Pumpkin Spice Oreo Cookies

It may be the most highly anticipated cookie of all-time.  CNN calls it breaking News.  The President has called it a National Treasure and, from what I hear, thousands of white girls are lining up around the corner to get their hands on new Pumpkin Spice Oreo cookies. Okay, none of that true, but it wouldn't surprise me.  Have you seen the attention these are receiving?  They're all over the media.  Major news outlets have them covered and foodie blogs have been counting down the days to their release.  It's an odd happening for junk food and I haven't seen anything like it since Nabisco first released their Candy Corn Oreos. As a fan of these gimmicks and the variety of Oreo flavors, this is surely a treat!

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!

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!

Candy Cane Oreo Cookies

This is a perfect example of how I've failed to update The Holidaze during the Christmas months.  Last year, I found Candy Cane Oreo Cookies and planned on writing all about them for you and I to share.  Of course, I took pictures, uploaded them to my laptop, and there they sat through 2012.  But not this year!!  No, in 2013, I'm making sure that these cookies are talked about so by New Year's Eve, if nothing else gets posted, I can at least look back and feel like I made improvements to the site :)

When I saw these last year, I thought they were the typical "Winter" Oreo Cookies.  Those are fun, and I've discussed them in the past, but just like the Halloween variety, they're basically your typical Oreos with the creme dyed red.  But after further inspection and actually reading the bag, Candy Cane Oreos stood out as something I had to try.  Between the awesome bag, graphics, and "Crunchy Sprinkles," it was a no brainer.  This limited-edition was coming home - two years in a row!

As soon as you open the bag, you get smacked in the face with the scent of peppermint.  When it comes to Christmas, that's something you need to get accustomed to.  For October and November, it's all about Pumpkin and Caramel Apple, but December belongs to Peppermint and Gingerbread.  Throughout the next month and a half, just about everything is going to taste like one of those two flavors, but I'm cool with that because they're seasonal tastes and remind me of Christmas.  That's the point and it meets its purpose.  So between the smell and visions of red and white creme, it's perfect for Santa's arrival!

When you twist the cookies and separate them to look at the creme, it doesn't look all that pretty.  But if you look closely, you can see the crunchy sprinkles spread throughout the mix and that's the biggest selling point for me.  I may be wrong, but I don't think they've ever added sprinkles or anything crunchy into the creme.  Is this big news, even if it's coming to The Holidaze a year after these Oreos debuted?  Let's just pretend and say this is important - that's what I do with all my posts ;)

I've gone through this entire post acting as if I haven't tried these Oreos a year ago, but the truth is I couldn't wait to find these again in 2013.  These are absolutely delicious and are some of my favorite cookies of all time!  I'm not even the biggest peppermint fan in the world, but something about this combination works so well that it makes for the perfect Christmas treat.  The crunchy sprinkles, which are really chopped up Candy Cane pieces, are what really push this over the edge.  This year, Santa isn't getting Nestle Tollhouse or Pillsbury, he's getting Candy Cane Oreo Cookies.  Hopefully he loves them so much that he leaves me an extra present under the tree.  Maybe Gingerbread Oreo cookies?  Ah, that's asking too much..

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.