Results tagged “muffins”

Fiber One Banana Chocolate Chip Frozen Muffins

By: Emily W | Nov 19, 2009

Fiber One is cranking out new products left and right. The newest invention to pop out of their test kitchen is Fiber One Frozen Muffins, which intrigued me to the point that I just had to give them a try. Of course, I chose the Banana Chocolate Chip variety!

Contrary to what the box claims, 10-15 seconds in the microwave didn't do it for my little muffin, but 30 seconds seemed to do the trick. There is a thin sprinkling of granola with chocolate chips on top, that will crumble off as you rip open the package, setting the precedent high because that oat mixture is delicious! The muffin itself is very smooth and soft, almost to the point of being doughy, which I actually enjoyed. The banana flavor is very thorough with a hefty amount of chocolate chips adding their own level of gooey sweetness. The tasty granola mixture on top is almost better picked off when it's crumbling out of the package because it doesn't do much for the muffin except add a slight variation of chew to the extremely soft and dense muffin.

While Fiber One advises that these would be great for an on-the-go breakfast, I can't say that I totally agree thanks to the soft doughy nature of the product and the sticky oat topping.

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Vitalicious CranBran VitaTops

By: Ellen | Nov 9, 2009

I'm eating my way through a super sampler pack with Vitalicious VitaTops and after loving the Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip VitaTop, but being not fo fond of the Chocolate Fig variety, I turned my attention to the Vitalicious CranBran VitaTops. I had tried the BlueBran and not found it to be much like real blueberry muffins, so I wasn't sure what to expect from the CranBran variety.

The muffin top looked rich and oaty, with cranberries studding the surface. I heated my muffin top up in the microwave and popped a bite into my mouth, to discover that I liked this flavor. It's a mixture of hearty, oaty muffin and tart cranberries. This is definitely one I'd pick again - it's delicious and kept me from reaching for that late afternoon chocolate stash.

Each 100 calorie, 55 gram VitaTop has 4 grams of protein, 20% of fiber and 11 grams of sugars. The ingredients include whole wheat flour, egg whites and cranberries - the sweetener used is evaporated cane sugar. There is also 50% of the daily value for many vitamins and minerals.

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Vitalicious Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip VitaTop

By: Ellen | Nov 9, 2009

I got a super sampler pack from Vitalicious, and set out to try as many VitaTops as I could. It's a tough job, what with having to try delicious flavors like VitaMuffin Deep Chocolate VitaTops and VitaMuffin AppleBerry Bran VitaTop, but somebody's got to do it. I first tried the Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip VitaTop. I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, so I figured it must be delicious.

I opened the top to examine it, and saw that, while the muffin top was a rich dark chocolate color, there were only 4 peanut butter chips on it - kind of disappointing! Still, I bit in, and discovered a world of peanut buttery chocolate goodness. This one is great, and even better heated up - what a combo! The chocolate melts in your mouth, and the peanut butter flavor is just perfect, not artificial and not overwhelming.

Each 100 calorie, 55 gram VitaTop has 3 grams of protein, 23% of fiber and 11 grams of sugars. There are no artificial sweeteners, but they do use erythitol (a sugar alcohol).

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Vitalicious Chocolate Fig VitaTops

By: Ellen | Nov 8, 2009

Vitalicious Chocolate Fig VitaTops sounded like such a ... unique and interesting combination (in a weird way) that it was one of the first thing I reached for when I ordered a sampler pack. I opened the limited edition package and examined the top, finding a rich chocolate top studded with pieces of fig. I'm not the biggest fan of figs in general, but I was willing to give this a shot. I popped a bite into my mouth.

To be honest, I couldn't even really taste the fig, which I figured wasn't a bad thing for me. The pieces of fig on the top of this VitaTop lent some chewiness to the muffin, but they didn't stand out dramatically, taste-wise. It was mostly chocolatey sweet, and really nothing spectacular - not one of my favorite VitaTops

Each 55 gram VitaTop provides 100 calories, 23% of the daily value for fiber, 11 grams of sugars and 3 grams of protein. The ingredients list include whole wheat flour, egg whites and fresh figs - no artificial flavors. There is also a slew of (added) vitamins and minerals (50% of the RDA for vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, B12, iron, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, and zinc, as well as a few others).

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Penny's Low Fat Desserts Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffin Top

By: Emily W | Oct 2, 2009

(Photo Credit: Broccoli Hut)

The VitaMuffin Deep Chocolate VitaTops got a 4 kiss rating here on Iateapie.net. Well, hold on to your socks folks, because Penny's Low Fat Desserts Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffin Top is here to take over. After one bite, I immediately thought, "Where have these been hiding all of my life?"

Penny's Low Fat Desserts Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffin Tops 100 calorie treats are quite hefty, unlike Weight Watchers Lemon Cake with Lemon Icing. Better yet, each bite is deliciously moist with an abundance of gooey chocolate chips nestled within the soft, dense chocolate muffin ... top. After taking one bite of this sinful treat, I had to re-read the nutrition label to make sure that I was not day dreaming! I mean only 100 calories and 1.5 grams of fat!

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Vitalicious Sugar Free Banana VitaMuffin Mix

By: Sarah J | Apr 20, 2009

Baking has always been a hobby of mine. I usually prefer to bake from scratch, so that I have control over the quality of ingredients. But, pressed for time and in desperate need of something to bring to a brunch, I purchased Vitalicious Banana Muffin Baking Mix. All it took to create 12 yummy muffins was 2 egg whites and 1 1/3 cups of water. I used some walnuts as well. I mixed up the batter with ease and within no time my kitchen smelled like a bakery. The banana aroma lingered through the air, making me rather hungry.

Not wanting to wait until brunch, I ate one of these muffins right out of the oven - HOT! Split in half and smothered in Earth Balance Soy Butter, I was in heaven. These muffins were great! They taste sweet - even though they are sugar free and the banana flavor is not overwhelming. I love the contrasting texture added by the nuts and I was more than thrilled to take these to the brunch I was going to - where I might add, they were a hit.

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Uncle Wally's Smart Portion Blueberry Muffin

By: Emily W | Nov 19, 2008

We are huge fans of Uncle Wally's Muffins here on Iateapie. When I recently learned that Uncle Wally felt the need to reformulate his already stellar muffins in an attempt to tweak the recipe, add more fiber and wrap the muffins individually - well, I was a little concerned. They were already perfect as far as I was concerned.

I should have known Uncle Wally knew what he was doing, because the first thought that came to my mind after taking a bite of Uncle Wally's Smart Portion Blueberry Muffin was, "How in the world do they make a muffin this dense and moist with barely any fat ... and no saturated fat?!" Each muffin is small, yet satisfying (especially for a mere 80 calories). I would estimate each oat topped, blueberry speckled muffin to be a smidgen of a bit smaller than a tennis ball (or the size of a regular, homemade muffin).

I tried the muffins before they were reformulated (2 small individually wrapped muffins) and I am grateful for the even denser, wholesome baked treat that Uncle Wally has recently come up with. The blueberries are certainly present and there are quite a few. These baby muffins are scrumptious and embody an enjoyable treat.

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VitaMuffin Deep Chocolate VitaTops

By: Emily W | Jun 23, 2008

Let's start off with the point that if something gives me an excuse to have chocolate for breakfast or as a "healthier snack", I am all over that. Therefore, I did not have a choice when I found VitaMuffin Deep Chocolate VitaTops in the freezer section of a local grocery store (on sale, nonetheless).

After a round and half in the toaster on med-low, I popped my VitaTop in the microwave for 10 seconds (I am impatient when it comes to chocolate). It came out warm, calling my name. The taste is wonderful. It's just chocolaty enough and not overly sugary. Each 2 ounce VitaTop seems to have a cake-like texture when it first hits your mouth and after a chew or two, it begins to have the creamy, dense texture that a muffin top should. The Top that I sampled did not have as many chocolate chips as the picture on the box conveys (there was about 5 total - 3 on the top and maybe 2 inside). When I did hit a chocolate chip, it really upped the ante and added a creamy boost of richness. If only there had been a few more ...

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Krusteaz Fat Free Wild Blueberry Muffin Mix

By: Emily W | Feb 12, 2008

Getting muffins from the vending machine is like asking to waste 500 calories. Otis SpunkMeyer Muffins is a prime example, because one muffin has 460 calories, a little more than 1/3rd of your suggested fat intake and high sodium to top it off (read the review). A much better option is to spend about 10 minutes in your kitchen and you can make 11 tasty fat-free muffins for everyone to enjoy!

Krusteaz Fat Free Wild Blueberry Muffins are very simple to make! All you need is a bowl, spoon, oven, a cup of water and a muffin pan or cups. The muffins do tend to stick to the paper liners, so if you are going to use them, I would still spray them with a little cooking spray!

After mixing together the muffin mix and the water, I opened the little can of blueberries and did a double take: "These are blueberry muffins, right?" The blueberries are micro (smaller than a pea) and there is only about a half of a 'tuna can' amount once you drain them (in other words they are more for show)! In the end, they cook up great in 18 minutes, just like the box states! When you take them out of the oven, you will not miss the bakery one bit because the smell of fresh baked goods consumes the room! The tops come out slightly crusty and lightly browned, while the inside is soft and fluffy! The flavor is delightful and tastes slightly like white cake! And there isa hint of blueberry although I topped each muffin (prior to baking) with about 5 frozen blueberries, which added a plump, juicy sweetness to a few select bites.

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VitaMuffin AppleBerry Bran VitaTop

By: Tanya Patrice | Sep 4, 2007

We already introduced you to VitaTops so I decided to try a few of their varieties including this high fiber, fat free AppleBerry Bran VitaTop. I loved the homemade flavor of this muffin top. It was not too sweet (thankfully), and it had big chunks of cranberries that you could see and taste in almost every bite, something that you only find in the 'gourmet' muffins. The bran also gives the muffin top a nice, slightly gritty texture and the only thing I wished for after I finished eating one of these was that there was more of it!

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Uncle Wallys Smart Portion Muffins

By: Caroline Yoder | Aug 17, 2007

On my most recent Super Wal-Mart excursion, next to the mountain of calorie laden Nutty Bars, Zebra Cakes, and Honey Buns were a few boxes emblazoned with a green banner reading Uncle Wally's Smart Portion Muffins. Always a fan of pre-portioned snacks, I grabbed a box to learn more and found the package proudly proclaims, low in fat, full of fiber, and made with whole grain. Into the cart they went!

There are three varieties available, Banana, Cranberry Apple, and Blueberry Oat and all were tasty, but perhaps what is most remarkable about these little treats is how moist they are. Some low-fat baked goods tend to be dry and crumbly, but somehow Uncle Wally has tweaked his recipe just right for perpetual moisture and freshness. What totally seals the deal however, is the fact that one serving is TWO muffins, which have a total of 140 calories - did I mention that's for BOTH?!

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Vitalicious Vitatops

By: Caroline Yoder | Jul 15, 2007

Muffins are a food item that seems to simultaneously occupy a position in both the world of junk food and the realm of healthy fare. One would think that muffins of blueberries and bran could only be beneficial to one's health. However, with one glance at the nutritional information of Otis Spunkmeyer Muffins for example, it soon becomes apparent that muffins often aren't any better of a choice than your average glazed doughnut. However, thanks to the geniuses at Vitalicious, muffins have made a much-anticipated return to my daily fare.

Vitatops are like muffin tops, and are moist without being too oily, satisfying without being too hefty. Each flavor I have tried thus far has proven to be a pleasant addition to any breakfast. In addition to the more healthful flavors, such as Multi-Bran, Apple-Berry Bran and Cran-Bran, Vitalicious also produces more decadent flavors such as Banana Fudge and Double Dream Chocolate, and even sugar free and low carb varieties.

One might think that these more indulgent flavors would be detrimental to dieters, but this is not so. All Vitatops are 100 calories or less, and they are made with healthful ingredients (whole grains and egg whites among them) and fortified with a variety of vitamins and minerals. In addition, as their website proudly proclaims, "All it takes to walk off a Vitatop is 13-15 minutes!"

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Krusteaz Fat Free Cranberry Orange Muffin Mix

By: Tanya Patrice | Jul 9, 2006

Remember those dreaded 460 calorie Otis Spunkmeyer muffins [diettrash], well Krusteaz Fat Free Muffin Mix bakes up 12 muffins at 140 calories each, with no fat and 16 grams of sugars (32 grams total carbohydrates). Lets face it - muffins will never really be very diet friendly, but Krusteaz is a great lower calorie way to enjoy muffins.

I tried the Cranberry Orange muffin mix and the cranberries came in their own separate containers - real cranberries not dried! And - as if I needed another reason to love this product - all I had to do was add water, stir until moistened (no mixer necessary), spoon into a muffin pan, bake 16 - 18 minutes - and viola! I actually got 16 muffins from the box (because I have small muffin tins), and they came out golden brown with a nice soft texture, sweet (but not too sweet), with cranberries poking out of every muffin and a hint of orange zest flavor.

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Diet Trash: Otis Spunkmeyer Muffins

By: Tanya Patrice | Mar 9, 2006

Otis Spunkmeyer muffins are available everywhere, including school cafeterias and vending machines. According to the website, this is a "an individually wrapped, healthy breakfast and snack option that's sure to give sales a healthy boost!" Well, I'm glad it will give a healthy boost to sales, because it's sure not that healthy for your heart. The label says one serving is half a muffin - puh-lease! So multiply times 2, and you're wolfing down 460 calories, 26 grams of fat, 460 mg of sodium, and 32 grams of sugar, from one muffin!

Slim Fast Optima Blueberry Muffin Bar

By: Tanya Patrice | Sep 5, 2005

It used to be that Slim Fast just sold shakes, but now they have a whole diet plan, complete with book - although the book is free. Just check their website. Now they have shakes, meal bars, smoothies, powders and even low carb stuff. I thought the muffin bar was an interesting concept. I've had plenty of muffins, but not too many muffin bars. I had high hopes, but it was not to be.

The 'fake muffin' tasted somewhat like medicine, just in a solid form. The one word that really describes the taste of this bar is 'off.' The blueberry taste was 'off', the muffin taste and texture, 'off', and it left an 'off' aftertaste. I wasn't trying to make it a substitute for a real muffin, but just in case somebody out there is thinking that way - think again! These are in no way a substitution, at least not in taste.

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