What are Frosted Mocha Latte Pop-Tarts?

Pop-Tarts brewed up a chocolate- and espresso-inspired pastry that won’t require you to wake up early to beat the rush at your favorite cafe.

Exclusive to Walmart, Frosted Mocha Latte Pop-Tarts are sold in a value pack of 16 pastries. I think this falls somewhere between grande and venti on the Pop-Tart/Coffee Equivalency Scale.

How are they?

Upon rustling open that iconic silver wrapper, I was impressed that Frosted Mocha Latte Pop-Tarts took the “frosted” descriptor seriously. A generous layer of white icing, topped with a light brown squiggle, covers each pastry. The icing doesn’t impart much flavor, but it acts like a crisp shell of sweetness that enhances each bite.

Although its strong coffee aroma beckons, the pastry crust is typical Pop-Tarts fare: dry, crumbly, and subtly chocolate-flavored. If you’ll indulge the topical metaphor, the pastry is like an old coffee mug: functional and not too exciting by itself, but a wonderful support for flavor-packed filling. Rich and thick, the Pop-Tart filling perfectly balances chocolate flavor with a strong, realistic coffee taste. It’s not too sweet and manages to maintain some bitter notes, which are really interesting and surprisingly nuanced.

Because the toaster at my office has been emitting sparks (and if I’m going to set the place on fire, it’s going to be in a completely different context), I warmed a Pop-Tart in the microwave for about 10 seconds. I highly recommend this method. The warmth softens the crust and the filling, waking up the already-impressive coffee flavor. It provides all of the comfort of a hot drink with none of the caffeine jitters.

Anything else you need to know?

A few years ago, Pop-Tarts released a limited edition Chocolate Mocha flavor as a tie-in with Dunkin’ Donuts. The Frosted Mocha Latte flavor looks almost identical to that product. If you’ve tried both, share your comparisons in the comments below.

Conclusion:

Frosted Mocha Latte Pop-Tarts deliver strong flavor with the right balance of sweet and bitter notes. Whether you’re a kid with grown-up tastes or an adult who isn’t afraid to indulge in a favorite childhood brand, this flavor warrants a refill.

Purchased Price: $3.94
Size: 27 oz (768 g) box (16 pack)
Purchased at: Walmart (Exclusive Flavor)
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 2 pastries) 360 calories, 9 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 400 milligrams of sodium, 69 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 36 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

What are Kellogg’s Peach Cobbler Pop-Tarts?

Kellogg’s has released several dessert-themed Pop-Tart flavors this summer: Banana Crème Pie, Lemon Crème Pie, and these Peach Cobbler ones. Can these convenient pastries capture the essence of their homemade counterparts, or do I still need to find a baker to trade their creations for my bad junk food takes?

How are they?

These appear as a typical frosted Pop-Tart, with light orange frosting and small tan dots representing cobbler topping. They’re the only hint that these are cobbler-flavored because, in reality, these are simply peach Pop-Tarts. Though, that doesn’t sound as interesting, does it?

Unfortunately, the peach flavor is very artificial tasting. I’m reminded of Peach Crush soda and Peach Jolly Ranchers. I don’t really expect a Pop-Tart to taste like real fruit, but artificial peach can be one of those flavors that tastes nothing like the real thing, and it doesn’t work for something that’s supposed to taste like a real fruit cobbler.

Anything else you need to know?

The back packaging illustrates four ways to enjoy its contents, so I decided to give them each a try.

Straight from the Foil – Like melted peach ring candy poured into semi-baked pie crust.

Toasted – I wonder what percentage of Pop-Tarts are consumed toasted vs untoasted. Very few, I imagine. That’s a shame because I’ve always found them much improved by the process. A bit of browning adds the depth of flavor missing in the uncooked counterpart, which is particularly welcome here. It’s as close as we’re going to get to a golden brown and delicious cobbler topping.

Frozen – Freezing these adds an interesting textural experience. They don’t freeze solid, but get chewy. The peach filling turns gummy-like, and the cold numbs the artificial flavor.

Stacked Stuffed – The packaging suggests “stacking” Pop-Tarts, which I take to mean to eat two at the same time. But that’s dumb. The obvious use case for two toaster pastries is to “stuff” them with something and make a Pop-Tart sandwich. Vanilla ice cream seemed the obvious choice for a cobbler-themed pastry, and I wasn’t disappointed. The creaminess rounds out the peach flavor. Plus, I mean…ice cream.

Conclusion:

Peach Cobbler Pop-tarts are too artificial tasting to be enjoyed straight out of the foil. But simply taking the time to toast them, or freeze them, or uhh… plop a hunk of ice cream on them yields a satisfying treat.

Purchased Price: $2.29
Size: 13.5 oz box/8 pastries
Purchased at: Woodman’s Markets
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts (2 pastries) 380 calories, 10 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 340 milligrams of sodium, 69 grams of carbohydrates, 1 grams of fiber, 28 grams of sugar including 27 grams added sugar, and 4 gram of protein.

What are Tropical Mango Pop-Tarts?

Forget the taste of charred hot dogs on a sweltering July evening, the feel of ice cold watermelon juice dripping down your chin as you stand on a gently swaying boat dock at the lake, or almost choking to death by the pool because you’re eating your Doritos too fast and your cousin shoots you in the face with his Super Soaker, the REAL taste of summer is the new summer line from Pop-Tarts. Joining Tropical Mango are Creme Pies of the banana and lemon variety, as well as Peach Cobbler.

How are they?

A little lackluster.

As you can see in the pictures, the jacket icing is nothing more than a drizzle. While most Pop-Tarts are fully iced, and a handful are naked, only a couple are adorned with a thin doodle like this Tropical Mango version. I can’t help but think these Tarts — which are very mildly flavored to begin with — would be better fully covered.

The filling itself is extremely, almost jarringly sweet, but it does bear a distinct mango flavor. Unfortunately, it’s just barely noticeable.

Anything else you need to know?

Of the four new flavors, mango is the only one with the Spanish word for new — “Nuevo” — on the box. That’s fine and all, but as we are all well aware, India actually produces and consumes more mangoes than any other nation on Earth. Therefore, I’m petitioning Kellogg’s to add “naveen va” — which is Hindi for new — to the other side of the box.

Conclusion:

Though mangoes are a perfectly delightful fruit, they don’t translate well into the realm of toasted pastries. I’d be surprised if these become anyone’s favorite. Or stick around. Even in India, where folklore says that mango trees can grant wishes. (I’m serious, they love their mangoes.)

Purchased Price: $2.29
Size: 13.5 oz box (8 count)

Purchased at: Sun Fresh
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 pastries) 380 calories, 11 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 400 milligrams of sodium, 68 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 23 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

What are Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts?

Pop-Tarts has experimented with inventive flavors like sodas, cupcakes, and even Jolly Ranchers, but this time the brand is keeping it classic with a toaster pastry inspired by the summertime favorite, lemon cream pie.

Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts join a lineup of new flavors hitting shelves, including Peach Cobbler, Banana Crème Pie, Tropical Mango, and the limited edition Mister E Flavor.

How are they?

Although lemon is a simple (and, to me, underrated) flavor, Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts dressed up for their debut. Each tart features a swipe of pastel icing and crunchy golden sprinkles that lend extra sweetness and flair.

The pastry carries a subtle lemon taste, like a flavored shortbread. Thinking about the inspiration dessert, I expected the filling to be lighter and creamier, the sort of texture found in a Strawberry Milkshake variety. Instead, the filling is that of a standard fruit Pop-Tart: concentrated and a little jam-like.

The lemon flavor is sharp and citrusy but artificial, with a hint of vanilla mixed in. The filling tastes good, but the vanilla flavor doesn’t represent a cream element that well. A streak of vanilla or even marshmallow cream filling would have helped to recreate the experience of enjoying a fluffy, creamy pie.

While I have bigger dreams for the filling than Pop-Tarts realized, I still wish there were more of it. The thin layer sits in the center of the tart, as the thick edges protect all of the lemony goodness. More filling, please, Pop-Tarts! This is how the “Is a Pop-Tart a ravioli?” debate got started!

Anything else you need to know?

Fresh from the toaster, these are still enjoyable, but I found the pastry lost its lemon-tinged flavor when heated. (I tend to prefer my Pop-Tarts untoasted, an opinion that others react to as though I’ve just spit on the graves of their ancestors, so I was surprised to see that the box suggests serving them frozen. Does eating frozen Pop-Tarts classify as deviant behavior?)

Conclusion:

Lemon Crème Pie Pop-Tarts deliver scant filling and simpler flavor than their name suggests. They won’t replace your favorite variety but are tasty enough to satisfy a citrus craving.

Purchased Price: $2.19
Size: 13.5 oz box / 8 pastries
Purchased at: Wegmans
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 2 pastries) 380 calories, 10 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 340 milligrams of sodium, 69 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 28 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.