolate cookie swirls. If it was a toboggan, I totally would be on it. They’re right. But “wintriest” and “chocolate mintiest”? Not so fast with those superlatives!

As a mint-thusiast, I was hoping for a more potent mint flavor. After all, that’s the only element that’s actually mentioned in the name. It’s barely there, and it’s the least noticeable part of the ice cream. I wouldn’t call it especially wintry or Christmassy.

Ben & Jerry's Exclusive Flavor Minter Wonderland 2

I’m guessing part of the wintry claim is the chocolate and marshmallow combination, reminiscent of hot cocoa. Dark chocolate is the dominant flavor. But this isn’t the dark chocolate of those snooty bars that brag about their cacao percentage. It’s more like a Dove dark chocolate, and it works well here.

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It doesn’t take long for the surface area of the ice cream to start melting and smearing on the bowl. In its melted form, the cream is like a rich, delectable chocolate sauce. No complaints here.

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The marshmallow swirl, which looks like the gooey interior of a roasted campfire marshmallow, is interesting to gaze at, but it was hard for me to even notice it in my mouth when it was with the ice cream. When I isolated it, it had an undeniable marshmallow taste and a bouncy texture.

By far the best part of this concoction is the chocolate cookie pieces. They’re chewy and gritty, but gritty in a good way. The back label calls it a crunchy cookie, but it’s more like a cross between a cookie and a brownie. They’re so good that I might say I would like more, but that’s not entirely fair; there already is a good ice cream to cookie ratio.

This flavor is exclusive to Target. That might seem like an inconvenience, but let’s be honest: isn’t it always great to have an excuse for a Target run?

Ben & Jerry’s Minter Wonderland is a wonderful ice cream. But I hoped it would have a stronger mint flavor, and I don’t think it’s particularly groundbreaking. It’s mostly just cookies/brownies in chocolate ice cream.

Purchased Price: $3.33
Size: 1 pint
Purchased at: Target (Exclusive Flavor)
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 cup) 270 calories, 140 calories from fat, 15 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 45 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 31 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 24 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein

REVIEW: Halo Top Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream

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Halo Top Peanut Butter Jelly Ice Cream

The existence of high-protein, low-calorie ice cream is a point of dispute in my family. I mean, no one thinks that the pint sitting in the freezer is a mere illusion, only that it shouldn’t exist.

The entire point of ice cream is that it’s an indulgent calorie-bomb. The most thought one should give to an ice cream’s caloric content is to purposefully turn the nutrition facts away as you scoop out a second serving, some say.

Back when these healthy ice creams more resembled frozen protein shakes than real ice cream, I tended to agree. Then Halo Top came along and introduced a product that made me say, “Hey, this isn’t that bad.” That may seem like faint praise, but Halo Top has been a regular part of my diet ever since, so I was excited to taste the new Peanut Butter & Jelly flavor.

The people at Halo Top recommend letting the pint soften a bit by letting it sit out a few minutes before eating. As a practiced hand at eating these pints, I can confirm these instructions should be followed; otherwise you’ll need an ice pick. By which I mean you should toss it in the microwave for a few seconds (remove the foil top first). I’m hungry now, and if I had any self-control I wouldn’t need to stock my freezer with this stuff!

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A fairly uniform white surface presents itself upon uncovering. I was hoping for some distinct ribbons of peanut butter and jelly to swirl themselves throughout the pint, but at most there are some vaguely brownish areas. This is disappointing, and it doesn’t get any better as I dig through the container. I’m willing to forgive this and still have high hopes. Some may eat with their eyes first, but I mostly eat with my mouth. How does it taste?

Halo Top Peanut Butter Jelly Ice Cream 3

I scoop a measured, sensible portion into a bowl, cover the rest, and place it back in the freezer for a later time.

This is a lie.

I ate the entire pint! That’s the entire point of Halo Top. Remember: no self-control.

Readers shouldn’t take my weakness of character as a statement of unrestrained endorsement. I like it because there’s a strong peanut flavor, and the jelly has enough tartness to make it interesting.

Halo Top Peanut Butter Jelly Ice Cream 4

There are some shortcomings, however. The flavor immediately reminds me of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but in an indistinct way. There’s jelly, but I have no idea what kind. There’s not really peanut butter in it, but more of a peanut butter essence throughout. It’s peanutbutterandjelly flavored. The gritty texture is an issue as well, and it doesn’t go away no matter how soft it gets.

Is Halo Top as good as Haagen-Dazs? No, of course not. It’s as good as that ice cream that comes in the giant gallon bucket. Generally speaking, that’s good enough for me. This flavor succeeds by tasting as it should but is one of Halo Top’s lesser attempts. Try it if you’re already a fan, but it won’t change anyone’s mind.

(Nutrition Facts – 1/2 cup – 90 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 130 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugar, 4 grams of sugar alcohol, and 5 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $4.59
Size: 1 pint
Purchased at:
Rating: 5 out of 10
Pros: Tastes like a peanut and butter sandwich.
Cons: Indistinct flavor. Gritty texture.

QUICK REVIEW: Ben & Jerry’s Cinnamon Buns Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert

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Ben Jerry s Cinnamon Buns Non Dairy Frozen Dessert

What is it?

At first, I thought the idea of using almond milk to make a non-dairy version of Ben & Jerry’s fantastic Cinnamon Buns Ice Cream sounded like using gluten-free ingredients to make Cinnabon’s classic roll. But, while gluten-free Cinnabon doesn’t seem too appetizing, that’s not the case with this pint.

While the dairy version has caramel ice cream, this one features a cinnamon-flavored non-dairy frozen dessert base. But, like the original, cinnamon bun dough pieces and a cinnamon streusel swirl are included.

How is it?

If you love cinnamon, you will enjoy this flavor immensely. There’s so much of it that it’s as if someone used the spice as talcum powder on their hands and then punched me in the face with them. It does an outstanding job at hiding the fact it’s a non-dairy dessert.

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Most of the cinnamon flavor comes from the gooey swirl. It has that sugary grittiness one would feel in a cinnamon bun and the same explosive flavor. Surprisingly, the non-dairy base doesn’t taste as if it has much of the spice. I do get a little bit of the almond milk, which my brain seems to registers as a bit of doughiness.

The cinnamon dough balls have the same texture as the chocolate chip cookie dough balls in Ben & Jerry’s classic variety. The spice is in every bite, but they don’t have as much of a punch as the swirl. There’s also an equal amount of brown sugar that adds a sweetness that cuts through all the spice. This is welcomed because it makes the dessert not so one note.

Is there anything else I need to know?

The flavor does linger and makes your mouth feel as if you’re chewing on a well-worn piece of Big Red Gum.

Conclusion:

As I mentioned at the beginning of the review, I find the original Cinnamon Buns Ice Cream to be superb, and this non-dairy version, while not as creamy, is just as hard-to-put-down tasty.

(Click here to read our other Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy reviews.)

DISCLOSURE: Ben & Jerry’s sent me coupons for free pints to celebrate National Ice Cream Month, which was last month. I used one of the coupons to purchase this. Receiving the coupon didn’t influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 1 pint
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 cup) 260 calories, 120 calories from fat, 13 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 25 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Blue Bunny Bunny Snacks (2018)

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In 2017, Blue Bunny introduced the Bunny Snacks line that features reduced fat ice cream bars with candy coatings and sandwiches. It debuted with four varieties — Chocolate Chip Cookie, Chocolate Vanilla Twist, Cookies ’n Cream, Salted Caramel Pretzel — all of which are still around.

In 2018, the ice cream brand rolled out four new Bunny Snacks varieties — Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Hazelnut, Vanilla Fudge Brownie, and Mint Chocolate Twist.

Strawberry Cheesecake Bunny Snacks

Blue Bunny Bunny Snacks Strawberry Cheesecake

The snack features cheesecake-flavored reduced fat ice cream topped with strawberry sauce and graham cracker crunch bits covered with cream cheese-flavored coating and drizzled with strawberry flavored ribbon.

I reviewed a Pop-Tart that has half-strawberry filling and half-cheesecake-flavored filling. Combined they didn’t taste like strawberry cheesecake because they lack the tanginess the dessert has. I bring up that Pop-Tart for two reasons:

  1. The strawberry sauce on this Bunny Snack reminds me of the strawberry Pop-Tarts filling.
  2. This has the tang I wish the Pop-Tart had.

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Some of you might think the tanginess comes from the cheesecake-flavored ice cream, and some of it does. But most of it is from the white cream cheese-flavored candy shell. That combined with the strawberry filling and drizzle creates a recognizable strawberry cheesecake-like flavor. The graham flavor isn’t noticeable, but the pieces add some crunchiness. However, most of the texture contrasting the ice cream come from our tangy friend, the candy shell.

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Even though there’s reduced fat ice cream and it doesn’t have a strong flavor, everything around it hides those facts. Overall, Strawberry Cheesecake Bunny Snacks are sweet little treats.

Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) 170 calories, 80 calories from fat, 9 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 milligrams of sodium, 90 milligrams of potassium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 15 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Chocolate Hazelnut Bunny Snacks

Blue Bunny Bunny Snacks Chocolate Hazelnut

This bar has chocolate hazelnut-flavored reduced fat ice cream with a hazelnut fudge ribbon dipped in a chocolaty coating and hazelnut pieces drizzled with a chocolatey coating.

Chocolate Hazelnut Bunny Snacks 2

If someone slapped a Ferrero Rocher sticker on this bag’s Blue Bunny logo, gave it to me, and I tried one of the treats, I wouldn’t question the label and think these are from Ferrero Rocher. The questioning would begin after wondering why they’re not wrapped in gold foil.

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Even the texture of the bottom is as light and easily crumbly as a Ferrero Rocher’s chocolate coating. Yes, it has reduced fat ice cream, but as I found with the other two candy-coated varieties, the layer and toppings do an excellent job at hiding the fact it has less fat. This one was my favorite of the bunch.

Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) 170 calories, 80 calories from fat, 9 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 milligrams of sodium, 90 milligrams of potassium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 15 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Vanilla Fudge Brownie Bunny Snacks

Blue Bunny Bunny Snacks Vanilla Fudge Brownie

This bunny snack features vanilla-flavored reduced fat ice cream topped with a layer of brownie batter and brownie brittle pieces covered in a milk chocolatey coating and candy drizzle.

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The viscous brownie batter and crunchy brownie brittle pieces give the treat a flavor that’s richer than milk chocolate. But the fudgy brownie and vanilla ice cream combo, while darn good, didn’t get my taste buds jumping with excitement as much as the other two candy-coated Bunny Snacks.

Vanilla Fudge Brownie Bunny Snacks 3

If the other two didn’t exist, I probably would’ve liked this a bit more. But since Blue Bunny is giving us a number of Bunny Treat options and not everyone will buy all of them, I’d recommend the other two before this one.

Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) 170 calories, 90 calories from fat, 11 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 50 milligrams of sodium, 95 milligrams of potassium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 15 grams of sugar, and 2 gram of protein.

Mint Chocolate Twist Bunny Snacks

Blue Bunny Bunny Snacks Mint Chocolate Twist

This one isn’t candy-coated like the others. Instead, it’s an ice cream sandwich that features mint reduced fat ice cream with a fudge swirl inside that’s between two chocolate chocolate chip cookies with a green candy drizzle. I have to admit after all the candy-coated goodness of the other three this one is less exciting.

Much like I don’t read instructions before putting together anything, I didn’t read the front of the packaging before eating this, so I didn’t realize the two chocolate wafers are two chocolate chocolate chip cookies. But they sure didn’t feel like cookies. They have the same soft texture as what slapped on an ice cream sandwich.

Mint Chocolate Twist Bunny Snacks

But because they’re chocolate chip cookies, every so often my molars will mash tiny chocolate chips. However, there’s another texture level in the wafers cookies. There’s a grittiness that feels as if there are sugar granules in them that provide micro crunches with every chew. I guess they make up for the cookies’ lack of crunch.

The ice cream has the right amount of mint flavoring. It’s not going to make you think you brushed your teeth, but it’s also not light enough that the cookies overpower it. There’s a delicate balance between the two parts that make for a pleasant treat. But without the candy coating, it’s a bit basic compared with the others in the line. However, that does help make it a bit more waist-friendly than the others.

Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 sandwich) 150 calories, 45 calories from fat, 5 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 95 milligrams of potassium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 15 grams of sugar, and 2 gram of protein.

DISCLOSURE: I received free samples from Blue Bunny months ago. And only now I’ve gotten around to writing this review. Sorry, Blue Bunny. Receiving free samples or feeling sorry that it took so long to write this review did not influence my review in any way.

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