Kellogg's Special K Brownies - Heavenly Caramel

When I spotted the Kellogg's Special K Brownies - Heavenly Caramel in the grocery store I didn't hesitate to pick up a box. I checked over the nutrition label and popped the box into my cart. On the contrary I wish I actually read the box because I would have had somewhat of an idea regarding the size of the brownies.

 

Taking a package out of the box, my thought immediately went to "are you for real?"  The key piece of information on the box that I missed is the fact that there were 7 brownies in the box.  Seven ... and the box isn't all that big! The individually packaged brownies are SO small ... more along the lines of a small York peppermint patty. Taking the brownie out of the packaging, they're small little thin squares which have a drizzle of chocolate over them with little caramel chips running throughout the brownie batter.

 

Taste wise, they're good, they give you that bit of chocolate while not truly noticing the caramel flavoring. But the fact that they're so small makes them slightly unappealing. Ideally Fiber One brownies are larger than these (roughly by 2/3's the size). Granted these aren't a loaded with fiber brownie so it won't upset any tummies. But they are small and may not necessarily cure the brownie hunger.

 

Overall, they're not bad ... but for the sheer size alone, I'd probably take my snacking to another route for an extra few calories/points plus values.

 

A serving is 80 calories or 2 points plus values.

Glenny's 100 Calorie Peanut Butter Brownies

I discovered the Glenny's brand of snacks when the vending machine company brought in some "healthy treats" as samples. One of the samples was the Glenny's chocolate chip brownie. Interested in the brand I decided to purchase a box online since I could not find them in stores. Since the original was delicious I figure the peanut butter would be even better .. so I ordered a box of the Glenny's 100 Calorie Peanut Butter Brownies.

Now, brownies are one of those dessert foods that I love. There's nothing better than that chocolatey, fudgy deliciousness. The only downside is that a serving size is rather small for the jam packed amount of calories/points plus values in them.  What I like the most about these brownies is that they're individually wrapped, they're a perfect size (larger than your average brownie serving) and are jam packed with flavor. The brownies have an element of fudginess to them while the little peanut butter morsels running throughout it give you that smooth peanut butter flavor.

They are perfect as a little snack on their own ... while they'd pair perfectly with some whipped cream and fresh fruit, or even some light ice cream/frozen yogurt for a little healthier take in a brownie sundae. They're perfect because they suit the chocolate fix while also cure the snacky craving.

A package is a serving, which is 100 calories or 2 points plus values.

Glenny's 100 Calorie Chocolate Chip Brownie

One morning the gentleman who replenishes the vending machine at work came in and left some "healthy treats" on the table for my coworkers and I to sample. There weren't very many items but the one that caught my eye was the Glenny's 100 Calorie Chocolate Chip Brownie. I took a quick glance at the nutrition facts and brought the package back to my desk to tuck away in my desk.

 

After needing an afternoon pick-me-up I decided to open the brownie to have a snack. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised ... the brownie was pretty big, far larger than a serving if I were to make boxed brownies. The brownies texture is a mix between cake and fudgy and had chocolate chips running throughout the dessert. For only 100 calories it was perfection - chocolatey, tasty and pretty satisfying.

 

For being pretty packed with fiber (7g) and protein (4g) they definitely do not have that fiber taste that can be found in some Fiber One products. These aren't hard on the stomach, haven't made me feel bloated or uncomfortable. They're delicious straight out of the package, while I also find them to be a perfect addition to a dessert to make it feel a little "sinful". Brownie sundae anyone?!

 

A package is a serving, which is 100 calories or 2 points plus values.

Weight Watchers Marshmallow Brownie Crunch Snack Bar

Weight Watchers meeting locations came out with new mini snack bars right before the new roll out of Weight Watchers Simply Filling plan.  I’d been eyeing the snack bars but decided to wait because out of all of the Weight Watcher products the snack bars tend to be the one product that can go either hit or miss with me.  Before I was able to purchase a box (which I later did) I was given a free sample of the bar during my meeting.

The bars are the same size of all Weight Watcher mini bars (3-4 bites and its gone). They are on the sweeter side, but they’re not what I’d consider to be sickeningly sweet. It satisfies my sweet tooth and it’s perfect because I can have 1 bar instead of having an entire tray of tempting brownies sitting in my kitchen. They have a chewy brownie texture, which has a chocolate coating around it. It’s then topped with marshmallow and crunchy bits and drizzled with chocolate.  Completely decadent and worth points plus!

Each bar is 2 points plus values and are available for sale at Weight Watchers meeting locations.

Chocolate Chip Brownie Brittle

This here is Chocolate Chip Brownie Brittle by Sheila G also referred to as brownie crack. Seriously, this stuff is AMAZING! When this first popped up at my grocery store last year, I thought it was something you had to bring home to bake (thinking it was brownie mix). I was given a bag to try because my love of brownies and chocolate chip cookies was known.

Brownie Brittle is what you’d get if a brownie and crispy cookie were married. Basically it’s brownie batter, that’s poured into a pan (in a very thin layer) and baked off. Since the layer is so thin all moisture is lost and it becomes very crunchy, crispy and delicious. This particular variation is the chocolate chip variety (there are 4 other flavors available – walnut, toffee, salted caramel and mint chocolate chip, but I’ve found them to be difficult to find). The chocolate chips are on top of the brittle adding a little extra sweetness. They come in 2 sizes -- a smaller 4 oz bag which has 4 servings in it and a GIGANTIC 20 oz bag that has 20 servings (which are sold at wholesale clubs, etc).

I’ve considered possibly trying to make this -- but I also wonder if I’d end up burning it to a crisp. I will say, if you like brownies and you like cookies -- I’d strongly suggest picking this up if you ever come across it. It’s totally worth it!

Each serving is 6 of the crisps, which are typically pretty big sized pieces.  A serving is 120 calories or 3 points plus values.

QUESTION:
Have you given brownie brittle a try if you’ve seen it in stores?

Chewy Chips Ahoy! Brownie Filled Soft Cookies

Okay, I admit I was on the hunt for these Chewy Chips Ahoy! Brownie Filled Soft Cookies. Why? Well … they’re new but also because I kept seeing the chocolate chip cookie brownies in the baking aisle and part of me wanted those until I checked out the nutrition label AND the back of the box to figure out how to make them. Talk about not worth it.  But these little cookies satisfied that craving and were well under the points plus values. Plus, I could have one and it would satisfy that want and sweet tooth … so I bought them.

I’m normally not a soft cookie fan. I tend to like harder cookies OR I like a cookie that’s right in between … crispy and crunchy on the outside, slightly chewy on the inside.  These are undoubtedly a classic soft chocolate chip cookie BUT the brownie on the inside is a cooked brownie. It’s not a fudgy brownie; it’s a cooked cake like brownie.  The two together are none other than delicious.  They’re a decent size, not small (like the Reese Chewy Chips Ahoy), not large … medium sized in regards to packaged cookies. It tastes like what you would get if a brownie and a cookie married.

I had my brownie filled cookie and ate it too. Plus, for 80 calories and 2 points plus values, I felt it was justifiable and after eating it … it was worth it.  I admit, I did have 1 cookie in the afternoon and I had another cookie at night but I didn’t have anymore.  There are 15 cookies in a package – I offered cookies up to my mother, who had some and my boyfriend ate some during the day (and evidentially at night).  But when I woke up the next morning, the package was on top of the garbage and I know I didn’t eat them.

QUESTION:

Have you tried any new cookies as of late?

Weight Watchers Peanut Butter Brownie Bliss

Weight Watchers has done it again! Done what, you ask? Well, they created a miniature dessert which satisfies the sweet tooth AND brownie fix (with a punch might I add) and it’s for a very small points plus value.  Incase you’re not aware; Weight Watchers has a line of packaged, portioned desserts which are sold in most grocery stores bakery sections.

At my local grocery store, the Weight Watchers Peanut Butter Brownie Bliss were on display near the front of the store along with the Weight Watchers Triple Chocolate Brownie Bites. What caught my attention initially was the “New Item” sticker my grocery store stuck on the box. The peanut butter certainly caught my eye because 1) I love brownies and 2) peanut butter just makes things better. After bringing these home, my boyfriend and I ended up having one as a snack.

The brownies are very small – practically 2-3 bites and it’d be gone – or in one of you wanted to just shove the whole thing in your mouth.  They are nothing other than delicious.  The brownie portion reminds me of the fudgy chewy brownies you’d get in a Little Debbie snack, which is then topped with a whipped peanut butter. The entire thing is then encased in a milk chocolate. It’s a perfect combination of brownie, chocolate and peanut butter.

A serving is one brownie and they are only 2 points plus values.

QUESTION:

Have you tried the new Weight Watchers peanut butter brownie bliss bars?

QuestBar Protein Bar – Chocolate Brownie

I’ve heard so many things about QuestBar Protein Bars so I figured I had to give them a try.  After searching for them online and deciding I didn’t want to buy a full case without trying them beforehand, while at the mall one day, I popped into GNC and purchased a few of the QuestBar’s to try.  They happened to be on sale buy 3 get 1 free, so I grabbed four different flavors – well actually 3 different flavors.  I got 2 of the chocolate brownie since it seemed to be the flavor so many people had been raving about.

The Chocolate Brownie according to the little sticker at GNC stated it was the most popular flavor.  It also had very favorable caloric stats for me – Weight Watchers Points Plus wise the bar was only 4 points plus.

I felt the bars are not bad at all – they’re definitely a pretty decent tasting protein bar.  Now we know, protein bars can get pretty gross and disgusting, but this was a homerun.  It’s undoubtedly chocolatey, but I will say this is a VERY dense bar and chewy.  This will take you a little while to consume it, so it’s not like one of those little fiber bars you can basically toss back in 2 seconds and not feel as though you’ve eaten anything.

Speaking with some folks on Instagram, apparently these bars can be put into the microwave or toaster oven to bring its flavor to a whole new dimension.  I’ve seen these transformed into cookies and I’ve seen them warmed up and incorporated into a guilt-free “dessert”.  Do note these are packed with protein (20g) AND fiber (19g) so these will undoubtedly fill you while they will also make you go to the bathroom (sorry, to the faint of heart).

If you’re interested in Quest Bars they are sold on the Quest Bar website, while you can also purchase the bars individually (which I suggest before you go slurging on something you may not like) at GNC.

QUESTION:

Have you tried any of the QuestBars?  If so, what’s your favorite flavor?

Brownie Brittle – Traditional Walnut

Brownie Brittle is this little creation I stumbled upon almost a year ago.  My local grocery store has been selling the chocolate chip variety for probably, at least a year and I had been hooked from the moment I tried it.  On the back of the package the Sheila G brand advertised a walnut and toffee version and I had never been able to find it until a number of weeks ago.  I was shopping at The Christmas Tree Shop and stumbled upon both the walnut AND toffee variety!  They both made a home in my carriage until I got to check-out.

Firstly, let me say Brownie Brittle is a life altering experience (haha).  No, really it is.  Whoever thought to take brownie batter and to make it into a thin, crisp layer to imitate a crisp cookie is a genius and I want to give them a hug.  You get that nice chocolate flavor you get from brownies, but it’s very crispy and crunchy.  The walnuts give it a nice woodsy flavoring which adds a little more crunch.  They’re a perfect snack and totally delicious.  And the greatest part?  6 pieces is a serving.  So it takes something that’s sinful (a brownie) and makes it into this genius little serving where you feel like you’re having more than you should for a very limited amount of calories. Genius!

If you’re a brownie fan or even a crispy cookie fan I would suggest getting your hands on these.  They’re 3 points plus values for a serving.

QUESTION:

Have you ever had brownie brittle?

Kellogg’s Special K – Blondie Brownie Bites

I picked up a box of these new Kellogg’s Special K Brownie Bites in the Blondie flavor.  These are also available in a fudge flavor but since I LOVE white chocolate I had to pick up this box instead.

The Blondie Brownie Bites are individually packaged and are 100 calories for each pack.  The brownie bites are little small square pieces.  But I have to say … sadly, this was a complete miss for me.  The consistency of the “brownies” was more of a raw cookie dough texture.  It didn’t taste like a brownie; it tasted more like … well, cookie dough.  The brownie pieces were really soft which made me feel like I was eating raw cookie dough.  I wasn’t a fan to say the least and haven’t touched these since I purchased them.  My boyfriend likes cookie dough and found them to be okay, so I awarded him with the remaining packages.  If he’ll eat them, I’m not sure, but time will tell.

Point Plus wise, these were 3 points plus … but for me, not worth it.

QUESTION:

Have you tried the new Kellogg’s Brownie Bites?

Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt Brownies

I picked up a box of this Reduced Guilt Brownie Mix at Trader Joe's on my last trip through the store.  I'm a complete brownie fanatic but I don't necessarily like the calorie content that comes with a brownie.  I know, you can make a brownie as healthy as possible by substituting ingredients (apple sauce, banana, water, etc.) but sometimes you just want a good ole brownie.

These Reduced Guilt brownies intrigued me because all you had to do was add in 2/3 cup of fat free vanilla Greek yogurt (or plain with a splash of vanilla).  Considering I am a Weight Watchers member, I quickly converted the nutrition label into points and it was 3-points for 1/12th of the box.  Not bad, considering most brownies would cost 5 points or more.  I then calculated it with the Geek yogurt and it was still at 3-points, so I had to get it!

I whipped these up as the box stated -- and I admit I added in 1/2 cup liquid egg substitute (eggbeaters) because I could just not get my brownie mix to go smooth.  I baked them per the box directions and they turned out great!  Keep in mind since these are a fat free brownie, they do have a cake-like texture to them.  They are most certainly chocolatey and moist, but they're not ooey gooey fudge brownies. Overall two thumbs up -- definitely a rebuy!