Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups

I had seen the new Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups posted different places online … so I decided to give it a try when I spotted them at CVS. I’m a Reese lover and was intrigued to see how this paired up against Reese’s and even the classic Butterfinger.

When I think of Butterfingers, I think of a classic chocolate coated crunchy peanut butter flavored bar. Butterfingers aren’t a huge love of mine, I like them, but typically if I’m in the mood for chocolate I go toward my favorites.  The packaging describes the cups as a smooth and crunchy treat.  The cups themselves have a classic smooth chocolate coating and the peanut butter filling is a very unique mixture of smooth and crunchy. It’s got that classic Butterfinger flavor that has small little flakes of the original Butterfinger crunch throughout the smooth peanut butter. It’s definitely a very unique and delicious mixture of the two.

If you’re expecting a Reese’s you won’t love these, but if you enjoy Butterfingers and Reese cups this is a perfect marriage of the two. It’s delicious, chocolaty, peanut buttery goodness which I would repurchase again.

A pack (2 cups) is a serving which is 230 calories or 6 points plus, or you can have 1 cup for 115 calories or 3 points plus values.

Wendy’s Frosty Alternative

This is the end result of what I call “Facebook made me do it.”

Browsing Facebook I saw a friend posted a Frosty alternative recipe. Going over the recipe I was intrigued but decided I was going to make it with a few tweaks to make it more my “style” if you will. The original recipe had really no sweetness to it (as told by the ingredients and those who tried the recipe comments).  I knew I wouldn’t enjoy it as it was originally, so I opted to tweak it a bit. I have to say, the end result came out pretty well. It’s not an exact Wendy’s frosty replica, but it’s a healthier alternative. The only thing missing was my small fry on the side.

I didn’t go into making this expect it to be creamy and smooth. It’s got the classic frosty flavor, with a hunt of banana in the background, but texture wise it’s icier (to be expected) but nonetheless it was an enjoyable treat.

Serves 1. 1 Points Plus Values.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (I used vanilla)
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp sugar free chocolate syrup
• 1 packet Equal
• 1 banana
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 15 ice cubes

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth and ice is all chopped up.

Serve in your favorite glass.

Raspberry Peanut Butter Balls / Buckeyes

This year I decided to make cookie trays for family and friends. Initially peanut butter balls weren’t on my list of things to make, but when my original idea using my PBCrave Razzle Dazzle Peanut Butter didn’t fit the bill, I decided to whip up a quick batch of these “test run” peanut butter balls.

Truth be told they were SO good, I made a second batch two days later and ended up incorporating these delicious desserts into my trays … and they were one of the show-stopper desserts. They’re your classic peanut butter ball but with a unique twist which makes them truly remarkable.

In case you’re not aware, Razzle Dazzle is sold and made by PB Crave.  The peanut butter itself is a natural peanut butter, which is a blend of red raspberries, wild honey, white chocolate and a delicious dark chocolate flavor.  Unlike typical natural butters this one is actually relatively thick and doesn’t need to be stirred together to reincorporate the oils into the butter.

The points plus/calories associated with each ball truly depends on the amount made. The first batch I got roughly 45 balls, whereas the second batch I made, I got over 60.

Serves 60. 3 Points Plus Values.

Ingredients:

• 1 16 oz. jar PB Crave Razzle Dazzle
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup butter, softened at room temperature
• 2 tbsp Crisco
• 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl add in butter and the full jar of Razzle Dazzle peanut butter. Using a handheld mixer, beat the mixture together until smooth and fluffy.

Drizzle in vanilla and add in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Blend until the mixture forms a thicker batter.

Line a tray with wax paper, pick up a large rounded teaspoon amount of mixture and roll into a ball. Place the balls on the wax paper and repeat until all mixture is incorporated into balls.

Place the tray into the refrigerator to harden for at a minimum 1 hour.

Before removing the peanut butter balls from the refrigerator, in a microwave safe bowl, combine the semi-sweet chocolate chips and Crisco. Microwave in 30 second intervals, blending the mixture together with a spoon in between.  I found after 3 trips into the microwave, my chocolate mixture was perfectly melted.

Using a toothpick, pierce the balls and dunk in the chocolate. Return the ball to the tray – repeating until all balls are coated. You can use another toothpick to smooth over the pierced holes or you can leave as is.

Return the tray filled with dipping peanut butter balls to the refrigerator to harden. Allow to harden for a minimum of 1-hour.

Swiss Miss Limited Edition Candy Cane Hot Cocoa

While making a quick run through the grocery store I noticed they had a display up for the new winter flavored Swiss Miss. I figured since it’s getting frigid cold out I’d get a box of Swiss Miss Limited Edition Candy Cane Hot Cocoa to try out.

My boyfriend is more of a mint flavored drink/dessert guy over me. I’m more of a peppermint hard candy girl. One night it was sooo cold I decided to boil a kettle of water and make myself a hot cocoa. Opening the package up, you wouldn’t quite be able to tell its peppermint (aside from the red and white striped marshmallows). After adding the water, I was awarded with a noticeable peppermint scent. The flavor is undoubtedly chocolate with a peppermint infused flavor in it. It’s definitely more peppermint than I’d say the marshmallows gave off. But nonetheless it tastes like Christmas.

An envelope packet is 90 calories or 2 points plus values.

QUESTION:

What is your favorite Swiss Miss flavor?

Twix Gingerbread

Around the holidays, I like scoping out the new and interesting flavors companies come out with.  Needless to say when I spotted Twix Gingerbread at Wal-Mart, they found a temporary home in my shopping cart.  Since these are “fun size” they’d be perfect in the candy dish in the living room, so they’d inevitably be eaten, especially during the holidays.

The other night I was in the mood for a little sweet, so I cracked open the bag. Peeling it, it looks like your plain ole Twix.  After the first bite, I wasn’t impressed – my initial reaction was “Gingerbread? There’s no gingerbread!” But after the second bite I found the gingerbread flavor … and I found it to be strange. Twix are chocolate, cookie and your classic caramel, so having a gingerbread flavor in it, takes it to a whole new level. I admit I’ve had gingerbread cookies, muffins, etc., but I’ve never had gingerbread meet chocolate or caramel.  These aren’t gross, but I feel they’re “meh”. Nothing to truly write home about… or run out to buy, but if you enjoy gingerbread and chocolate you may truly enjoy these.

A serving is a cookie bar, which is 80 calories or 2 points plus. If you can’t stop yourself at one, you can have 2 for 160 calories or 5 points plus values.

QUESTION:

Have you tried any of the Twix Gingerbread candies?

Lay’s Wavy Original Potato Chips Dipped in Milk Chocolate

Milk chocolate potato chips … truly the ideal best sinful desserts known to man … or at least, known to me. That sweet/salty combination is truthfully a taste I enjoy, especially when I want something crunchy, or even when I’m in the mood for something sweet. Killing two birds with one stone is sometimes the way to go.  But there are times when killing said bird can rack up a little more calories/points than rather “necessary”. With that thought in mind in walks … Lay’s Wavy Original Potato Chips Dipped in Milk Chocolate.

I’m not sure if these are limited edition or if these are a permanent addition to the Lays line.  The chips themselves are your classic wavy potato chips which are dipped in chocolate, primarily on one side. The one side of chocolate truly gives your taste buds that salty and sweet taste. The chocolate makes the chips “heavier” than regular potato chips, which I feel is expected. They’re delicious and sweet, so a serving is truly enough.

A 1 ounce serving (roughly 4 covered chips) is 160 calories or 4 points plus values.  Sure, this may seem like a lot for the amount you get but I figure if I were to eat a candy bar with a bag of chips (even single serve) I’d be spending a lot more calories and points.  So this was well worth it to me.

BTW I have only seen these for sale at Target locations.  Again, I’m not sure if this is a limited edition or even Target specific product.

QUESTION:

Have you tried the Lays Wavy Chocolate Covered Potato Chips?

WhoNu? Chocolate Cookies

I’ve tried WhoNu? Cookies in the past, but one day I was on an Oreo cookie hunt and decided to pick up the WhoNu? Chocolate Cookies.

The cookies themselves are reminiscent of Oreos but they’re not 100%. These cookies are enriched in calcium (supposedly as much calcium and vitamin D as an 8 oz glass of milk), fiber (supposedly as much as a bowl of oatmeal), vitamin D & C (and as much vitamin C as a cup of blueberries).  These are made with no hydrogenated oils, no high fructose corn syrup and have 0 trans fat. They are a “healthier” alternative to Oreos, even though the nutritional stats are pretty similar across the board.  I truthfully only purchased these because I wanted an extra cookie. I mean these taste fine but they have a “healthier for you” flavor to them. It’s not the flavor associated with reduced fat foods, it’s truthfully hard to pinpoint what the flavor is – but it’s noticeable. They are chocolatey and sweet – which I feel is what you go for when you’re wanting a cookie. I do enjoy them and I find with these I can have my serving and call it a day.

A serving (3 cookies) is 150 calories or 4 points plus values.

QUESTION:

Have you tried WhoNu? cookies?

Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

I’ll be the first to admit – I’m not the biggest fan of dark chocolate. In fact … I’m not really a fan. But I spotted these Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups for 99 cents (instead of the large tub of them that are usually sold) and decided to give them a try. I figured with peanut butter involved … you can’t quite go wrong … and boy was I right.

I opened up the bag to have one as a snack and was pleasantly surprised with how delicious they were. The chocolate is a rich, smooth dark chocolate flavor which is creamy and melts in your mouth. The peanut butter is smooth, creamy, flavorful and the center (and quite literally) of attention. The dark chocolate and peanut butter truly play off one another perfectly.  I found one was enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.

I shared the bag with my boyfriend who on the other hand quite enjoyed them and polished off the rest of the bag – minus one, leaving that one for me to have whenever I wanted it.  I think that mean he liked them … and I think that means I need to pick up another bag when I go back to Trader Joe’s!

A serving (3 pieces) is 180 calories or 5 points plus values.

QUESTION:

What is your favorite peanut butter cup?

Zico Chocolate Premium Coconut Water

I have seen this Zico Chocolate Premium Coconut Water all over the place lately and it truly only caught my attention because I saw someone mention it in a YouTube video.  I have tried coconut water in the past and have completely disliked them. I know coconut water is great with hydrating and being typically healthy for you but I can’t usually get past the taste.  I’ve had coconut water straight out of a coconut in Jamaica and it was good although at the time I was drinking it hot (well, it had just come off the tree) but I wasn’t wild about it.

I figured chocolate can typically always make something better. I mean chocolate is the only reason I can drink a glass of milk. So with this reasoning in my head, I gave it a shot – bought a bottle and stuck it in the fridge.  Finally, one day, I decided to give it a shot.  I shook up the bottle, cracked it open and took a sip … and another.  And I have to say … I absolutely LOVE this stuff!  It tastes like chocolate milk with a very, very mild underlying coconut flavor.

The greatest part is its hydrating, has 5 essential electrolytes in it and has enough potassium as a banana.  It’s also dairy and gluten free.  I admit I don’t really like drinking my calories/points, but this was a nice and different treat from the norm.  A 14 ounce bottle has 120 calories in it – which is equivalent to 3 points plus values.  Not bad at all.

QUESTION:

Have you tried Zico Chocolate?

<!–[if !mso]>st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]–>

Pumpkin Spice M&M’s

As mentioned in a previous post – I am a pumpkin fanatic.  So when I saw there was Pumpkin Spice M&M’s being sold, I immediately jumped on the bandwagon, put them into my Target shopping cart and had to bring them home. I love pumpkin and I love chocolate and any way to bring the two together is a-okay in my book!

I cracked open the bag the day after buying them because I wanted chocolate.  But I have to say… I was a little disappointed. They’re not bad, but they definitely don’t pack a pumpkin punch.  They taste like a classic M&M that’s slightly bigger in size and after chewing there’s a very, very mild pumpkin taste in the background. But it’s literally so mild it’s almost not noticeable.  I guess this may be a good thing for some – but for others who are expecting a true pumpkin spice flavor they’d be a bit disappointed as I had.

A serving size is 1.5 oz which is roughly ¼ cup of the bag (which is more than what is in my hand in the photograph above) and is 210 calories.  A serving is 5 points plus values.

QUESTION:

What is one of your favorite fall/Halloween flavored candies?