I've already reviewed some Enlightened products such as their lower calorie, high protein ice cream and, my personal favorite, their amazing broad bean crisps. Already being familiar with this brand, I was excited when I received an email ahead of the launch of their brand new product - crispy marshmallow treats. These are basically an alternative to the classic Rice Krispies treats but with a better nutritional profile and ingredients list. For a quick look at the details, these treats:
- Have 70% less sugar than "regular" marshmallow treats
- Have 15G of protein per Treat
- Have 8-9G of fiber per Treat
- Are made with brown rice and a milk & soy protein blend
- Have no artificial sweeteners, dyes, or other ingredients
- Have ~270 calories per bar
The marshmallow treats are currently available in four flavors - original, apple cinnamon, birthday cake, and double chocolate. I was pleased with this flavor line-up. You've got the classic, something fruity, something chocolate-y, and then something that's both novelty and a mainstream favorite. Maybe there will be a peanut butter variety in the future?
Also, the treats are enormous. After loading up the photos I instantly regretted that I didn't take a shot comparing the size with something. Oh wait, let's do this...
Watching that video posted on Instagram will give you a better idea of the size.
The bars are made from brown rice and a protein blend of milk protein concentrate and soy protein isolate. They are all gluten free, peanut free, and 3 out of the four flavors are non-GMO (Birthday Cake being the exception).
The treats certainly look and smell every bit like the classic Rice Krispies cereal treat that we all know and love, but how do they taste? Let's give them a whirl.
Original - I had to start with the base flavor, the foundation, knowing that my opinions of the flavored options would be built upon the quality and taste of the plain variety. The original bar is not bad. The major differences I noticed between a real Rice Krispies treat and Enlightened's version is that these are less soft and gooey and also less sweet. The reduced sweetness is fine with me, since I'd be eating these as an attempt to satiate a cereal treat craving with something with better ingredients.
Apple Cinnamon - The aroma of this flavor hit me as soon as I ripped open the package, reminiscent of an apple cinnamon muffin. After the first bite, I knew it would be my favorite of them all. There's a fresh apple taste - there are actually "apples" listed in the ingredients - with a generous amount of cinnamon that makes for a nice balance. The extra flavors help to mask the fact that these treats are less sweet than the classic Rice Krispies version. I give these a hearty thumbs up.
Birthday Cake - Such a mainstream flavor that pops up in every packaged treat or snack nowadays. And really, who doesn't get excited over colorful sprinkles and the promise of something that tastes like birthday cake? What even is birthday cake flavor, anyway? To me, a little extra butter and vanilla flavor, as well as copious amounts of rainbow sprinkles, are what does it. I'm a sucker for anything flavored like birthday cake and all of the colorful pastel sprinkles on this marshmallow treat got me excited. While these are tasty and they do have a bit more vanilla flavor than the original bar, I would have liked just a little more oomph to the birthday cake-ness. So while these are good, they're not quite amazing.
Double Chocolate - You probably noticed the same thing I did about the chocolate variety of Enlightened's crispy marshmallow treats... all those chocolate chips! There's no skimping of the chips in these bars. This flavor knocks it out of the park with plenty of chocolate punch and a mouthful of chocolate chips in every bite. I got the most sense that I was treating myself when eating this one and it comes in at a close second place for my favorite one of the bunch. Highly recommend!
My Flavor Ranking, Favorite to Least Favorite: Apple Cinnamon, Double Chocolate, Birthday Cake, and Original.
Worth It? If you're a cereal treat fiend and are looking for a better alternative to be able to eat them more often, then you may consider these to be a worthy replacement. The addition of the protein, as well as the sheer size of the bars, help these treats to be more satiating than their higher sugar cousins. Though you'll notice some texture differences between these and the OG treats we all remember schkoffing during our childhood, I can throw out a solid recommendation and encourage that you give them a try.
Where To Buy: The treats are available for online order via Enlightened's website or you can try the store locator to find them locally (I've found them at GNC and Wal-Mart)
I was provided with these marshmallow treats to share my opinion with all of you. I do not accept free product or other compensation in return for a fully positive review. Remember my motto: if it sucks, I'll tell ya!
Say Something About This Post: