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- I tried all three of Pop-Tarts’ new protein flavors and compared them to the original toaster pastries.<\/li>\n
- The protein versions all browned more quickly in the toaster and had a gooier filling.<\/li>\n
- They were almost exactly the same taste-wise, and people were split down the middle on which version they liked best.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nEarlier this fall, Pop-Tarts announced that not only would fan-favorite Frosted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough return to shelves, but the brand was also diving headfirst into the world of protein. Not to be outdone by the proteinification of literally everything (yes, our team has tried everything from protein vodka to protein mashed potatoes), Pop-Tarts now offers three flavors of Pop-Tarts Protein. <\/p>\n
The new protein-boosted Pop-Tarts pack 10 grams of protein per serving\u20145 grams per tart. Original Pop-Tarts have 4 to 5 grams per package (2 to 2.5 grams of protein per tart). So when you break it down, it’s not a huge difference. <\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n![\"cross](\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/img-9291-jpg-6914e98f83750.jpg?crop=0.724xw:0.543xh;0.145xw,0.325xh&resize=980:*\" "\\"cross")
<\/p>\nAmanda Mactas<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n![\"cross](\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/img-9292-jpg-6914e9c0bd1e1.jpg?crop=0.813xw:0.610xh;0.0561xw,0.218xh&resize=980:*\" "\\"cross")
<\/p>\nAmanda Mactas<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Naturally, we had to compare the original to the protein Pop-Tarts in a head-to-head showdown. The first obvious difference was how they toasted. We set each timer for the exact same amount of time, yet the protein Pop-Tarts browned faster. Something to keep in mind so you don’t burn them! When we broke them in half, that’s when we noticed a second difference: the consistency of the filling. The classic pastries had a firmer, grainier-looking filling (right), while the protein version was more melted and gooier (left). The protein pastries looked<\/em> more appetizing\u2014and this was true across all three flavor comparisons. <\/p>\n
\n \n\n\n\n![\"cross](\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/img-9295-jpg-6914eb417f419.jpg?crop=0.925xw:0.694xh;0.0544xw,0.224xh&resize=980:*\" "\\"cross")
<\/p>\nAmanda Mactas<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n![\"cross](\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/img-9298-jpg-6914eb6e8f1e6.jpg?crop=0.733xw:0.550xh;0.139xw,0.349xh&resize=980:*\" "\\"cross")
<\/p>\nAmanda Mactas<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Our comparisons: Protein Slammin’ Strawberry vs. Frosted Strawberry; Protein Boostin’ Brown Sugar Cinnamon vs. Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon; and Protein Bumpin’ Blueberry vs. Frosted Blueberry. The crazy thing? If you weren’t tasting side by side, you’d probably never tell there was a difference at all. Pop-Tarts did a genuinely phenomenal job with crafting these protein-boosted versions. The Delish<\/em> staff had trouble discerning which was which, and a good portion actually preferred the protein line. One staffer said they taste like a more “adult” version of a Pop-Tart; another like that the protein iteration was a little less sweet. <\/p>\n
\n \n\n![\"four](\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/img-9301-jpg-6914ed03da3f1.jpg?crop=0.898xw:0.673xh;0.0119xw,0.184xh&resize=980:*\" "\\"four")
![\"pinterest\"](\"https:\/\/www.delish.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/social\/pinterest.e8cf655.svg?primary=%2523ffffff\")
<\/div>\nAmanda Mactas<\/span><\/figcaption> Left: Frosted Blueberry; Right: Protein Bumpin\u2019 Blueberry<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Taste-wise, the biggest difference was the crust. The protein versions all felt thicker and sturdier. Some people still preferred the original, which evoked memories of their childhoods, but overall, the differences were so minimal that I’d be surprised if customers could tell the difference when trying them out on their own. <\/p>\n
Look, we’re probably putting too much stock into protein in general\u2014we really don’t need it in every food and drink on the planet. That said, these are a solid addition to the Pop-Tarts arsenal, and I’d definitely pick them up again when the craving strikes. <\/p>\n