Caramel Coconut Oreo

There's a new Oreo flavor in town: Caramel Coconut.

Caramel Coconut Oreo package

I have to admit, I like the idea of this flavor combination. A few years ago, when Oreo had the #MyOREOCreation flavor contest, one of my entries was Coconut Dream: coconut cream with a dollop of fudge between waffle cone-flavored cookies. (This was before the coconut thins were released.) This flavor sounds like it would be in that same vein.

Not that I'm taking any credit for it. I really think the intention was to get close to the classic Samoa/Caramel deLite Girl Scout cookies. This is a favorite cookie of mine (even more than the Thin Mint). How does the Oreo version compare?

Smell Test: When I open the bag, the aroma is almost more of a butterscotch than a caramel. I know they are similar, but to me, they are distinct. Along with this scent is a faint hint of toasted coconut. The butterscotch/caramel scent has an artificial quality to it, though it's not unpleasant.

Inside the cookie

Taste Test: When I eat a cookie from the bag, the artificial quality tags along. It's hard for Oreo creme to mimic the smooth texture of caramel. There's a buttery quality to real caramel that isn't present here. The Caramel Coconut flavor creme is between two chocolate cookies, which to me don't necessarily complement the flavor well. I'm curious how I would have liked this creme with Golden cookies, though some people might say it's too sweet.

Twist Test: The creme by itself tastes better than I expected. I didn't notice any coconut pieces until I ate the creme by itself.

Milk Test: This is the odd Oreo that I think actually tastes better after dunking it in milk. I think milk tones down the artificial quality to the creme and ties the creme and cookie combination together.

Overall: This is a flavor worth experiencing, but I wouldn't embrace it as a long-term addition to the Oreo line. Parts of the cookie conflict with each other: the chocolate cookie conflicts with the creme, and the cookies obscure the texture of the coconut pieces. A worthy attempt.

Key Info
Flavor: Caramel Coconut
Date Announced: January 3, 2020
Date Found: January 13, 2020, Target
Description: Caramel Coconut flavor creme artificially flavored with coconut pieces
Cookie(s): Chocolate
Package size: Family Size (34 cookies)
Serving size: 2 cookies, 140 calories, 7 grams fat