REVIEW: Snyder’s of Hanover – Raspberry Creme Sweet Pretzel Sandwiches

Rating: ©-3/4 chips  (return to sender)

Just in the nick of time for for everyone’s favorite sweet heart holiday, Snyder’s of Hanover has released a Limited Time Pretzel Sandwich flavor – Raspberry Creme!

WHAT?!?!?!?!  N0! No, no, no!!! Do raspberry creme filled pretzel sandwiches sound like a good snack to anyone…?

That’s what we thought.

Let us try and paint you a clear flavor picture of what we have here.  On the outside we have two criss-cross-cut pretzels acting as the sandwich bread.  The thin pretzel rounds do a perfectly fine job of doing exactly what they are designed to do.  Snyder’s of Hanover has been making various pretzel sandwiches for years and years now but never before have they chosen to fill them with a fruit flavored creme! And, unfortunately that is where this new snack took a turn for the worse!

By worse, we certainly do not mean any lack of accuracy for the raspberry creme filling.  Rather, most likely the opposite!!  The raspberry creme filling tastes exactly like that, like super sweet raspberry creme filling.  In fact, the filling reminds us an awful lot of our favorite lollipops from when we were younger – Chupa Chups Raspberry Vanilla.

On the back of the purple tinted bag Snyder’s mentions that these pretzel sandwiches are both “sweet and salty….” but despite being able to visually see a few specs of salt on the pretzels, any and all taste of said salt is nonexistent due to the level of sweetness provided by the raspberry creme.  Plain and simple these pretzel sandwiches are a sweet dessert treat that should not be included anywhere among salty snack section for any rhyme or reason.  These belong on the shelf next to cookies! Overall, we just feel like these pretzel sandwiches are an odd combination that despite their accuracy we do not enjoy, and honestly, one that we cannot see many other people actually enjoying either.

Discovered at 7-eleven; Addison, Illinois

Snyder’s of Hanover Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list

25 Chips to Christmas….

#19

Snyder’s of Hanover – Hot Chili Lime Korn Krunchers

Original Review Here

Crunchy corn pretzels?!?!  Huh, really?  Snyders of Hanover you continue to amaze us.  To top it off, the hot chili lime seasoning is actually good, which is really saying something!

REVIEW: Snyder’s of Hanover Sweet and Salty – Maple Bacon Pretzel Pieces

Rating: ©©©-1/2 chips  (notable)

All new Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzel Pieces alert!  Should we also mention Maple Bacon?!

If the sound of that doesn’t peak your interest, then we’re not sure if you are in the right place, nor if your taste buds are actually working!  May we suggest you have those checked out right away!!

As many of you are probably already aware Snyder’s of Hanover (SOH), are (in our humble opinion) the “classic masters of hard sour dough pretzel snacks”.  We have touted their pretzel making merits countless times around these parts.  That being said, we’ve reviewed both the Salted Caramel and Cinnamon Sugar flavors from SOH’s newer-ish ‘Sweet and Salty’ line, and in our humble opinion they have not been quite as successful as their traditional Pretzel Pieces line.  If we had a choice of sticking with one or the other, we would be choosing their ‘salty and savory’ traditional line of Pretzel Pieces every time!

For those of you somehow still unfamiliar with SOHs Pretzel Pieces, let us explain to you our optimistically proposed beliefs regarding the creation of these deliciously crunchy pretzel pieces.  In a perfect world, SOH would resourcefully use their leftover pretzel pieces, broken during the manufacturing process, to creatively provide us with these tasty bites (unlikely, we know)!  The most ingenious part of the “broken” pretzel pieces, is that they generously expose their very porous, bread-y insides, and willfully absorb a more than ample amount of whatever flavoring SOH is applying.

Everyone seems to love the sound of bacon flavored snacks (most likely due to the fact that real bacon is awesome!!).  However, we have noticed over our many years of reviewing bacon flavored crunchy snacks that the majority of them are actually not really good.  All too often the bacon flavored snack has been coated with such an obscene amount of salt, along with an off-putting unnatural smoke layer, that we are repulsed from the get go.  Of course there are some really great bacon snacks out there, but the key seems to be that they either use real pork, or combine a subtle bacon flavor, with a really great complimentary flavor, ie. sour cream, or cheddar.  From what we have tried thus far, that complimentary flavor does not seem to be MAPLE!

Luckily for all of us, SOH’s Maple Bacon Pretzel Pieces are the best of any maple bacon flavored snacks that we have reviewed thus far, but given its competition, that really isn’t saying very much!  In fact, and in all honesty, SOH’s maple bacon seasoning is straddling a very fine line between tasty and completely off-putting.  One step in either direction and you could have yourself a delicious snack, or a quick gag reflex!  Which way you step depends upon whether you find the smoky bacon, sweet maple and bread-y pretzel combo to really meld together, or you find it to be just too much.  Same with the other two Sweet and Salty flavors we could have used a bit more salt; but we did really appreciate all of the smoky and savory notes.  In the end, if there is one thing that can be said about the maple bacon seasoning it is that it is not subtle.  In fact, we could not eat too many of them in one sitting, and would suggest that they be enjoyed in moderation – for fear of crossing that fine line in the wrong direction!

As always, these are our thoughts, we would love to hear what you think.  Agree or disagree, let us know.

Discovered at Jewel Osco; Westmont, Illinois

Snyder’s of Hanover Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list

REVIEW: Snyder’s of Hanover – Hot Buffalo Wing Pretzel Pieces

Rating: ©©©© chips  (lip-smacking)

“America’s Pretzel Bakery”  Believe it or not, but we’ve never noticed those words printed at the top of every Snyder’s of Hanover bag.  The declaration is quite bold, but it does have a very nice ring to it, and a certain level of truth to it!

We’ve said it many times before, and we’ll say it again, Snyder’s of Hanover are the masters of pretzel snacks.  Their vast breadth of varieties and flavors of pretzel snacks certainly trumps any other brand out there.  A true conversation, or debate, regarding hard pretzel snacks would not be complete without including Snyder’s of Hanover.

With that being said, may we present to you Snyder’s New Gluten Free Pretzel Sticks!! What?!?  Gluten free pretzels.  Are we reading this correctly?  Are these pretzels completely devoid of gluten, or is Snyder’s simply telling us that the gluten that is in these pretzels is free?! We’re guessing that it is the latter, and that somehow, someway, Snyder’s has been able to create pretzels without traditional flour.  So, how did they do?

Low and behold, they have definitely done a superb job creating an extra crunchy alternative to the typical gluten-ful pretzel genre.  The pretzel sticks do the trick. Light and airy, yet still very crunchy and a bit dry and bread-y.  As peculiar sounding as it is, the recipe of corn starch, potato starch and tapioca starch, unite to form a winning pretzel combination.

Flavor wise, we are fairly confident that Snyder’s is simply re-using their Hot Buffalo Wing seasoning from their pretzel pieces.  The recipe is very vinegary with a healthy kick of cayenne.  Plain and simple, they remind us of buffalo wings, minus the rich, fatty, delicious butter that also accompanies real hot wings.

Gluten intolerant snackers, behold a new and tasty addition to the ever growing gluten free market!  Bravo Snyder’s!

As always, these are our thoughts, we would love to hear what you think.  Agree or disagree, let us know.

Discovered at Jewel Osco; Naperville, Illinois

Snyder’s of Hanover Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list

REVIEW: Snyder’s of Hanover – Barbeque Korn Krunchers

Rating: ©© chips  (tolerable)

Just when we thought Snyder’s of Hanover’s Korn Krunchers could do no wrong, along comes these very disappointing barbeque flavored variety.  In the Krunchers defense, we are very particular about our BBQ flavor.  In our opinion there is a very fine line between a delicious tasting barbeque seasoning, and a barely tolerable barbeque flavor.  Unfortunately, in this case, the line was crossed – in the wrong direction!

Snyder’s of Hanover has decided to go  against all forms of rational pretzel thinking, and release some “boldly flavored corn snacks” aptly called Korn Krunchers!  So, we ask you: what the heck are these things?!?

At first glance, based on the snapshot from the front of the packaging, we would have to say that these Korn Krunchers look exactly like Snyder’s deliciously broken Pretzel Pieces.  For any of you out there who are somehow unfamiliar with Snyder’s of Hanover’s Pretzel Pieces let us explain to you our perfect scenario beliefs regarding the crunchy pretzel pieces.  In an ideal world, SOH would resourcefully use their leftover, broken during the manufacturing process, pretzel pieces to creatively provide us with these tasty bites (unlikely scenario, we know)!  The most impressive aspect of the “broken” pieces, is how their exposed porous, bread-y structure willfully absorb an ample amount of whatever flavoring SOH is applying.

Well, one glance into this bag and our initial thoughts are reaffirmed, these Korn Krunchers do look identical to the Pretzel Pieces.  Practically no visual difference at all!  In fact, one more glance at the ingredient’s list on the back of the bag shows that, low and behold, the first ingredient for these Krunchers is not actually corn, but flour!  That’s right F-L-O-U-R, that magical grain that bread-y creations, like say P-R-E-T-Z-E-L-S are made of.  Yet, despite all of similarities, we are thrilled to report that the self declared ‘crunchy nuggets’ are truly a unique creation all their own!

The Korn Krunchers initial mouth texture produced a hard, sturdy crunch just like the Pretzel Pieces do, but after a few more chews, their more rustic texture appeared.  Combine that with an impressively strong corn presence, reminiscent of delicious, fresh corn tortillas, and we’ve got a new snack unlike any other.  After a few (OK, a bunch) more handfuls, and chews, and swallows, it became apparent that the corn-pretzel hybrids actually have quite a grainy texture to them, reminiscent of a good corn bread.

However, despite Korn Krunchers’ delicious texture and corn essence, the pieces take a turn for the worse with their very sweet barbeque seasoning.  Naturally sweet tomato combined with some deep, sticky, sugar heavy molasses to create an overly sweet combination.  Any notes of vinegar or heat that may be present are all but extinguished by the blanket of sugar that coats the pieces.  The ingredients list even mentions the inclusion of Worcestershire sauce, but we are just going to have to take Snyder’s word for that one!  The pieces did exude some BBQ smoke, but nothing to write home about.  Plain and simple, we like our barbeque more savory than sweet!

In the end, while the flavor actually does compliment the rustic Korn Krunchers rather nicely, it also clashes with our palettes so immensely that we simply cannot appreciate these.  We’ll be sticking with the other Korn Krunchers flavors!

For some other thoughts, check out Junk Food Guy’s review.

As always, these are our thoughts, we would love to hear what you think.  Agree or disagree, let us know.

Discovered at Jewel Osco; Westchester, Illinois

Snyder’s of Hanover Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list

RATING: Snyder’s of Hanover – Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper Pretzel Pieces

Rating: ©©©©-1/4 chips  (notable)

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list

REVIEW: Snyder’s of Hanover – Nacho Grande Korn Krunchers

Rating: ©©©-3/4 chips  (notable)

After devouring and loving Snyder’s lip-smacking Hot Chili Lime flavored Korn Krunchers we thought that the nacho cheese variation was a shoe in to knock our socks off!  As we all know, nacho cheese flavor and corn based chips are a match made in heaven!  And yet, for one reason or another, the Nacho Grande flavor simply did not jive with the Korn Krunchers as harmoniously as the Hot Chili Lime flavor did!

By now, you have certainly read our words at one point or another proclaiming Snyder’s of Hanover (SOH) as the “timeless masters of hard sour dough pretzel snacks” (and just so we are clear here, that is us, quoting ourselves).  SOH’s Pretzel Pieces technique is a thing of delicious genius and beauty, and rather than remain content, and simply ride the crunchy coat tails of their popular pretzel products, Snyder’s has decided to go  against all forms of rational thinking, and release some “boldly flavored corn snacks” aptly called Korn Krunchers!  So, without further ado, we ask you: what the heck are these things?!?

At first glance, based on the snapshot from the front of the packaging, we would have to say that these Korn Krunchers look exactly like Snyder’s deliciously broken Pretzel Pieces.  For any of you out there who are somehow unfamiliar with Snyder’s of Hanover’s Pretzel Pieces let us explain to you our perfect scenario beliefs regarding the crunchy pretzel pieces.  In an ideal world, SOH would resourcefully use their leftover, broken during the manufacturing process, pretzel pieces to creatively provide us with these tasty bites (unlikely scenario, we know)!  The most impressive aspect of the “broken” pieces, is how their exposed porous, bread-y structure willfully absorb an ample amount of whatever flavoring SOH is applying.

Well, one glance into this bag and our initial thoughts are reaffirmed, these Korn Krunchers do look identical to the Pretzel Pieces.  Practically no visual difference at all!  In fact, one more glance at the ingredient’s list on the back of the bag shows that, low and behold, the first ingredient for these Krunchers is not actually corn, but flour!  That’s right F-L-O-U-R, that magical grain that bread-y creations, like say P-R-E-T-Z-E-L-S are made of.  Yet, despite all of similarities, we are thrilled to report that the self declared ‘crunchy nuggets’ are truly a unique creation all their own!

The Korn Krunchers initial mouth texture produced a hard, sturdy crunch just like the Pretzel Pieces do, but after a few more chews, their more rustic texture appeared.  Combine that with an impressively strong corn presence, reminiscent of delicious, fresh corn tortillas, and we’ve got a new snack unlike any other.  After a few (OK, a bunch) more handfuls, and chews, and swallows, it became apparent that the corn-pretzel hybrids actually have quite a grainy texture to them, reminiscent of a good corn bread.

The Nacho Grande seasoning was very flavorful.  The blend balanced a combination of zesty and spicy vegetal jalapeno notes, with plenty of salty nacho cheese powder, and sufficient amounts of supporting flavor from tomato, garlic and onion as well.  SOH’s nacho variation was really delicious, but for some reason (one we can’t pinpoint), the Nacho Grande seasoning just didn’t work as well with the Korn Krunchers as the Hot Chili Lime flavor did.

All and all, we love the aspect of these tasty new corn creations, and can’t wait to taste, and review, the barbeque flavor as well.

For some other thoughts, check out Junk Food Guy’s review.

As always, these are our thoughts, we would love to hear what you think.  Agree or disagree, let us know.

Discovered at Jewel Osco; Westchester, Illinois

Snyder’s of Hanover Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list