Raw Dangerous Cookie Dough

I have a question for you, has raw cookie dough always been dangerous? I ask because I've been eating cookie dough for a long time. In fact I can't remember the first time I've ever tried it, and I can safely tell you that I don't think a year of my life has gone by without eating cookie dough. It just seems like in the last few years people have had to make special cookie dough for me to eat. When I was a kid, I would just eat the stuff right out of the bowl, or tube as the case may be. I never thought about raw eggs being dangerous, I guess I figured mixing it in a bowl made it safe?

Check out my fun review featuring very safe cookie dough.

You can also follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook too.

While you're looking for something sweet to do, why not pick up my book called Treats and Beasts?

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Making Treats and Beasts - The Inks Turn Into A Book

As I mentioned before, I really had no direct plan to turn this collection of drawings into a book. In fact I wasn't even sure that I would finish all of the drawings. I figured I might loose interest at some point and just move onto something else. The thing is, I didn't. I really wanted to try and finish each and every drawing in the collection, and near the last few drawings I realized that I think it would make a really fun collection, maybe in a book format.

After deciding this, my next phase was to figure out how the book should look. I decided that I would use a few electronic fonts, however I wanted the letter that was showcased to be my own design. Since I had designed the animals and snacks using a rough circle template, I figured the letters should also fit into this template. I found lots of reference online and starting sketching out some font ideas. Eventually I had each letter drawn and inked.

The other choice I made once I decided to make a book was that I wanted the illustrations to be in colour. I don't own a scanner and I didn't want to buy one for this project. I still wasn't convinced it would actually pan out. Since I am a photographer, I decided that I would photograph each drawing. This turned out to be fairly challenging, particularly getting the light just right. I built a setup and had to shoot each and every drawing on the same day. I wanted to make sure they all matched perfectly.

After that I brough everything into various Adobe editing tools and after a few drawings were done I had a system that worked fairly well. The good thing about taking the photos of the art was the fact that many of the sketchy lines and even the texture of the paper came through just a little bit. I feel it gave the art a really nice natural feeling.

The colouring was probably the hardest part of the process for me. I'm not a great expert on colours, and I found parts of this process to be very hard on the eyes. I do however feel that it worked out fairly well and I'm glad I went beyond black and white.

Next the cover idea.

Make sure to get your very own copy of Treats and Beast right now on Amazon.

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Gummies Of Every Shape and Colour

 

I've always felt that the gummy is one of if not the best candy for creating fun designs. I feel like gummies can be just about any size, shape or colour. If you really think about it, I feel like you can make just about anything out of gummy. The reason I don't think you see more varieties of shapes and colours is that it's expensive to make your first batch of gummies. You really need industrial equipment to make gummies, small candy shops often stick with things like chocolate because they're easier to make in small quantities. Maybe some day the technology will start to allow small companies to make their own gummies, and maybe then we'll see some amazing gummy art.

This week's new review is okay, but not as creative as I'd hoped, but you can read more about it here.

Also make sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well.

I've got all kinds of other fun things going on in Patreon as well.

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All In A Name?

It's weird, there's a certain line that you must cross in order to get me to buy a candy bar because of the name. I feel like that line is pretty far, but every so often I come across a treat like the Whozeewhatsit and I'm pretty much sold. To qualify as a bar worth trying for your name alone, you must be creative, and just being a different language doesn't count most of the time. There have been a few exceptions when a treat has had a name that made me giggle because in English it meant something totally different than what it means in the native language where it's made. So for the most part I don't buy candy for the name, unless you're creative enough to call your bar Whozeewhatsit.

Check out the full Whozeewhatsit review right here.

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter too.

If you want you can also follow my Patreon, it helps support the site and you get a bunch of extra stuff.

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The Christmas Extravaganza Continues With Santa

Here's a completely random thing that happens to me often because of this site. I often find that I have to misspell certain words. In the most recent case it has to do with this new Christmas chocolate review. The chocolates are in the form of Santa Clause. So in this bag there are several Santas, which all my spell checks consistently remind me is not a word. It makes sense that a pluralized version of a proper name cannot be a word, but when you're such a famous person and your image might be on many different things then that changes. I know that my spelling is not the best, but I try, the fact that the word Santas keeps coming up wrong for me on my spellcheck is driving me nuts.

Click here to read about the holiday treat that caused a great deal of red marks on my spell checking apps.

I'm posting many bonus reviews in December for Christmas, so be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with them all.

If you want even more fun times, check out my Patreon page too.

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I'm Not Pulling Your Ear

Twisty Taffy T-Shirt
by candycritic

I might be pulling your leg... or your taffy.

Check out my other fun candy designs in our Zazzle store.

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Time To Mix It Up

Over the years I've had a love/hate relationship with candy varieties. In the early creation of this site I was always disappointed when a candy company came out with a different version of a classic candy. Today I'm a little more hopeful and excited. I feel like candy companies have become better at creating different versions of their classic treats. I feel like in the past the variations would always be really simple, like slapping a bit of caramel on it, or making it dark instead of milk chocolate. Today these versions are much more sophisticated, and I give a lot of credit to the Kit Kat bar. Specifically the folks at Kit Kat Japan who broke the mold when it comes to changing up a classic.

Click here to read about the latest M&M's variation.

Also be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter too.

If you want some bonus content make sure to follow me on Patreon as well.

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Be Cool And Buy My Comic

Make sure to check out the latest issue of Snack Facts all about the coolest treat in the world, ice cream. Follow Sir Francis Sweetums and his compatriot Barbara as they explore the creamy history of one of the most popular summer desserts in the world.

Download the latest issues and all the back issues here.

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Texture As A Variety

Today when we see different varieties of candies, the thing that's often the difference is the flavour. It's much more rare for candy companies to change the texture of their classic candies at all when they come out with a new variety. Even more rare is candy companies coming out with a new variety of their classic treats and the only real difference is the texture. The folks at Werther's did just that, and it worked pretty well.

Click here to find out about the texture differences between Original Werther's and the chewy version.

Also be sure to check out my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds for all kinds of extra content.

And it that's not enough content for you, I have even more in Patreon.

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A Bar That's Famous, But Not To You

This week's review features a chocolate bar that you've probably never heard of. Likely you figure that this bar is some weird candy that's only available in some small country. You probably imagine that this Alfie bar is something only a handful of people know about. If you thought all of that, you'd be wrong. Alfie bars are actually really common, and I would wager that it sells better than many North American candy bars. The thing is, it's only available in Asia. A place where there's a huge population of people that are starting to really enjoy eating candy bars. Sure this bar wasn't my cup of tea, but for millions of people in the world this is becoming a classic candy bar, and chances are you've never even seen it before.

Click here to find out why I didn't really like this extremely popular candy bar.

Make sure to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for more fun posts.

Don't forget to check my Patreon to get free issues of Snack Facts, weekly videos, and extra bonus stuff.

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A New Candy Review From Europe

I've been lucky enough to travel to many places, and eat candy from just about every corner of the world. One of the interesting things about the world is the way that candy flavours and trends seem to stick together, geographically. It seems like borders don't mean as much as general regions. For example, this box of chocolates that was purchased in Finland, has a very central/northern European feel to it. A marshmallow from Asia is very different than a North American marshmallow. Caramel from South America is also very unique, but similar within South America. It's obviously the fact that food traditions spread across areas and ignore the borders. They do however stop at random places and suddenly there's something completely different. It's hard to explain, but if you taste the same chocolate bar made in different parts of the world, you just might start to understand it.

Click here to read my very European chocolate review.

Makes sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as well.

I have a Patreon, you get a bunch of extra stuff if you join.

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The Egg Shape Works!

I’ve always been intrigued by the Easter Egg. I don’t really understand how it’s come about, even though I’ve done some research on the subject. Having said that, I feel like the egg is a really good way to deliver filled chocolates. I’m not as big a fan of just hollow chocolate eggs, but as a means to deliver filling, I feel like chocolate eggs are very good. Because of the oblong shape each bite is a little different from the next. On the narrower end of an egg you get more chocolate to filling, but around the center it’s mostly filling and less chocolate. It allows for an interesting balancing act between chocolate and filling. I also feel like the egg is a comfortable shape to hold. This is more so when you’re talking about larger filled egg treats. While I’ll never understand the origins of chocolate eggs, I’m always going to enjoy eating them.

Click here to check out my latest Easter review, which happens to be egg shaped.

Make sure to check out all our Easter fun on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

If you’re interested in getting your own Raspberry Chocolate Egg, just like the one I reviewed, visit our friends at Rocky Mountain Chocolate at Square One.

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I'm Getting Too Old For This

My birthday is this week, and I've decided that I'm okay with what many people call old people's candy. I'm also okay with kids candy as well, but I've come to terms with the fact that my taste is maturing. The other day I found myself going through Twitter, I saw a picture of some peppermints and I was excited at the idea of tasting them. I'm pretty sure that peppermints are not the kind of candy that the young kids are into, so I've accepted that I'm an old man. Fortunately I feel like I'm not too old to continue to eat kids candy, so I don't have to retire this website.

Click here to read a classic candy review that I likely wouldn't have reviewed 20 years ago.

To keep up with all my other old man stuff, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

You can also buy my comic book, because it would be a nice thing to do on my birthday week.

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A Little Love For Valentine's Day

I feel like Valentine's Day is the top candy heavy holiday that people don't really like. I feel like people crap on Valentine's Day because they feel like it makes people miserable, instead of making them happy. I also kind of agree with them. The thing is, per-capita, I feel like Valentine's Day produces the best candy, better than any other holiday. The main ingredient in this holiday seems to be chocolate, followed by cinnamon. These are two flavours I can get behind %100. I also feel like Valentine's Day is the day to treat yourself to something a little bit fancy, like a nice box of fine chocolates. While I mostly agree that Valentine's Day is more stress than fun, I really like the candy.

Click here to read about one such great Valentine's Day candy.

If you loved me, you'd follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

You'd probably also join me on Patreon.

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I'm Not Sure Why These Are So Popular

I've written on this blog a number of times about classic candies that I haven't reviewed. The most common reason I don't review classic treats is that I actually forget about them. They've become such a staple in my mind that I don't even think about them. Sometimes I just assume I've already written a review and never bother to actually write the review. These Reese's Pieces fall into a different category altogether.

I don't really love Reese's Pieces, there I've said it. I don't hate them, but it's very rarely that I'll seek them out or even buy a box. In the world of classic candies, it's pretty low on my list, so low that I sometimes wonder how they've stuck around for so long. I can't say I've ever met someone who would call Reese's Pieces their favourite candy, yet they're still available in many stores.  So who's buying these? Is it just people nostalgic for 1980's movies about friendly aliens?

Click here to find out why I don't really care for these.

Make sure to lodge any complaints on our Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter feeds.

If you agree with me, or even if you don't, why not join me on Pateron too.

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Making Sure I Don't Forget The Classics

 

I've been writing candy reviews for longer than I care to say. When I first started this site, and even today, one of the most common comments I get from people is, how many candies are out there to review? People assume that I'm going to run out of treats to review, I even worry about it myself sometimes. Then occasionally, I make a list of all the candies that I used to eat as a kid that I have not yet reviewed on candycritic.org, and those lists are always immensely long. I also realize that my list is Canadian centric, and people all over the world have huge lists of candies they consider to be classics that I've never even heard of. I have noticed over the last few years that I'm going into shops and finding more treats that I have reviewed, but between those snacks are new snacks that I've never even heard of.

Click here to read a review of one of the candies on my list of classic from when I was a kid.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see me discover new treats.

Also be sure to check out my Patreon page to get some fun bonus content.

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It's A New Year!!!

I feel like every new year I re-think candycritic.org a little bit. I think it's healthy to do this because frankly if I'm not having fun doing this site, it's not worth doing. Most of the time, around this time of year, I think about what I'm posting, and if I'm enjoying creating the content. I'll be 100% honest with you, the only thing I constantly enjoy posting on candycritic.org all of the time are the reviews. Everything else falls in and out of favour for me at one point or another. There have been blog posts that I really didn't have fun writing, videos that became more of a pain to make than anything else, but I always like finding new candies to review. This is all to say that you might find a few changes on the site over the next few weeks. I can tell you for certain that the reviews, like today's fun new review, will keep coming, but other things are going to change a little.

Click here to check out the first review of 2021.

Also be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (we haven't given up on that yet either).

Be sure to also pick up the latest issue of Snack Facts.

And be sure to check out some of our new swag at our store.

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Hey everyone, Snack Facts is here!

I just wanted to let everyone know that the first preview issue of Snack Facts, my micro comic all about candy and snacks is online and free to download. You can download and print the first issue using only one piece of paper and a little folding skill.

This first preview issue will introduce you to the quirky explorer Sir Francis Sweetums III and his sugar glider companion Barbara.  Later on we’ll have more issues out, each following their adventures as they explore a new snack, treat or even special treat filled holidays.

Make sure to check out candycritic.org/snackfacts to download issue 0 of Snack Facts for free. Future issues will be coming soon, and we’ll even be offering special pre-printed and signed versions as well as other cool merch.

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Lots Going On, Including Today's New Review - Skittles "Dips"

This month has been a pretty intense month here at Candy Critic. First of all we're back in Canada. After a few years abroad, living in South East Asia, we're back home in our true north strong and free. The great thing about being back home is being able to catch up with all the new treats here, including today's new review, Skittles Dips.

The other fun thing is that we've been working on Snack Facts, our micro comic, and issue 0 is out. Best of all, issue 0 is totally free to download. Check out candycritic.org/snackfacts to download it and learn how to fold your very own micro comic.

Click here to check out the Skittles Dips review.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see what we're up to back in Canada.

Check out our Patreon page too where you can maybe even score yourself some artwork from Snack Facts.

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Snack Facts - Barbara and Sir Francis T-Shirt
by candycritic

Amazing Candy/Junk Food Things That You Should Buy - Gorilla Gum Shirt

Gorilla Gum T-Shirt
by candycritic

If you love gorillas and bubble gum, then we have a shirt for you.

Make sure to check out all our cool t-shirts on our Zazzle store.

You can also check out any new designs on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

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