Not much needs to be said about these happy morsels. They're better than most pre-packaged vending machine snack cakes, but not like worlds better. People rave about them online like they've never had chocolate candy or chocolate cake before. Available only during the fall season, these pumpkins have been around year after year for quite a while—at least a decade, if not longer.
If you miss them this autumn season, have no fear. The exact same product reappears for the holiday season in the form of chocolate mousse presents. And then again around Easter as Chocolate Mousse Eggs. And then again later in the spring as Chocolate Mousse Flowers. There's also a larger cake version around Valentine's Day called For The Love of Chocolate Mousse Cake.
The BEST product in this line by far, however, are the Raspberry Mousse Cakes, available in the spring and summer. That raspberry buttercream gets me every time. I, personally, think they're head and shoulders better than all these chocolate mousse cakes.
That's not to say these are bad. They're perfectly tasty, noshable, and fun. I think they're better when the ambient temperature is warm. I've eaten them plenty of times when it's super cold outside, and I feel like you really want them to be soft, moist, and supple. I haven't tried microwaving them for a couple seconds yet, although I'm tempted.
I've heard some people actually freeze them and eat them cold and solid. I can't see how that would work, but I guess I'd try it at least once. They're usually best when you eat them immediately after purchase. Don't wait until the best by date. Don't refrigerate them. Just pop 'em in your mouth in the car on the ride home and wash 'em down with some chocolate milk.
$3.99 for six little pumpkin shaped chocolate mousse cakes. Found with the baked goods. Kosher. Would probably buy again. We've been all over the place when scoring these things. I feel like they're worthy of seven and a half stars today. Sonia agrees.
For those of you who might be tempted to call me a hater and revoke my coffee beverage reviewing privileges, let me point out two coffee drinks I've had relatively recently that I enjoyed: Irish Crème Java Monster and Bones Coffee French Toast Cold Brew. Might not be very sophisticated or whatever, but you can't say I'm not honest. These aren't the only coffee drinks I've ever enjoyed, but they're the only two I've had and liked in recent memory.
I'm starting to think I just don't like pumpkin flavored coffee, because this is deja brew all over again. I mean, I don't really gravitate towards coffee in general, but I'm starting to notice I like pumpkin spice lattes and cold brews even less than plain old black coffee. Wasn't a fan of Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate. But then again, Sonia wasn't either.
I like this product just a little more than I liked that Trader Joe's offering, but I still wouldn't buy it again. Sonia is just a tad more positive about it than I am, but she still gives it a solid "meh." She likes the coffee and cream elements, but she says she tastes something metallic, while I detect something akin to plastic. The pumpkin spice isn't overwhelming here, which we both agree is a good thing.
I never realized it before, but a lot of canned coffee beverages actually contain nitrous oxide. It's the same chemical compound junkies use when huffing whippits and it's also known as NOS when used for a burst of torque and horsepower in your souped up Mazda RX-7 during illegal street races. I guess there are varying levels of purity that distinguish one version from the others, but yep, it's basically all the same stuff. Who knew?
$2.99 for a 9 oz can. Available at Trader Joe's but not exclusively at Trader Joe's. I, personally, wouldn't buy it again, but I know this stuff is quite popular. If you like it, let us know in the comments below. I'll throw out five out of ten stars for La Colombe Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew Draft Latte. The beautiful wifey will go with six and a half out of ten.
