Review & Release History of Liquid Death Fruity Pebbles, Ritz Spicy Queso, & More

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A snack review and release history of:

  • Ritz Bits Spicy Queso
  • Pirouline Chocolate Hazelnut and Dark Chocolate Creme Filled Wafers
  • Leto Cookies & Cream Wafer
  • Lindt Excellence Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar
  • Liquid Death Cereal Criminal Fruity Pebbles Flavored Sparkling Water
  • Pure Protein Birthday Cake Flavored Protein Bar

Ritz Bits Spicy Queso

Score: 5.5 / 10

Review

Normally, to me, Ritz already has a sharp cheddar taste. Instead, that cheddar state of flavor is mostly replaced by a sharp spice with a mild kick. Unfortunately, it does seem to lose a lot of its original cheese flavor, which I tended to like the most about Ritz, especially over something less flavorful like this.

At least for me, I still prefer original cheese-filled Ritz Crackers because they seem more flavorful. These are just okay, especially if you want something with a small note of spiciness—it just seems to lose some of its flavor because of it. Also, like other Ritz, these are very dry and airy—something I’m not a huge fan of, as it feels cheap.

Release Date

Released February 2025. Found at Dollar Tree in August 2025.


Pirouline Chocolate Hazelnut and Dark Chocolate Creme Filled Wafers

Score: 7 / 10 (for both)

Review

This is supposed to be the premium brand of filled wafer rolls, but to me, this was underwhelming.

First, I immediately noticed the texture. It’s slightly thicker and crunchier than cheaper alternatives, but I’ve genuinely had better. Sure, it’s crunchy; however, it still has somewhat of that airy crunch that cheaper wafers tend to have. Also, this shell is flavorless. Completely.

Also, let’s talk about that hazelnut flavor. To me, it’s more like a warm, sweet chocolate with an odd, artificial background taste. It’s not super off-putting, but it’s noticeable, to say the least. In addition, while these rolls are completely filled with this cream, it’s much too soft and thin to provide a good enough mouthfeel.

Overall, these don’t feel as premium as they ought to be. They’re decent; however, there are much better, cheaper rolled wafers out there.

Note: I wrote this review for the Hazelnut flavor. The dark chocolate is nearly identical except it has just a slight variation in flavor: it’s simply mildly darker, with no other real difference.

Release Date

Likely released around 1984. Found at Dollar Tree in early August 2025.


Leto Cookies & Cream Wafer

Score: 7.25 / 10

Review

I’ve never had chocolate wafers like this! They’re so tasty, and the flavor is absolutely spot on! Mildly sweet, semi-dark, with a similarly light creamy background. Yum! I couldn’t stop eating these!

Unfortunately, the texture is, well, not as good as its flavor; however, it suffices! It’s not premium like some wafers—the filling is quite thin and the wafer is very airy, but it doesn’t feel overly cheap or stale like other similarly priced competing wafers. Overall, not too shabby!

I love these, and I say that as a wafer snob. They’re unique and definitely resemble a genuine cookies and cream flavor!

Release Date

While I can’t find an exact release date, the earliest mention I could find dates back to March 2025. Found at Dollar Tree in early August 2025.


Lindt Excellence Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar

Score: 6.5 / 10

Review

It’s fairly dark with a sweet sugary kick from the raspberry. It balances nicely, and for my taste buds, I like how creamy the dark chocolate is, as it doesn’t fall into the overly bitter category. Overall, it does feel like a step ahead of many other candy bars due to its high-end feel.

In terms of texture, it’s thin and has a snappy crunch. At the same time, interestingly, there are many embedded fruit pieces that also give it the tiniest crunches too—I did expect it to have a gooey filling instead (which I think would be better), but this is satisfying enough.

Personally, I would still just prefer something less dark and sweeter. I guess these bars aren’t really my jam (haha, get it?!).

Release Date

I’m unsure of an exact release date. Found at Target in August 2025.


Liquid Death Cereal Criminal Fruity Pebbles Flavored Sparkling Water

Score: 4 / 10

Review

Everyone reviewing this said it was identical to Fruity Pebbles, and I fell for it! Of course it wouldn’t—this thing is made of seltzer water!

So, the flavor? I wouldn’t have guessed Fruity Pebbles at all! It’s more so a moderately sweet seltzer with a fruity-ish taste. It tastes unauthentic and fake to me, as if it’s trying to mimic Fruity Pebbles but lands on its face in an attempt to be different. It’s just odd, and to me, the carbonated water just doesn’t work with it. It tastes a lot like other fruit-based seltzers, but a smidge sweeter and more artificial. That’s really it!

Release Date

Released July 18, 2025, for a limited time. Found at Target in early August 2025.


Pure Protein Birthday Cake Flavored Protein Bar

Score: 7.25 / 10

Review

Gosh, I love how thickly chewy these are! A smooth white shell surrounds this dense, cakey inside texture. And to top it off—literally—the few sprinkles on top add some crunchy bits to help give it some contrast.

As advertised, this tastes like an authentic vanilla birthday cake; it’s not artificial like many other protein bars. In fact, I don’t taste really any “protein” flavor here; it’s basically like you’re eating a candy bar.

I don’t have anything bad to say about these, and at the same time, nothing is making me want to say, “You have to buy these!” either. It’s simply a birthday cake-tasting protein bar, nothing more, nothing less!

Release Date

I’m unsure of an exact release date. Found at Stop & Shop in August 2025.


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