{"id":18921,"date":"2015-08-11T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-11T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/?p=18921"},"modified":"2021-01-03T21:27:36","modified_gmt":"2021-01-04T07:27:36","slug":"review-trader-joes-brownie-crisp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2015\/08\/11\/review-trader-joes-brownie-crisp\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: Trader Joe\u2019s Brownie Crisp"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Trader<\/a><\/p>\n

Instructions for Sadness:<\/b><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t think about brownies.
\nMmmmm\u2026<\/i>
\nOr fudge chunks.
\nChunks?<\/i>
\nOr crispy edges.
\nEdges!<\/i>
\nIn fact, just throw all the chocolate near you away.
\n(Slow motion:) Nooooooo!!<\/i>
\nYour only thoughts should be about canned beets.
\nEw.<\/i>
\nAnd standardized tests.
\nPlease. No.<\/i>
\nMaybe stare at a broken clock, read a self-help book, and reflect on your recurring nightmares about the one-eyed, door-to-door orange juice salesman.
\nBAH!<\/i>
\nBut not brownies. Or cookies. Or both.
\nMmmmmm\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n

Promise me something: if you like chocolate, crispy bits, fudge chunks, and crumblies, ignore the above instructions. I know I did as I grabbed these Brownie Crisps from the shelf, puzzling over the image on the polymer bag. \u201cIs that a Brownie Brittle replica? Or just an ugly cookie? Perhaps some mutant Cocoa Puff?\u201d Only one way to find out\u2026 <\/p>\n

\"Trader<\/a><\/p>\n

Before we get going I feel the need to talk about the original <\/a>Brownie Brittle. By now, you might be familiar with those slivers of chocolate crunchies, but, if not, allow me to introduce you. Brownie Brittle is a crispy, crunchy creation, much akin to a very, very thin chocolate cookie. The cookie-like shards are pummeled with teensy round chocolate chips, broken up, and served up in wackadoo shapes.<\/p>\n

\"Trader<\/a><\/p>\n

As you can see by my poorly constructed tent<\/strike> resort camping facility, the structural integrity of these brownie crisps rivals that of Lincoln Logs. The Original Brownie Brittle was a bit thinner and more delicate, breaking into shards at the ill-angled toss of a bag. Not so with these chunks: they\u2019re sturdy, yet also crumbly, holding an integrity that transmogrifies an Oreo with a graham cracker with an especially wonky-shaped Tollhouse. Basically, it\u2019s a giant, thin brownie-cookie hybrid that\u2019s been baked on a sheet, sent through an identity scrambler, and smashed by Thor (that\u2019s how they do it in the production facility, right?).<\/p>\n

Of course, the hybrid\u2019s success hinges on said brownie-cookie\u2019s execution. This one? Is splendid. The outside base starts crunchy, then disintegrates into a dutch cocoa, sugar-filled crumble. None of my crisps are burnt, avoiding the charcoal bitterness that so easily throws off a brownie corner\u2019s game. I\u2019m working to eat the crisp alone, but it\u2019s hard to get a bite without konking into a chocolate chunk.<\/p>\n

And those chunks? They\u2019re everywhere. Scattered on top. Scattered inside. Moderately mammoth-sized. Peewee mammoth-sized. These chunks are special in their flavor\u2019s capacity to complement the cocoa base. The chocolate here is nothing exotic. No citrus or nutmeg or hints of pine. Just some very simple pudding, butter, and coffee notes, maybe a hint of vanilla, all of which contributes a dark, melty bitterness that rounds out the sugary grit in the chocolate crisp base. I ate them. I ate them all. My regrets are nill.<\/p>\n

\"Trader<\/a><\/p>\n

Of all brownie\u2019s transmutations, this is surely its most hardship-free: crunchy, crumbly, cocoa buttery fragments scrambled with chocolate chunks. If any of that sounds like something you might enjoy, hustle on over to Trader Joe\u2019s. While extremely similar in concept to Brownie Brittle (i.e.: shards of a brownie-cookie hybrid), these crisps are a bit thicker with chocolate chunks the size of a small child\u2019s eyeball. I\u2019m knocking them a few for lacking ingenuity, but, between the chunks and the crispy crumblies, these are downright delicious. <\/p>\n

If you enjoy the last crumbs of brownie corners, make haste to your Trader Joe\u2019s. To hesitate? Means one would miss out. This would make one sad. One might cry. One might cry a river so deep, one\u2019s Industrial City Planners would have to construct a new bridge to redirect the water hazard created by one\u2019s tears. Save yourself from sadness and city tax dollars. Get the brownie crisps. Nothing about brownie cravings should involve delayed gratification.<\/p>\n

(Nutrition Facts – 3 crisps – 100 calories, 35 calories from fat, 3.5 gram of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 35 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 11 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein..)<\/small><\/p>\n

Item:<\/b> Trader Joe\u2019s Brownie Crisp
\nPurchased Price:<\/b> $2.99
\nSize:<\/b> 5 oz. bag
\nPurchased at:<\/b> Trader Joe’s
\nRating:<\/b> 8 out of 10
\nPros:<\/b> Crispy. Crumbly. Lots-o-chocolate chunks. Chunks\u2019 flavor complements crispy cocoa base. Structural integrity of a Lincoln Log. Chunks the size of small child\u2019s eyeball. Smashed by hammer of Thor.
\nCons:<\/b> Copycat of Brownie Brittle. Won\u2019t appease anyone looking for chewy\/fudgy brownies. Bag empties quickly. Standardized tests. Recurring nightmares of the door-to-door orange juice salesmen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Instructions for Sadness: Don\u2019t think about brownies. Mmmmm\u2026 Or fudge chunks. Chunks? Or crispy edges. Edges! In fact, just throw all the chocolate near you away. (Slow motion:) Nooooooo!! Your only thoughts should be about canned beets. Ew. And standardized tests. Please. No. Maybe stare at a broken clock, read a self-help book, and reflect […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1440],"tags":[72],"class_list":["post-18921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews","tag-trader-joes"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19869,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2016\/04\/05\/spotted-on-shelves-452016\/","url_meta":{"origin":18921,"position":0},"title":"SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 4\/5\/2016","author":"Marvo","date":"April 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you've tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments. Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Peaberry Coffee Beans Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Cacao Nibs Trader Joe's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Spotted on Shelves"","block_context":{"text":"Spotted on Shelves","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/spotted-on-shelves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Peaberry Coffee Beans","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm2.staticflickr.com\/1493\/25949713390_74979ed031_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm2.staticflickr.com\/1493\/25949713390_74979ed031_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm2.staticflickr.com\/1493\/25949713390_74979ed031_z.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23764,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2017\/07\/28\/project-create-your-own-ben-jerrys-flavor\/","url_meta":{"origin":18921,"position":1},"title":"PROJECT: Create Your Own Ben & Jerry’s Flavor","author":"Marvo","date":"July 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"It's amazing how many Ben & Jerry's flavors there are. I'm also amazed that Ben & Jerry's hasn't done what Lay's and Oreo have done, which is offer fans an opportunity to come up with their own flavors. Even though Ben & Jerry's hasn't done it, I'm curious to know\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Project"","block_context":{"text":"Project","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/project\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":40553,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2019\/11\/01\/spotted-seasonal-edition-11-1-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":18921,"position":2},"title":"SPOTTED (SEASONAL EDITION) – 11\/1\/2019","author":"Marvo","date":"November 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are some new seasonal products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you've tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments. (Spotted by Rachel C at Trader Joe's.) (Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.) (Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.) (Spotted by Rachel J at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Spotted on Shelves"","block_context":{"text":"Spotted on Shelves","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/spotted-on-shelves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Great-Value-Metallic-Edible-Glitter-Gel.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Great-Value-Metallic-Edible-Glitter-Gel.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Great-Value-Metallic-Edible-Glitter-Gel.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Great-Value-Metallic-Edible-Glitter-Gel.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Great-Value-Metallic-Edible-Glitter-Gel.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45861,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2021\/01\/28\/spotted-ben-and-jerrys-topped-ice-cream\/","url_meta":{"origin":18921,"position":3},"title":"SPOTTED: Ben & Jerry’s Topped Ice Cream","author":"Marvo","date":"January 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Update: We tried them! Click here to read our review. Ben & Jerry's Topped line features seven flavors covered with a chocolatey ganache. Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough - Chocolate ice cream with caramel swirls and gobs of chocolate chip cookie dough topped with caramel cups and chocolatey ganache. PB Over\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Spotted on Shelves"","block_context":{"text":"Spotted on Shelves","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/spotted-on-shelves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Ben-Jerrys-Topped-Ice-Cream-2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Ben-Jerrys-Topped-Ice-Cream-2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Ben-Jerrys-Topped-Ice-Cream-2.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Ben-Jerrys-Topped-Ice-Cream-2.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Ben-Jerrys-Topped-Ice-Cream-2.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45982,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2021\/02\/17\/dreyers-edys-rocky-road-collection-ice-cream-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":18921,"position":4},"title":"REVIEW: Dreyer’s Edy’s Rocky Road Collection Ice Cream","author":"Dustin","date":"February 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"According to Dreyer's\/Edy's, they invented Rocky Road ice cream and came up with the iconic name in 1929 as something relatable for everyone, given the trying times (it seems worth noting that this claim has been contested by Fentons Ice Creamery in Oakland). Nearly a century later, they have released\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dreyers-Rocky-Road-Collection-Brownie-Brick-Road-Spoon.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dreyers-Rocky-Road-Collection-Brownie-Brick-Road-Spoon.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dreyers-Rocky-Road-Collection-Brownie-Brick-Road-Spoon.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dreyers-Rocky-Road-Collection-Brownie-Brick-Road-Spoon.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dreyers-Rocky-Road-Collection-Brownie-Brick-Road-Spoon.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20938,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2016\/12\/07\/spotted-on-shelves-trader-joes-edition-1272016\/","url_meta":{"origin":18921,"position":5},"title":"SPOTTED ON SHELVES (TRADER JOE’S EDITION) – 12\/7\/2016","author":"Marvo","date":"December 7, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are some new Trader Joe's products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you've tried any of them, share your thoughts about them in the comments. Trader Joe's Crispy Crunchy Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies Trader Joe's Salty Honey Toffee Milk Chocolate Covered Crackers Trader Joe's Rainbow of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Spotted on Shelves"","block_context":{"text":"Spotted on Shelves","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/spotted-on-shelves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Trader Joe's Crispy Crunchy Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5816\/31412161756_bd9322a2bb_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18921"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18921\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}