Reviews: Talkback Heats Up Cookie Aisle; Plus, Utz, Mooski

Nosh Staff May. 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM

In this reviews roundup, we gobble Talkback Snacks’ spicy shortbreads, Utz Lemonade Potato Chips and Mooski chilled oat bars.

Talkback Spicy Shortbread Cookies

Talkback is a distinctive line of shortbread cookies that veers from the traditional by incorporating a bold, spicy twist. Offered in 6 oz. bags and featuring a minimal ingredient list, the line includes three varieties: Chocolate & Ancho Chile (medium spice), Sichuan Peanut Butter (medium, with a lingering tingle), and Cumin & Green Chili (the spiciest of the bunch). Each delivers a blend of buttery richness, subtle sweetness, and warming heat, with 160 calories and 6 grams of sugar per three-cookie serving.

Things that stand out:

Inventive fusion of buttery shortbread and spice, a highly original take within the cookie category and a very stark contrast to the more reserved shortbread cookie segment.
Distinct and well-executed flavor variety, with each SKU offering a different type of heat and flavor profile. Each of the three flavors has its own merits, and Talkback has done a great job of combining flavors that typically complement the associated pepper (e.g. chocolate and ancho chile).
Clean label and simple ingredients help position the brand as a premium, more natural treat, and we like the front-of-pack image of the cookie.

Things to consider:

“Talkback” as a name doesn’t clearly communicate the product’s unique value proposition or spicy identity.
The use of spice in cookies may be niche, and appeal is likely to vary widely depending on individual spice tolerance. We wonder if having a spicy and non-spicy line (which would lean on Talkback’s unique flavors) would create a bigger opportunity.
Packaging lacks spice-level callouts, which could lead to surprises — both good and bad — for first-time buyers.
The minimalist package design, while clean and legible, may not compete well visually on shelf without stronger branding or more engaging graphics.

Rating:

Utz Lemonade Potato Chips

Utz Brands is putting a summery spin on a classic snacking staple in partnership with childhood cancer charity Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Available for a limited time, Utz Lemonade Potato Chips combine notes of tart, sweet lemonade with a salty crunch. The company will donate a portion of each bag sold, up to $25,000, to fund research and support for youth battling cancer.

Things that stand out:

Tangy, sour, sweet, salty – it’s all that in a bag of chips. And, surprisingly, it works.
The ingredient list includes sugar, citric acid, lemon juice and lemon oil. No phony flavors here.
The lines between food and beverage are increasingly blurry. This mashup of familiar favorites offers both novelty and nostalgia.

Things to consider:

While some shoppers will find this combination intriguing, others may think it offputting. Several social media users described the concept as “nasty,” “gross” and “yuk.”
An overpowering sourness limits the number of chips one can crush in a sitting… but maybe that’s a good thing?

Rating:

Mooski Chilled Oat Bars

Mooski debuted three years ago as a fresh take on granola bars, featuring a formulation inspired by a family muesli recipe. Available in Peanut Butter Banana, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Cookie Dough flavors, the chilled oat bars are crafted with gluten-free oats, chocolate, peanuts, almonds, olive oil and agave.

Things that stand out:

Fresh snacking sets are growing at grocery stores as shoppers seek options with fewer preservatives. Mooski is indulgent, nutritious and unlike any other bar on the market in terms of taste and texture.
The colorful, whimsical packaging stands out on shelf, and a recent redesign elevates the brand (while earlier iterations appeared to cater to children).
The brand fills a unique gap as a slope-worthy snack for skiers and snowboarders that doesn’t harden in frigid temperatures.
The bars boast several on-trend attributes – gluten-free and vegan with no preservatives or seed oils.

Things to consider: