Yoplait Light Yogurt: Red Velvet Cake

It may have been five years of living in Georgia that did it...but I just love me some red velvet cake, y'all. And while red velvet cake has always been a regional favorite in the Deep South, it seems to have become more popular in other places over the last couple of years. It's even appearing in my Southern California supermarket bakery, as well as in a cupcake version made by Little Debbie. (I would take credit for spreading the word, but I think Paula Deen had more to do with it than I did.)

In case you're unfamiliar, red velvet cake is always colored bright red. Kinda like they rendered down some of Elmo's lesser-known kin into a food coloring base. The flavor is often called a cross between a chocolate and a yellow cake. But all of the best ones that I have had -- in terms of both texture and flavor -- have been more like a lightly cocoa-flavored version of a pound cake. Really dense, rich and buttery. The cake version is always topped with a cream cheese frosting. And do I really have to say more than cream cheese frosting?!

Well, when I saw this flavor I simply had to try it...although, to be honest, I have yet to find a chocolate yogurt I have really liked. Something about chocolate and yogurt just doesn't seem to work for me (though I love chocolate frozen yogurt, so figure that one out).

So how did it taste?



Well, first, let's talk about how it looked. I wasn't expecting the bright rendered-Elmo-relative red of an actual slice of red velvet cake. This shade, however, is a very familiar pink. Familiar as in Pepto-Bismol pink. Or perhaps aging Barbie pink would be a better way to put it.

The flavor, thankfully, is far and away better than the color. The best way I can describe it is to tell you it's like raw birthday cake batter mixed into yogurt, with just a little touch of chocolate. Maybe that doesn't sound like it would be good...but it sure is!



It has a strong, buttery yellow cake taste (hence "birthday cake"). Right after the sweetness of the cake flavor wears off, the tang of the yogurt takes over. It really is the perfect hybrid of flavors. The yogurt tartness keeps the sweetness of the cake flavor from seeming to be too artificial. The sweetness is just enough that it makes you feel like you are having something that is sinful -- even if you're not.

The texture is uniformly smooth. There are no chunks, cake pieces, or swirls of frosting (not that I would have expected them). It is thinner than full fat/calorie yogurt, yet not so thin that it seems more like a dip than a real yogurt.

Whether you are watching your diet or not, this is just damn good yogurt!



PURCHASED FROM:
Albertsons Supermarket

PRICE:
$.79

CALORIES:
110 Calories per 6 ounce container

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
yoplait.com

Yoplait Delights Parfait: Raspberry Chocolate

Marvo talked about the Yoplait Delights on The Impulsive Buy's Podcast episode number 4...of course, he also dances in a dress...

While there is no dancing in this review, I actually did get to taste the Raspberry Chocolate parfait.



The cups are divided into two layers. The top portion is the Barbie doll pink layer of raspberry, and below that is a light brown chocolate layer.



The raspberry layer was my favorite of the two. It's the type of raspberry that tastes more like raspberry flavor than like actual fresh raspberries. It's sweet more than tangy. It's almost like a raspberry candy. In fact, it's like a soft version of a Raspberry Creme Saver. I would actually eat a full sized container of this flavor alone.

The chocolate side was a little harder to get used to. I think this is because in terms of color and texture it looks like chocolate pudding -- so then, though I knew it isn't pudding, for some reason I kept expecting that type of flavor, which isn't fair because -- DUH, it's yogurt. The chocolate side is more tart than the raspberry. It reminded me of soy chocolate milk. There is a very mild chocolate taste along with a tangy yogurt finish.

The texture for both flavors is very creamy and thick. One of the things I don't like about some of the "lite" yogurts is that they can be thin and runny. (Yes, Dannon, I am looking at you.) But there is no such issue with the Parfaits. It's comparable to its higher calorie siblings.

I am not sure chocolate is ever going to be my favorite yogurt flavor, but I am chalking that up to personal preference rather than a funky product. I did like the raspberry side, and I like the idea of the Parfaits. And I am definitely looking forward to trying the lemon flavor!




PURCHASED FROM:
Albertsons Supermarket

Yoplait Light- Blueberry Patch Yogurt

This may be hands down the BEST blueberry yogurt period!
Not only does this yogurt have the perfect balance of sweet and tangy base flavor.
But rather then having just a swirl of blueberry on the bottom or the top, it has whole large blueberries! What could possibly be better then entire, plump berries?!

This is one of those products I can only gush over.

PURCHASED FROM:
Albertsons Supermarket

Yoplait Light- Strawberry Shortcake Yogurt

Who doesn't like strawberry shortcake- well if the latest commercials are to be believed Richard Simmons and his short shorts- and me
Well... that is not entirely true. I do in fact like freshly made strawberry shortcake (although I prefer it made with pound cake rather then sponge cake or biscuits)

What I didn't like was Yoplait's version. I have to say that by and large I have been a fan of the Light line. The flavors are tasty, fruit packed and just all around good.

None of those things can be said for the strawberry shortcake. I can describe this flavor for you perfectly. Remember when you were a kid and were sick and got prescribed those liquid sulfur drugs? the ones that the pharmacy would stick "strawberry" flavor in to make just a touch less vile? THAT is what this Yoplait flavor tastes like. That is exactly what it tastes like- with a little way fake vanilla-type batter flavor. The best part about this yogurt was that it was a small container and was over quickly.

In the future both Richard and I will be on the sidelines for this one.

PURCHASED FROM:
Albertsons Supermarket

Yoplait Light- Pineapple Upside Down Cake Yogurt

Yes, I am on a yogurt kick again!
I tend to stay away from pineapple flavored items. The flavoring always either seems too sweet for me or it has this weird almost powdered texture. But I was intrigued by the dessert type flavor of this yogurt and gave it a try.

Honestly, I don't think I have had pineapple upside down cake more then twice in my life. No reason, it was just not a big thing in my household. But I love the idea of it. Crunchy topping, sweet bottom- Yum!

The base of the yogurt is a sweet vanilla that almost tastes like cake batter. There is definitely brown sugar flavoring. And there are small chunks of pineapple mixed in.

I could see where this would easily satisfy my sweet tooth- and at only 110 calories per cup it's a lot of bang for the bucks.


This was really good and has been added to my staples list.

PURCHASED FROM:
Albertsons Supermarket

Yoplait Yogurt- Passion Fruit

Clearly I like yogurt

I was thinking about it and while I have had a ton of things that are Passion Fruit flavored I have never actually eaten a Passion Fruit. With that in mind I can't accurately tell you how true to life the flavor is- but I can tell you that it is on par with any of the other passion fruit flavorings I have ever had.
It's a strong, almost floral taste.

Personally, on it's own it is a little too sweet for me but I would be willing to bet it would make a fantastic addition to a smoothie.

Yoplait Fizzix Yogurt

Fizzy yogurt?


I wasn't aware that somewhere out there in the cold dark world a child sat weeping, thinking that if only the Go-gurt tube in their lunch would fizz they wouldn't feel the need to trade it for some of that sugary bliss that hussy Little Debbi is pushing.

That is probably not how Yoplait R&D came up with Fizzix, but my version is probably more interesting. Being the mature grown up that I am I had been perusing the yogurt section for something like healthy and diet friendly like Activia- however, my inner 9 year old saw the Fizzix and whined until I broke down and bought it. I ended up with the Blue Raspberry/ Strawberry Watermelon combo in my cart.

The Fizz:
What I was expecting fizz-wise was Pop Rocks suspended in yogurt. I am not sure why I thought it would be that extreme of a fizz. It is not but I would have liked it if it was.
No, rather then the rapid popping and fizzing of Pop Rocks what you get is more like soft fizzy sparkling wine or lightly carbonated water. Coupled with the cool, creamy yogurt on your tongue it is still an interesting sensation even if it is not very strong. I did notice that if you stick your tongue out (with the yogurt on it of course) that the fizz does get stronger- but that does not exactly make you the most popular person in the room if you are not eating alone.

The flavors:
Blue Raspberry. This is clearly a raspberry aimed at kids. It is super mild to the point it would be more aptly named "I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Raspberry and sweet. It's not bad, it's just not anything special- and hey it is blue! there are just not enough blue foods out there!

Watermelon. If Jolly Rancher made a yogurt this would be it! artificial and tart the foodie in me is embarrassed to admit it but I really did like this flavor.

I could see where these could be a good way to get kids to eat yogurt- and for those of us old enough to know better they make a tasty treat.

Yoplait Whips- Creamy Latte

I've mentioned a few times that I really like the Whips line from Yoplait. Recently they added a coffee flavor to the line. I like coffee flavor but haven't been terribly impressed with coffee yogurt (Dannon's is just not good) but I tried it anyway...

Really Good!
The coffee taste actually does taste like a slightly sweet latte with a tart edge- and it manages not to have that bitter old gas station coffee taste that some coffee products have.
The best way to describe it would be to imagine coffee flavored cheesecake. If you want something sweet and low cal this is it!