Edible Art: Rainbow Bagel from The Bagel Store

I've written about the ingenuity in both aesthetics and flavor going on at The Bagel Store in Brooklyn. Breaking into a rainbow bagel yields the most unexpected color combinations, all entirely beguiling. These rainbow bagels are a bit sweeter than a classic bagel, and thus pair well with sweet cream cheeses like cannoli cream cheese or funfetti cream cheese. In combination, this is one of the most enticing dessert treats out there.

To read past admiring blog posts about The Bagel Store, click here.

Trolli Sour Brite Dip'n Crawlers

Trolli Sour Brite Dip'n Crawlers are grotesque in all the best ways. They are garish and rely on the idea of eating worms dipped in dirt and yet actually manage to pull off "cute". They're fun and tasty and super sour. Often novelty "concept" candies don't taste very good, but these Trolli Sour Brite Dip'n Crawlers are as tasty as they are fun.

Score: 4

Limited Edition Milky Way Marshmallow Caramel Minis

The name of the new limited edition Milky Way Marshmallow Caramel Minis is somewhat misleading. The ostensible layer of "marshmallow" more closely resembles a nice vanilla-flavored nougat. Which is to say that this version of Milky Way is basically vanilla-infused Milky Way, with the same double layer of fluffy nougat and caramel, this time with vanilla added. This isn't a complaint, though. These Milky Ways are really good. The vanilla complements and blends with the caramel really nicely, and the one-bite mini tastes so flavorful yet light-as-air. These limited edition minis are definitely worth a try!

Score (descriptive accuracy): 2
Score (actual taste): 4

Candy Crafts Snapshot: Candy Sushi

(Image courtesy of obsessivesweets readers Kara, Mark, Conor and Ronan)

Clever and colorful candy crafting inspiration for your next gathering! 

Bazooka Strawberry Cajillions

Cajillions, distributed by Bazooka, may be defined as a cascade of tiny balls of strawberry-flavored foam. They resist chewing, but eventually disintegrate on the tongue. These aerated bits resist categorization as food for consumption. Although the packaging is fun, don't expose your palate to Cajillions.

Score: 1 

Happy Easter! (With Gummy Carrots!)

(Gummy carrots purchased in Bulk Candy area of Dylan's Candy Bar, Union Square, New York)

The cascade of Easter Candy has reached its apex. Wishing you a happy Easter!

Peeps Delights Coconut Marshmallow Dipped in Dark Chocolate

Ooh, I had no idea that coconut and marshmallow create such a lovely combination, especially when accentuated with dark chocolate. These Peeps Delights with Coconut Marshmallow chicks dipped in Dark Chocolate are some of the tastiest of the vast Peeps line. The coconut flavor is mellow and doesn't have that artificial sunscreen essence and the dark chocolate off-sets the flavor perfectly. Taste tester Ben agrees that these constitute essential Peeps for the canon.

Score: 4

Peeps Reviews Past (click each name to link to review):
Flavored Peeps
Apple Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Caramel Fudge  

Blueberry Delight Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Creme Fudge
Blue Raspberry Flavored Marshmallow
Bubble Gum Flavored Marshmallow
Candy Cane Flavored Marshmallow
Candy Cane Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Dark Chocolate  
Candy Corn Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in White Chocolate
Cherry Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Dark Chocolate 
Cherry Flavored Marshmallow Drizzled in Dark Chocolate
Chocolate Mousse Flavored Marshmallow
Gingerbread Flavored Marshmallow
Hot Cocoa and Cream Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in White Chocolate
Lemonade Flavored Marshmallow 
Lemon Delight Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Lemon Fudge 
Maple Brown Sugar Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in White Fudge 
Mint Flavored Marshmallow Covered in Milk Chocolate
Orange Creme Flavored Marshmallow 
Orange Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Orange Fudge
Party Cake Flavored Marshmallow 
Raspberry Flavored Marshmallow Covered in Milk Chocolate 
Red Velvet Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in White Chocolate
Sour Cherry Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Lime Fudge
Strawberry Creme Flavored Marshmallow
Strawberry Creme Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Milk Chocolate 
Strawberry Delight Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Creme Flavored Fudge 
Strawberry Flavored Marshmallow
Sugar Cookie Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Milk Chocolate
Vanilla Creme Flavored Marshmallow


Traditional Peeps
Peeps Bunnies
Peeps Chicks (Blue)
Peeps Chicks (Green)
Peeps Christmas Trees
Peeps Easter Eggs
Peeps Ghosts 
Peeps Hearts
Peeps Minions
Peeps Monsters
Peeps Pumpkins
Peeps Snowmen
Peeps Tombstones 

Lindt Lindor Coconut Chocolate Truffle Eggs

Lindt Lindor Coconut Chocolate Truffle Eggs pack a powerful flavor punch. The coconut cream center of each bite-sized egg is dense and smooth and melty. It does have that artificial coconut essence that many coconut candies fall prey to, but it's quite good nonetheless. There are other truffle flavors that Lindt does so incredibly well, I probably wouldn't waste my calories on these Coconut Truffle Eggs again, but for anyone that's wild for coconut, these are worth a taste.

Score: 3

Cadbury Chocolate Crunch and Creme Mini Easter Eggs

Cadbury Mini Eggs of both the classic milk chocolate and newer royal dark chocolate varieties constitute two of the best offerings in the Easter Candy aisle, hands down (read reviews here). The Chocolate Crunch and Creme variety, though, are a little lackluster comparatively. The white chocolate is awfully sweet, and not nearly as rich and decadent as the others, and the chocolate cookie crunch is nice but not very flavorful and overshadowed in crunch by the candy shell. They're fine. They're tasty. However, they are not of the same amazing level of deliciousness as the other Cadbury Mini Egg offerings.

Score: 3

Reese's Mini Reester Bunnies

There's nothing new going on here, flavor-wise, but then again, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have no need to improve on flavor. They're perfect. These Reese's Mini Reester Bunnies are a Peanut Butter Cup molded in the shape of a quirky rabbit in honor of Easter. Bonus. I'm as pleased to eat bunny-shaped peanut butter and chocolate as I am to consume the two ingredients in more traditional form. A tasty addition to any Easter basket!

Score: 4

DeMet's Turtles Easter Egg

DeMet's Turtles Easter Eggs are a surprise winner of this year's Easter candy lineup. The company has been making turtles--peanuts and caramel smothered in chocolate--since 1934, and have simply transformed the shape into an Easter egg. The caramel is the real delight here, with a deep rich flavor and a super smooth consistency. Mixed with peanuts and wrapped up in milk chocolate, these eggs taste a bit like a high end Snicker's without the nougat. Try to find a few of these treats for your Easter basket.

Score: 4

Cherry Limeade Peeps

Cherry Limeade Peeps are pretty tasty, but the visuals are so weird and distracting. Sour cherry and marshmallow flavors blend nicely, and the lime fudge flavor is tart and fun. The flavors just don't blend together right, even though both are fine individually. On top of that, the photos don't quite capture how strange and off-putting the color of the lime fudge, like wilted guacamole. There are better varieties of Peeps on the market right now to sample.

Score (individual flavors): 3
Score (flavor blend): 2
Score (visuals): 2


Peeps Reviews Past (click each name to link to review):
Flavored Peeps
Apple Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Caramel Fudge  

Blueberry Delight Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Creme Fudge
Blue Raspberry Flavored Marshmallow
Bubble Gum Flavored Marshmallow
Candy Cane Flavored Marshmallow
Candy Cane Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Dark Chocolate  
Candy Corn Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in White Chocolate
Cherry Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Dark Chocolate 
Cherry Flavored Marshmallow Drizzled in Dark Chocolate
Chocolate Mousse Flavored Marshmallow
Gingerbread Flavored Marshmallow
Hot Cocoa and Cream Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in White Chocolate
Lemonade Flavored Marshmallow 
Lemon Delight Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Lemon Fudge 
Maple Brown Sugar Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in White Fudge 
Mint Flavored Marshmallow Covered in Milk Chocolate
Orange Creme Flavored Marshmallow 
Orange Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Orange Fudge
Party Cake Flavored Marshmallow 
Raspberry Flavored Marshmallow Covered in Milk Chocolate 
Red Velvet Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in White Chocolate
Strawberry Creme Flavored Marshmallow
Strawberry Creme Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Milk Chocolate 
Strawberry Delight Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Creme Flavored Fudge 
Strawberry Flavored Marshmallow
Sugar Cookie Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Milk Chocolate
Vanilla Creme Flavored Marshmallow


Traditional Peeps
Peeps Bunnies
Peeps Chicks (Blue)
Peeps Chicks (Green)
Peeps Christmas Trees
Peeps Easter Eggs
Peeps Ghosts 
Peeps Hearts
Peeps Minions
Peeps Monsters
Peeps Pumpkins
Peeps Snowmen
Peeps Tombstones 

Starburst Ice Cream Flavors Jellybeans

Starburst Jellybeans are my favorite jellybeans of all (read review here). The flavors hit all the right notes, with something so juicy and vibrant about each one. Starburst Ice Cream Flavors Jellybeans are tasty and a fun variety to sample but don't come close to the original. In strawberry sherbet, orange sherbet, raspberry sorbet, and lemon sorbet, each flavor tastes like an original mixed with cream. Creamsicles are yummy, no complaints, but I don't seek them out. Advice: if you're only getting one bag of jellybeans, go for Starburst original jellybeans; if you're getting a few bags, throw the Ice Cream Flavors jellybeans into the mix.

Score: 3

Russell Stover Coconut and Almond Easter Egg

Coconut does not hold much allure for this sweets fiend, so I always try to put myself in my esteemed Mother's mindset while tasting a coconut sweet. She goes wild for coconut and feels great emotion over its various incarnations. I can attest that the Mother of obsessivesweets would heartily enjoy the Russell Stover Coconut and Almond Easter egg. The coconut patty packs a ton of coconut into each bite, without falling prey to becoming too dry. The gooey coconut is the big show here. A very fine layer of milk chocolate surrounds the coconut and then finely crushed almonds are sprinkled on top. They're not overwhelming but add rich flavor to the bite. A thicker layer of milk chocolate then coheres the whole thing together. This is definitely one of the best varieties of the vast Russell Stover candy line.

Score: 4


Past Russell Stover Reviews:
Russell Stover Apple Pie in Milk Chocolate
Russell Stover Banana Whip in Dark Chocolate 
Russell Stover Birthday Cake in Milk Chocolate 
Russell Stover Caramel and Marshmallow in Milk Chocolate 
Russell Stover Caramel Apple in Milk Chocolate
Russell Stover Carrot Cake in White Chocolate
Russell Stover Chocolate Marshmallow in Milk Chocolate
Russell Stover Chocolate Wedding Cake in White Chocolate
Russell Stover Coconut Cream in Dark Chocolate
Russell Stover Cookie Dough in Milk Chocolate  
Russell Stover Lemon Cake in Dark Chocolate 
Russell Stover Maple Cream in Dark Chocolate 
Russell Stover Orange Marshmallow in Milk Chocolate
Russell Stover Orange Cream in Dark Chocolate  
Russell Stover Peanut Butter in Milk Chocolate
Russell Stover Pecan Delight in Dark Chocolate
Russell Stover (Extra Crunchy) Peanut Butter in Milk Chocolate 
Russell Stover Pineapple Whip in Dark Chocolate
Russell Stover Pumpkin Pie in Milk Chocolate
Russell Stover Red Velvet Cake in Dark Chocolate
Russell Stover Sea Salt Caramel in Dark Chocolate
Russell Stover Strawberry Creme in Milk Chocolate
Russell Stover Strawberry Cream in White Chocolate 
Russell Stover Vanilla Creme in Milk Chocolate
Russell Stover Wedding Cake in White Chocolate

Easter Gummy Snapshot: Gummy Bunnies

(Gummy bunnies purchased in bulk candy area of Dylan's Candy Bar, Union Square, New York)

Could It Really Be? Peeps Milk, For Real.

image courtesy of philadelphia magazine

Talk about news! Word has it at Philadelphia Magazine that there are now four flavors of Peeps Milk being produced for the Peeps marshmallow fans of this world by Prairie Farms Creamery. Head over to Philadelphia Magazine to read all about it (click here). 

Reese's Gold Easter Eggs

There's nothing better in the candy aisle than a Reese's Peanut Butter cup. You can't improve on perfection. I do love to try the Reese's variations that trickle onto the market, though. These Reese's Gold Eggs, released for Easter, are a fantastic addition to the Reese's line. It's the basic peanut butter cup, except that the original peanut butter has transformed into "peanut butter creme," which is basically super smooth melty peanut butter. For my taste, there's a little too much chocolate in this peanut butter-chocolate ratio, but that's a minor complaint. I could happily eat half the bag in a sitting.

Score: 4