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Sporks
The post What Is Cake Flour? appeared first on Sporked.
]]>Cake flour is usually made from super soft wheat that’s been ground extra-fine. It has a very low amount of protein and high starch, which helps to create light and airy cakes.
Though they do look similar, cake flour is not the same as all-purpose flour. So, what’s the difference between cake flour and regular flour? Cake flour takes a dip in the protein content department. According to flour maker Bob’s Red Mill, cake flour contains around 5 to 8% protein, while all-purpose flour is 10 to 13% protein. This is why cake flour is the go-to when you need to give your baked goods a softer texture, while all-purpose’s denser protein-point allows whatever it is you’re baking to be more solid.
Nope, cake flour and pastry flour are not the same. Again, it all comes down to protein content. Pastry flour has a slightly higher percentage of protein than cake flour, but it’s still not as high as all-purpose flour. As you can see, protein really counts when it comes to the type of flour you choose! Don’t overlook it, or else your angel food cake could end up coming out of the oven like a concrete block!
While you still unfortunately need a few other ingredients to make an actual cake, cake flour is a good start. It’s also good for stage productions when you need to portray a ghostly apparition. Just powder up the ol’ kisser with a spot of cake flour, and you’re ready to play Jacob Marley! Lights, camera, cake flour!
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]]>The post What to Eat Before a Turkey Trot, According to Runners appeared first on Sporked.
]]>If you’re a reluctant member of one of those families and you don’t typically do road races, you might be wondering how to prepare. Well, we can’t advise you on stretches (although you should certainly stretch), but we did ask some runners here at Mythical what they eat before a big run. If a compulsory Turkey Trot is on your Thanksgiving agenda this year, here’s what to buy in advance. Sorry, and we hope you get to watch some football, too!
Yes, duh. You gotta get those carbs in, baby. According to Runner’s World, “carbohydrates are our bodies’ preferred source of fuel for exercise, since they’re quicker and easier to break down than fat.” And that’s a good excuse to eat pasta before you hit the road in your Hokas for a 5K or 10K race. We’ve taste tested and ranked everything from the best penne to the best beef ravioli so you can actually enjoy your fuel. Our team is partial to a big bowl of La Molisana Bronze Die Spaghetti—the best spaghetti from our taste test—loaded with butter and parmesan cheese.
Several runners here at Mythical recommended eating peanut butter to fuel up before a race. We once again turned to Runner’s World to confirm that peanut butter is “a great runner’s food.” What it does is help you feel full so you don’t wind up with hunger pangs mid-race. If you like big peanut flavor, we’re partial to Jif Creamy peanut butter, but our ranking of the best peanut butter can also direct you toward the best chunky peanut butter, the best budget peanut butter, and the best natural peanut butter.
Sure, you could simply eat peanut butter off of a spoon, but carbs are your friend now that you’re a Turkey Trotter, so go ahead and slather it on some toast. If soft, squishy white bread is your jam, try Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted Thick Sliced White. Or if you’re more of a wheat bread guy, try Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread.
Another runner here at Mythical said they prefer frozen waffles as the vehicle for their peanut butter. All those toasty little cups on the waffle’s surface are perfect for filling up with peanut butter. Our favorite frozen waffles are Krusteaz Belgian waffles, but we also found the best tasting protein waffles if you want a little extra oomph for the Trot.
You have to hydrate before a race. It’s rule number one. You can drink beer and eggnog later! First, lots and lots of water—pick your poison from this list.
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]]>The post What Is Bisque and Is It Different Than Soup? appeared first on Sporked.
]]>Bisque is traditionally a seafood-based soup, specifically shellfish. Typically, the kind of shellfish used varies between lobster, prawn, crab, shrimp, and crayfish. Though, you will occasionally see modern bisques made with terrestrial ingredients like tomato or butternut squash.
If you can’t tell by the name already, this concoction comes from France. So it makes sense then that bisques contain quite a large amount of cream; in fact, there is often more cream in a bisque than there is in any “cream of” soups, like celery, mushroom, or broccoli.
The purest form of traditional bisque starts with your shellfish of choice. They are cooked with the shells on. Then, the meat is removed from the shells and set to the side. The shells are then cooked further in a
mirepoix (diced onions, carrots, and celery), butter, wine (sometimes brandy, as well), and a variety of spices.
At this time, the cream is added and the whole mixture is left to simmer for a while. Then, the shells and (most of) the solid ingredients are strained out and the remaining soup is pureed, then restrained to become the thick, creamy bisque we know and love. If you haven’t already eaten the cooked meat from earlier, you can sprinkle it on top as a garnish.
This is a pretty intricate process and can get expensive depending on your access to fresh shellfish. You could certainly do a quick and dirty version of a bisque at home with some frozen lobster meat and store bought seafood stock. Or, just buy a can of it; there are several options you can find in most grocery stores.
In France, there is the Bay of Biscay—a huge gulf in the Atlantic ocean along France’s western coast that curves all the way down to northern Spain. It’s highly likely that the word bisque is derivative of Biscay.
Oh, and the pronunciation is “bisk.” Like whisk with a “B.”
I’ve already delved deeply into the differences between stew and soup, so where does bisque fit into this spectrum?
In the soup/stew dichotomy, bisque is solidly in the soup realm; it eschews the big hunks of meat and vegetables for a much smoother experience. However, bisque does stand out from other soups thanks to its extra thickness from the cream.
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]]>The post What to Buy for a Vegan Thanksgiving appeared first on Sporked.
]]>We’re serious! These totally plant based Thanksgiving foods are so good that your rude, steak-loving uncle Randy will keep his trap shut about you “not getting enough protein.” Whether you’re hosting your own vegan or vegetarian Thanksgiving or you’re looking for things to bring to an omnivorous family meal, here are some taste test-approved vegan eats for your holiday table—right from the grocery store.
Being a vegan or vegetarian usually means that your Thanksgiving meal consists of whichever meat-, butter-, and broth-free sides you can scrounge together—hope you like cranberry sauce! You deserve a main dish, and that’s where the best vegan turkey roast comes in. Is this Gardein Turk’y Roast anything like turkey? Nope! It’s a loaf of Gardein’s flavorful plant based turkey stuffed with veggie stuffing, then breaded and baked. It’s tasty, hearty, and feels special. And the packet of gravy it comes with is pretty good, too.
Read the full ranking of the best vegan Thanksgiving roasts
If you like stuffing seasoning—sage, rosemary, and thyme—you’ll like this vegan stuffing from Sprouts. It doesn’t really have the crumbly consistency cornbread stuffing usually has, but it’s soft, salty, and filling—and all you have to do is nuke it in the microwave. This didn’t make our ranking of the best store bought stuffing, but only because we didn’t try it in time.
Primal Kitchen’s keto-friendly products don’t always hit, but their vegan mushroom gravy rules. It’s one of the best meatless gravies we’ve tasted. It’s creamy and rich and you do not miss the meat fat at all. If you’re going the classic route and making a Tofurky roast, you’re going to be grateful you have some hot, flavorful gravy to moisten it.
Read our ranking of the best vegetarian gravy
We love Idahoan instant mashed potatoes (our ranking of the best instant mashed potatoes makes that abundantly clear), but most of their flavors contain dairy and/or poultry broth. Sure, you could simply buy plain potato flakes and doctor them up yourself with oat milk, vegan butter, and vegan sour cream for your vegan Thanksgiving—or you could buy these Idahoan mashed potatoes that are super buttery and only require two cups of boiled water to be totally delicious.
We love Chao’s vegan cheese for sandwiches, and their frozen mac and cheese does not disappoint. It’s rich and creamy and the pasta cooks beautifully. Our one warning: A package only has enough mac and cheese for one or two servings, so buy a few if you’re feeding a whole vegan Thanksgiving crew.
Vegan cheesecake sounds risky, right? The vegan cream cheese it’s made with better be good as hell, because that’s 90% of what you’re eating. Daiya really nailed it with this Pumpkin Spice Cheezcake, which is creamy, mildly spiced, and doesn’t have an unpleasant aftertaste. It’s a perfect way to wrap up vegan Thanksgiving dinner.
Read our ranking of the best pumpkin cheesecake
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]]>The post We Tried Walmart’s Pepperoni Pizza Soup and Cheeseburger Soup appeared first on Sporked.
]]>But how do these new soups taste? Does pizza or cheeseburger work as a liquid? Let’s find out.
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]]>The post The Best Chicken Stock to Stock Up On appeared first on Sporked.
]]>First things first: What is chicken stock? Until literally this week I had no idea chicken stock and chicken broth were two different things. Oh how wrong I was. You see, chicken broth is what you get when you boil meat, but chicken stock is what you get when you boil bones. Chicken stock usually takes longer to make and is a bit more concentrated in flavor than chicken broth. That said, if you are wondering when to use one versus the other, the consensus across the internet seems to be broth for when you want other flavors to come through and shine, and stock when you either want more chicken flavor, or a richer, deeper, more umami broth.
Now, what separates good chicken stock from the best store bought chicken stock? There are many factors, and it can depend on what you are looking for, but generally speaking, we were looking for rich chicken flavor, deep umami and meatiness, and no strange or off flavors (like the aforementioned dog food). Many of the best chicken stocks we tried contained not only chicken, but a classic mirepoix (aka a mix of onion, carrot, and celery, pronounced meer-pwah) in the ingredients list, as well as herbs, spices, chicken flavoring, and, in one case, honey (more on that later).
I’m tellin’ ya, we truly did learn a lot here today, so whip out your soup-sippin’ spoons, and let’s talk about the best tasting chicken stock, including the best organic chicken stock and the best low sodium chicken stock.
The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.
Best Herb-Forward Chicken Stock
Pacific Foods chicken stock has a hint of herbaceous flavor to it, like rosemary or thyme or tarragon (or perhaps a combo of the three). As organic chicken stock goes, is not as umami or chicken-y as Swanson Organic (which you’ll find at #4 of this list) but it is still solid. If you prefer the flavor of herbs to the flavor of a mirepoix then go with this, I am not one such person, but I am nothing if not objective and can recognize that there are people who would definitely think this is the best chicken stock.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best Blank Slate
Okay, let me start by saying that Swanson Chicken Stock is not bad, but it also isn’t exceedingly tasty on its own. It tastes like salt, chicken, and not much else—but hey, that’s what some people are looking for in the best tasting chicken stock. If you are making a stock-based soup with flavors that will clash with things like celery, onion, thyme, and sage, this is the best store bought chicken stock for you. It is pure salt and umami and nothing else, and that makes it a great blank slate for whatever magic you want to cook up.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
Best Organic Chicken Stock
I know you may be skeptical, but Swanson organic chicken stock and regular Swanson chicken stock do not taste the same. Why? Because their ingredient lists are actually quite different! The result is that while this stock is still salty and umami, it also has a bit more depth of flavor than its non-organic counterpart. It even has a hint of black pepperiness, celery, and onion flavor to it (there’s that mirepoix again). All told, this is the best chicken stock if you want something with that Cup Noodles, bouillon-esque chicken ramen flavor.
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
Best Low Sodium Chicken Stock
This unsalted chicken stock smells distinctly like a Costco rotisserie chicken and tastes nice, too. What do I mean by nice? Well, it tastes like rotisserie chicken water, which, as unsalted chicken stock, is sort of what we are looking for here. This is hands down the best unsalted chicken stock we tried, and it tastes exactly like chicken stocks I have made in the past at home from leftover rotisserie chicken bones. It has a solid umami flavor and tastes very clean like pure unadulterated, roasted unsalted chicken and water. If you watch your salt intake, this is the best low sodium chicken stock to stock up on.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
Most Unique Chicken Stock
This one threw me at first. It has a sweeter, fruitier aroma than the other stocks, and it’s also the most sweet and sour tasting of them all. And while it is very acidic and very flavorful, it doesn’t taste super strongly of chicken, unlike some of the others on this list. I checked the label and it actually contains honey and bay leaves, which makes a whole lot of sense given the fresher, fruitier, sweeter taste. It has plenty of umami flavor as well, with an aftertaste I would describe as grilled onion-y. At first I couldn’t decide if I liked it, and then after a whole Kombucha Girl-style deliberation, I decided it is, in fact, among the best store bought chicken stock.
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
Best of the Best
Signature Select’s chicken stock actually made me say “wow!” out loud. Was I prepared to say “wow!” out loud while sipping cold, plain chicken stock? Not in the slightest. It tastes like it is already most of the way to chicken noodle soup. It has a huge kick of of onion flavor and a punch of roasty toasty chicken flavor. Trust us when we say it is an umami bomb. Use this if you want strong chicken and onion flavors in your soup or sauce or what have you. This tastes like a Safeway rotisserie chicken in the best possible way. This tastes like a Thanksgiving gravy. I could (and have, literally for this article) drink this straight. It’s the best chicken stock we taste tested—and it’s certainly the best store bought chicken stock if you shop at an Albertsons-owned grocery store.
Credit: Liv Averett / Vons
Other products we tried: Kitchen Basics Unsalted Chicken Stock, Signature Select Unsalted Chicken Stock
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]]>The post The 11 Best Dinner Rolls We’ve Ever Tasted appeared first on Sporked.
]]>Across several taste tests, we encountered two different types of dinner rolls: those that require baking and those that do not. Ready-to-bake dinner rolls are warm and comforting yet crusty, yeasty, and dense. Meanwhile, no-bake rolls are usually soft, squishy, sugary, and buttery. Both have their virtues. But, what broke through and rose above the rest of the best store bought dinner rolls to be named the best dinner rolls of them all? Read this list to find out the best dinner rolls for Thanksgiving (or any ol’ night).
The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.
Best for Dinner Party
If you have guests to impress, these massive, striking, ciabatta-esque dinner rolls from Costco look and taste like something on display at a fancy bakery. They have a thick, sturdy crust that’s cut neatly down the middle (perfect for sticking a slab of garlic herb butter) and robust, tangy, sourdough bread quality that elevates them above your standard pack of store bought dinner rolls. Now, that said, Kirkland bakery products typically rank higher for us, but I found these to be pretty tough at room temperature, so make sure to warm them up. And be warned they don’t stand the test of time. Ours went bad in under four days. My family has bought these in the past for holiday hosting, so I know they make some of the best dinner rolls for Thanksgiving and other big gatherings all the same. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Sweet
Yes, there are other sweet rolls on this list. These are really sweet, though. One bite and you know you’re eating a sweet roll. But don’t worry—they’re not saccharine or dessert-y; they’re well balanced. Sam’s Choice Sweet Hawaiian Rolls are still a solid dinner choice. These would be so good with honey-baked ham. But once again, what wouldn’t these be good with? If you like the idea of some sweetness to counteract all the salty foods on your dinner plate, these are some of the best bread rolls to buy. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Gluten Free
Yes, for a gluten-free option, Against the Grain’s cheese-baked dinner rolls taste pretty good. But that’s not really the point. These stand out for being unique. Our editor-in-chief Justine Sterling likened them to the Brazilian cheese bread pão de queijo. The dough is stretchy, chewy, and a little bit cheesy. They aren’t the best dinner rolls to buy if you’re looking for something classic—but if you want a first course that’s interesting, a real conversation starter, we highly recommend them. (Also, make sure to eat them while they’re still warm! Otherwise, it becomes a little too obvious that you’re eating gluten-free bread.) —Ariana Losch
Read our full ranking of the best gluten free dinner rolls
Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs
Best Already Buttered
These King’s Hawaiian savory butter rolls are high in saturated fat (8% per tiny roll!), and have less sugar than your average King’s Hawaiin sweet roll. For those reasons, they’re the best dinner rolls to eat totally plain. The smooth, fluffy, squishy texture is only further enhanced by the fatty, buttery quality of these no-bake rolls. You can eat these at room temperature or heat them briefly in the oven or microwave. No matter how you eat or heat them, they are undeniably delicious, no condiments, meats, sides, or butter needed. If you like your rolls to be infused with butter when you buy them, these are the best dinner rolls for you. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Brioche Rolls
As soon as I opened this bag of brioche butter rolls from Nature’s Own, I didn’t even bother with the toaster oven. I just tore right in. Without being warmed, these are still incredibly tender and soft—not a cloudlike softness, since the dough is dense and substantial, but a squishy, buttery softness that’s quite filling and flavorful. Each roll carries a subtle brioche sweetness to balance the tangy wheat, calling for a spread of honey butter like a siren song. I know we’re ranking the best store bought dinner rolls here, but these would make the perfect buns for fried chicken sliders, too. Just sayin’. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best with Butter
These organic French rolls from Trader Joe’s are soft, crusty, and savory. There’s a ciabatta vibe happening here that I really adore. These buns beg for some creamy, high-butterfat organic butter. The smooth, creamy decadence of the butter complements the fluffy-yet-crispy dinner roll. They’re some of the best store bought dinner rolls to load up with butter, especially if you’re a regular Trader Joe’s shopper. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
Best Classic Dinner Rolls
Like our #1 best dinner rolls, you do have to prep these dinner rolls by letting them rise at room temp for a few hours. But good things come to those who wait, because these are pretty heavenly. They strike a great balance between buttery, mildly sweet, decadent yeast rolls and the more classic fluffy dinner rolls, giving the best of both worlds. They’re incredibly soft on the inside, with a thin, delicate crust on the outside that’s oddly satisfying to bite into. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Soft Roll
King’s Hawaiian original sweet rolls are iconic. They’re just so damn sweet and soft but also wonderfully dense. The flavor is exceptional. A sweet roll is the perfect complement to all of the savory dishes we eat on Thanksgiving. What better way to balance out dark meat turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing? I personally don’t think that a Thanksgiving meal is complete without these store bought dinner rolls. That being said, these are the best soft dinner rolls to buy for literally any meal, any time of the year. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Frozen Yeast Rolls
Like our #1 best dinner rolls, you do have to prep these dinner rolls by letting them rise at room temp for a few hours. But good things come to those who wait, because these are pretty heavenly. They strike a great balance between buttery, mildly sweet, decadent yeast rolls and the more classic fluffy dinner rolls, giving the best of both worlds. They’re incredibly soft on the inside, with a thin, delicate crust on the outside that’s oddly satisfying to bite into. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
Best for Italian Food
These are restaurant-quality, chewy, savory, yeasty French rolls. I love their outer crust; the difference in textures is flat out wonderful. A crusty exterior encases a delightfully fluffy and warm center. You could melt a full tablespoon of butter on one of these and indulge in the decadent simplicity. La Brea Bakery’s Take & Bake French Dinner rolls are soft and squishy with a great crust—something that’s hard to come by at the grocery store. They’re savory, salty, and, most of all, comforting. These are, without a doubt, among the best store bought dinner rolls. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best of the Best
Do you have to let these dinner rolls rise for three to five hours before you cook them? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes! They are not the simplest or easiest dinner rolls to snack on in a pinch, but they are absolutely wonderful for a big dinner or holiday where you’ll be cooking with a few hours notice. Once they rise, they cook up quickly. They are so doughy on the inside and have an incredible crust on the outside. Buy these as soon as possible, because these are the best dinner rolls ever. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Other products we tried: Starter Bros. Garlic Rolls, Alfaro’s, Rhodes, Walmart Potato, Member’s Mark Yeast Rolls, Nature’s Own Butter Brioche, Signature Select Artisan Style, Dots Assorted Dinner Rolls, Whole Foods Market Brioche Dinner Rolls, Artesano Bakery Rolls
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]]>The post Best Pie Crust to Buy for Super Easy Baking appeared first on Sporked.
]]>We here at Sporked have conducted not one, not two, but three separate taste tests to conclusively determine the best pie crust for any occasion—including gluten free pie crust, frozen pie crust, shortbread pie crust, and even mini pie crust. We prepared these crusts according to package instructions, but tried them all without any fillings so that we could get the best idea of how the crust stands on its own.
The best pie crust should be flaky, buttery, and tender, but not so brittle that it can’t maintain its shape when it’s baked. Flavors and styles may vary, but in general we’re looking for pie crust that’s slightly sweet and not too overpowering. The best store bought pie crust lets the filling be the star.
So, go forth and put your time and energy into simmering filling, figuring out the lattice top, or ripping your kitchen to shreds trying to find the pie server. Here’s the best pie crust to buy at the grocery store for literally any occasion.
The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.
Best for Meat Pies
This pre-rolled crust (which you simply unroll and place into a pie tin) is delightfully crunchy, and it tastes like, well, nothing. Depending on what you want, this could be the perfect crust for you, but it would probably be best suited for one of those hefty, meaty pies that they make on Bake Off instead of a light and flaky dessert. Let’s just say this: Ron Swanson would like this crust. — Hebba Gouda
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best Gluten Free Crust
I’m a huge gluten free product endorser now. Everything that’s gluten free tends to have such a lovely, crispy, crunchy, satisfying texture. Wholly Wholesome’s gluten free pie crust is no different, and it is delightfully sugary. You get that crunchy, crystalized cane sugar effect, and the texture is crumbly, almost like a graham cracker crust. I eat a crap ton of gluten and I’m in love with this gluten free pie crust. The crust might be a bit too crumbly for some, but it’s the best pie crust for gluten free folks by a mile. — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best Nut Crust
All of Diamond’s premade pie crusts impressed the hell out of me with their variety of flavors, but the pecan pie crust hit hardest of them all. This store bought pie crust has phenomenal flavor—it’s nutty, buttery, salty, and deliciously sweet. When you cook it in the oven, the pecans unleash an extra layer of roasted flavor that’s simply delightful. Everybody who happened to walk by while this was in the oven mentioned how pleasant the smell was. I think this is the best pie crust for experimentation. Start with the pecan crust base, then work backwards from there. May I suggest pumpkin chiffon? — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best Chocolate Crust
You can’t have an Oreo cream pie without an Oreo pie crust, and although this crust, in theory, limits you to making a very specific type of pie, I think that it’s so delicious that you could do other things with it, too. The chocolatey crust would be a great contrast for a banana cream pie or even a coconut cream pie. The pie shell is basic, but tastes just like the chocolate cookies in an Oreo. The Oreo pie is also a classic no-bake dessert and a symbol of convenience. And at Sporked, we love convenience. That’s why it’s the best pie crust for desserts that don’t require an oven—and the best chocolate pie crust we tried. — Danny Palumbo
Related: Every Oreo Flavor, Ranked
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best Shortbread Crust
This buttery, delicious shortbread crust is a touch sweeter than the classic Lorna Doone cookie. It’s crunchy and left no aftertaste (unlike a lot of the others we tried). It’s certainly too sweet for a savory pie filling, but not nearly so sugary that it will bulldoze a dessert interior. That being said, it’s so tasty on its own that we just kept eating the crust, sans filling. If you’re making a pie with this, get two crusts—one for the pie and one to snack on. — Hebba Gouda
Credit: Liv Averett / Keebler
Best Graham Crust
This store bought pie crust ranks for its flavor, as well as its aesthetic. When it comes to a graham cracker pie crust, Keebler is a classic. Sure, you could pick the Kroger brand or the Great Value brand, and they do taste strikingly similar, but there’s just more joy in seeing those crafty little elves on the front of this package. I also think the flavor here is slightly better—it’s buttery and sweet, and the texture of the crust isn’t so crumbly that it falls apart. Trust the elves to make some of the best store bought pie crust, dammit! — Danny Palumbo
Related: The Best Graham Crackers We Found in a Taste Test
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best for Savory Pies
This frozen pie crust has excellent structure and, as advertised, this thing is deep. You can make a huge pie with this. I love that the edges of the pie are perfectly crimped, giving it a homestyle aesthetic. The texture is good, too. This store bought pie crust is tender and flaky and good for pretty much any pie, but its size makes it the best pie crust for chicken pot pies. Fill it to the top. — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best Pre-Rolled
This store bought pre-rolled pie crust bakes up golden and buttery and flaky. It’s like a croissant in that it’s rich and buttery without being greasy or heavy, and the salt level is perfect. This crust would live as happily with pumpkin custard as it would with spinach and goat cheese. If you’re imagining grandma’s pie cooling on the windowsill, this is the crust you’re imagining. Has your grandma been lying to you and just using Pillsbury? Maybe. But are you going to be mad about it? Nah, you’re too busy chowing down on some of the best pie crust. — Hebba Gouda
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best of the Best
Pillsbury Deep Dish Pie Crust is the best pie crust out there. This frozen pie crust comes ready to fill and bake. After cooking, it’s flaky, buttery, and crunchy. You could put any filling in it and be perfectly happy. Not only is this store bought pie crust delicious (and easy to use), but it also lives in the freezer, which makes it the best holiday hack to have on hand throughout the fall and winter. If you need a last minute dish for a potluck or you just want to make something nice for your family on an average weeknight, this is the best store bought pie crust for you. — Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Other store bought pie crusts: Great Value Graham, Kroger Graham Cracker, Betty Crocker Graham Cracker, Honey Maid Graham Cracker, Diamond Pumpkin Pie Spice, Keebler Chocolate, Keebler Graham Minis, Wholly Wholesome Traditional, Favorite Day Graham, Signature Select Graham, MI-del Gluten Free Chocolate Snap Crust, Happy Belly Unroll and Bake Crusts, Great Value Ready to Bake
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]]>The post Best Hot Chocolate Mix [Updated!] appeared first on Sporked.
]]>To keep your cocoa list current, the Sporked team ran a new, third taste test (oh, the horror!) to check out the latest hot cocoa mixes and find the best mix for hot chocolate out there. We used both hot water and milk to taste both versions of these hot chocolate mix brands. Here are our picks for the best hot chocolate mix on the market.
The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.
Fan Favorite
We were absolutely reamed by Sporked readers for not trying Land O Lakes hot chocolate mix in the first round of our hot cocoa mix taste test. So we made sure to try it in a follow-up taste test. And not just one Land O Lakes hot chocolate mix, all of them. Every single flavor. We thought they were good! It’s not the best hot chocolate mix (sorry!), but we like it. This Chocolate Supreme version is our favorite of the bunch. When made with milk, it’s rich and decently chocolatey. Land O Lakes isn’t just a butter company, people! —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Value
If hot cocoa isn’t a once-in-a-while treat for you but a regular, everyday beverage, then you should stock up on a few tubs of Walmart’s signature hot cocoa mix. It’s a solid, football game-style hot chocolate. (Those from the Northeast can sub “hockey game” in for “football game,” if that makes more sense.) It’s terrifically creamy, even without any milk or actual cream, and it is definitely sweet. You don’t get a ton of authentic chocolate flavor, but it’s cheap, there’s a lot of it, and it will scratch a hot cocoa itch, making it the best hot chocolate mix for daily consumption. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
Best Minty
If you’re looking for a little extra holiday cheer in your mug, this Walmart hot chocolate mix gives you a tasty mint flavor that doesn’t overpower the chocolate, while also giving you nice, creamy consistency. And as it’s presented in a can instead of packets, you can decide just how much (or little) your portion is. Spoiler: We went with “a ton.” This is the best hot chocolate mix for the holiday season if plain chocolate just isn’t festive enough. — Jon Gutierrez
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
Best Dark Chocolate
This is the best hot chocolate mix to pick up if you want a more grown-up version of a childhood favorite, for sure. It’s dark and indulgent. It’s a little fancier—a little more upscale. It’s richer and feels like it’s really warming you up from the inside. It’s the type of hot chocolate you hold with both hands, just under your nose, breathing in the warm, sweet vapors before taking a sip. A cinematic hot chocolate. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best Peanut Butter
If you’ve ever tried a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and wished it was hot and liquidy, then this is the best mix for hot chocolate to make your dreams come true. It’s got a great, authentic-tasting peanut butter flavor, and the Hershey’s cocoa is strong enough to balance it out. The only downside is that the servings are kinda small, as they only make six ounces of drink per packet. Luckily, they give you eight packets per box. I went through the whole thing pretty quickly, almost as quickly as I can devour a pack of peanut butter cups. So, it’s definitely authentic! — Jon Gutierrez
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best Flavored
Good & Gather, aka Target, Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa Mix is the best hot cocoa mix when it comes to unique flavors. Their salted caramel is so rich, salty, and decadent. It tastes like something you’d get at a local coffee shop. Good & Gather also sells hot chocolate mix flavors like double chocolate and peppermint, which are very good too. But for our money, this salted caramel hot chocolate is the way to go. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
Best Budget
Not only does Trader Joe’s cocoa have the best packaging but the beloved/cultish store also makes some of the best mix for hot chocolate. “It has a nice cocoa flavor,” said Sporked managing editor Gwynedd Stuart. “It’s sweet but not obnoxiously so.” It has a cocoa flavor that stays with you with a pleasantly bittersweet finish. It tastes like real chocolate and that makes it real good and nearly the best hot cocoa mix you can buy. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett
Best of the Best
There is no better hot cocoa mix out there than Nestle Classic Rich Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix. It is truly the best hot chocolate mix you can buy nationwide at the grocery store. It is so rich and creamy and chocolatey. Even when made with water, it tastes like it was made with whole milk. That makes it a great accessible and money-saving option. But it wouldn’t matter if you were the richest person in the world! This is still the best hot cocoa mix that we would recommend to you because it really is that good. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Other hot chocolate mixes we tried: Treat Life, Starbucks Classic, Swiss Miss Lucky Charms, Nestle, Select, Beaumont, Swiss Miss, 365 Organic Hot Cocoa, Beaumont, Good & Gather (all flavors), Land O Lakes (all flavors), Nestle, Numi Drinking Chocolate, Signature Select, Sprouts, Starbucks Classic, Swiss Miss (Lucky Charms, no sugar added, non-dairy, reduced calorie, regular and white chocolate), Treat Life, Kroger Dutch Hot Cocoa Mix Milk Chocolate
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]]>If you’ve had an everything bagel, you’re probably familiar with the onion-y, garlick-y, sesame-y, and whatever-else-is-in-everything-bagel-seasoning-y flavor that truly makes life worth living. Now imagine that seasoning mix—but mostly the onion and garlic—in your Kraft Mac & Cheese. If you’re thinking, wow, how innovative, then get excited. If you’re thinking wow, I already put that in my Kraft Mac & Cheese, well, good for you. Maybe you’re still interested because it means you can save your Everything But the Bagel seasoning for something else.
You’ll have to act fast with this new release. With only 14,000 boxes up for grabs, Walmart.com’s presale will begin November 25th for die-hard Krafties. The new limited edition flavor will officially drop on November 29th and it’ll be available while supplies last.
Look, it’s no secret that the everything bagel trend has taken everything by storm. Potato chips, dips, smoked salmon—Trader Joe’s alone has developed quite an empire with their Everything But the Bagel-flavored items. But has it gone too far? I mean, Cup Noodles even released Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese instant noodles. But hey, that actually turned out to be pretty darn good. So, we have high hopes for Everything Bagel Kraft Mac & Cheese. And we’ll be jockeying online to snag a box on Black Friday, because we all know this is the real score.
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]]>These are seven of the best Thanksgiving side dishes that are stupidly simple to prepare so you can worry about the dozen other fires (some literal) you need to put out on the big day.
Mashed potatoes will always make the list of the best Thanksgiving sides, but that doesn’t mean you have to make them from scratch to really do it right. And boy do you have options: We’ve got premade, instant, or frozen mashed potatoes to choose from for the best Thanksgiving sides to fit your needs. If you’re looking for something as close to the real thing without all the trouble, Sporked managing editor Gwynedd Stuart would argue that Bob Evans premade potatoes are the way to go. They’re rich, creamy, potatoey, and all you have to do is heat them up in the microwave. When it comes to easy Thanksgiving sides, it doesn’t get easier than that. —Vinz Karl
Read the full ranking of the best premade mashed potatoes
Stuffing is a mainstay on many Thanksgiving tables, but it’s surprisingly easy to mess up if you make it yourself. Sorry, grandma, but your recipe surely can’t compare to Stove Top’s Traditional Sage Stuffing Mix. This is one of the best Thanksgiving sides and it can be thrown together in about five minutes as long as you have an empty burner on the stove. Gwynedd found this mix to be fluffy, savory, and packed with herby flavor. A Thanksgiving side dish that’s delicious and easy as hell (just boil some water, mix, and fluff)? Move over, grandma. That’s an easy sell for the best Thanksgiving side dishes. —Vinz Karl
Read the full ranking of the best boxed stuffing or watch Gwynedd & Justine taste test stuffing on YouTube
There are a few things you can rely on at Thanksgiving dinner. You’ll certainly stuff yourself more than the turkey and you’ll definitely endure political discussions that will make you consider becoming estranged from your family, but being served mac and cheese isn’t necessarily a guarantee. That’s why this tray of frozen mac and cheese is of the best best Thanksgiving side dishes to bring to a potluck. Forget Stouffer’s—Patti LaBelle’s mac and cheese is insane. It’s creamy, cheesy, buttery, and so decadent. This stuff will make the politics talk go down a lot easier. —Alex Yakimova
Read the full ranking of the best frozen mac and cheese
Thanksgiving isn’t exactly known for being the most gluten-free-friendly holiday—but Trader Joe’s did the celiac-afflicted a solid with this gluten-free turkey gravy. We love powdered gravy mix, but this premade gravy, which is sold near the soups in TJ’s refrigerated section, is fatty and flavorful without being nearly as salty as a mix. This is new to Trader Joe’s for Thanksgiving, but we hope they’ll keep it on shelves all year long. It’ll do a lot for a rotisserie chicken on a weeknight.—Alex Yakimova
Read our ranking of the best store bought gravy
If you’re looking for something a little different to slather on your plate this Thanksgiving, this cranberry relish is the way to go. It’s more sweet than tart, but the walnuts and spices make this a good alternative to the homogenous canned stuff. It’s Harry & David, so it’s on the pricey side ($8.99 a jar), but when it’s time to make leftovers sandwiches, you’ll be happy you splurged. —Alex Yakimova
Read the full ranking of the best cranberry sauce
Before you start peeling, roasting, and mashing sweet potatoes, we deeply need to tell you about this Aldi sweet potato casserole. It’s kind of unreal. According to Sporked editor in chief Justine Sterling, it’s sweet and buttery without crossing into the dessert realm—but you could totally pair it with some vanilla ice cream and serve it after dinner. Hey. They best easy Thanksgiving sides are versatile, and this one definitely is. —Alex Yakimova
When it comes to easy Thanksgiving sides, salad kits are the ultimate cheat code. No chopping vegetables. No rinsing and spinning your lettuce. Just cut open the bag, pour on the dressing, give it a good shake, and then dump it into a bowl and lie to everyone about having prepared it yourself from scratch. TJ’s Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish—it’s a crowd pleaser and it’s fancy enough for a special occasion. It comes with a bright, zingy dressing that will break up the monotony of the richer foods on the menu. It also comes with carrots and almonds for crunch, and parm for a nutty, salty punch. —Vinz Karl
Read the full ranking of the best Trader Joe’s salad kits
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