When Snacks Attack!

From spicy Peeps to gummy Mac and cheese, we try the worst and weirdest snacks around (so you don’t have to)

By Jack McLaughlin / Photos by Sarah Pfeifer / Story Design By Bryce Patterson

Hot Tamale Peeps

Our Rating: 5/10

Hot Tamales, the spicy cousin of the Mike & Ike, won’t be the top candy pick for many, but they’re still a solid choice. Unfortunately, very few are saying the same thing about Peeps. So what’s the combination of these two like? Not very spicy at all, actually. The cinnamon flavor was nice, and refreshingly different from all-sugar Peeps, but ithe flavor itself vanished almost immediately.

Dr. Pepper Peeps

Our Rating: 4.5/10

The second stop on our “please, you don’t have to do this” tour is the one that seemed the least offensive before we tried them all. And they were magnificently “meh.” These smelled almost identical to Dr. Pepper-and tasted a whole lot like it-but also only for a second.

Chocolate Pudding Peeps

Our Rating: 4/10

This was truthfully the snack I was fearing the most: The word “Pudding” threw me off in a weird, bad way. As for taste, these were uninspiring at best. Flavor-wise, they pack a quick jolt of cocoa powder, followed by, well, not much. I don’t think this had an impact on anything, but they were bunnies instead of the traditional Peeps. Pretty much just a chocolate marshmallow.

Cinnafuego Toast Crunch

Our Rating: 8/10

If it isnt clear that the sweet and spicy trend has fully arrived, it should be now. And honestly, we’re all for it. These looked gimmicky, but unlike spicy attempts at Peeps, they had a real, mouth-coating heat to them. The cinnamon and sugar added a pleasant balance to the burn, which took me by surprise. This may have been the winner on the day had it not been for their intense smell, which was pleasantly cinnamon and spice forward, but backed by a strange (and subtle), almost chemical note.

Eggo Waffle Pop Tarts

Our Rating: 7.5/10

While these lab-grown breakfast rectangles are billed as Frosted Maple flavor, they’re more Eggo Waffle-y than they give themselves credit for. While they get a total of zero points in the looks department, these are actually really, really good. The maple is there, but so is a subtle richness that mimics the butter you might spread on your Eggos. Please do not put butter on your Pop Tarts, however.

Frankford Gummy Snack Pack

Our Rating: 4/10

Made to resemble Kraft Mac & Cheese, Oscar Mayer hot dogs, and Claussen pickles, these gummies lend themselves to an uncomfortable cognitive dissonance. Also, the texture is variable between each shape: ranging from fine to "Is this leather?"

The flavor was definitively fruity, but also muted. So muted that I wouldn't be able to name each flavor if my life depended on it. Thankfully it does not.

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