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Quick question: When’s the last time you ate a jelly bean? Had you asked me prior to yesterday, I honestly couldn’t have given you an answer—it’s been *that* long. As it turns out, the sweet treat has come quite a long way since my Easter basket years. Six limited-edition Brach’s jelly bean flavors were released earlier this month as part of the brand’s Easter Brunch collection, and they’re unlike anything you’ve ever tasted.
Forget grape, lemon and lime—this year, the jelly bean gods have blessed us with saccharine delights such as Blueberry Maple Pancake, Mimosa and Caramel Cold Brew—yes, friends, there’s a jelly bean that tastes like the best steeped iced coffee you’ve ever had.
While they’re not quite as wild as 2022’s Late Night Taco Truck offerings (it was real, look it up), they still provide quite the rollercoaster ride for your taste buds.
The company sent me a bag, so I tried all six of the new for 2024 flavors, and let’s just say, I have some *thoughts.* Watch the video above and keep reading to find out what each one really tastes like.
1. Blueberry Maple Pancake
- Flavor Rating: 7/10
I expected this to taste like breakfast. Instead, I got an instant sugar rush with a hint of cotton candy. Like the experimental gum that turned Violet Beauregarde into a blueberry in Willy Wonka’s factory, however, the taste changed as I chewed, and the maple syrup flavor began to creep in. All in all, I’d say this is good in moderation. It’s too sweet to eat more than a few, but I didn’t dislike it.
2. Chocolate Glazed Donut
- Flavor Rating: 5/10
This one had my taste buds all kinds of confused. I got very little chocolate from it—more of a butterscotch flavor that was punctuated by notes of bubblegum at the end. If I tried really hard, I could maybe concede to a touch of Dunkin’s chocolate frosting. Mixed with butterscotch. It was … OK, but there are (much) better beans in the bunch.
3. Caramel Cold Brew
- Flavor Rating: 10/10
Got a java addiction? Prepare to have your world rocked. This really does taste like coffee! I’m not talking about a wimpy cup of gas station brew, either: This tastes like strong coffee, hold the bitterness. It’s kind of like eating a coffee bean or taking a shot of cold brew for the most delicious pick-me-up. While my boyfriend wasn’t as keen on these, those with an appreciation for a bold cup of joe will dig the flavor as well as the perceived caffeine boost. It’s a win-win!
4. Cinnamon Roll
- Flavor Rating: 3/10
Cinnamon Roll is the only jelly bean in the Easter Brunch collection I found to be truly inedible. Not because it’s bad, per se, but because the cinnamon is of the spicy variety—think Big Red chewing gum or a Fireball shot. Having made myself deathly ill drinking a pint of Hot Damn in my youth (don’t ask), spicy cinnamon is not exactly a flavor profile I mesh with—I would have preferred a softer, more coffee-ready cinnamon. For those who can stomach it, however, it’s not so bad—in fact, my boyfriend said this one was great!
5. Mimosa
- Flavor Rating: 9/10
It was no surprise to me that I liked Mimosa—I adore them in real life, too. The bean version isn’t quite so fizzy—it definitely could’ve done with a little tongue sparkle—but the orange juice overtones were spot on. Maybe because of its citric flavor, it’s not as sweet as some of the others, but for me, that was a bonus, making it far easier for my typically sugar-starved body to digest. A real standout, if I do say so!
6. Berry Smoothie
- Flavor Rating: 8/10
If you’re a fan of the tried-and-true, you’re bound to enjoy Berry Smoothie: It tastes the most to me like your classic, run-of-the-mill jelly bean. It’s sweet, it’s fruity, and true to its name, there are strong notes of berry. Its definitely less exciting than the others (berry isn’t exactly a core shaker to the palette), but it also just might be the one I’d eat the most of in a row, hence its solid flavor rating.
The Final Verdict
If you ask me, the Brach’s Easter Brunch jelly beans are worth it for the Caramel Cold Brew flavor alone. I’d buy the entire bag just for a handful! Since I also enjoyed Mimosa, Berry Smoothie and Blueberry Maple Pancake, however, I think they offer a pretty good bang for your buck. They’re only here for a limited time, so I’d definitely advise stocking up—especially since you can get two 10-ounce bags for less than $20 if you snag them on Amazon, with Prime delivery well ahead of Easter Sunday.
Now. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just be over here, chewing through my own Easter basket…
Have you tried the Brach’s Easter Brunch collection? What’s your favorite flavor? Tell me in the comments below!
Xo, Nicole
