Friday 13 April 2012

FOOD: An Investigation Into American sweets

From the huge amount of suggestions for doing this adventure into American candy it's been super fun getting to taste them all. Although I must add as as if I need an excuse! I'll run it over a couple of posts rather them bombarding them all at you in one go.

ALMOND JOY

Almond Joy

Almond Joy [part of the Hersey brand] can be described as a Bounty Bar with a twist. A coconut bar covered in milk chocolate it's even presented in two mini sized portions - but with an additional helping of almonds. I say helping - I mean two almonds are placed on each bar like mini mountains. It comes out of the wrapper on a cute little cardboard tray [I'm all for details] and really does look like a rough version a Bounty. The coconut isn't as white and it's more gooey but the addition of the almonds offers an added crunch. Apparently Bounty Bars are released in America under the name Mounds [all this renaming gets a girl confused] although I've never come across them, at least not yet.

CUPCAKE BITES

Cupcake bites

These are one of the goodies found in the dollar store, like the pound shop you can find some amazingly different things in there and these are one of them. Boxed candy seems to be rather common and I love the cheesy, cheap packaging. Cupcake Bites are described as "bite sized cupcake morsels coated with sprinkles and white frosting!". Not only are they really sweet, but they are really additive. The mini bites taste of vanilla are certainly on the small size yet the sprinkles give an extra crunch and have a strong butter cream frosting smell. They look as cheap as they are - somewhat like the play dough you played with as a child that's got messed up a little with the other colours. They are fun and you can't go wrong with them, but have more than a few and they can be sickly.

TOOTSIE ROLLS


I first heard about Tootsie Rolls while watching Modern Marvels [basically a geeky History Channel show which tells the story how things are made] and we won these at the arcade. It's one of America's oldest candy and one of the first penny candies to be wrapped individually and they consist of a hard chewy chocolate mixture, tastes kinda like very cheap fudge but nice all the same. While they have been introduced to the UK market I'm not sure of their success outside of the USA. Because of their age and not being as visual appealing in comparison to many of their sweet counterparts, Tootsie Rolls are rather over looked but they are tasty all the same especially if you just want a quick sugar fix.

TWINKIES


Although they are a must eat American food, tracking down a Twinkie was harder then you would have thought. Granted they aren't really a sweet - it's a snack cake but its worthy of a mention. Twinkies come with the tag line of being a "golden sponge cake with a creamy filling" which it pretty much is, and it's rather basic as a cake. Saying that, they are tasty if not sickly. I could only manage eating one of the two cakes in a sitting because they are that rich. It seems a weird creamy filling too - a little marshmallow like - or at least that kind of consistency wrapped in a light sponge. While Twinkies have been a staple of America since the 1930s its future is in jeopardy as it's sales decrease and it's manufacturers file for bankruptcy. Yes my experience of them was nice but I think I'll stick to more traditional chocolate based snacks.

Keep your eyes peeled for a part two of this girls sweet adventures in the coming weeks ...

What's your favourite kind of sweets, American or otherwise? Any candy recommendation for me to try on my sweetie adventures?

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On a side note LOTS is featuring over one Jess's Live Life, Save Money blog on my feature about visiting York on a budget and free things to do so go have a peek!

42 comments:

  1. I adore american sweets, we've got a couple of shops in town selling different american sweets for a small fortune, hersheys bars for £2.50 each :( I love them :D Swedish Fish are lovely

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    1. Yeah it's the same with British chocolate in America, it's a good $1.60 for a Yorkie bar. I keep meaning to buy some Swedish fish to try, i love the packaging for them - it's so cute!

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  2. I love Jolly Ranchers candy (original and cinnamon fire) x

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    1. They are okki, never really been too much of a fan of hard sweets.

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  3. Reeces Peanut Butter cups are amaaaaaaaazing!

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    1. True, trying to keep away from the big obvious American candy for the most part, at least for now.

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  4. I second the Reeces Peanut Butter cup recommendation... and I'm a sucker for sour Skittles as well (the american ones are covered in a sour, crunchy sugar that the uk version don't have... and they're SO much better for it!)

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    1. Never knew the skittles were different - have to look into that!

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  5. There's a sweet shop in the town where I go to uni that sells loads of American sweets, but I can't afford to try any because they're so expensive :(. I have tried a Twinkie once before though and I didn't like it, it was way too sickly!

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    1. Yeah they really are, I think its the creamy filling that makes them so.

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  6. Those cupcake bites look amazing! And what 'Grease' fan like me wouldnt want to try a Twinkie :o) Scarlett x

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    1. Just reminded me that the cupcake bites need finishing off!

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  7. Those cupcake bites look amazing, I'd love to try some xx

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    1. They are one of my new favourite things for sure x

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  8. I have always wanted to know what a twinkie was and tootsie rolls! can't wait to read the next part xx

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    1. Yey i'm glad someone else has heard of a tootsie roll, they are sadly a little forgotten these days!

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  9. What a cool post, I adore goggling at products from diffent places- especially sweeties! xxx

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    1. And because they are relativity cheap its really worth just grabbing a load to try!

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  10. Great post, I've always looked at twinkies and wondered what they're like! :)

    Lucy
    http://lucyywrites01.blogspot.com
    xx

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  11. I am loving this post on American sweets.
    I don't think I could do the cupcake bits, the thought of them put my teeth on edge! Haha

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    1. Yeah they are a little on the sweet side but I love them all the same!

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  12. Wow that's made me hungry looking at those! I love American sweets always end up buying loads when I go on holiday to the states.

    Charlee
    http://charmedcharlee.blogspot.com/
    xx

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    1. Certainly worth grabbing a load when your over here!

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  13. I was really excited to try twinkies beacause I have grown up watching american tv shows where they mention them. When I tried one I was so disappointed I thought they were gross haha! I like the look of those cupcake bites though! x

    Safe Return

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    1. Yeah they are really weird and the more I think about them the weirder I think the taste was!

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  14. I love almond joy! The cupcake bites look so good!

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  15. I love tootsie rolls and so do all my british friends that ever tried them too. Love having them on hand now to munch whenever I want....mmmm! Not seen cupcake bits here, need to investigate those....! x

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  16. Almond Joys are so good. Never heard of cupcake bites though - they sound interesting. Twinkies gross me out beyond belief though. They last years on the self - kinda scary.

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  17. Such a cute blog! I'd love to move out to America for just a little while just to stock up on peanut butter M&Ms!! =) x

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  18. I would love to try those Cupcake Bites! They look yummy!

    Love, Elizabeth xx

    http://butterflyboo.blogspot.co.uk/

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  19. Oh man I want them all!xx

    http://blamingbeauty.blogspot.com

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  20. OH those cupcake bites look gross but sound yum! I didn't try a lot of American candy while I was there but wanted milk duds after seeing the big bang theory. I brought a box home but I wish I had brought a dozen.... xx

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  21. I want to try it all! If I was in the US of A the first thing I'd do is track down anything peanut buttery

    xx

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  22. The cupcake bites look good! I love sweedish fish :)

    Caroline x
    Caroline's Catwalk

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  23. I've seen those cupcake bites before but am too chicken to try them out!
    ♥ laura
    the blog of worldly delights
    the shop of worldly delights

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  24. I always wondered what a Twinkie was and was never entirely sure! Same goes for Tootsie Rolls, so thanks for clearing that up! The all-time best American sweet treats, though, have to be Reese's Peanut Butter Cups....heaven.

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  25. Just ordered the cupcake bites, they look too delicious to resist!

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  26. You need to try Reeses! That is a USA candy must.

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  27. I also love sweets... I guess I really have a sweet tooth too. Your post is so mouth watering.

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