Oh, No, not More Pumpkin Spice!
Yes, I'm afraid so, but this is one of the more appropriate applications of the idea. This is not pumpkin spice bacon, or pumpkins spice iced tea, or oh I dunno...pumpkin spice underwear. Here we have the cookie acting as the crust and the "creme" playing the role of the pumpkin pie filling. We saw on Monday that Oreo could pull off the spice trick, using real cinnamon to illusionistically conjure a shopping mall cinnamon bun. Why not pumpkin pie. Before tasting, let's examine the packaging.
But the Portions are So Small!
I know, right? Doesn't that box look awfully small considering they're charging the full amount for this special edition? How small is this package, compared to the cinnamon roll flavor?
I'm glad you asked! Let's actually look at the two packages side by side!
Ok, fine, but maybe it's got something to do with the way the boxes are shaped. Has the Food Kingdom done due diligence to show that there is actually less product by weight? Why yes, yes we have...
Yea, Ok, But How Do They Taste?
Patience! We're almost there, but first let's examine the physical features of our cookie itself. You'll notice from the side by side photo of a classic Oreo with the Pumpkin Spice that, unlike in the past two days, this time the two cookies have the same amount of creme filling. This actually makes sense, because with Cinnamon Roll and Red Velvet Cake, the creme was explicitly trying to serve the function, and replicate the taste, of icing or frosting. Here, the only goal is flavor and we can assume they have packed that pumpkin spice flavor in tightly. Besides, pumpkin pie filling is itself rather dense and compact, so this is appropriate. Note too, just how closely the color resembles that have real pumpkin pie filling. But lest you think there's any real pumpkin, the list of ingredients mentions paprika as the only real spice in the mix, and that is doubtless for its color more than its flavor.
Finally, the Taste
The Food Monarch and his associated vassals recognize how disconcerting it must be that Pumpkin Spice Oreos contain no cinnamon, no ginger, no allspice, no cloves, and no pumpkin. It's enough to make you a little cynical. But the buttery cookie tastes very much like a classic butter and flour pie crust and those natural and artificial flavors again do their work. The flavor profile of all the aforementioned spices are clearly present and a big hunk of Thanksgiving feeling has somehow been crammed into a little cookie once more. On the negative side, perhaps because I know it's all a fabrication, I do sometimes feel like I'm eating a scented candle or wandering through a Hallmark store at Halloween time. Food vassal J.N. writes "At the beginning of each bite you get a hint of cinnamon and pumpkin flavor reminiscent of pumpkin pie, and it seems like the cookie is going to deliver quite well on its promised flavor. That flavor dissipates and is overtaken by a graham cracker crust like flavor of the cookie. Overall it’s pretty tasty and does have some similarities to pumpkin pie, but a little more spice and flavor could have taken it even further."
Conclusions
Pumpkin Spice Oreos fulfill their mission well, perhaps too well; perhaps eerily well. The combined consensus score is as follows:
Overall Taste: 3.75 out of 5
Accuracy in Meeting the Target Taste: 3.9 out of 5, with a 1/10th point deducted for uncanniness.
Yes, I'm afraid so, but this is one of the more appropriate applications of the idea. This is not pumpkin spice bacon, or pumpkins spice iced tea, or oh I dunno...pumpkin spice underwear. Here we have the cookie acting as the crust and the "creme" playing the role of the pumpkin pie filling. We saw on Monday that Oreo could pull off the spice trick, using real cinnamon to illusionistically conjure a shopping mall cinnamon bun. Why not pumpkin pie. Before tasting, let's examine the packaging.
But the Portions are So Small!
I know, right? Doesn't that box look awfully small considering they're charging the full amount for this special edition? How small is this package, compared to the cinnamon roll flavor?
 |
| This is, as they say, a suspicious package. |
 |
| Ok, the Pumpkin Spice box is significantly smaller. Must be all those costly real spices, right? Oh, my dear fellow... |
 |
| The Marked Weight Does Not Lie. You Get Pumpkin, You Get Less. |
Patience! We're almost there, but first let's examine the physical features of our cookie itself. You'll notice from the side by side photo of a classic Oreo with the Pumpkin Spice that, unlike in the past two days, this time the two cookies have the same amount of creme filling. This actually makes sense, because with Cinnamon Roll and Red Velvet Cake, the creme was explicitly trying to serve the function, and replicate the taste, of icing or frosting. Here, the only goal is flavor and we can assume they have packed that pumpkin spice flavor in tightly. Besides, pumpkin pie filling is itself rather dense and compact, so this is appropriate. Note too, just how closely the color resembles that have real pumpkin pie filling. But lest you think there's any real pumpkin, the list of ingredients mentions paprika as the only real spice in the mix, and that is doubtless for its color more than its flavor.
 |
| Note the Rich Paprika Color! |
The Food Monarch and his associated vassals recognize how disconcerting it must be that Pumpkin Spice Oreos contain no cinnamon, no ginger, no allspice, no cloves, and no pumpkin. It's enough to make you a little cynical. But the buttery cookie tastes very much like a classic butter and flour pie crust and those natural and artificial flavors again do their work. The flavor profile of all the aforementioned spices are clearly present and a big hunk of Thanksgiving feeling has somehow been crammed into a little cookie once more. On the negative side, perhaps because I know it's all a fabrication, I do sometimes feel like I'm eating a scented candle or wandering through a Hallmark store at Halloween time. Food vassal J.N. writes "At the beginning of each bite you get a hint of cinnamon and pumpkin flavor reminiscent of pumpkin pie, and it seems like the cookie is going to deliver quite well on its promised flavor. That flavor dissipates and is overtaken by a graham cracker crust like flavor of the cookie. Overall it’s pretty tasty and does have some similarities to pumpkin pie, but a little more spice and flavor could have taken it even further."
Conclusions
Pumpkin Spice Oreos fulfill their mission well, perhaps too well; perhaps eerily well. The combined consensus score is as follows:
Overall Taste: 3.75 out of 5
Accuracy in Meeting the Target Taste: 3.9 out of 5, with a 1/10th point deducted for uncanniness.
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