NEW Fox's Empire Bars

As we're getting closer to the release of the new Star Wars film (something I can't escape due to the almost daily countdown from my other half) there is an ever increasing array of new themed products on the shelves. Earlier this year Fox's released some strawberry lunchbox biscuit packs: Frozen 'Ice Whirls' and Star Wars 'Galactic Snacks'. This must have been a lucrative move for the brand because they have just launched two new licensed lines: Star Wars 'Empire Bars' and Frozen 'Enchantment Bars', which are essentially the same product -chocolate and raisin biscuit bars.

Of course, I fell for the Star Wars theme, and picked up the pack of 8 Empire Bars from ASDA for £1. They are finger shaped biscuits with different characters on each individual packet- and at only 55cals each they are even smaller than the new Rocky Cookie bars I reviewed a couple of weeks ago. 

Looking at them they are very similar (except for the even smaller size) to the cookie bars, and taste virtually identical. I couldn't find any raisins in mine, but then again it was gone in less than two mouthfuls! 

They are tasty, and I guess they provide a bite size sized sugar rush for the children they are aimed at- but for me they're too much style and not enough substance. 

3/10

NEW Choco & Caramel PiCK UP Biscuit Bars

German biscuit manufacturers Bahlsen launched 'PiCK UP!' biscuits in January last year with their milk chocolate flavour, which was then followed by the Oreo-style 'Black 'n White' in August. Now they're back with two new flavours- 'Dark Chocolate' and 'Choco Caramel.'

I haven't seen any press about the release of the new PiCK UP!s, and only discovered these Choco & Caramel bars by chance when looking for another biscuit pack to complete the 2 for £2 deal at ASDA (with the new Cookie Rocky Bars I reviewed the other day.)

"PiCK UP! Choco & Caramel is a delicious treat of two crispy biscuits encasing thick milk chocolate and smooth caramel. Individually wrapped, they are perfect for on the go!"

I've only had their milk chocolate bars before, but the introduction of caramel to any chocolate product is always going to be an improvement in my books. 

The biscuits were simple and had a good snap, with the plainness enabling the chocolate caramel filling to take centre stage. The chocolate layer was as thick as each biscuit, and it tasted almost like firm Nutella. A quick scan of the ingredients surprised me because my palette was infact correct- it does contain ground hazelnuts. Whilst this was a bonus for me (I love Nutella) I imagine it could be a bit of a trap for anyone with a nut allergy because it's not clearly labelled as a hazelnut chocolate. The caramel was a lovely gooey addition, enveloped in the centre of the chocolate layer. I was pleased to discover that it was of good quality with a decadent richness that shone through and enhanced the PiCK UP! tremendously. 

I enjoyed these biscuits and there's no doubt I'll be buying them again.

8/10

NEW Fox's Rocky Cookie Bars

Fox's -the little devils- have just released a whole host of deliciously tempting sounding new products! There's the 'Red Velvet Crunch Creams, 'Milk Chocolate & Lemon Mousse Biscuit Bars,' 'Dark Chocolate & Raspberry Mousse Biscuit Bars' (which look a lot like the old Echo Bars) and these 'Rocky Cookie Bars.'

Rockys tend to be a lunch-box staple in our house, and so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to buy them when I spotted them in our local ASDA. The pack of 10 costs £1.68 but is currently on offer for 2 for £2, which you can mix and match with other biscuit bars. Fox's have apparently treated us with these 'biscwits' because rather than studding them with just one kind of chocolate, the packaging informs me that they have used both milk and dark chocolate chips- hurrah.

They're only 90 calories a bar, which unfortunately just means that they are disappointingly small. I can't be the only one who is convinced that chocolate biscuit bars are shrinking (except notably Penguin who have just favourably just re-sized their products.)

The biscuits themselves aren't anything new- they're kind of like an oat-ier version of a Maryland cookie but in a finger format. The biscuit is tasty, and dunks well, but is so small that after a couple of bites it's all gone. I didn't even get the chance to try and distinguish the presence of both types of chocolate.

I like these bars, and they taste good- but there's just not enough biscuit in one bar! So, pass us the cookie jar, eh? 

5/10