Food

Double Cheeseburger? We Review Arnott’s Shapes’ New Flavours!

Fair dinkum, we’re a Shapes loving nation, are we not? But what are all these CRAZY NEW FLAVOURS popping up on supermarket shelves? Stand by for my comprehensive taste-testing review with all the nitty-gritty details, so you know what’s a HIT and what’s a MISS.

Arnott’s Shapes might well be Australia’s favourite snack biscuit.  We love to devour these bite-sized flavour bombs at the beach, at school, at the footy, the cricket, in the car – everywhere! One thing I know for sure is that we can’t get enough of them.

For many, many years we were content with the original classic Shapes flavours. And now we’re (literally) hungry for more with new and limited edition flavours hitting the supermarket stands. But will they be better than the trusty old Chicken Crimpy and Barbecue Shapes?

Research is finger-licking good

Never fear folks. I’m here to take one for the team. Or in fact, FOUR for the team. Four new flavours that is. Research has never been tastier and I’ll report back, just as soon as I’ve licked my finger and got the last bit of the seasoning mix in the bottom of the bag. If you know, you know.

THE TASTE TEST: New Flavour Arnott’s Shapes

[mc_block_title custom_title=”TEST 1: Triple Cheese Toastie – Limited Edition”]

Arnotts Shapes
Arnott’s Shapes Triple Cheese Toastie. Source: Supplied

The expectation: In two words – MAXIMUM CHEESE. To be frank, I’m not expecting any great surprises here. How can they be different from Cheddar Shapes? Plus, there’s only so much biscuit surface area to cram the flavour seasoning on to so it’s a (slightly suspicious) wait and see for me.

The reality: I take back everything I said. I was expecting cheese but what I got was almost like a buttery, cheesy popcorn-like flavour which I had to taste twice several times to be able to pinpoint the flavour. Well played Arnott’s.

Hit or miss: A solid 5/5 on the flavour scale and a HIT. Will buy again!

[mc_block_title custom_title=”TEST 2: Sizzling Steak and Onion – Limited Edition”]

Arnotts Shapes
Arnott’s Shapes Sizzling Steak & Onion. Source: Supplied

The expectation: I’m expecting a strong barbecue flavour from the Sizzling Steak and Onion Shapes. I’m crossing my fingers there’s no dominant beef flavour, but I dive in, nonetheless. In the name of duty, I’m here for you guys.

The reality: Not beefy! It’s an odd flavour, not going to lie. More of a salty, sweet onion flavour takes over, which is pleasant enough but … still weird. If you enjoy the regular Barbecue Shapes, you’ll likely like these too.

Hit or miss: 2.5/5 and it’s a miss for me. They’re nice enough – and certainly not awful – but that sweet flavour is a bit much for me.

[mc_block_title custom_title=”TEST 3: Double Cheeseburger – Limited Edition”]

Arnotts Shapes
Arnott’s Shapes Double Cheeseburger. Source: Supplied

The expectation: I’ve no idea, this one is a real mystery box. I’m not sure how you’d capture the elements of a cheeseburger and put it in a biscuit. I won’t be surprised if it’s cheese-loaded. Stand by…

The reality: HOLY CHEESEBURGER BATMAN. I taste that telltale fast-food burger sauce and… wait… is that… YES, IT’S PICKLE. I don’t know how they did it, but I LOVE IT. From the first bite to last, this is 100% a cheeseburger.

Hit or miss: 4.5/5 and hands down a hit. Will buy again and again.

[mc_block_title custom_title=”TEST 4: Chicken Parma (Aussie Legend)”]

Arnotts Shapes
Arnott’s Shapes Chicken Parmi. Source: Supplied

The expectation: For sure this will be some sort of hybrid Barbecue and Chicken Crimpy biscuit. Will just need a side of hot chips and we’ll be good to go.

The reality: Delicious, but not chicken parmi as I know it. They’re not very chicken-like at all and much more like a softer Pizza shape – which is great because the OG Pizza Shapes are HARD. Also, the bigger shape of biscuit makes them more susceptible to breakages. That or the supermarket guy was throwing them around.

Hit or miss: 3/5 and a miss. Just like a busy night at the tavern bistro, I received a pizza when I ordered a parmi. Kudos to Arnott’s though for playing fair – one side of the box says ‘chicken parmi’ while the other says ‘chicken parma’. #fencesitters

[mc_block_title custom_title=”SUMMARY: Hit or Miss?”]

My picks of the bunch is the Double Cheeseburger followed by see ya later Cheddar flavoured Shapes, there’s a tastier, Triple Cheese Toastie guy on the block and he is FIIIIINE. But really you can’t go wrong with any of them – they’re all on the scale of YUM!

We’re a loyal bunch, us Shapes consumers. And we do consider ourselves connoisseurs of the fine snack food. Some will remember when Arnott’s several years ago changed their Shapes seasoning EVER SO SLIGHTLY and we were quite vocally outraged, so much so a flavour even returned. It wasn’t our proudest moment, but it’s testament to just how much we love a biscuit. Right?

Arnott’s Shapes – the biscuit that shaped a nation. What’s your favourite flavour, past or present?

Arnotts Shapes
THE RESULTS ARE IN. Source: Supplied

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Avatar of Lexi Klaebe

South Australian mum and self proclaimed foodie, Lexi can most days be found in the kitchen, apron tied firm and armed with a whisk or wooden spoon!

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