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Kellogg's Special K Bliss Chocolate & RaspberryKcal 89 Fat 2.0g Fat(sats) 1.0g Carbs 16.2g (per bar)
'Mixed cereal bar with raspberry fruit pieces, with a chocolate layer'
It's rare for me even to second glance at a Kellogg's Special K product in any month either side of January, however I missed breakfast this morning so bought one of these Kellogg's Special K Bliss Chocolate & Raspberry from a local newsagent. My convenience driven purchase meant I paid an inflated £0.90, though I'm sure you could buy these far cheaper in supermarket multipacks.
A peak at the score will quickly reveal that this wasn't the most satisfactory of products. The bar was crumbly and messy to eat, and the chocolate layer melted within seconds leaving no lasting chocolatey impression in the mouth. The only positive contributor taste wise were the raspberry fruit pieces, which collectively at least brought the bar to an edible standard by providing some real tasting red berry flavour influences. The rice and wheat constituents were far too light in texture to provide any great deal of satisfaction, thus leaving me both hungry and certainly a little lighter in the pocket for my troubles. Personally I wouldn't even bother with these if I was on a diet.
3.0 out of 10
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McVitie's Hobnobs Cookies Choc Chip & HazelnutKcal 54 Fat 2.8g Fat(sats) 1.3g Carbs 6.4g (per cookie)
'Oaty biscuits with plain and milk chocolate chips and hazelnuts'
Coming from a household where the Hobnob biscuit has always reigned supreme, it was with great delight last December that I learnt McVitie's were going to be releasing a variety of cookies - See HERE. Having been looking out for them for a few months, it came as a bit of a surprise when I found them first on sale in Waitrose where I paid a RRP premium of £1.35 for the 150.0g pack.
Packaging and presentation was all standard McVitie's stuff. The outer out foil wrapper does a good impression of the McVitie's plain Digestive packaging, but the infamous Hobnob branding is just about big enough to differentiate it. The cookies were a similar size and stature to Maryland, though the oat heavy constituents made for a firmer and desnser textured proposition. This more viscous nature meant that the cookies were longer sustained in the mouth, which subsequently made them feel a more substantial proposition. Flavour wise the predominant flavours were that of oat cereal and surprisingly hazelnut. The only disappointment for me came in the form of the chocolate chips, which failed to create any sort of chocolatey cut through in the taste. These cookies are a coating of decent chocolate away from being a very good cookie option.
7.7 out of 10
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Nabisco Oreo Fudge CremesKcal 230 Fat 11.0g Fat(sats) 7.0g Carbs 32.0g (per pack)
'Chocolate cookies topped with Oreo Creme, covered in fudge'
I often get e-mails from readers saying that my 'Bits n Bobs' reviews are too UK focused, so I thought I would throw these Oreo Cookies in the mix in order to please my readership across the pond. I'm sure you are all aware that I love my Oreo cookies - Double Stuff Mint being my all time favourites (See HERE). My passion for trying anything sporting an Oreo logo, led me in the direction of these 'New' Oreo Fudge Cremes, which I received in a 46.0g sized pack.
These cookies were sent to me by one of my suppliers in A-spec condition (no cookie breakage etc) so I was surprised to see such an unappetising prospect when I opened the package. Despite being a good eight months 'in-date' the cookies had scuffed, worn bloomed surfaces and looked totally meagre and unsubstantial due to their flatness. All this negativity unfortunately carried through to the taste test where things were equally as disappointing. The standard Oreo biscuit and Creme constituents held their own, however it was the horrid, waxy melting fudge coating that was the predominant constituent. Not only did it have a horrible mouth feel, but it contributed little aside from a very 'wish-washy' sugary influence taste wise. These are not something that Nabisco should be proud of - Oreo fans you have been warned.
5.0 out of 10
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Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Billionaire ShortbreadKcal 374 Fat 20.3g Fat(sats) 10.8g Carbs 29.9g (per pack)
'All butter shortbread, caramel and milk chocolate layer, decorated with white and dark'
If you high calorie foods put you in a place of nervous disposition, I suggest you look away from this review now :D A few months ago Sainsbury's relaunched their 'Taste the Difference' range (their premium own brand product tier), a move which saw them add many new products to their existing own brand lines. One of these new products was this single serving 73.0g Billionaire Shortbread slice, a product that shares it's name with one of the highest scoring cakes featured on this website last year - Heavenly Cakes Billionaire Shortbread (See HERE). What with it's name, it had an awful lot to live up to, thankfully it didn't disappoint too much.
Despite claiming to be a single serving piece, I ate the slice across two separate sittings - firstly as an afternoon snack and then later on as a dessert. Breaking each layer down, the shortbread base was lovely. It had a glorious melt in the mouth texture, however kept it's form nicely and wasn't messily crumbly. The caramel layer on top was similarly pleasant in both taste texture. It wasn't overly intensive in it's sugaryness, and was more buttery sweet in it's flavour influence - all it needed was a lick of salt for my liking. Topping the entire cake, the chocolate layer was fair in flavour, though I think more could have been made of the dual chocolate type idea as the white chocolate didn't quite provide the contrastive cream based flavours it could of possibly done. I'm an experienced guy when it comes to B/Millionaire Shortbread products :D and in the grand scheme of them all I would rank this one relatively highly. It should give you some idea of the quality here when I say I would buy it again.
8.2 out of 10
Posts
58 comments:
I will try those hobnob cookies but im struggling to see the point of them. Surely they can't be that much different from hobnob biscuits? Just smaller and chunkier? One suspects they are just a cheekier way to get us all to spend more on a cheaper to produce product lol.
That shortbread thing reminds me J, I've been meaning to ask when you think you will have any Heavenly Cakes stuff to review?
I thought I saaw you mention you had been sent some more cakes from them a few weekends ago but we haven't seen anything since. Be a darl and give us an update if you can.
You could tell just by the pictures that the millionaire shortbread was going to be by far the best out of these four. It looks by far and away the most tasty in your pics.
Sainsburys also sell a pack of three muffins that could be worth a review Jim. I have them every now and then when I buy the meal deal that they do at lunch. Chicken/Bacon sub + coke + muffins = Epic Win.
I always appreciate a good bnb post Jim. Nice one again.
Is it sad that i'm well looking forward to hearing what your SNACK OF THE WEEK is??
Ever since you started doing that I have tried starting to try different things each week, its a good way of sampling new things if only for a short amount of time. This week I picked out the cadburys marshamallow teacakes I was telling you about on Saturday. They aren't that special but I would love to hear your take on them. I know you said you are loyal to Tunnocks but still you should give them a try at least once.
Fab reviews hun. You sure manage to eat your way around a lot of snacks. I hope you are sharing these all with people. We wouldn't want you putting on a ton of weight for the chocolatemission now would we ;)
Dx
Those Oreos don't look too clever. They just look ridiculously thin now im used to having the double stuffed ones. I would love to see you review the double stuff if you can please Jim. You wont fail to love them I promise.
Sorry to be cynical but I don't understand why anyone would buy the sort of cookies that get sold on the biscuit shelves.
I think cookies are always best when they are as fresh as possible.
Cool reviews mate. Have you seen some of the new cadburys biscuits they have out now? They have this whole new range that comes in chocolate, mint, orange and caramel flavours. I think their called Biscs.
If your looking for suggestion for bits and bobs thing Jim why don't you do a chocolate milkshake post? There are loads you could do: milkyway, frijjj, yazooo, yop etc etc Just an idea.
I don't like the packaging they got going on those new hobnob things. They look well boring to me, just like any other biscuit product you can find around. I swear mcvities just have a stock design for every single product they make. They just reproduce the same looking designs over and over again, its all so boring and samey.
Why have Sainsburys named that millionaires shortbread 'billionaires'.
I thought to qualify being billionaires shortbread then it had to have a brownie base rather than a biscuit one :) Heavenly Cakes set the rules round here as far as I'm concerned. Whatever they say goes.
Lol the selection is well random today. You normlly pick a theme and run with it but this seriosuly is 'BITS AND BOBS' lol.
Has anyone found the new mcvities temptation cookies?
If you get the time after all your easter reviews Jim it would be good if you could compare them to some of the other cookies you have reviewed recently. I think Maryland have some new flapjack based ones out at the moment aswell.
Im not sure if they have chocolate in them though, you might have to pull the wool over our eyes for that one ;)
Bits and bobs posts are so cool. I love getting so many reviews in the one go.
I don't see the point in any of those Special K cereal bars at all. The ones I have tasted before have tasted ok but they have just been so small I see little point in having one. If anything they just whett the appetite even more and make you more hungry. I have always been by the way of thinking that if you are going to eat anything with chocoloate in you might aswell eat the proper stuff. Just snacking on tiddly bits like those special K bars is pointless.
Rxxx
Lol three out of ten. That must be so bad.
The scores are pretty wide ranging today. I like it when they are like that though you give away the content of the reviews too much cause we all know you put the best products on last. That billionaire shortbread looks the business by the way ;) Sainsburys should be thankful you put such a big effort in to the photograph. It makes all the difference in my opinion.
Have you got anymore Japanese posts coming up soon Jim boy? I've been thinking of getting some wacky chocolates for all my family to try over easter. Im so bored of just buying everyone eggs I thought it might be a good way of livening things up a bit. No doubt I will still get the standard mars bar and snickers eggs that I get every year. No one else is ever prepared to do anything different.
Very interesting reviews today Jim. I like the variety you went for today you have all sorts in the mix :-) Good post.
If I was to give these all a try I would choose to start off with the hobnob cookies and then the shortbreads. Reading your review about the other two, I'm not sure I would even bother with them if I'm honest with you. I don't think they are worth of my daily calorie intake :-)
Jim I have to buy all of my easter eggs this weekend as I will have to travel back to my family for Easter the following one after.
I just wanted to ask you if you had any other suggestions for anyone trying to do Easter on a budget? I know you've rated those hotel chocolat and artisan chocolates very highly but I was wondering if you had any other hot tips for the cheepskates like me.
Ps - well done to Man United for their win last night. Im so glad they beat Chelski.
LMAO at the special k bar. Thats epic amounts of fail going on there. I can't remember the last one to get such a poor score like that, lol it was probably the last special k thing you reviewed.
I'm not surprised you didn't like those Oreo cookies very much. They are the most disappointing limited editions I think they have ever made. No one I know likes them.
Bits and Bobs ice cream bars is something you need to make happen Jim.
I was thinking the other day when it was really hot that I wanted somewhere to check and see which were the best around before I went and bought an ice cream. I needed Choccie Mission to show me the way but of course you weren't there to help! Booooooooooo!
Why do I get the sense that you don't like anything Special K =) LMAO
3 out of 10 what a joke!!!! From what you say they aren't even worth eating, what a massive shame, I like a lot of their cereals, especially the new honey clusters one! nom nom!!
I just looked back at the millionaire shortbread super post thing you did and the JS MS looked better then if you ask me. The wrapper now looks a bit better but apart from that I think I would prefer the old one looking at the two. I bet they have made it more expensive now aswell because they made it part of the 'taste the difference' range.
Mmm I could do with some hobnob cookies right now for my tea. I will go buy some later. Fab review and pictures.
Are those oreos going to be sold in England? If they are that is v v exciting news for us. It would demonstate the intention that Kraft are willing to start selling more different flavours. I know we got the choco cream ones only last year but when you look at all the different kinds they get in america you will see that there are still loads that we don't have.
Hey J,
Im always a big fan of these bits an bobs posts mate. Loving it.Whats your take on the footie last night then? I think the best team probs won out in the end. I think they deserved to go through. I think Real are going to smash spurs again tonight. I respect how far they have gone but this is one step up too far
for them I think.
What your thoughts?
N
One more thing! Can I add wagon wheels to your list of things to review please. I had one for the first time in years yesterday. I swear they've changed them.
N
@Kevin Ice cream reviews would be cool but I would sooner see some proper cereal reviews first.
Jim sorry for going off on a random one but have you seen the new Galaxy Ripple wrapper? At first I didn't even recognise that it was Galaxy. I think font style they have used for the of ripple is atrocious. It just looks really cheap now. I just hope they don't change all of the Galaxy bars to be like that, I think it would be a real shame because they all look good as they are.
I would probably try most of these four as I can't imagine any of them being that much money. The only one I wouldn't bother with would be the special K. I've never bought into any of those snacks that are supposedly 'better' for you. Snacks are snacks, just enjoy them I say.
You will review anything these days wont you. Thats no bad thing by the way I think its cool. It's always good to see a bigger variety of different things. It would just be boring if it was chocolate bar after chocolate bar.
We have two packs of those Hobnob cookies sitting in our kitchen cuboards but no one has opened them yet.
I love the normal biscuits but I just dont get the point of making cookies. Shop bought biscuits and cookies are all pretty much the same thing in this country. I have to agree with what someone said about the supermarket bakery ones being the best. Even they go rock solid after like a day though.
The Special K cereals themselves are nice but I agree with you about the cereal bars they do taste rather crappy.
The nature valley bars are by far and away the best cereal bars you can buy. If they ever realease a chocolate one it would be great to get your take on it.
You actually got to try those Oreos before I did, and I'm the states!I'll know to avoid them now.
Do the UK bliss bars contain hydrogenated oils? Aside from taste, that's my qualm with the American versions.
Like other JCMheads, I'm loving the variety of today's post dude. I'm up for anything millionaire - or billionaire ;) so am going to hunt the Sainsbury's shortbread for sure! Great pics! x
Hi All
Good to see the level of engagement with the B&B posts is as good as ever. I'm on a very tight schedule tonight as I'm heading to the football so apologies this message is short and sweet.
As many of you pointed out the selection of products was rather random today! I just had so many odds and sods lieing around it felt like a good decision just to stick them all in the one.
LINDA - More Heavenly Cakes on the way soon don't worry.
MARTIN - If you scroll down chap you should see my take on the BiscBiscuits :D
COLIN - A milkshake review is something I will consider for the summer. I don't see why not.
RYAN - Nope not seen the McVities Temptations yet. I will be keeping my eyes peeled though don't you worry about that.
MICHAEL - I was just writing a new Japanese Kit Kat review the other day. I think they will come about again after Easter!
KIERAN - Again I will consider doing some ice cream reviews but not until summer at the earliest.
JOHN - I very much doubt we will ever see those Fudge Oreo here in the UK. We have only just got the Double Stuff :D I just don't think our market is a priority for them.
NIGEL - I was of course ecstatic about the performance last night. I never thought it looked in doubt to be honest with you. Real Madrid should indeed steam roll Spurs tonight. Who knows though!? Stranger things of happened! I've already reviewed Wagon Wheels - take a look under the Burtons tag.
STU - They did that months and months ago didn't they!? Like you I have to say I'm not a fan. I wouldn't worry about them changing the other wrappers chap. They have only just been recently done themeselves.
RODDY - No idea about the hydrogenated fats. I will check next time I see one in the shops. Funny how I got the Oreos done before you huh!? When it comes to Oreos im a sucker for their Limited Editions.
ROXY - Thanks for the nice words about the photos.
Thanks everyone - apologise again for the shortness in my reply but I'm off to the Spurs game :D
JIM
Great bits and bobs Jim a nice mixture of little different things.
Did you know that there are two flavours of the hobnob cookies btw!? I think the other flavour is just plain chocolate chip, you would of thought there would have tried somethiing a little more out there considering the level of competition they are facing.
What happened to doing Easter reviews?
Wow this is an interesting mix lol the Billionaire Shortbread looks very nice although they can get a bit sickly after a while if the balance isnt right.
@Stu/Jim - really? I think the new Ripple wrapper is a million times better than the previous version, I hated it previously lol I love the lettering on the new one and the newer colours etc. It suits the product far more. The old one just looked pale and insipid with all that beige and with that horrible 'stick' lettering, was pretty poor.
Mind you alot of the Galaxy wrappers arent very good at the mo, they seem to have gone for all the beige colours, and to be honest, while you can obviously read the Galaxy logo ok, any secondary titles ie the flavour (milk, dark etc) are almost invisible with the most faint (and boring)font and letter size they could pick. I think theyre the worst wrappers theyve had in many years imo lol. I think they all need an overhaul again (except the Ripple). Sorry Ive gone off topic a bit haha
On a total side note, has anyone seen the new look Dairy Milk bars? The chunks are a diffrent shape, probably to accomodate the new weight!
Since when have there been Hobnob cookies? What a totally stupid idea. Hob nobs are biscuits!!!!!! Why must we Americanise everything in this world. The creator of the hob nob must be turning in his grave (lol I assume they are that old)
Next time I shadow the doors of sainsburys I will buy myself one of those billionaire slices as a little treat. I don't think it will take me 'two sittings' to scoff one though. Come on Jim mate, sounds like you need to man up a bit lol.
Jim stop being annoying and just review the new mikados for christ sake :P Ive requested them what must be a dozen times now. Other people seemingly just have to ask for things once and you get them done :( It's so unfair.
If mcvities were going to do anything with hobnobs they should have made a deluxe version or something. I don't know what that would involve but im sure they could do something like using extra large oats or luxury butter or luxury chocolate? I dont want to diss the cookies before I try them but I just think its a shame they went down the route of making a cheaper sort of product rather than a more special one. That photo of that shortbread looks way too good btw. Im having to stop myself from licking the computer screen lol.
Will you be reviewing any of the Thorntons easter eggs soon m8? Im going shopping there for all my egg presents at the weekend. I wouldn't mind knowing if there are any you think are particularly good/worthwhile buying.
Cheers
G-man
I agree with @Rachel about the special k products that kelloggs make. With the exception of the nutrigrain bars I think they are all pretty crummy and most the time time they do end up just making you more hungry than you did before you ate them. They are just like little teasers for me, Im fully in the way of thinking that if your going to eat chocolate you should just do it properly and go for it lol.
If your looking for some things to do for Bits & Bobs I have a few you might want to do later on down the road fella ........
* Maryland hazelnut cookies (purple coloured foil)
* Alpen double chocolate cereal bar
* Alpen chocolate and coconut cereal bar
* Kelloggs Choc crazy rice crispy squares
* Viscount biscuits (mint and orange)
* Mcvities penguin biscuits
* Duchy originals chocolate shortbread
* Fox's original bar
Any of them would be terrific. Sorry if I've mentioned something you will have done already before. I think I have managed to look over all your bits n bobs and not picked anything you have done before.
I couldn't help but laugh at the rating you gave to the special k bar. 3/10 is just pityful for this site. I always think you don't rate things lowly enough when you don't like them. These must of had to have sucked hard for you to award a score like that - I know how generous you are.
Theres no point other manufactures making cookies. Marylands will do just fine for me.
This reminds me I meant to give you my opinion on the chocolate Jammie dodgers. I thought they weren't that nice to be honest with you. Compared to other chocolate biccies you can buy I thought they were well bland to be honest (toffee ones were much better though I doubt you care about them lol). I wont be buying them again thats for sure.
Im a little surprised that those oreos have come across so disappointing.
I have read a few more reviews on them from some of the american bloggers and they all seem to rate them a lot higher than you do. Do you think that they might have been affected by the distance they had to cover in the post to get to you? I always have that in the back of my mind when you rate these chocolates from all over the place. You would of thought that in some instances they have to get mucked up by the postage conditions etc.
Man I could gnosh one of of those billionaire shortbreads right now. Talk about making me hungry.
Wow - and to think, I was going to pick this up when I first saw it hit shelves this past winter. But giving the review I'm a little more hesitant to venture out for this new Oreo Fudge Cremes cookie. I may have already missed that boat though, seemed like immediately after the holiday season they took it off the shelves in Canada, and since then I've only seen one Mint flavor edition package @ a local Walmart. Still, giving the opportunity I'd give it a try, if I could find it.
Thanks for the review!
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