Monday, June 25, 2012

Haagen-Dazs Spiced Caramel Biscuit
A limited edition ice cream review


Mmmmmm, ice cream for breakfast....  Ok, technically it was the second part of my breakfast, but it was still before 9AM. What can I say? I always get an urge for dairy on Sunday mornings! Usually I just make a tall glass of chocolate milk, but since the fridge is bare, I needed my fix another way.

That's were Haagen-Dazs comes in to play with their Limited Edition spiced caramel biscuit. If that sounds a little scary, then catch the description "for centuries, Belgian and Dutch bakers have perfected their traditional speculoos: crisp, buttery, sweetly spiced biscuits blah blah blah sugary, crunchy, cinnamon-sparked biscuit pieces blah blah caramel ice cream blah blah blah". Specaloos are a non-dairy, non-egg, non-nut cookie that we keep in the house (it's also made into a spread that I mentioned in this review). Speculoo is no Oreo, but it's a respectable cookie.

Oh I adore when there are cookie bits everywhere. Hey, maybe I could call this the European version of Cookies & Cream? Hehehehe, that would work IF the overall cookie flavor was stronger. Oh, I like this flavor, it's pleasant and refined, but considering I have both Biscoff Cookies and Biscoff spread in the cabinet, the overall cookie flavor isn't nearly strong enough for me.

I got this very familiar vibe when I started digging in, and then it hit me. Do you remember my H-D Spiced Peached review? Well, if you've ever tried that flavor, this is pretty much the same flavor except now it's crunchy instead of peachy. I know that description may seem cheezy and vague, but these two flavors are immensely similar. I was expecting Biscoff to be the main player here, I expected it in my crunch but I wanted it in the base as well, but it's really just a supporting character here.

Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely high quality base with that always refined flavor that H-D delivers. The flavor isn't crazy, H-D never is, it's just really well made. There is a wide range of sizes for the cookie bits and so they add varying amounts of crunch to each bite, but it's never overkill. It goes from very mild to almost-but-not-quite middle of the road crunch. It's never a hard core jaw aching crunch, just crunchy on occasion to remind you that we've got specaloos speckled across this delightful pint.

Sorry, I tried getting a little more creative with this shot.... but let's just agree I need more practice. The good news here is that the addition of the Lotus Biscoff cookies turned out to be an amazing idea. I used them as dipping sticks once the ice cream softened up and the flavor combo was heavenly. I mean that, because, well, the fat content of this stuff is going to send me to the other side quicker than any froyo or frozen dairy dessert ever could.

Nice job Haagen-Daz. My only complaint here is that spiced in the title is going to scare people off from a mild and enjoyable flavor. There is no spice here, just a quality ice cream.

Verdict?  Well done, and refined
Buy Again?  I would.... if it wasn't so unhealthy!


Nutrition Facts
Serving Size   1/2 cup (101g)
Servings Per Container   3.5

Amount Per Serving
Calories  290
from Fat  170

% Daily Value*
Total Fat  19g
29%
- Sat Fat  12g
60%
- Trans Fat  0g

Cholesterol  75mg
25%
Sodium  105mg
5%
Total Carbohydrate  26g
9%
- Dietary Fiber   0g

- Sugars  22g

Protein  4g


Vitamin A   10%
Vitamin C   0%
Calcium   10%
Iron   0%

15 comments:

  1. There are many spices, and not all of them are
    "spicy."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hahaha, touche! indeed it does not say spicy caramel biscuit, but I still think there is that connotation to the untrained eye (myself included)

      Delete
  2. I think it might be the same thing as the one that's called "caramel biscuit & cream speculoos" in Europe - picture.

    [PS - I actually like Speculoos biscuits a lot better than Oreos.]

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm glad you reviewed this one. I loooved this one when I had it, indeed the pint didn't make it to 2 servings. Nice spice, smooth and creamy, and overall delightful!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The word "spicy" in the name is the only reason I haven't tried this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It doesn't say "spicy."

      Delete
    2. Wow, the second scoop troll is now attacking the commentors as well... please go away.

      As for me: I hope you enjoy the pint!

      Delete
    3. Wow, has the internet really fallen that far? All you have to do to be a troll is be able to read an ice-cream container?

      Delete
    4. I wish the troll would comment on my posts. I'd have way too much fun.

      Delete
    5. somebody is wandering the site and making inane comments like yours. It's starting to agitate me. I believe in free speech but it's just annoying. The original commentor was simply making a point, so they mistyped, I don't care. Are you saying you never mistype or misspeak?

      This is a family friendly, ice cream loving website. if you aren't here to chill out, feel free to move on.

      Delete
  5. Ice cream for breakfast sounds good to me! I mean..really what difference is it from pouring milk on your cereal..hehe..

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't see what is so great about this ice cream. I was expecting a rich caramel ice cream base, but instead the caramel ice cream is very subtle. I have had richer, sweeter, and more satisfying yogurt and pudding caramel flavors than this ice cream and for an inexpensive price.

    I prefer large cookies in my ice cream, as opposed to small bits in every bite, but this ice cream really benefitted from the small bits of cookies in every bite to add texture and added flavor to the bland base ice cream. Still, I prefer my ice cream to be sweeter and richer than this, so it did not work for me.

    ReplyDelete

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