Candy Review: Hershey's Kisses - Snickerdoodle Cookie

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Enjoyable, with a hint of delicious snickerdoodle

Cons: Not enough of the flavor for me

The Bottom Line:

Sweet kisses taste good

Snickerdoodle flavor is

Not strong, however

Sweet with a Slight Hint of Snickerdoodle

While I don’t always buy them, I do pay attention to the special variations of candies that come out seasonally.  And one of the most creative seems to be Hershey’s Kisses.  This year, I spotted the Snickerdoodle Cookie flavor.  Since I like the cookies, I had to give them a try.

These kisses have a white chocolate base.  Or at least white color.  The packaging says they are snickerdoodle flavored white crème with cookie bits.

And that feels accurate when I have the first one or two.  The snickerdoodle flavor is subtle, and actually enhanced by the cookie bits.  I like them.

But, once I’ve had more than about half a dozen, I find the flavor often fades, and I’m left with just a sweet flavor.  Don’t get me wrong, I still like it, but it’s not the strong flavor I’m looking for from them.

In the end, these Snickerdoodle Cookie Hershey’s Kisses aren’t bad.  But they could use stronger flavor to be something I would consider buying again in the future.

Candy Review: Hershey's Kisses - Butterbeer

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Delicious taste of butterbeer

Cons: Appear to be a seasonal item

The Bottom Line:

A seasonal kiss

Enjoy butterbeer flavor

These will be a hit

Enjoy a Bite of Butterbeer

Back in March when I was wandering through Target’s Easter aisles, I found a new flavor of Hershey’s Kisses – Butterbeer.  Naturally, I had to grab them.  They were every bit as good as I expected.

Unlike a traditional Hershey’s kiss, these aren’t chocolate based.  Maybe there is some white chocolate in them, although it didn’t stand out in a quick scan of the ingredients.  Instead, they have a butterscotch flavor.  A very strong butterscotch flavor.  It’s so strong that you can smell them as soon as the bag is opened.  I’ve had a mostly empty bag in my pantry for a few weeks waiting for me to write this review, and every time I open the door, I smell them.  That’s not a problem, just be prepared.

Anyway, they taste just like you’d expect.  Lots of butterscotch flavor with a hint of cream.  The candies themselves are tan.  If you bite into one, you’ll find that there is a white center to them.

And they are delicious!  I took this package to a family gathering, and everyone who tried them loved them.  It’s hard to eat just one, which is always the sign of a good Hershey’s Kiss, right?

As you are probably expecting with the Butterbeer flavor, these are Harry Potter themed.  The name is on the packaging, and the wrappers have various Harry Potter things, like books, glasses, and steins of butterbeer to name a few.

My only question is why are these seasonal?  I think they’ve be popular any time of year.  And I really don’t think of Harry Potter around Easter.

I suspect these were Target exclusive since I didn’t see them anywhere else I was looking.

I realize my timeliness stinks since, if these were an Easter item, they aren’t in the stores any more.  Hopefully, they’ll be back in future years.  If so, you’ll be happy you snagged some Butterbeer Hershey’s Kisses.

Candy Review: Easter Sundae M&M's

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Pleasant sweet flavor

Cons: Doesn’t really taste like a hot fudge sundae

The Bottom Line:

Attempted flavor

Candies are enjoyable

But nothing special

Pleasantly Sweet, but Still Lacking

I was wandering down the Easter candy aisle recently (big mistake) when I spotted the new seasonal Easter Sundae flavor of M&M’s.  I was intrigued, so I picked up a bag.

As the name and the picture of a hot fudge sundae on the front implies, these candies are designed to invoke a classic ice cream sundae.  The candies themselves are a white chocolate center with a dark chocolate layer all inside a classic candy coating.  And the colors are a red, brown, and light tan.

When you grab a handful and eat them, you’ll find they taste pleasantly sweet.  Please hear me out, they taste good.  But they don’t have any ice cream sundae flavor to me.  They definitely don’t have a hot fudge sundae flavor to them.  If anything, I’d say they taste a bit more like marshmallow.  I like marshmallows, so I’m not complaining.  But they aren’t what I was expecting from the name or picture.

And I do have to question what a sundae has to do with Easter.  Obviously, they were just going for the pun.  As a lover of puns, I can’t complain, but it isn’t anything I’ve ever had to celebrate Easter.

So I’m not sorry I gave the Easter Sundae M&M’s a try.  But I won’t be buying a second bag.

Candy Review: Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Caramel Squares

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Delicious combination of pumpkin spice and chocolate

Cons: Only if you don’t like pumpkin spice

The Bottom Line:

A seasonal treat

Pumpkin spice, chocolate – Yum!

Enjoy these squares this fall

A Seasonal Chocolate Treat to Get

When I was wandering the seasonal candy aisle at Wal-Mart recently, I stumbled on Ghirardelli’s Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Caramel Squares.  Being a lover of pumpkin spice, I had to try them.  I’m so glad I did.

If you are familiar with Ghirardelli’s chocolate squares, you’ll know exactly what you are getting here.  These are squares that are roughly an inch from side to side.  The outside is chocolate, in this case milk chocolate, and the middle has some kind of flavoring.  I’ve tried quite a few and enjoyed them, but the pumpkin spice was a new one to me.

As soon as you take one of out the wrapper, you can smell the pumpkin spice.  It is that strong.  It’s a little stronger than the caramel that is also there.  I can taste it, mostly as a pleasing after taste.  But when I’m eating one, I mostly taste the pumpkin spice and the chocolate.

And that is a delicious combination.  Not that I’m at all surprised.  I was immediately hooked as soon as I had my first one.  I’m been trying to slowly eat the package I bought to savor them, but it is hard.

Obviously, if you don’t like pumpkin spice (and I know there are people out there), you’ll want to avoid these.  Sadly, these are a seasonal variety.  But this is something more to look forward to in the fall.  And since I prefer summer to fall, I need all the excuses to look forward to fall that I can get.

I’m so glad I gave these Ghirardelli’s chocolates a try.  If you like pumpkin spice, you will be, too.

Candy Review: Honey Graham M&M's

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Sweet new flavor

Cons: Doesn’t quite live up to the name

The Bottom Line:

Creative flavor

Almost lives up to its name

Fun for fans to try

Sweet Twist on a Classic

I’m always keeping my eyes open for a twist on popular favorite sweets, so when I spotted a package of Honey Graham M&M’s, I had to snag them to try them out.  Their flavor isn’t quite what I expected, but it is good for something different.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was the size.  They are half the size of a traditional M&M.  Don’t know that I’ve seen ones that small before.  There are three colors of M&M’s in the package, brown, yellow, and cream.

The candies themselves have a crispy rice center surrounded by chocolate and the candy coating.  Based on the Honey Graham title, I was expecting a chocolate covered graham cracker flavor.  And I think it is in there.  It’s a little hard to identify it for sure, but there is a sweetness to the candy that normally isn’t there.  It’s not quite honey, but it’s close.  The rice does crunch nicely, and I feel like I’m eating a graham cracker.

While these don’t immediately live up to their name for me, I do like them.  The sweetness is fun for something different.  Would I buy these again?  Quite possibly.  Will I rush out to buy them right this second?  No.  But they are definitely better than some of the other special flavors I’ve tried.

I’m glad I tried the Honey Graham M&M’s.  If they sound good to you, I recommend you pick up a bag.

Candy Bar Review: Snickers - Cinnamon Bun

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Mostly tastes like a traditional Snickers bar, which I like

Cons: What’s the point of getting it if it doesn’t have the Cinnamon Bun flavor?

The Bottom Line:

New Snickers flavor

Doesn’t taste that different

I’ll stick with the old

Intriguing Idea, but Execution Doesn’t Work

Despite my vow not to buy any sweets (yes, we can all stop laughing at me now), I was still intrigued when I spotted a new to me Cinnamon Bun Snickers when checking out at Wal-Mart recently.  I suspected how I would react to it, but I had to give it a try.  Turns out, I was right.

If you are familiar with a traditional Snickers, then you’ll know what to expect here.  We still have the familiar layers of caramel and peanuts surrounded by milk chocolate.  The difference here is that the nougat layer is flavored like a cinnamon bun.

And, as a said at the start, the result is pretty much what you’d expect.  The chocolate, caramel, and peanuts pretty much overpower the cinnamon bun flavoring.  Oh, there is a hint of it in there, and it’s more noticeable in the aftertaste, but overall, it pretty much tastes like a traditional Snickers.  Not that that is a bad thing, since I do like Snickers.  It’s just not what they are advertising.

If you are curious, give the Cinnamon Bun Snickers a try.  But I have a feeling this is a flavor that won’t stick around long since there’s really no reason to get it instead of a traditional Snickers.

Cookie Review: S'mores Oreo

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: Graham cracker outside cookies are good

Cons: The insides are sweet with no distinctive flavor

The Bottom Line:

A summer flavor

Recreated favorite?

Does not work for me

Not too Surprised with My Reaction, but I Wanted to Like These S’more

I’ve learned that there really is no substitute for Marshmallows.  I’ve tried many things that are supposed to have those flavors in them over the years, and I always feel like the taste is artificial.  I still had to try the new Limited Edition S’mores cookies from Oreo.  They were about what I expected.

These cookies are a twist on the classic Oreo.  The outside cookies are tan graham cracker flavored cookies.  The inside has two layers - one chocolate, the other marshmallow.  Or, at least that is the way it is supposed to be.  The reality is that the inside is just sweet.  There isn’t quite enough of either flavor to really taste them individually.  And yes, I know that the s’more combines the chocolate and marshmallow flavors as well, but this just doesn’t work.

I think part of the reason it doesn’t work here is that the marshmallows in a s’more are hot.  That gives them a different flavor, and it warms up the chocolate as well.  Here’s they taste sweet, but it’s a fake sweet.  Sometimes, if I really concentrate, I can get a bit of chocolate flavor or marshmallow flavor, but that isn’t enough to recommend them.

The best part is the graham cracker cookies.  They taste pretty much like real graham crackers.  But I’d rather have the originals, either with real chocolate and marshmallows or on their own.  (I know they are considered a kid’s snack, but graham crackers on their own really are good every so often.)

I can’t say I’m disappointed because this is what I was expecting when it came to the S’mores Oreos.  But I can’t recommend them either.

Candy Review: Key Lime Pie M&M's

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Flavor combo really works well

Cons: A little sweet white chocolate after taste

The Bottom Line:

A delicious change

Captures key lime flavor well

Catch them while you can

Surprisingly Tangy M&Ms

When I was walking down the seasonal candy aisle in Wal-Mart recently (I know, I know, I shouldn’t even do that if I don’t want to buy sweets), I spotted the new to me Key Lime Pie M&M’s.  Intrigued, I decided I had to give them a try.  I figured they’d either be very good or very disappointing.  Turns out they are pretty tasty.

These are some of the white chocolate M&M’s, which is why they work.  Sometimes, that can mean the candy is overly sweet, but here it provides a nice canvas for the tangy citrusy taste of key lime pie.  Really, that is what you can taste the most when you eat some of these.  Occasionally, I’ll get notes of pie crust or whipped cream, but mostly it’s delicious key lime flavor.

There is a hint of sweet white chocolate taste at the end.  However, it still doesn’t overpower the key lime flavor.

The M&M’s come in three colors, cream, lime green, and a darker green.  As usual, they are all mixed together in the bag.  They look nice – not nice enough to keep me from eating them, of course.

I suspect these M&M’s will only be available during the spring and Easter season.  If you are interested, I suggest you snag a bag now and try them for yourself.  Me?  I need to resist buying more Key Lime Pie M&M’s.

Cookie Review: Chocolate Marshmallow Oreos

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Good chocolate taste

Cons: Very hard to taste the marshmallow flavoring

The Bottom Line:

A mixed Oreo

Delicious chocolate taste

Missing marshmallow

Hint of Marshmallow Isn’t Enough to Make Me Love These Oreos

I am a sucker for anything marshmallow.  (Ironically enough, I don’t buy regular marshmallows very often.  Probably because the entire bag would be gone in one sitting.)  So when I spotted the Chocolate Marshmallow variety of Oreos, I had to give them a try.

Like a traditional Oreo, these have two chocolate cookies.  This time, the filling is a dark brown color and it is supposed to be flavored like a chocolate covered marshmallow.

The problem is the marshmallow flavor is mostly swallowed by the chocolate.  Now, this isn’t to say that the flavor is bad; I do like chocolate after all.  But I was looking for more marshmallow flavoring.  You can taste it a bit more if you eat the crème in the middle by itself.  However, the cookies overwhelm it if you just pop the whole thing in your mouth.

As I said, the taste isn’t bad, but it wasn’t what I was looking for.  Which is probably a good thing since I don’t need more junk food to tempt me in the store.  I wouldn’t turn down Chocolate Marshmallow Oreos if someone offered them to me, but I won’t be buying them again for myself.

Cookie Review: Caramel Coconut Oreos

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Caramel coconut combined!

Cons: Chocolate cookie clouds crème

The Bottom Line:

A fun new flavor

Overshadowed by cookie

Wish it were stronger

Good Flavor, but Could Be Stronger

I love caramel.  And I love coconut.  So when I spotted the Caramel Coconut Oreos, there was nothing to think about – I knew I had to try them.

The outsides of these Oreos are the traditional chocolate cookie.  However, the crème inside is a tan color – you could call it a caramel color if you wanted.  And that crème has a caramel coconut flavor to it.  I know, I know, very shocking.

As a caramel coconut fan, I definitely like the flavor.  And I appreciate the fact that they combined the two since they are great alone or together.  My issue is that the flavor isn’t strong enough.  The chocolate cookies are always dominate when you eat a traditional Oreo.  That’s true again here.  Just a bit more flavor would be amazing since it would allow these flavors to mix.

Don’t misunderstand, I definitely enjoy the Caramel Coconut Oreos.  But just a bit more flavor would make them even better.

Candy Review: Witch's Brew Kit Kat

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Marshmallow flavored wafers for the win

Cons: A little on the too sweet side

The Bottom Line:

Halloween Kit Kat

Marshmallow twist on classic

Sweet but very good

These Kit Kats Have Put a Spell On Me

Internet research can be hazardous to your waistline.   That’s the moral of this review.  I was poking around recently and discovered that there was a specialty Kit Kat for Halloween called Witch’s Brew.  I might not have pay them any attention until I discovered that they were marshmallow flavored.  Instantly hooked, I had to check them out.

The base of the Kit Kat is the familiar wafer.  However, instead of being surrounded by chocolate, these wafers are smothered in a marshmallow flavored crème.  That crème has been dyed a light green because witches.  I’ll admit I had to think about this one for a bit, but I’m sure it has to do with the color that cartoon witches are typically painted.

And the taste?  Yum!  They remind me of the premade Rice Crispy Treats you can buy.  That’s a good thing.  It means they can be a little on the too sweet side, but I feel that way about the premade Rice Crispy Treats, too, so they are in good company.

The bag I bought was snack size.  This means that the Kit Kats are a little on the short size compared to a full-sized bar, but there are two wafers side by side.  It’s like they’ve been magically shrunk.

I really didn’t need to know about these.  Now I will need to resist the spell of the Witch’s Brew Kit Kats every year at Halloween.

Candy Review: Vampire Hershey's Kisses

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Creative mix to fit the theme

Cons: Strawberry syrup is a little too fake

The Bottom Line:

A twist on a kiss

Wrapping and theme are fun

Taste could be better

I Vant to Suck Your…Kisses

Walking through the candy aisle at Wal-Mart can be very dangerous.  That’s how I spotted the Vampire Hershey’s Kisses.  Immediately intrigued, I had to give them a try.

Even the foil wrappers of these kisses are fun – they are orange bats on a purple background.  The inside is a traditional Hershey’s Kiss shape.  The outside is milk chocolate like a traditional kiss.  It’s the inside that gives them their theming.  Instead of being solid milk chocolate, these are fill with strawberry syrup.  If you bit into them, the result certainly does look fake bloody.

Strawberry syrup is usually more miss than hit for me, and that’s the case again here.  It just tastes so fake.  It’s not awful, and mixed with the milk chocolate it cuts down on the fake taste some.  It just doesn’t taste as good as I would like.  Yes, I’m asking a lot of my strawberry syrup.

I can definitely see these kisses appealing to people.  They are sweet, and the chocolate itself is good.  These would be fun to have at a Halloween party or just to enjoy during October.

I wouldn’t rush out and buy another bag of Vampire Hershey’s Kisses, but I am enjoying the bag I already bought.  If you enjoy strawberry mixed with chocolate, you’ll want to try them for yourself and make up your own mind.

Candy Review: Pumpkin Pie Kit Kat

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: Attempts to create a fun new flavor

Cons: The flavoring is just too powerful

The Bottom Line:

Attempted fall twist

Over does the pumpkin spice

Results disappoint

Packs too Much of a Pumpkin Spice Punch

I’m always willing to try new twists on old candy favorites, especially when that new twist is a flavor I love.  So when I spotted the Pumpkin Pie Kit Kat in my local Wal-Mart recently, I didn’t hesitate to add it to my cart.

If you are already familiar with Kit Kats, you know the basics of this candy bar.  The insides are a crispy wafer.  While a traditional Kit Kat is surrounded by chocolate, this time the wafers are coated with what I’m assuming is white chocolate.  Really, the outside layer is really just something to hold the pumpkin pie flavoring.  It’s even dyed a light orange color.

In the last couple of years, I’ve really leaned into the pumpkin spice trend during September and October.  I opened this package with high hopes.  Sadly, these candy bars are disappointing.  Most of the time, the pumpkin spice flavor is too powerful.  It’s like it is afraid you will miss it, but instead it overwhelms.  Then, there’s the odd bar that has very little flavor, and instead you just taste the sweetness that is the base.  It’s a shame because I want to like these candy bars, but the results just weren’t any good.

Obviously, some variations just don’t work.  Maybe a different mix of the flavoring would have made these candies better, but as it stands, I can’t recommend the Pumpkin Pie Kit Kat.

Candy Review: Fudge Brownie M&M's

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Delicious candy tastes like fudge brownies.

Cons: Too busy enjoying to find cons

The Bottom Line:

Love a fudge brownie?

You’ll love these new M&M's

They’re the next best thing

Addictive Fudgy Goodness

M&Ms are one of those candies I can’t resist.  Seriously, I can eat the plain ones by the handful.  While their various versions are hit or miss, I’m tempted to try each new variety they come up with.  That’s why, when I started seeing the ads for Fudge Brownie M&M's, I had to try them.  Now, I’m here to issue a warning – they are addicting.

These M&M's are on the larger size, roughly the size of a peanut M&M.  However, inside the candy coating, you’ll find a gooey(ish) chocolate center.  It’s not the hard milk chocolate of a traditional M&M.  It’s not fully gooey.  It’s somewhere in between, texture wise, and it works perfectly.

And the taste?  It really does a good job of capturing that just out of the oven flavor of a warm fudge brownie.  I don’t know how they get the warm part – although maybe if I were eating these in winter, I wouldn’t notice that part.  Yes, you still taste the candy coating, this is a M&M, after all.  But the combination is highly addictive.  It’s almost impossible to just eat one handful.  My taste buds wake up immediately and then start to demand more and more.

However, I don’t think you’d enjoy them.  In fact, I think I am the only person who will truly appreciate them.  So maybe you should buy them to send to me.  Yeah, that will work!

In all seriousness, Fudge Brownie M&M's are a winner.  If you enjoy brownies with plenty of fudge topping (and who doesn’t?), you should definitely check out the newest member of the M&M family.

Candy Review: Hershey's Lava Cake Kisses

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun and delicious

Cons: Missing the cake texture

The Bottom Line:

A new Hershey’s Kiss

With a fun gooey inside

Delicious dark taste

Delicious and Fun Twist on a Kiss Almost Lives up to its Name

I was walking through my local Target a couple of weeks ago, and I got stopped when I spotted a new to me Hershey’s Kiss flavor.  I just can’t seem to resist trying them.  This flavor was Lava Cake, and since I love a good chocolate lava cake, I had to try a package.  The result is good, but it doesn’t quite capture the title dessert.

If you aren’t familiar with lava cakes, they are a cake with a gooey, liquid inside.  So, I wasn’t surprised to find these candies feature a hard, traditional Hershey’s Kiss shaped outside shell with liquid chocolate inside.  These particular kisses are dark chocolate.  I’m usually more of a milk chocolate kind of guy, but once I got used to these being dark chocolate, I was quite happy with them.  They taste great, and the liquid inside is quite fun.

However, they are missing something.  I finally figured out it is the cake part of a lava cake.  Chocolate cake has a taste that you can’t quite duplicate.  Or maybe it is the texture I am missing.  Either way, it is a noticeable absence, but a minor detail overall.  I mean, it is hard to complain about pure chocolate, right?

These were in the Valentine’s section of Target, and the packaging is certainly themed around the holiday with hearts on the foil wrappers.  They released them for the first time last year, and I’m betting these will become an annual limited time release from Hershey. 

I’m glad I tried the Lava Cake Hershey’s Kisses.  They are a fun and delicious twist on the classic candy, but they are no substitute for the real thing.

Cookie Review: Maple Creme Oreos

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Delicious maple flavored cookie

Cons: Limited edition

The Bottom Line:

Maple flavored treat

Certainly a hit with me

Grab them while you can

This Maple Lover is Addicted

I swear, I wasn’t looking for sweets!

I was in my local Wal-Mart recently, and they had the new limited Maple Creme flavored Oreos in the center aisle.  I couldn’t miss them when I walked by; it wasn’t my fault!  Being the maple fan that I am (anything is better with maple syrup on it), I had to try a package.  They are as delicious as I thought they would be.

The Oreos are made with the golden cookies, which mean they have a vanilla base.  The center is a delicious maple flavored creme.  That’s it.  Nothing elaborate or that surprising if you are a fan of Oreos and their various flavors.

But boy does this flavor work.  The maple creme is delicious, tasting very much like real maple syrup and not the artificial syrup that some people sell.  (Yes, I am a maple syrup snob, why do you ask?)  Yes, the artificial flavor is more noticeable if you eat several of these cookies at once, but if you have just one or two at a time, they don’t taste overly artificial.  Or maybe I was expecting the artificial taste so I don’t find it overwhelming when I grab a cookie or two.

And that’s a good thing because cookies should be enjoyed one or two at a time and not multiples at once.  (Notice I said should.  We aren’t talking about my actual cookie eating habits.)

Part of me is bummed these Maple Creme Oreos are limited editions.  I could see myself enjoying them quite a bit if they were a regularly featured flavor.  But it might be best they are limited in nature because I could see myself gaining weight from eating these delicious cookies.

Cookie Review: Oreo - Marshmallow Moon Limited Edition

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Nice designs, cool packaging

Cons: Middle has no real flavor

The Bottom Line:

This special cookie

Has some fun design changes

But taste underwhelms

Big Historical Event Celebrated with an Average Cookie

I don’t seem to be able to resist Oreo special edition cookies or anything marshmallow.  (Seriously, I can’t remember the last time I bought a regular Oreo cookie, but I’ve bought several special editions over the last few months.)  When I spotted the Oreo Marshmallow Moon Cookie, released to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the first moon walk this month, I had to try a package.

Like a traditional Oreo, the outside is two chocolate cookies.  One side of the cookie features one of three different designs to celebrate the moon walk, one is an astronaut planting a flag, one is a rocket flying, and the third is a crescent moon and three stars in the sky.

The inside of this book is light purple, almost lavender.  And it’s the part that is disappointing.  The middle is supposed to taste like marshmallow, and there is a light marshmallow flavor to it.  However, the chocolate cookies overpower the flavor, making it hard to really taste.  I even tried some of the middle by itself, and it tasted weak.  Since I love marshmallows, I was hoping for more of their flavor here.  Although, since marshmallow flavor seems to be weak in just about everything I try, I’m beginning to think I must like the texture just as much as I do the taste or real marshmallows, and maybe that’s my problem.

Now, don’t misunderstand.  It’s not that these cookies taste bad.  It’s just that they are underwhelming.

In a fun twist, even the packaging gets into the act with these special edition cookies.  The white part of the package glows in the dark.  It’s not very bright and doesn’t last too long (it “charges” by being in light), but it is a fun extra.  There are also three stickers on the bottom of the package that also glow in the dark.

I was curious, so I’m not sorry I tried the Oreo Marshmallow Moon Cookie, but one package was definitely enough.

Cookie Review: Neapolitan Joe Joe's

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Creative Neapolitan cookie

Cons: Strawberry is the predominate flavor (not that I’m complaining)

The Bottom Line:

Neapolitan

Transformed into a cookie

Delicious dessert

Delicious Mix of Flavors

I think I’ve proved over the years that I am willing to try the many variations of Oreo’s that Nabisco comes up with.  I mean, if you check out the index, you’ll find I’ve reviewed a few of them over the years.  And, while I’ve never reviewed any, the same goes for the varieties of Joe Joe’s, Trader Joe’s knock off of the popular cookie.  So, when I was in my local Trader Joe’s store a couple of weeks ago and spotted the Neapolitan Joe Joe’s on the new item shelves, I had to give them a try.

If you are familiar with all things Neapolitan and Oreo (I mean Joe Joe), then you pretty much know what to expect here.  One of the cookies is chocolate, the other is vanilla.  And the cream in the middle?  It’s strawberry flavored, of course.

There is a reason Neapolitan is popular; the three flavors mix together well.  And they mix together well here as well.  The strawberry center seems to be the strongest flavor, with that sweetness standing out while you are eating the cookie.  But don’t count out the chocolate cookie.  The vanilla cookie is overpowered by the other two, so it is basically eating a chocolate strawberry.  What’s not to love?  I’m actually not a fan of Neapolitan ice cream because I’m not a fan of chocolate ice cream.  But since the chocolate is in a cookie here, which I love, I think these are delicious.

Of course, they aren’t healthy for you.  Yes, Trader Joe’s might sell some healthier items, but these are cookies.  They aren’t healthy, and they aren’t supposed to be healthy.  Just keep that in mind before you scarf down an entire box.  (No, I haven’t, but it sure is tempting.)

While not every flavor experiment is for everyone, I’m certainly glad I tried Neapolitan Joe Joe’s.  If you think you might like them, I highly recommend you find a box next time you are in Trader Joe’s.

Candy Review: White Chocolate Marshmallow M&M's

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: Look pretty in their spring pastel colors

Cons: Bland, overwhelmingly sweet taste

The Bottom Line:

Intriguing combo

Turns out to be sweetly bland

So disappointing

Too Sweet.  And I Shouldn’t Have Been Surprised

I love marshmallows, so seeing that marshmallow is part of something is a great way to get me to try it.  When I stumbled over the White Chocolate Marshmallow M&M’s, I didn’t even hesitate before throwing a package into my basket.  Sadly, they proved to be disappointing.

Obviously, these treats are designed as a spring seasonal item.  The bag and the colors of the candies themselves are pastel spring colors.  As you’d expect, they’ve got a marshmallow center with a white chocolate coating and a candy shell.

How to they taste?  They are extremely sweet.  Honestly, it’s kind of hard to tell much about individual flavors because they are so sweet.  I was hoping for some marshmallow taste, but it gets swallowed up in the general sweetness of it all.  Frankly, it’s a bit overwhelming with how sweet it is.

And that probably shouldn’t have surprised me.  All of the White Chocolate M&M’s I have tried have had the same issue of just being too sweet.  I was hoping these would have some distinct flavor, but I was sadly disappointed.

Sometimes, marshmallow can be sticky, but that’s not the case here.  In fact, they should make the hard centers of the Caramel M&M’s more like these.  They are just a tad gooey but not at all hard to eat.

So I don’t recommend this particular variation on M&M’s.  I had to try the White Chocolate Marshmallow variety, but they aren’t nearly as good as they should be.

Candy Review: Hershey's Hot Cocoa Kisses

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Delicious combination of milk chocolate and marshmallows

Cons: Only occasionally really taste like a mug of hot chocolate

The Bottom Line:

Delicious candy

Doesn't quite live up to name

But still worth trying

Not Quite a Mug of Hot Chocolate in Candy Form, but Still Good

On a recent trip to the store, I wandered by the candy aisle.  In my defense, they were putting out Christmas candy, and I needed my packages of Christmas mint candies for the year.  But I also spotted the Hot Cocoa Hershey's Kisses.  Intrigued, I had to buy a package and give them a try.

These are a milk chocolate candy with a soft marshmallow center.  Seriously, what's not to love about the combination?  I think if they had called it that, I would have tried it.  But I was curious to see if they would taste by hot chocolate.

The first one I popped into my mouth did.  Okay, so it wasn't hot, but it certainly tasted like a nice mug of hot chocolate when you get a mouthful of melting marshmallows.  Yum, right?  However, the next one didn't taste quite that way.  In fact, they began to taste more like milk chocolate around a marshmallow center.  Every so often, one captures that mug of hot chocolate magic, but it certainly doesn't happen with every piece.

Now, I'm not complaining; these are delicious candies.  I love chocolate and I love marshmallows, so how could they miss?  But it does seem like a candy labeled hot chocolate should be able to capture that hot chocolate magic every time.

So yes, I do recommend you give them a try.  I have a feeling that they will continue to be a holiday treat offered for many years to come even if the Hot Cocoa Hershey's Kisses don't quite live up to their name.