Tag: Pillsbury

REVIEW: Pillsbury Churro Toaster Strudel

Denis 2 Comments

Pillsbury Churro Toaster Strudel

What is the Pillsbury Churro Toaster Strudel?

A marriage between the theme park treat and a fancy Pop-Tart, aka Toaster Strudel. As always, these require some manual labor, first figuring out how to separate and then open the icing packet, and then put it on the pastry. Then the race is on to finish the Toaster Strudel before the icing liquifies from the heat.

How is it?

Pillsbury Churro Toaster Strudel Art

Underwhelming, much like my attempt to recreate the pastry art pictured on the box. These really aren’t bad, but they really aren’t churro flavored either. I had to ask my taste buds to dig down deep to find even a hint of anything resembling churro or cinnamon flavor. The best way I can describe the filling is nondescript sweet, warm goo.

Pillsbury Churro Toaster Strudel Closeup

Pillsbury Churro Toaster Strudel Uncooked

Looking at the photo on the box, it seemed to show something extra going on with the pastry crust—either cinnamon mixed in or perhaps little flakes of churro pieces. But I couldn’t distinguish anything different about the crust compared to a regular Toaster Strudel. The icing was chocolatey, as promised, with almost a pudding taste rather than a standard chocolate sauce. If someone had given me this without any hint as to the flavor, I’m not sure I would have guessed churro.

Is there anything else you need to know?

You can get drunk off these! OK, actually you can’t, but they do contain chocolate liquor. Sadly, it’s the very last ingredient listed (after the always delicious locust bean gum), so you are fine to eat a few of these and hop behind the wheel. Just don’t go swimming for 30 minutes.

Pillsbury Churro Toaster Strudel Mascot

On another completely random subject, if you are ever in San Antonio, you can find some delicious churros in the Market Square, along with what is likely one of the only churro mascots in the world. Just don’t give him one of these Toaster Strudels.

Conclusion:

If I was in a rush one morning and grabbed one of these without looking at the box, I would probably be satisfied and go off to work contemplating new ways to waste time while being paid. But I was expecting some kind of churro flavor, and this one misses the mark on that.

Purchased Price: $2.06
Size: 11.7 oz box (6 pastries)
Purchased at: H-E-B
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (for 2 pastries with icing) 370 calories, 14 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 390 milligrams of sodium, 56 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 18 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Fillows Creme Filled Cereal (Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme and Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll)

Adam 3 Comments

General Mills Fillows Hershey s Cookies n Creme Cereal

Can I say that of all the cereal types here-to-now discovered by humanity, stuff-filled cereals by far have the most potential? Yes, I know corn loops, toasted oat rings, whole wheat squares, and (maybe) even sweet seasoned crisped rice all have roles to play in a complete breakfast, but the flavor-stuffed cavities of cereals like Kellogg’s Krave are structurally in another dimension.

Think of them as the chocolate eclairs of the cereal world. Don’t like eclairs? Fine, a creme-filled donut. And thanks to General Mills’ new Fillows cereal, we now have a competitor to Kellogg’s Krave.

Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme

General Mills Fillows Hershey s Cookies n Creme Cereal Wading in Milk

Call me an overly visual taster, but the appearance of chocolate squares with the promise of a creme filling inside made me expect the taste of Oreo cookies. However, I was massively disappointed when, on the first bite, the cloying taste of nothing but vanilla and sugar assaulted my taste buds. With the oh-so-slightest hint of cocoa on the backend, each square felt like a façade, as if I’d been served a veggie burger instead of a bleeding disc of cow. This marked the high point of my cereal disillusionment for the day.

To be fair, Hershey’s do not make Oreo cookies; they make Cookies ‘n’ Crème candy bars. And with that as a baseline, I tried the cereal again and appreciated it more for its unabashed vanilla sweetness. Still, there are some off flavors going on — notably, an artificial marshmallow taste that really seems to come out in milk. They don’t help the cereal stay true to either cookies ‘n’ creme the bar or the flavor.

General Mills Fillows Hershey s Cookies n Creme Cereal Spoon

That, to be honest, might be part of the problem. Cookies ‘n’ Creme Fillows are too sweet to be enjoyed with milk, and probably on the verge of being too sweet for most people as a snack (full disclosure: I’m not like most people). But at least when eaten dry the cocoa becomes a little more rounded, with a mild but enjoyable Cocoa Puffs flavor. It’s lost in milk, though, which makes the cereal a slight disappointment.

Purchased Price: $3.64
Size: 22 oz. box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3/4 cup) 230 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll

General Mills Fillows Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Cereal

The legacy of bakery-inspired cereals is a mixed bag. While there are some great ones — such as Kellogg’s bygone Cinnabon cereal — more often than not even the good ones don’t really taste like donuts or french toast or cinnamon rolls.

Let me be real with y’all: Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Fillows legitimately tastes like a cinnamon roll. What’s more, they might even be better than an actual Pillsbury cinnamon roll.

General Mills Fillows Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Cereal Wading in Milk

Like the Cookies ‘n’ Creme Fillows, these are overwhelmingly sweet at 19 grams of sugar per 52 grams of cereal. However, the sweetness feels like a match with the concentrated cinnamon flavor. Even eaten dry, there’s a certain richness in each square, mimicking the gooey buttery interior of a cinnamon roll. This flavor heightened in milk, where the squares take on an indulgent churros appeal.

General Mills Fillows Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Cereal Spoon

Granted, when you review cereal you learn to write a lot of vague crap, but let me state this unequivocally: This is the best Cinnamon Roll cereal I’ve had in 30 years of eating processed sugar for breakfast. Buy this.

Purchased Price: $3.64
Size: 22 oz. box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3/4 cup) 230 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

Overall, it’s good to see General Mills partner with Hershey’s and Pillsbury to join the filled cereal market. While the Cookies ‘n’ Creme flavor doesn’t seem to work in a cereal, they’ve definitely found a winner with the Pillsbury Doughboy. Let’s hope it sticks around.

REVIEW: Pillsbury Limited Edition Marshmallow Cookies with Marshmallow Bits

Vin

Pillsbury Limited Edition Marshmallow Cookies with Marshmallow Bits

What are Pillsbury Limited Edition Marshmallow Cookies with Marshmallow Bits?

Stick with me here folks; these are (supposedly) marshmallow-flavored cookies with little hot cocoa packet-style marbits.

How are they?

They’re fine, but if you’re expecting BIG marshmallow flavor, I’ve got bad news.

The cookies smelled like yellow cake mix in the oven, and I convinced myself they were going to taste like marshmallows. They ended up tasting like a sugar cookie, unfortunately.

I had to convince myself the cookie was marshmallow flavored, and it still never really seemed true. Although, on some bites, I felt like I was tasting extremely subdued cotton candy, which made little sense but was welcomed.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Pillsbury Limited Edition Marshmallow Cookies with Marshmallow Bits Raw

Pillsbury Limited Edition Marshmallow Cookies with Marshmallow Bits Baked

I ate these three different ways – as dough, hot from the oven, and cooled down.

Eating raw dough may not be recommended by that giggly punk the Pillsbury Doughboy, but we all do it. It was worth it. Don’t sue if you get sick.

They’re generic sugar cookies fresh from the oven. The marbits were so melty that they just blended in with the soft cookie and any flavor was lost.

I know the joy of baking cookies is eating them hot, but give ’em time to cool, because the marshmallows harden into a nice crisp, and that’s where the overall cookie shined brightest.

Pillsbury Limited Edition Marshmallow Cookies with Marshmallow Bits Bitten

While they didn’t taste like these specifically, the texture of the marshmallow reminded me of Linden’s Butter Crunch cookies. You know, those little yellow three cookie pouches at the convenience store? I’ve loved them since I was a kid.

I added chocolate chips to a few cookies, and they overpowered any alleged marshmallow flavor.

Conclusion:

I’m no baker, so I appreciate how simple these pre-made Pillsbury cookies are. I can pretend I baked without having the mix ingredients or clean up.

They’re good enough, low priced, and require no work. Why not try em?

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 14 oz (12 cookies)
Purchased at: Wegmans
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cookie) 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 85 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

QUICK REVIEW: Pillsbury Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnamania Toaster Strudel

Meghan 1 Comment

Pillsbury Cinnamon Toast Crunch Toaster Strudel

What is the Pillsbury Cinnamon Toast Crunch Toaster Strudel?

Combining the aromatic spices of Cinnamon Toast Crunch with the crisp flakiness of Pillsbury’s iconic Toaster Strudel, these heat ‘n eat treats take a cold cereal classic and turn it into a warming breakfast.

How is it?

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Toaster Pastries Pic 5 jpg

If there’s one thing about Toaster Strudels that’s always bothered me, it’s the icing that comes with them. While delicious, I don’t think that Pillsbury ever puts enough packets of it in the box. Each one is teeny-tiny, and you can only use a single packet per pastry unless you plan on eating some of them naked and unadorned.

Setting the icing situation aside, the Toaster Strudel itself was the true star of the show. Post-toasting, each pastry was pleasingly browned and filled my kitchen with the delicious smell of cinnamon sugar, alluding to their sweet, spiced filling. Although the top of each pasty was crisp and flaky, I thought that they were a little dry and chewy on the bottom, and they would have greatly benefited from some more butter or shortening in the dough.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Toaster Pastries Pic 7 JPG

Luckily, the much anticipated liquid spice goo more than made up for the pastry’s faults. The filling isn’t too strong, but it makes this Toaster Strudel taste genuinely reminiscent of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, ensuring that kids and adults alike will enjoy eating these for breakfast.

Is there anything else I need to know?

When you bite down onto one of these when they’re fresh from the toaster, the filling is about the temperature of lava, and it will burn your mouth if you’re not careful. Plus, the filling in mine had all run down to one end, leaving me with a few bites of plain dough.

Conclusion:

The Pillsbury Cinnamon Toast Crunch Toaster Strudel is a solid addition to the line. Sweet, aromatic, and true to the cereal, these are a solid breakfast choice for a chilly fall morning.

Purchased Price: $3.87
Size: 23.4 oz. box/12 pastries
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 pastry with icing) 180 calories, 60 calories from fat, 7 grams of total fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 9 grams of total sugars, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Pillsbury Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Marvo 6 Comments

Pillsbury Reese's Peanut Butter Cookies

Reese’s and Pillsbury have teamed up to offer a peanut butter cookie dough made with Reese’s Peanut Butter. No mixing. No bowls. Just break apart the block of dough, place the pieces on a cookie sheet, bake, and then think of all the time you’re saving by not making cookies from scratch and having to deal with all the cleaning after. It’ll give you so much time that you have the time to think that.

The name Reese’s brings excitement when printed on a package. Go post a photo of something with Reese’s on Instagram or Facebook, and I’m sure it’ll be one of your most liked photos. But this cookie dough is not something to get super excited about.

Look, I’ve had a shedload of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in my lifetime and I’ve had a bucketload of homemade and store bought peanut butter cookies during the decades I’ve been on this planet, so I’m disappointed these taste more like your run-of-the-mill peanut butter cookies than anything that reminds me of the iconic candy I’d steal from a baby.

Pillsbury Reese s Peanut Butter Cookies 2

The peanut butter in a Reese’s PBC has a distinct nutty flavor that I don’t detect with these. I ate the ENTIRE batch on my own over the course of several days, like a leisurely-eating Cookie Monster, and every one I stuffed into my mouth didn’t invoke any tastes, smells, or inkling of the beloved chocolate and peanut butter treat.

Pillsbury Reese s Peanut Butter Cookies 3

As peanut butter cookies, they’re fine, and I enjoyed eating every single one of them. But there’s nothing to distinguish them from any other I’ve had.

For you fork impressions in peanut butter cookies people, do it quickly because the dough gets super sticky if it sits for a little while, making it hard to create the imprint without having a clump of dough stick to your fork.

I can’t say Pillsbury’s Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies are bad, but I can say if I were to hand out these to random folks on the street, I’m sure they would not be able to tell it’s specifically a Reese’s product. By the way, if a stranger on the street offers you a cookie, don’t accept it.

(Nutrition Facts – 2 cookies – 160 calories, 60 calories from fat, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $4.29
Size: 16 oz. (makes 24 cookies0
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: Good peanut butter cookies. I bet this would make great bread for a Reese’s PBC sandwich. No mess and washing mixing bowls after. How easy it is to steal candy from a baby.
Cons: Not good at capturing Reese’s peanut butter. Nothing to distinguish it from other peanut butter cookies. Hard to make fork impressions in cookie dough. Stealing candy from a baby.