The pros: Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate filled with Speculoos Cookie Spread bar is an inexpensive and decent candy bar.
The cons: This could be vastly improved.
The verdict:
I've known about Speculoos aka Cookie butter for some time. Yes, I haven't reviewed it yet. I've covered the Cookie Butter Cheesecake Bites. I've had is a number of times and manage to finish the jar before sitting down photographing and writing about the experience. So I decided to start small. Currently, this is the smallest speculoos item you can try. For $0.99 it's worth the try, but I think Trader Joe's could do better.
Now if you've never had Speculoos, then you might be missing out (or think it is the most overrated product there). Speculoos is this gingerbread like flavor, but it's crushed cookie in a spread like format. It's not like eating raw cookie batter, but has almost the same taste and texture of a nut butter. I like it a lot. I like it enough to sit with the jar and a spoon.
However, this little bar disappointed me. Yes, it had some of the famed cookie spread, but not enough. In each bite it seemed like there was too much chocolate. The chocolate on the bottom was so very thick it almost hid the prized center. The center was full of light and airy cookie butter. The top of the bar was thinner than the bottom. Out of the package is looked like little bricks placed together. I assume with the shape they are hoping that you will share.
Now, with some minor editing this bar can go from good to great. If they were to make this in the same shape as say a Cadbury Creme Egg I'm in. That would be the near perfect format for this little bar. It would highlight the filling, give you just enough chocolate so your hands wouldn't get dirty. So while I did polish off this little candy bar in almost no time, I have no interest in repurchasing this. The dark chocolate was good, but if I really wanted dark chocolate to be the star I would reach for a number of other bars that Trader Joe's currently sells.
While it wasn't a bad bar, it wasn't my favorite and doesn't come close to the joy of the jarred Speculoos. With a better shape or different formatting, this bar does have potential. It's priced right too at just under $1.
Here is the visual run down of what you get if you buy this product:
The bar of Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate filled with Speculoos Cookie Spread:
The nutritional information:
The ingredients:
Would I buy this again? No, I would not buy Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate filled with Speculoos Cookie Spread again. If they could make this with thinner chocolate, then I'm in because let's be honest the filling here should be the star.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Joe says
A good review, but I'm not familiar with the concept of "too much chocolate." How can anything possibly have "too much chocolate"?
becomebetty says
Hey Joe! I think it was more of a ratio comment between the balance of filling to the thick chocolate bar. And yes, I agree with you. There can never be "too much chocolate." I just felt like the filling here was meant to be the star. Thanks for taking the time to stop by!
Kathleen Sage says
I fell in love with the Speculoos dark chocolate bar. Creamy dark chocolate melts in your mouth then there is a soft chew for a couple moments of the delicious inner cookie dough. I hope they keep selling it. I had 12 mailed to the home just for myself. They arrived during CA summer heat a little melted which didn't bother me at all after letting them cool in the refrigerator.
Kay A Henderson says
You trashed my favorite of all time candy bar. I think it is a great balance between dark chocolate and speculoos. That said, I am very sad that they are no longer selling it. On amazon it is $6 for a 99 cent candybar. If you hear of another source, let me know.
becomebetty says
Hi Kay! I haven't seen it anywhere. And I'm glad you liked it more than I did. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this!