The 2015 Holidaze Halloween Countdown Begins!

Ladies and gentlemen, boils and ghouls, there is a foreboding spirit among us.  There is a presence that has not been felt in quite some time which has returned to revel in the ominous atmosphere of October.  On this day, a ghoulish phantom resurrects in celebration of the most fantastic season of all.  Yes, my friends, the time has finally come.  Welcome, foolish mortals, to the 2015 Holidaze Halloween Countdown!

Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Bun Cookies

Welp, I had high hopes for the month of October on The Holidaze.  I planned on bringing you a different Funko Pop design each day, I planned on keeping up with my own Holidaze Instagram Challenge, and I planned on updating the site with new articles as much as possible.  For the most part, I've failed you.  For whatever reason, and it never seems to fail, I am always at my busiest when October rolls around.  For as much as I'd love to brush work off and focus on cartoons and Halloween candy, my real-life simply won't allow it.  Finding the balance between the two, much like last year, has been difficult this October.  I wish I could simply take a month off and dedicate my entire life to Halloween for 31 days, but my bosses don't seem to be down with that idea.  I don't know when they're going to wake up and realize that Frankenberry is far more important than their company, but until then, I'm stuck doing my job.  How about I just hit the lottery and we take this site to a whole new level.  Or hey, does Donald Trump read The Holidaze?  I could use a couple mill, broski!

Since I don't think that's going to happen, I'll do what I gotta do and attempt to salvage what is left of the season.  Believe it or not, we are only TEN DAYS away from Halloween and I think I may be more unprepared for October 31st than I've ever been before.  It's a shame, really, but it is what it is.  For now, I'm going to do my best to keep the Holidaze spirit alive with the help of a seasonal standout.. Pepperidge Farm!

Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

One of my favorite products from Pepperidge Farm are their Caramel Apple cookies.  When it comes to cookies, Pepperidge Farm knows how to do it right.  Have you ever had their Oatmeal Raisin?  Have you ever popped their chewey Chocolate Chip cookies into the microwave for that fresh out of the oven taste?  They do a phenomenal job of capturing flavor, texture, and appeal all in one bag.  Sure, they may be a little pricey, but you get what you pay for.  I must have spent at least $40 on Pepperidge Farm Caramel Apple cookies over the course of two years.  Yeah, they're that good and that's why I finally decided to give their Pumpkin Cheesecake cookies a chance!

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...

Limeade Oreo Cookies

Man, it's been quite a while since I last posted on The Holidaze.  I hate typing that sentence, because I feel like I've done it too often, but life always finds a way to distract me from the site.  Don't get me wrong, that's not necessarily a bad thing.  Although work has kept me busy, I also spent a beautiful week in sunny Las Vegas which provided me with at least one future entry.  While I may not have written on The Holidaze in over a month, I'm always looking for new things, products, and events to cover.  I just can't help myself.  This stuff makes me happy and even if I didn't have this small outlet to share my thoughts with all of you, I'd still be talking to myself about how great Halloween candy is.

My buddies at Nabisco are at it again and, yes, they're still out of their minds.  Say what you want - I've read the complaints - but I will never ever knock Nabisco for releasing these crazy, out-of-the-box, Oreo flavors.  As I've said before, there are many of you out there who can't stand the fact that these Oreo flavors exist, but I'm not one of them.  Whenever I review one of these new limited editions, I always thank Nabisco for ignoring the haters and continuing to impress me by going the extra mile.  When I judge a company, especially one that releases junk food, that's always one of my top criteria to go by.  By stocking shelves with Fruit Punch or Gingerbread Oreo cookies, Nabisco is only giving it's consumers more variety to choose from.  Some may love it, some may hate it, but why would anybody tell them to stop?  Nabisco has gone too far?  Oh no.. Nabisco has only just begun.  This time?

Limeade Oreo Cookies!!

When I first saw Limeade Oreos, the first thing that caught my eye was the bright, neon green color that popped off of the yellow packaging.  I don't know about you, but looking at that ice cold glass of Limeade makes me pretty damn thirsty.  I don't know why I'd think that an Oreo cookie would quench that thirst, but I have to assume it's thanks to Nabisco's genius marketing team.  When it comes to graphic and package design, they definitely do one hell of a job.

As for the cookies themselves, the green creme doesn't pop quite as much as the glass on the bag, but they're less pastel than I thought they'd be.  They're a beautiful color and given that green is my favorite color, I knew they were going to look pretty.  The fact that they remind me of Mutagen, Slimer and Ecto-Cooler is a great bonus.  Basically, regardless of their taste, I was going to be a fan of these Limeade Oreo cookies no matter what.  Based on appearance alone, they had already won my heart.

If you're familiar with similar limited edition Oreos, or if you've read any of my reviews, you already know that the creme center is a different texture that the traditional variety.  It's much creamier and less like frosting.  I think, in the case of these flavors, that's the way to go.  I believe that by reserving that frosty creme center for the chocolate and golden Oreo cookies, Nabisco separates their limited edition flavors from what we all know and love.  I take these varieties for what they are and don't attempt to compare them to anything else.  Each and every edition stands alone as an individual cookie and, unlike the classics, don't bring back any nostalgic memories.  However, with every release, these limited edition flavors do their best to create new memories and attach themselves to the seasons in which they were released.  Personally, that's my favorite part.  Candy Corn Oreos have become a new Halloween tradition and, now, Limeade Oreo cookies may very well become one for the Summer.

So, how do they taste?  Well they're not too far from the Fruit Punch Oreo cookies, but not quite as delicious.  However, with that said, these are absolutely incredible in their own right.  Limeade Oreos find the perfect line between sweet and sour.  Much like actual Limeade, there are multiple layers to the cookies' flavor and I was surprised by that.  To be honest, I didn't expect much more than a re-dyed Lemon Twist Oreo cookie in an attempt to quickly cash in on schmucks like me.  But I was happy to discover that these are completely original and insanely good.  I'd offer you one, but this bag is long gone by now.

I absolutely recommend these Limeade Oreo cookies to any of you who actually enjoy these limited edition Oreos.  I know there are many of you who want to see the madness come to an end, but I ask all of you to go out and pick up a bag.  One, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised and, two, Nabisco will make a lot of money and keep these crazy flavors coming for me to review.  In the end, it's a win-win.  For now, here's lime-shaped creme to make you smile :)

P.S. I'll be doing my best to keep The Holidaze updated as much as possible as we enter the latter half of Summer and prepare for.. dun dun DUN... September! Bwahaha!

Fruit Punch Oreo Cookies

In the day and age of social media, new products are often discovered by Insta-friends and Twitter-buds before I ever knew they existed.  On one hand, it's amazing that we have such a connection that allows us the opportunity to share things we may have missed on our own.  But, on the other hand, the days of walking into a store and feeling as if you were the first to ever find something are fleeting.  It's been quite a while since I found a product and said, "Whoa, why have I never seen this before?"  Remember those days?  Well, last night was one of those nostalgic nights for me.  My girlfriend and I made a run to Wal-Mart, as if we were Maggie and Glen, in hopes of finding something unique for Easter.  My hopes weren't very high, but something immediately caught my eye (that rhymed!).  I moved passed the automatic doors, looked to my left, and saw those yellow Oreo bags that I've come to know and love.  No, not the "Golden Oreo" bags, but the much more special "limited edition" bags reserved for only the best of wild and crazy flavors.  But what was this?  I was a bit far away and hoped that it wasn't a Watermelon re-release or something else I've tried before, so I approached with caution.  I noticed a giant red ball behind the logo and as it got clearer, I knew exactly what this was -Fruit Punch!!  Yes, if the giant design above didn't already tip you off, there is yet another limited-edition Oreo flavor and it is, amazingly, FRUIT PUNCH!

The first thing that went through my mind was, "Wow, how the hell has this not been posted on Instagram yet?"  My second thought was, "Fruit punch? That's verrrry interesting and, oh yeah, you're coming home with me."  I was pumped!  Not only did I find something new without any type of heads up, but I absolutely love anything Fruit Punch flavored.  I can't tell you how many Frooties I've eaten in my life because I used to buy giant jars of the Fruit Punch flavored tootsie rolls.  Now, don't get me wrong, I had no idea how this would translate into a cookie, but I couldn't wait to find out and share it all with you.  So, the first thing I did was snap a picture and post it on Instagram.  I was so excited, I put it on both accounts - The Holidaze and my personal gram!

As expected, the photo received a lot of attention but, to my surprise, most of it was negative.  Many of you think that Nabisco has gone too far and may have lost their minds.  Others said that they need to quit it with these crazy flavors.  More said that this is enough and it needs to stop.  To be honest with you, this shocked me.  I've said it before and I'll say it again - I LOVE the limited edition Oreo flavors simply for the fact that they're always bringing us something new.  Don't get me wrong, not every one of their flavors have been a hit, but why in the world would I want Nabisco to stop?  At the end of the day, they're giving me a product that nobody else is offering and continues to change things up as the seasons change.  It's not like these cookies are replacing traditional Oreo cookies, so why are people complaining?  These are simply bonus additions to the flavors and varieties that Nabisco is already offering.  I'll never have a problem with that!  How many times have I asked a company to go above and beyond, to go that extra mile, to enhance the consumers' experience and give them something to talk about?  That's what Nabisco is doing and they're hitting a home run, at least in terms of reaction, each and every time.  So if anybody from Nabisco is reading this - Don't stop!  Keep 'em coming!

Open up the bag and, wow, the scent is undoubtedly the strongest of any limited edition Oreo cookies I've purchased thus far.  It's as if I just threw a silver pouch of Capri Sun on the floor and mixed the splatter with Fruit Punch Snapple.  That might not make any sense, but the Fruit Punch aroma and the strength that comes with it is so amazing that it doesn't need to!  Granted, it helps if you're a fan of Fruit Punch, but I am and can't get enough of the sweet smell!  To go with it, another one of our senses is rocked by the bright pink/red colored creme in the middle.  It could be the rise in temperature, but these remind me of Spring and are perfect for its arrival.

I've been writing about limited edition Oreo cookies since they first released the Candy Corn variety and, in that time, I've learned something very important.  So many consumers go into these experiences with false expectations.  When you hear the word "Oreo," you think of two chocolate wafers connected by a white, frosted, creme.  Traditional Oreos have a very distinct taste and flavor and many feel it shouldn't be tampered with.  If anything, you accept and draw the line at "Golden Oreo" cookies and call it a day.  I get it, I understand that, but that's not what these Oreo cookies are.  These are something entirely different and should be embraced for what they are, not what you think they should be or what you're comparing them to.  Look at it this way, if Nabisco didn't attach the Oreo brand with the Fruit Punch cookie flavor, would it still be "gross?"  I don't think so and it's because so many are diving in with preconceived notions.  From day one, I separated "tradition" from "limited-edition" and welcomed every new flavor in a different way.  Look at them as flavored cookies rather than flavored Oreos because, if you don't, you may always think that Nabisco is crossing the line and messing with a product you and I love so much.

Now, for as objective as I am when reviewing these limited-edition flavors, I knew I'd be a bit biased this time because, as I said, I love Fruit Punch flavored things.  I'm still hoping for a re-release of Cap'n Crunch Punch Crunch, but won't hold my breath.  For these cookies, I was skeptical, but believed they'd impress me and, thankfully, they lived up to my own hype.  These Fruit Punch Oreo cookies are simply awesome and, so far, they're my favorite of any limited-edition Oreo varieties I've reviewed in the past.  Yes, they're sweet - very sweet - but that's what separates them from the rest for me.  As you're chewing these cookies, your taste buds are taken for a ride as the levels of Fruit Punch intensity go up and down.  Okay, I might be getting a bit carried away over a damn cookie, but I'm very happy to have found these and even happier that Nabisco came up with this idea.  If you like Fruit Punch as much as I do, you're going to love these.

But the best way to describe the creme flavor?  What a perfect time for a segue way!

I'm willing to bet money that, as soon as you smell these Fruit Punch Oreo cookies and chomp into one, you're going to think of bubble gum.  For me, it was Bubblicious: Tropical Fruit.  I spent years of my childhood going down to the corner store and spending whatever little money I had on different packs of Bubblicious.  Tropical Fruit was always one of my favorites and is, without a doubt, extremely close to that of Fruit Punch Oreo.  Obviously you're not going to blow a bubble with creme so, again, don't let your preconceived notions misguide you into believing something that isn't true.  The flavor is close, but it's not like they threw a piece of gum in between two Oreo cookies.  It's a totally different experience but, ironically, I found a brand new (new to me) Hubba Bubba Hawaiian Punch pack near the cashier's line.  Fruit Punch was last night's theme and this was another must-buy.

Does this new Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum actually taste like Hawaiian Punch?  Oh yeeeeaaahhh!  Did you read that like the Kool-Aid Man?  No, two different brands, I wanted you to read that like Macho Man Randy Savage.  If you didn't, it's all good and that's on me for crossing the streams.  But look, if you try this gum and Fruit Punch Oreos in the same night, you're going to find that the flavor is exactly the same while the texture makes all the difference.  They're both delicious, but each provide different experiences.  Hawaiian Punch?  I'll take that in small and moderate doses.  But the Fruit Punch Oreos?  I'm eating them as I type this and am already planning on picking up another bag.  It's possible that I'm in the minority, but I love the Fruit Punch Oreo cookies and can't wait to see what else Nabisco has up their sleeves!

Chips Ahoy - Ice Cream Creations

I pride myself on creating unique graphic designs and banners for each of my posts, so ignore that disaster you see above and let it slide because of time constraints.  One, I have somewhere to be in a few hours and, two, these brand new cookies just can't wait to make their Holidaze debut.  Spending any more minutes designing a banner that pales in comparison to these products is just a waste of time and aint nobody got time for dat!

Today, on my lunch break, a few co-workers and I took a drive over to Target.  I couldn't tell you what they were looking for, but I knew what I was secretly going to search the aisles for.  Whenever I'm at a department store, I'm always scouring up and down in an attempt to find something new and post-worthy.  Sometimes I fall short, but this time I saw something different.  I wasn't expecting to have three cookie posts in a row, but this is worth the repetition.  I walked by the cookie aisle, saw these babies sitting there, and kept on walking.  Yeah, I ignored them as if they didn't even exist because I couldn't let these "manly men" think that I'm about that life.  These guys talk about cars and tools all day while I politely nod and pretend that I have an interest.  Meanwhile, I stared at the clock and counted down the hours before I could go back to Target and leave with new Chips Ahoy! Ice Cream Creations!

There are four different Ice Cream Creations flavors, but I only picked up two because the others didn't necessarily intrigue me.  I can tell you, now that I've tasted two, I may very well have to go back and pick up the others because, I'm not going to stall with this one... These are amazing!!

First, let's talk about Mint Chocolate Chip.  I don't know about you, but this is one of my favorite ice cream flavors so whenever I see a product released, whether it's candy, jelly beans, or potato chips, I'm going to pick it up and give it a try.  Usually, the taste is always on point because, let's face it, Mint Chocolate Chip is pretty hard to mess up.  Throw in mint and chocolate and, boom, you have yourself a hit.  With that said, I never go into it with high expectations because I wouldn't want to let myself down.  Chips Ahoy has disappointed me in the past, particularly with the Chips Ahoy Brownie Cookies, so I didn't want to go all in, especially with the Oreo editions still fresh on my mind.

Open the bag and.. wow.. the aroma is perfect enough to be released as a Yankee Candle.  I'd light it around Christmas to savor the scent, but these cookies should never be kept wrapped up to merely enjoy once or so a year.  No, as soon as you look at these cookies and let your senses start talking to each other, you'll find yourself in a whirlwind that can only be brought to an end with one single bite.  I'm not over exaggerating here, these smell delicious.  Immediately, Thin Mints come to mind and that can only mean good things for our taste buds.  In my opinion, Thin Mints are the perfect cookie when it comes to mint and chocolate.  Well, almost.  See, for me, I've always thought that they'd be better if they weren't so crunchy and more chewy.  Good news for those who agree with me -- Chips Ahoy Mint Chocolate Chip cookies are just that!

They're beautiful! Chewy chocolate chip cookies filled with green and brown mint chocolate chips.  I love how they're put together because they could have simply taken a regular chewy cookie and changed the chocolate chip flavor from chocolate to mint and called it a day.  But they didn't do that -- they went all out and made this look like it could be found in ice cream parlor.  If you walked into an ice cream shop and wanted to leave with a Mint Chocolate Chip cone, you'd most likely have something similar to what you see above.  That's going the extra mile, especially with the green chips, and I'm very happy to see that.  Because of that, I'm going to call it right now and call this St. Patrick's Day's official cookie.  Between the green chips and minty flavor, I'm sure it would go perfect with McDonald's Shamrock Shake.  I've never tried one (but will this year,) but am going out on a limb and making it official.  The Holidaze can do that.. right?

Now, the taste test and it's easy -- this is a 10/10.  No doubt, these are the best Mint Chocolate Chip cookies I've ever had.  In an attempt to describe these to you, I want you to think of what it would be like to bite into Entenman's Little Brownie Bites, but having them taste like Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream.  It's the perfect mix of flavors and texture that creates a junk food hit!  Chips Ahoy has a winner on their hands, here!

When I saw these, I tried not to dance in the middle of Target, but all I could hear in my head was Pitbull singing "Ohhh baby baby! Ohhh baby baby!"  Should Root Beer Float cookies make me feel that way?  Probably not, but you won't find any shame here, brother!  I will always go out of my way to find and try soda flavored food, even if I know they won't taste good.  Dr. Pepper gum?  Yup.  Orange Crush jelly beans?  You know it!  Mountain Dew cupcakes?  If I could find them.  Pepsi Cheetos?  Believe me, they're real, and I'll eventually find them.  So, in reality, Root Beer Float cookies aren't that out of the ordinary, but they're new to me and I might have freaked out more than I should have.  Luckily, it was all internal and my co-workers still have no idea how awesome I really am!

Now, I've heard of Root Beer flavored cookies before, but they're usually found in a bakery or made at home by creative bakers.  However, I've never seen them released on such a large scale by a company as big as Nabisco.  For that reason, I wasn't really sure what to expect.  Were they just cashing in on the idea of others without perfecting the recipe or did they hammer it down and knock it outta the park?  I was excited to find out and opening the bag only added to that excitement because it topped that of the Mint Chocolate Chip bag.  With very low expectations but extremely high hopes, I progressed further while still managing to tease myself.  This is why the rest of the world calls America fat... It's also why we are ;)

Just like the first scoop of cookies, (see what I did there?)  these also look like their respective flavor and I truly appreciate that.  The cookie is lighter and has multiple colored chips to match that of the float.  We have the brown and white representing the soda and foamy top.  It's awesome, not is only the beginning because, like I said, these taste a hell of a lot better than they look and smell and, believe me, that's saying a lot!

I love them -- absolutely love them.  Now remember, I love Root Beer floats and anything soda flavored so I'm very biased, but if you share my love for this flavor, then you're in for a real treat.  Chips Ahoy blew me away with this one because I honestly didn't think they could pull it off.  I never thought the Root Beer flavor could translate so well as a cookie, but I am happily mistaken and it's to all our benefit.  Obviously Root Beer Floats are liquidy and cold so there's going to be a difference in texture.  That goes without saying, but the flavor is spot on and you'll have your taste buds so confused they won't know what season it is.  That's what's so great about these Ice Cream Creations cookies.  They're for anytime of the year and even if they were meant for Spring, they're just as good on a rainy night in February.  These are two of my favorite products to be reviewed on The Holidaze!

Like I said, I didn't pick up the other two flavors - Dulce de Leche and Mocha Chunk - but because the first two were so awesome, I think it's only right that I support the misfits as well.  I didn't think they'd taste much different than caramel and coffee, but hey, even that may be worth the $2.50.  One thing I know for sure is that the two I did buy are a hell of a lot better than the last two Oreo editions I picked up.  I'm not saying they were horrible, but Nabisco did a much better job with Chips Ahoy than they did with Oreo.  But at the end of the day, all of our money is going to the same place as they laugh all the way to the bank.  Meanwhile, I'm sitting here with 4 bags of cookies and an overly full belly.  If you ask me, sounds like a win-win!

Buy them!!  If you see them, pick them up and thank yourself for it later.  These are that good and, if you have the extra money, pick up the other two as well.  Knowing what I know now, I'm willing to bet they're worth the price and I'll be getting them myself within the next few days.  In the meantime, I'll sit back and enjoy these as I hope for a Neapolitan flavor to debut in series two.  I have no doubt there will be more in what should become a very popular line of Chips Ahoy!

Marshmallow Crispy Oreo Cookies

Back again with part two of the new limited-edition Oreo flavor reviews.  Hopefully you enjoyed reading all about the Cookie Dough Oreo cookies because we're about to see how they match up against the new Marshmallow Crispy Oreo cookies.  When I first read about these, I overlooked the flavor name and thought they were "marshmallow" flavored.  That didn't entice me at all because I'm not a fan of marshmallows and usually only have them in the house when we're making marshmallow treats.  Well, what a perfect segue way, because that's exactly what these Oreo cookies really are.  There's a huge difference between "marshmallow" and "marshmallow crispy."  Once I actually took the time and paid attention to the name, I was pretty pumped for these, even more so than the Cookie Dough Oreos!

It wasn't even the name that turned my thoughts around, but that giant marshmallow treat in the background.  As soon as I saw that, I knew what these were supposed to be.  That's proper usage of graphic design and I appreciate that Nabisco went two different routes for two very different flavors.  While Cookie Dough was a chocolate cookie in a blue bag, Crispy Marshmallow is a golden cookie in a yellow bag.  I think that's the appropriate route for each respective flavor because the opposite just wouldn't work.  Besides, I personally like the traditional Golden Oreo cookies better, so this one raised my hopes pretty high.  Are they too high?  Will my expectations be met, exceeded, or will it all come dwindling down?

Open the bag and, whoa, these smell just like marshmallow treats.  Specifically, these smell like the pre-packaged Rice Krispie Treats that you can buy in stores.  That's exactly what I was hoping for so, already, we're going in the right direction.  The Cookie Dough Oreos started to fizzle as soon as we opened the bag and realized it wasn't living up to its name or the hype, but Marshmallow Crispy isn't disappointing, at least not yet, and that's a great sign for this limited-edition flavor.

The creme is thick and creamy, even more so than the Cookie Dough flavor or any other limited-edition that I can remember.  I'm not sure what those tiny pieces in the mix are supposed to be, but there are more than enough of them.  Are they pieces of marshmallow treats?  Are the Rice Krispies?  The bag doesn't state one way or the other, but I can only assume that they're supposed to make this cookie taste more like "Marshmallow Crispy" treats.  Let's find out!

The entire cookie practically falls apart when you bite into it, and I guess that's because there's so much creme, but the amount of creme really doesn't matter because this is a far stretch from a marshmallow treat.  This tastes like nothing more than a basic Golden Oreo cookie.  I mean, maybe you get little hints of marshmallow treats here and there, but that may just be me making things up in my head to justify this purchase.  Those little pieces in the center aren't even anything special, they're just tiny chunks of Golden Oreo cookies.  Even as somebody who isn't a fan of marshmallows, I would have hoped and expected for more of a marshmallow taste than this.  It just doesn't work.

Because I recommend purchasing every and all limited-edition Oreo cookies, just so they'll keep making more, I'm going to do the same for this one.  However, I think you'll agree that there's nothing special aside from the packaging and smell.  After that, it's just the same old cookie you could buy all year-round.  It's disappointing because I had such high hopes for each of these cookie flavors, but neither blew me away.  If I had to pick one over the other, Cookie Dough easily wins in terms of difference and novelty.  But in terms of flavor, I'm still picking Marshmallow Crispy Oreos just because I'd see myself eating more of these in the long run.

I'm sure we'll see more limited-edition Oreo cookies in the near future, and even when they're disappointing, that's never a bad thing.  I love the thrill of searching and finally finding these flavors.  I love the excitement that comes with tasting these and sharing my thoughts with all of you.  Whether they're a hit or a miss, I appreciate Nabisco trying new things with their famous brand of Oreo cookies and attempting to give us all something we never expected.  So, good or bad, keep 'em coming because, like it or not, I'm going to keep on buying.

Cookie Dough Oreo Cookies

Oreo is at it again!  Just when you think M&M's are taking the lead in the "who-can-release-more-flavors" competition, Oreo bounces back with two new limited-editions that have garnered national media attention.  We've talked about Candy Corn, Candy Cane, Watermelon, Lemon Twist, and Creamsicle Oreo flavors and, In addition, there's the elusive Gingerbread Oreo edition that's managed to stay hidden from The Holidaze.  But for Nabisco, they just weren't enough.  No, this time, they've packed shelves with Cookie Dough and Marshmallow Crispy flavors and today, we take a look at the former!

Of course, if you know me, the package art is going to attract my attention and, again, Oreo doesn't disappoint.  In recent releases, the majority of the limited-edition cookies were wrapped in a yellow, resealable bag.  I guess that added a bit more to the specialty of the release, but neither of the new flavors were given that treatment.  Instead, for the Cookie Dough flavor, we have a traditionally blue bag with perfect graphics.

Now, being the way I am, I might have designed this differently.  I might have come up with a brown bag and really focused on the cookie dough colors, similar to what I did with the banner up top, because I'm a stickler.  I tend to go all out in terms of change, but sometimes that isn't always a good thing.  Oreo is known for it's cookie, it's creme, and it's blue bag.  All three of them are equally as famous and, really, you don't have to change a lot to make consumers say wow.  In my opinion, it's always better to go the extra mile, but that tends to apply more to holidays than your regular, out-of-the-blue, limited editions.  So, in this case, Nabisco designed everything just right.  The giant ball of cookie dough and digital chocolate chips let you know exactly what you're getting and just how special this edition is.  It doesn't take much, but it's more than enough.

Upon opening the bag, the smell is strong!  I wouldn't say that it smells like Cookie Dough, but rather that of Chocolate Teddy Grahams.  It's an overwhelming scent of chocolate that doesn't come in your classic bag of Oreo cookies.  It's great, and they look good, too.  The brown creme, which actually does look like Cookie Dough, is about as appealing as it is appetizing.  That's a good thing because I thought it might be a turn off once I saw the real thing, but nope, they look delicious.

Every Oreo deserves a good twist!  When you separate the two cookie pieces to reveal the center creme, it's a bit of a disappointment.  I'm not going to cry over it, but I expected to see more chocolate chips in the mix.  The graphic on the bag implies that there will be plenty in every cookie, but that really isn't the case.  There's maybe one or two spread throughout the creme, but it's definitely not a deal breaker.  Like everything, it all comes down to flavor and if that scent is any indication, we're in for a treat!

The first thing you'll notice, as is common with many of the limited edition flavors, is the difference in creme texture.  Compared to the traditional Oreo cookies, these are much creamier and taste less like icing than the classic white creme.  I think that's a good thing for these and all other limited edition Oreo cookies.  It separates themselves from the legend and doesn't try to be something that it isn't.  It stands alone and lets consumers know that this is different and isn't supposed to be what you're used to.  You need that open mind going in because, if you expect an Oreo cookie, you're going to be disappointed.

In the case of Cookie Dough Oreo Cookies, it's hard to pin point a flavor.  Do they taste like Cookie Dough?  Ehh.. Yes and no.  I definitely taste hints of Cookie Dough and it reminds me of what I'd find in Cookie Dough Ice Cream which is awesome, but there are a few other tastes that come into play.  After the first bite, I instantly thought of Coffee.  I'm no expert, so I don't know if it's an undertone or overtone, but it's definitely there and it tastes great.  It may not be the flavor I was expecting, but it works well with the chocolate and cookie dough flavor.  On top of that, they taste a lot like regular Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Again, that's great.  It's another flavor that works well with everything else and makes this cookie what it is.

It's hard to call this a Cookie Dough cookie because my taste buds are picking up on so many different things, but the name certainly isn't a stretch of the imagination and it tastes great.  If I had to describe this to you without knowing what it's supposed to be, I would have called it Double Chocolate or Chocolate Coffee.  I don't know if Cookie Dough would have been on the top of my list, but knowing what it's supposed to be, I can definitely pick up on that and tell you that it's close enough to at least be compared to the ice cream.  Regardless of what I taste or what it is, I like them a lot and definitely recommend them.

Check back later for the next flavor review - Marshmallow Crispy Oreo!