Product Review: Kinnikinnick JB Brownie Squares

Brownies have a place of honor in our house. They are my husband’s favorite treat. His passion for these chocolate squares of heaven has spread through the whole family. We love to review different brands of brownies, sometimes we “review” them over and over :)

I tell you this to set up the feel of the story that is to follow. It is important to understand that when it comes to brownies, this man is an expert. I suppose it is also important to add that he is not gluten free. He eats gluten free with the family, but has not really adopted the lifestyle for himself. This means he has a very wide range of experience with his taster.

I opened the package of Kinnikinnick JB Brownie Squares tonight for the express purpose of this review. I was excited because I had noticed these gluten free brownies in the freezer case in the grocery store before, but thought them a bit pricey ($6.23) to buy at the time.

I attacked the large brownie in the plastic tray with a butter knife (they were already thawed). I cut two squares, put my review hat on and took a bite. I was immediately in love with the texture. It is unbelievable! Chewy, moist, solid and dense. It is the dream texture that every brownie aspires to have.

At this point, the love of my life decided to join in the brownie bliss. My mouth was still full and I had the rest of the brownie in my hand. He grabbed a corner of the brownie, attempting to tear off a bite, and failed. He really had to work to take a piece. Sarcastically, he remarked, “Well, that’s going in the review.”

He put the bite in his mouth and within seconds was trying to wrestle the rest of the brownie from my hand. I laughed, handed him the second square I had cut, and said, “Yes it is.”

Here is the part where I get to say, but wait, there’s more! The texture alone (no matter how amazing it is) is not enough to base a whole review on. Unfortunately, the flavor did not live up to the munchability. It was good, but the chocolate was not very rich or deep. It carried an odd undertone and a very unpleasant aftertaste. I recommend that once you start eating these brownies that you never stop.

Another point I want to mention is that I am a bit confused by the nutrition information. The package says that the brownie is 12.3 oz. The back panel tells me that a serving is one piece, but it doesn’t say how many pieces should be in the package. Does this mean that the serving size is the whole tray? Should I estimate what I think one piece should look like? The whole thing is thought provoking, but not a deal breaker.

Overall, I know that the texture is too great here to pass up. I look forward to trying these brownies in a hot fudge sundae, only partially in the hope that the hot fudge will keep the aftertaste away.