After relocating back to my hometown a few weeks ago, it's been exciting getting to explore all the new stores and selections now available. My first trip to the Super Wal-Mart nearby resulted in access to a slew of new flavors that I previously hadn't been able to find. My first purchase was an easy one. Blue Bunny's Monster Cookie was something I had been looking for ever since I'd started the blog, but with little success. I had settled for the version from Archer Farms, but it had been a bit of a letdown. The rock hard hunks of candy coated chocolates had been a hinderance from the beginning, but the peanut butter ice cream and cookies had been enough to still secure the selection a decent score. Hopefully Blue Bunny's version wouldn't suffer the same fate. At 180 calories per serving, 40 less than it's competition, this seems very reasonable for a flavor featuring peanut butter ice cream and chunks of cookie.
If actual cookies with candies inside weren't enough, Blue Bunny opted to include a fudge ribbon as well, which is pictured above. Blue Bunny's performance on this blog so far has been subpar for the most part, especially in the consistency department, so I adjusted my expectations accordingly. Plunging my spoon into the peanut butter ice cream, the peanut butter base is just dense enough to hold it's head above water. The light, fluffy consistency isn't a deal-breaker but I can already tell it could use some improvement. The foundation of Monster Cookie is some of the mildest peanut butter ice cream I've come across, providing only slight hints at it's true flavoring. Considering the calories and taste, there must not be much peanut butter actually involved in this base. The stiff swirl of fudge is a small addition, but adds just enough chocolate taste and textural difference to the peanut butter base to compliment it efficiently. The classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate rarely disappoints.
The miniature monster cookies begin showing up shortly after breaching the surface of the carton. These whole, quarter-sized cookies are filled with tiny M&M lookalikes, and are abundant for such a large mix-in. Where the cookies and chocolate candies from Archer Farms left me nearly needing a dentist, Blue Bunny's version avoids that dilemma by including a cookie that was soft, chewy and flavorful throughout the entirety of the multiple bites it takes to break them down. These are what a cookie mix-in should be, even surpassing the performance of some of the cookies found in Blue Bell's high-performing flavors. The combination of buttery cookie and soft chocolate candies mesh together well with the peanut butter base and chocolate swirl, and in doing so, secures the highest score of any Blue Bunny offering to date.
Where I Found It: Super Wal-Mart
Grade: B
