Caramel Apple Oreo Cookies

These have been out for a few weeks now, but after today's announcement that Nabisco will be releasing Pumpkin Spice Oreo Cookies on September 24th, it was only right that I finally bring these Caramel Apple Oreo Cookies to The Holidaze!!

Root Beer Float Oreo Cookies

You may heard the news that there's a brand new Caramel Apple flavored Oreo cookie hitting shelves as we speak.  That's absolutely amazing and, believe me, that limited-edition flavor will soon be a Fall favorite on The Holidaze, but I'm not quite ready to roll out September and October just yet.  We still have a few more weeks of Summer left and, really, let's not rush it if we don't have to.  It hasn't been the hottest Summer on record, but we'll be shoveling snow and cranking up the heat before we know it so, in the meantime, let's kick back with something cool and refreshing.  

What do I have in mind?

Ohhhh yeahhh, baby!  There aren't many drinks that symbolize and represent hot Summer days on the boardwalk than an ice-cold Root Beer Float.  Man, when I was a kid, my Dad would take me to Dairy Queen on those scorching 95 degree days and we'd both end up choosing a giant Root Beer Float.  It's classic!  We'd take them back to the car, turn up the AC, and enjoy the time together.  My Dad was always more of an Ice Cream fan while I preferred the Root Beer.  There's something about the Ice Cream that makes Root Beer, and soda in general, taste so much better when together.  It's brain-freeze cold, soothing, refreshing, and delicious.  There's a reason why it has stood the test of time and still remains a favorite of all ages.  I haven't had one in a long time, but Nabisco is doing their best to get in on the action.

Root Beer is a popular flavor when it comes to replicating it in other products.  I've had Root Beer flavored jelly beans, vodka, bubble gum, ice pops, milk and cookies.  So, this concept really isn't anything new and was already done by Nabisco before with their Root Beer flavored Chips Ahoy cookies.  However, new or not, it was only a matter of time before we saw Root Beer Float Oreo cookies.  When it became clear that Nabisco was dedicated to continuing their line of limited-edition flavors, I knew we'd eventually see this flavor come to fruition.  Personally, it was one that I'd been waiting for and was happy to finally see come to life.  At this point, Nabisco is becoming predictable and that's making it even more fun.  Caramel Apple was one I assumed we'd see and, I'll go on record right now, Pumpkin Spice won't be too far behind.  I put 5 Holidaze bucks on it!

These Root Beer Float Oreo cookies smell and taste like Root Beer, but they're just not as good as I had hoped.  The flavor is present, but it's dull.  In my opinion, it should be a bit stronger and make more of an impact.  Previous editions have always gone above and beyond in terms of flavor strength.  I think the fact that Oreo cookies are traditionally harder than the soft, chewy Chips Ahoy, it makes them more difficult to appreciate when it comes to this specific flavor.  This one is weaker than what we're used to from Nabisco, but that doesn't mean they're bad.  Don't get me wrong, these are delicious and I put another X in the win column for Nabisco and the Oreo brand.  They're a great snack, just not one that I'd eat a lot of in one sitting.  They're no Fruit Punch Oreo, but they're tasty!

If you're really in the mood to bring your taste buds on a ride, keep your eyes open for another Root Beer flavored product - A&W Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum.  I'm a huuuuge fan of anything soda flavored and I'm all for a Coke/Orange Soda/Dr. Pepper flavored Oreo cookie, but bubble gum has always been soda's tag team partner.  Root Beer bubble gum is nothing new, but it's something I haven't seen in some time and was happy to find.  Unfortunately, it pales in comparison to the Dr. Pepper and Crush flavored Hubba Bubba, also in stores.  However, I do rank the gum higher than the Oreo cookies so take that for what you will.  Regardless, you're not going to go wrong with either of these Root Beer products.  I know I may have painted them in a bad light, but don't take it the wrong way.  These are delicious and the cookies, especially, are worth trying.  If you're a fan of Root Beer and Root Beer Floats, then this is surely something you want to jump all over.  You may not get everything you want from them, but you won't be disappointed!

Get them while you can because, like I said, we only have a few more weeks of Summer left.  Believe it or not, the Fall season begins one month from tomorrow!!  Whoa...

Lemon Twist Oreo Cookies

When I first heard about the Watermelon Oreo cookies, I knew that they were being released with a much less impressive partner -- Lemon Twist!  It didn't sound all that appealing, but I was still hoping to find the limited-edition in order to review them and, obviously, give them a shot.  But if you thought I had a hard time finding the watermelon variety, that doesn't even come close to the hassle these Lemon Twist Oreos were.  In fact, it was only recently that I had completely given up on them.  I figured these would go down the same drain Gingerbread Oreos did and I'd simply never be able to embrace the hype.  Then, out of nowhere, there they were, looking directly at me as I walked right past them.

It was my girlfriend that noticed them and now takes credit for this Holidaze post.  She couldn't believe I blew right by them.  But in my defense, I had just found Twinkies a day early and was on a bit of a nerdy high.  My adrenaline was pumping.  You know, the way a boxer or ultimate fighter feels as he makes his way down to the ring?  That's me when I find new junk food at the grocery store.  If you see me in aisle 3, don't mess with me.  I'm an animal, similar to the one from Muppet Babies.

When I opened the bag, I expected to smell a field of lemons, but I didn't.  I didn't feel any emotion at all.  The smelled like regular Golden Oreo Cookies and were bland in appearance.  They look like Ritz Cheese Crackers and I was far from impressed

The creme filling is entirely yellow.  I was expecting a white / yellow combo.  I figured that made more sense for a "lemon twist" flavor, but it's very generic.  So far, there's nothing special about it.  It's a boring representation of a Summer cookie.  Believe me, I'm happy to see these limited editions pop up on shelves.  They're exciting to find, try, and review, but this has been lackluster, thus far.  However, the true review lies in within the flavor so let's see how that makes or break the Lemon Twist Oreo Cookies.

A boring cookie gets a more boring photo.  Sometimes they're pictured outside, other times they're inside on a white background, but this one only gets a napkin.  Besides looking like tiny grilled cheese sandwiches, there's nothing great about this cookie.  It's not that it tastes bad, because it's decent, but calling it "lemon twist" is a bit of a stretch.  After the first bite, the flavor was familiar, but I couldn't figure it out.  After the 2nd, I realized they taste exactly like Froot Loops.  That either means Froot Loops are actually Lemon Loops, or these cookies fail to live up to their name.  If anything, they taste more like Lemon Pledge than any type of actual fruit.  But, to be honest with you, I didn't expect anything more than that.

Lemon Twist Oreos are a novelty item.  Like I said in the Watermelon Oreo review, Nabisco can continue to release these wild and crazy editions because we'll continue to eat them up.  For the most part, they're usually very good, but Lemon Twist is the exception to the rule.  This is a perfect example of Nabisco using the customers' infatuation with novelty junk to their advantage in order to make a quick buck.  But that's okay.  I'd do the same thing.  Nabisco has a great batting average so far so I can accept a few strike-outs here and there.  As long as they don't stop producing these limited-edition seasonal items, they'll always have a geeky customer writing about them.  Just don't bring these back for me.

Watermelon Oreo

We're taking a break from the busy schedule and Summer adventures to talk about something everybody else has been talking about.  Ahh, yes, the elusive Watermelon Oreo Cookies!  I heard about them weeks ago, I saw them on the news, and even friends of mine were finding them before me!  I went to my local Target, the same one I found Candy Corn Oreo Cookies at, but they had nothing new.  Another one, a bit further, had some cool items but, unfortunately, no new Oreos.  So, thanks to a tip from a friend, I figured out where they were and, with our goal within reach, my girlfriend and I traveled to Union, NJ in hopes of finally finding this hype machine!

There they are!!  Just as I was told, this Target was fully stocked with Watermelon Oreo Cookies and, finally, we could bring them home and see what all the talk is about.  I mean, these have been everywhere.  Well, they've been everywhere but where I've been, but these are a media sensation.  If you remember, the Candy Corn and Gingerbread Oreo Cookies caught the world's eye, as well.  I never found the Gingerbread edition, but the Candy Corn was a hit.  I liked it a lot.  

Besides a few of those "Ice Cream" Oreo Cookies, these special edition Oreos have been a hit.  I love the fact that Nabisco continues to go above and beyond by releasing items that nobody expects.  Who would have ever imagined that we'd have an Oreo Cookie that tastes like a watermelon?  That certainly never crossed my mind.  Neither did Candy Corn or Gingerbread, but they work!  The best idea I ever had, when I was a kid, were soda flavored Jolly Ranchers and Peanut Butter and Jelly Starbursts.  Much like these special editions, they're gross until they're real and you actually try them.  Then you end up hoping that they return, next year.

As soon as you open the resealable yellow bag, which is obviously reserved for these special edition Oreos, two of your senses are smacked right in the face - your abilities to see and smell.  Wow, you can smell that watermelon, immediately.  It's strong, but not overbearing.  It reminds me of a Summer scented Yankee Candle.  It's nice!  It's the type of air freshener that you'd like to hang from your rear-view mirror.  Maybe I'll just throw a bunch of Watermelon Oreos in the backseat and see what happens in 85 degree heat.

As for sight, it's beautiful.  I once purchased the Sherbert Oreo Cookies and, in terms of color, these are almost identical to those.  I didn't review the Sherbert edition because they sucked, but they're both stuffed with pink and green creme filling. The Watermelon Oreos are a bit more red and that's good because I want these Oreos to look like real watermelon's.  The closer, the better. 

So far, we're off to a great start.  Now, let's get down to what matters - the taste!

 

Yes!!!  There are so good!  Look, if you go into this thinking that they're going to taste like chocolate or golden Oreos, then you're going to be disappointed.  Every one of these special edition Oreo Cookies need to be embraced for what they are and appreciated for their distinct holiday flavors.  The Candy Corn Oreos represented Halloween, the Gingerbread did the same for Christmas and, now, Watermelon Oreo Cookies exemplify the Summer season, perfectly!

So what do they taste like?  I'm reminded of a few different things.  It definitely reminds me of "Watermelon Wave" Bubblicious Gum.  That's probably the best way to describe it to somebody who's never tried this cookie.  The creme is creamier, more like cake frosting than the typical Oreo icing.  It also brings watermelon Skittles and Warheads, minus the sour face, to mind.  It's a combination of flavors that sparks the mind and brings you on a ride.  But, in the end, it's awesome and symbolizes Summer better than any other cookie on the market.  I used to give that honor to the red, white, and blue Chips Ahoy Cookies, but there's a new kid in town and, even if it's for a limited time, Watermelon Oreo Cookies live up to the hype.

I love that Nabisco keeps pumping these out.  I mean, if you were them, wouldn't you?  They release a new Oreo flavor, attach it to the holidays, create a cool package and the foodie's and media go bananas.  Everybody and their mother's run to Target, pick up the latest edition, and post pictures on every social media outlet.  The cookie goes viral, sales go up, and by the time you're sick of them, Nabisco is already on to the next wave of limited-edition Oreo Cookies.  It's absolutely genius.  But, the best part, is that the cookies actually taste good!  So, next year, if Nabisco decides to re-release these limited editions, we'll all be back in line to buy more.  It's a win-win situation and, personally, I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

I heard there are Limited-Edition "Lemon Twist" Oreo Cookies out there, but I haven't come close to finding them.  They may be the Summer's Gingerbread cookies, but that's okay.  I'm just happy I was able to try the Watermelon Oreos and enjoyed them.  If I do find the Lemon Twist variety, I'll definitely review them.  But It's not looking good.  In the meantime, I'm going to have myself an Oreo.

New Teddy Grahams

 

Teddy Grahams are the type of snacks, or cookies, that I never think to buy, but always do whenever I see them.  I don't go out of my way to pick them up, but I can never seem to turn them down when I see them on the shelf.  There they are, smiling at me.  They're holding the cookie version of themselves, laughing, inviting me to have a great time with them.  They're enticing and, every time, they lure me in and steal my money.  But that's fine, because I love Teddy Grahams.  I usually kill a box in less than 24 hours and I'm sure that's all part of Nabisco's plan!

My favorite flavor is Chocolate Chip Cookie, but it's a close call between that and Cinnamon.  Really, you can't go wrong.  Along with Chocolate and Honey, Teddy Grahams are a guaranteed hunger fix.  I love laying back, watching a good movie, with a box of Teddy Grahams.  But when I get to the bottom of that foiled bag?  Heartbreaker!

But the point of this post isn't to talk about the classic Teddy Graham flavors.  Oh no! I'm here to introduce you to two NEW Teddy Graham flavors to join our favorites!

 

Strawberry Banana and Apple!!  What do you think?  If you're anything like me, you might be thinking this is a bad idea.  I mean, when I think of fruit, I tend to think healthy.  When I think Teddy Grahams, I really don't care much about health.  How can I justify going from Chocolate Chip to Strawberry Banana?  I'd feel like a sell-out!  But, you know I had to give them a shot.  Maybe they'd prove me wrong?

You know what?  These new Teddy Grahams are awesome!!  I absolutely love them.  They're not what I expected at all and that's a good thing.  To start, they're both basically honey flavored with a hint of whatever flavor they're supposed to be.  Strawberry Banana is really just Banana, but Apple is soo good.  Remember those Caramel Apple Cookies I reviewed in October?  That's what these Teddy Grahams remind me of.  So much that I actually wish they were a limited-edition seasonal item.  If they released them in a Fall box, it would really enhance the season.  Regardless, they're perfect for Spring and I think they're a homerun!

Now, I didn't know it, but after Googling, this isn't the first time Nabisco has released different varieties of Teddy Grahams.  A few years ago, they released a Mixed Berry flavor followed by Banana and, most recently, Oatmeal.  As far as I know, they've all been discontinued but apparently Mixed Berry was a huge hit.  Fans are still clamoring for a comeback but, unfortunately, I missed out on the edition and can't say what the fuss was all about.  But these two new flavors are here, for now anyway, and they're worth hyping.  Not only for their taste, but because of the new box, too!

On every Teddy Grahams box that I can recall, the Teddy Bears on the front were always naked.  I was going to say they were "bare" but that pun wasn't really working for me.  But there's no longer to call them anything but fashionable, now!  The Teddy Bears are now wearing T-shirts!  Each flavor is designated a different colored tee.  Strawberry Banana gets the pink, and Apple gets the green.  Makes sense.  The classic flavors are also packaged in the updated design and, if memory serves, the t-shirts were blue, red, brown, and yellow.  But the best part is that these bears are obviously good negotiators.  Nabisco surely asked them to cover up and become a bit more family friendly.  I doubt they wanted to conform, but they met their bosses half way and put a shirt on.  But pants?  Hell no.. They're all business up top but it's a party down below.  Hey now!

I'm curious to know if there are any discontinued flavors that I may have missed in my Google searches.  I didn't realize there were as many as I found.  But, in this case, find these Teddy Grahams and give them a shot!  I'd bet you love them and, if you don't, pretend that you never read this blog.  Nobody else does, anyway :)

Candy Corn Oreo Cookies

Here they are!! Finally, I found the Candy Corn Oreo Cookies!  I've never seen a cookie get so much attention in my life.  It was first brought to my attention on Twitter by @mcel33, then I saw it was trending, then I saw it on the news.  I couldn't believe an Oreo cookie was getting this much coverage, but it was great to see that many people in a pure "Holidaze."  See, when I talk about the "Holidaze," this is what I mean.  Millions of people getting caught up in the season and the hype of Candy Corn flavored Oreo Cookies!  Are they important? No.  Can we live without them? Yes.  But, do we want to?  No freakin' way!  We're in a 'daze and it's all thanks to Candy Corn Oreo Cookies.  Let's get into it!

The graphics on the bag are awesome.  First off, I love that the bag is yellow.  That's pretty custom with Golden Oreo Cookies, so it's not all that out of the ordinary, but I love the fact that this limited edition isn't blue and completely wraps these cookies in the spirit of Fall.  

Next, we have the Candy Corn pieces, big and small, randomly splashed across the front!  It's like a big smack in the face!  And that's fitting because Candy Corn flavored cookies are so unexpected.  This came so far out from left field that I feel like I've been sucker punched with excessive amounts of sugar!  But is there any better type of surprise you'd want around Halloween?  I don't think so!

I'm pretty sure Nabisco knew this Candy Corn edition was going to be huge because of the type of bag the cookies come in.  I've never seen a double-sided Oreo bag that you could reseal after you've opened it!  This is the real deal.  Nabisco went all out and I love it.  Whenever a company makes changes to their products, branding, or labels, I get pumped.  I love art and graphic design so much that I truly appreciate the creativity.  This bag means that someone, somewhere, took attention to detail.  Give that guy or girl a raise!  They struck white, orange, and gold with this one!

Before I get into the taste, let's talk about the best part about this limited edition.  The first thing that hits you, as soon as you open the bag, is the smell!  Whoa.. This may explain why the bag was made the way it is.  I think it was designed to trap in as much of the aroma as possible because the scent comes flying out from the bag so strong that you feel like you're in Willy Wonka's Haunted Chocolate Factory.  It's amazing.  If it's still warm where you live, or if you've yet to embrace the Fall, I can bet that all changes as soon as you open this bag.  All of a sudden, an 80 degree day feels like 60 and those green leaves seem a bit more brown.  It may be in my head, but I blame it on the Oreo Impact.

After you smell the cookies, take a look at them.  They're basically the Golden Oreo Cookies, but with Candy Corn flavored orange and yellow creme.  Looking at my photo, you might think they're tiny cheese sandwiches or mini Ritz Crackers, but nope, those are Candy Corn Oreo Cookies!  Can you believe it?

Ahhhh.. So awesome!  Everything about it screams Fall, Halloween, cold weather and, of course, Candy Corn.  Now, on to the flavor..

I actually like Candy Corn, so I was expecting to enjoy these either way.  I know a lot of people don't enjoy the texture of Candy Corn pieces.  They're kind of chewy, feel a little bit like plastic, and I get that.  I'm one of the pickiest eaters on Earth so I understand where people are coming from.  But, while it may be a rarity, I have no problem with Candy Corn, but would never eat them outside of the Fall months.  If you're eating Candy Corn in July, then you might have a problem.

So how are these Candy Corn Oreo Cookies??  They're...Amazing!!  I'll admit, they don't really taste like Candy Corn, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  They taste a lot like the Golden Oreo's, with just a slight hint of Candy Corn.  It's just enough to make Candy Corn lovers and haters come together and agree that this is the perfect cookie for Fall.  Actually, this IS Fall's cookie.  I can't see any other company topping this one.  Nabisco hit a home run in every aspect of this product.  They promoted it well, they got it trending, the PR got it on national news, they have an exclusive deal with Target, the graphics are perfect, and it tastes great.  

Kraft, Nabisco, Oreo.. whoever.. they knocked this one right out of the park!  BUT, if there was anything else I could add just to make the creme look more like Candy Corn, I'd include a white strip down the middle.  It doesn't need it, but I wanted to show you what it would look like, anyway.

These cookies weren't easy to find, so if you're looking for them, you might have to travel outside of your area.  Because they're a Target exclusive, this won't be easy for everybody, especially with all the hype.  But they're definitely worth looking for! 

Halloween Oreo Cookies

Nabisco has already impressed me once this Halloween season with their black and orange Chips Ahoy cookie bag.  Now, they've done it again with their Halloween Oreo's!  Really, Nabisco simply knows how to do it right.  They understand the importance of packaging during the Holiday seasons and how much attention must be paid to detail.  I don't have any statistics to back up my claims, but it has to lead to a sales increase.  I just wish more companies and distributors would get on board and release special edition products.  Kelloggs used to do it all the time with their lines of cereal and it always made me happy.  I know the economy is bad, but is it really affecting package art?  Can we seriously not afford an extra 20 marshmallows a box?  I don't know why we're seeing less and less Holiday edition products, but thank God we have Nabisco!

What I love most about special edition Oreo Cookies is that Nabisco always goes the extra mile to change their packaging, the Oreo's and the center Oreo creme.  They know they could get away with just throwing a few pumpkins on the bag, but they're obviously aiming to impress us with the trifecta.  Nabisco simply isn't messing around and is out to prove a point and make a profit.  They've accomplished both.

Unlike most Oreo lovers, I'm not as much of a fan of the creme as I am the Oreo cookie.  I'm most likely in the minority, but like my girlfriend suggested today, Nabisco should really think about releasing the cookies alone and forgetting the creme for a change.  They can advertise with the theme that "something went wrong in the lab."  Everybody can say "Oh no, the creme is gone," yada yada.. Ya know, something like Cap'n Crunch's All Berries Cereal.  Sure, I still twist the top from the bottom and play games with my Oreo, but I usually save the best for last.  And what's cool about this Halloween edition is that there are 5 "Boo-Rific Shapes" to choose from.  Perfect.

If you can't tell from the picture above, these are the five Halloween shapes -- Bats, Pumpkin, Cat, Ghost and Witch.  They're really designs, not shapes, but who am I to get technical?  I couldn't care less about what they're called, I'm just happy to see something different.  But, if they want to impress me even more next year, actual shapes would be amazing.  Too bad nobody ever reads this to steal my idea.  I'll have to tweet Nabisco.

While the packaging designs and cookie "shapes" are great, the true selling power of this product comes from the creme filling.  Oreo is world-renowned for their center and we all know just how classic the white creme truly is.  Well, for Halloween, they've changed the creme from white to orange to make Oreo cookies extra spooky.  Now, not only are you eating tasty cookies on Halloween, but you're eating cookies decked out in Halloween colors.  Again, Nabisco, you just do it right..

Just look at that Halloween paradise.  When you first pull down that easy-open-tab, you're instantly reminded of what purpose these Oreo's serve.  You know exactly why they've been released.  You're not thinking Christmas, you're not thinking St. Patrick's Day and you're definitely not thinking 4th of July.  No, this is Halloween and everything about these cookies screams it out loud.

In fact, if you look closely at the photo above, you might even be able to make out a demon of sorts.  Do you see the creature's teeth?  I think I see some type of monster opening his mouth wide enough to devour my entire bag of Oreo's.  Yep, I'm sure of it.. see?

Way to go, Nabisco.  Now I'm seeing Monsters...Amazing