Smoothies or granola bars can usually be trusted to hold you over until lunch.
These specialty treats have been aroundsince 1964and are the perfect reminder of childhood.
When it comes down to specific brands, Pop-Tarts and Toaster Strudel are the big names in the game.
Photos by brands. Design by Eat This, Not That!
But how do they taste compared to the OGs?
I rounded up seven brands to find out.
Each Flings box contains four single-wrapped pastries, and they stand out with their bold colors and retro branding.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Plus, they come with a laundry list of classifications.
They are keto-friendly, gluten-free, soy-free, and wheat-free, to name a few.
The look:I chose the customary route by cooking these in my toaster oven.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The pastry is small and almost completely devoid of frosting.
It looks like there was some at one point, but it was scraped off.
I checked the sleeve to see if it was stuck there, but no.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
A few leftover pink speckles can be seen on top, however.
The whole thing is dry and chewy.
The worst part is the grainy protein powder taste and slightly off-putting texture.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The slathering of strawberry jelly on the inside is so small that it’s almost negligible.
But the brand takes it one step further with an extra 10 grams of protein to make 20.
Each pastry boasts less fat, carbs, and sugar than most leading brands.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
There’s an impressive flavor selection, too.
The look:Unnaturally perfect, like someone molded it from clay or some other material.
The rectangle is a standard beige color, while the icing is a crisp shade of white.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Red, orange, green, and pink sprinkles are unevenly scattered on top.
The taste:A cross between a protein bar and a Fig Newton.
It’s more spongy and caky than crisp and doesn’t break apart easily.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
This is partly because the icing holds it together with its gummy paste-like texture.
Even with the added grams, it has a slightly less aggressive protein flavor than Flings.
I was curious to see which category the Great Value Toaster Pastries fell into.
Many flavor options are available, from cherry to cookies and cream to brown sugar cinnamon.
The frosting is the same color as the underneath pastry, so it’s hard to tell them apart.
White sugar flecks decorate the surface.
The taste:Mediocre.
When heated up, these don’t taste too bad, but nothing exceptional about them.
The inner filling is more like chocolate icing rather than fudge.
It’s somewhat dry as a result, and the whole thing has a very subdued chocolate taste.
The price, though, can’t be beat.
So, if you’re on a budget, I recommend these as a satisfactory choice.
The standard flavors include strawberry and a saucy cherry pomegranate.
I found the latter intriguing, so that’s the box I reached for.
A six-count box costs $2.99.
The icing is cream-colored and applied very thinly, with some areas missed altogether.
Magenta sprinkles garnish each pastry.
The taste:Naturally flavored but dry and crumbly.
I can pick out the taste of both cherry and pomegranate.
Overall, I could taste the quality.
This was especially true when the pastries settled back to room temperature.
They first hit shelves in 1985 in strawberry, blueberry, cinnamon, and raspberry flavors.
I kept things simple with classicstrawberry, which I grabbed in a six-count box for $2.99.
The look:Golden brown from the toaster and flakey.
It’s the thickest pastry but comparable to others regarding the overall surface area.
The taste:The only one that I would call a pastry.
Its crescent base and fluffier demeanor better fit the bill when compared to its flat competitors.
It also loses its luster after it cools down.
The brand’s products are sold at Target.
A box containing four of the maple apple cinnamon cost $5.99.
The look:Tan and naked, like a graham cracker square.
The whole thing smells and tastes like an apple pie with bursts of cinnamon and fresh fruity notes.
These notes are all based on my experience with the pastry after it was warmed in the toaster oven.
I stuck with a trusty eight-count box offrosted brown sugar cinnamon Pop-Tartsfor $2.79.
The look:I’ve seen my fair share of inadequately frosted Pop-Tarts.
But this batch lived up to the picture on the box.
The taste:I came into this with an open mind and tried to erase any preconceived notions.
Ultimately, Pop-Tarts have that X-factor that can’t be beaten.
Sure, there’s the wave of nostalgia that hits as you bite into one of the pastries.
But they’re highly palatable and habit-forming.
One standout component is the exterior crust.
It is slightly sweetened so that it tastes good, even by itself.
I also love that Pop-Tarts maintain their flavor no matter how they’re served.
Whether straight from the toaster, freezer or just out of the sleeve, they always hit the spot.
