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Our colleagues have been talking about a Pop-Tart commercial where you're shown how to sandwich ice cream between two Pop-Tarts, insert a popsicle stick, and voila -- you've got your very own ice-cream-truck-worthy concoction. Seriously? We immediately associated it with the fast-food gluttony exhibited by KFC and IHOP. Do we really need to be encouraging Americans (and specifically children) to combine a sugary pastry with ice cream?
Kellogg's brought back this marketing campaign (it first appeared in 2009) just in time for summer, presumably because toasted baked goods aren't as appealing when the temperature spikes. At least they're pushing the treats as a dessert, not breakfast. (We're not convinced the tarts should be considered "breakfast" to begin with.)
All that said, our curiosity got the better of us. With all the flavors of Pop-Tarts and the limitless varieties of ice cream, what sort of sandwiches could we create that would mimic our favorite desserts?
Click on the gallery below to see which eight combinations we tried; find our favorites after the jump.
Winning Combinations:
• Banana Sundae: The Pop-Tart didn't overpower the ice cream, and it tasted like a giant sundae.
• Strawberry Shortcake: We gave this sandwich its name because it happily reminded us of the Good Humor bar.
• Cookies & Cream Squared: You really couldn't go wrong here.
We then enlisted editors from Asylum, Lemondrop, Moviefone, Stylelist and MyDaily to create their own sandwiches. Combinations which earned two thumbs up included:
• Dontcha Dough?: Cinnamon Roll Pop-Tarts and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream
• Cinnamon Swirl: Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts and Vanilla ice cream
• Cookie Dough Squared: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pop-Tarts
• Froze Fruit: Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tarts with Banana Split ice cream
• Banana Flambé: Cinnamon Roll Pop-Tarts with Banana Split ice cream
All the editors agreed that the sandwiches would be better if the ice cream weren't so melted, so if you get inspired to try this at home, we recommend freezing the sandwiches for a bit after assembling. All the editors also (begrudgingly) admitted the sandwiches were pretty good, in a high-octane-sugar-hit way.
What we want to know, dear readers, is this: Given free reign at the grocery store to come up with your own flavor combos, what Pop-Tart ice cream sandwiches would you make?
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Pop-Tart Ice Cream Sandwiches
Banana Sundae: Banana Split Ice Cream between Hot Fudge Sundae Pop-Tarts
Chocolate Chipwich: Chocolate Ice Cream between Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pop-Tarts
Cookie Explosion: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream between Cookies and Cream Pop-Tarts
Strawberry Shortcake: Vanilla ice cream with sprinkles between Strawberry Milkshake Pop-Tarts
Reverse Chocolate-Covered Strawberry: Chocolate ice cream between Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tarts
Neapolitan: Hot Fudge Sundae Pop-Tart, Vanilla ice cream, Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tart
Cookies & Cream Squared: Cookies'n Cream ice cream between Cookies & Creme Pop-Tarts
Breakfast Bun: Coffee ice cream between Cinnamon Roll Pop-Tarts
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5-26-2010 @8:54PM aka_pluto said... the most important question here is, did you toast them first?
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5-27-2010 @10:57AM gary said... well, i think its mom and dad who should make sure the kids eat healthy its not the company.....the kids only eat what they have in the house....so here is a good idea if you dont want your child eating this or anything else then DONT BUY IT!! yes its that simple......stop blaming everyone for your failures as a parent!!
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5-29-2010 @3:31PM Opihi said... Good Grief! Just look at the photo and you want to gag! My jaws locked like my cat's when I try to give her a pill ....
And this keyboard startes to jam up whenever I see an AOL affiliate blog board with a hyperlink under my name. First my stomach is invaded by this PopTart horror .... now my privacy by AOL's sneaky sign-in tactics.
WARNING ... there is a Hyperlink under your display name on this comment board. Try it. WOW .... isn't that neat?. There's your "profile'.
That profile was created the first time you signed on to ANY comment board on AOL ... and there are almost a hundred of them, including this one. It's linked to your EMail address . Permanently.
Now look at the nice archives of EVERY comment you've ever made, right there on your profile. To be seen by anyone who clicks onto it.
AOL never even warned you a "profile" was being made. Only that your comment had been "verified". AOL apparently thinks "verify" or "confirm" means "set up unauthorized profile". Sneaky sneaky
Oh yes. If you have an unusual name, your profile may be picked up by Google Search and you'll be all over the World Wide Web as an independent link. Instant fame?
Nasty Nasty ....
5-27-2010 @3:44PM Gladstone said... See, I would have thought the pop tart would be too hard to bite through, causing the ice cream to mush out. I have so much to learn!
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6-03-2010 @11:22PM PC said... I imagine it's very much like real ice cream sandwiches, where the cookie part is very crispy when first laid on, but softens as it absorbs moisture. However, a Pop-Tart already has a soft filling, so less pressure would be needed(unless the ice cream is 75% melted like in these photos!
5-28-2010 @7:28AM Sarah said... Whoever thought up this idea had to be high.
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5-29-2010 @6:46PM Sarah said... Haha, it's just awesome because I know this is exactly what I'd want to eat when I got the munchies.
5-29-2010 @5:25PM Mike said... Leave us alone Big Brother. If I die from bad foods, I take responsibility for that.
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5-29-2010 @7:22PM Kimberlee said... Here, here! I agree...It's our decision what we eat. Granted, I commend the move to lower salt in foods. I don't like the government saying we shouldn't eat a meal at a restaurant because it is 1,000 calories. I don't want to know! I want to enjoy my restaurant visit!
5-29-2010 @3:25PM Hattie Crabtree said... Anyone tried the new Wild Grape?I was sad when they quit making the Grape Pop Tarts a few years ago.I don't eat them often but Grape was my favorite along with Strawberry.I hope the new Grape is in enough stores and stays on the market.
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5-29-2010 @3:28PM MissD said... Only Brown Sugar Pop Tarts are tolerable to me now as for the rest of them, I don't know how I used to eat those as a kid lol.
Anyway, as far as the ice creams in the picture, the Haggan Daas Five line of ice creams are the best! Blue Bunny is good too. If Pop Tarts does decide to combine their "treats" with ice cream, I hope they at least choose a good brand.
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5-29-2010 @4:08PM Louis said... Do Americans actually wonder why we are 67% overweight?
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5-29-2010 @4:21PM Sharon said... I've seen the commercial for these and it really bugs me because I don't think it's even possible to insert a popsicle stick into a Pop Tart.
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5-29-2010 @4:33PM MandiP said... What folks need to know is that this combination has been done for DECADES to Pop Tarts. The thing is, decades ago, people didn't eat them soley as meals or even every day. It matters to know whether to eat something decadent once, or BE a glutton and do it all the time. It was a "over the top" once a year treat. 'Treat' being the appropro word. And those who ate it...boy did they PAY (tummy aches, etc.) Don't blame the tarts because common sense rules here. You can do almost anything and PUT anything between two Pop Tarts (and Donuts for all that matters!), the question is: should you?!
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5-29-2010 @4:52PM diana said... why do they make all these foul nasty funky disgusting flavors when they cant bring back the old ones like vanilla creme?????
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5-29-2010 @4:57PM Dobiemall said... I heard that Kellogg's doesn't advertise Pop-Tarts as breakfast food anymore because there is too much fat and sugar to meet the industry "voluntary" standards. So, "part of a balanced breakfast" becomes "Pop-Tarts are made for fun!"
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5-29-2010 @5:04PM Ebeth said... Come on people, some of these combinations look disgusting, no question about it. Sometimes the nastiest combinations taste great. I thought supreme pizza I get at Pizza Hut or CiCi's was nasty looking, and I tried a slice, now it is the only type of pizza I get, if possible, even in the grocery store. I mean really think about it, how many times have your parents put together nasty looking dishes only to taste so good that you have to have seconds or thirds? A lot I bet.
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6-16-2010 @11:42PM Samantha said... As if Pop Tarts didn't have enough fat and calories in the first place.
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5-29-2010 @5:45PM Sue said... The ice cream sandwiches shown in the pictures look like a BIG MESS! You should let the ice cream soften just enough to form it on the Pop Tarts...then quickly get them in the freezer. I would not take them out of the freezer until they were actually FROZEN HARD. Actually I imagine they might taste pretty good...but only a time or two during the summer. My gosh, the calories!
I'd like to try the brown sugar/cinnamon Pop Tart with either vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
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5-29-2010 @5:53PM Pat Ingram said... If they sold more pop tarts WITHOUT the icing I would buy them, Have never liked the icing.
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