We Tried The Newest Taco Bell x Milkbar Collab (And It’s Better Than You’d Expect)
To infuse the dessert with a bit of Taco Bell’s signature Tex-Mex flair, the collaboration reimagines the flavors of a classic Milkbar birthday cake inside an empanada. The pastry shell is filled with a cake batter-inspired cream, then topped with a pink glaze and a dusting of sprinkles. Naturally, we knew we had to test it out for you, dear readers. Without further ado, here is our official review.
Pros — Honestly, we really enjoyed this release. Not only is it fun and inherently whimsical thanks to the pink glaze and rainbow sprinkles, but it also tastes great. The filling is not overwhelmingly sweet, yet it remains luscious and creamy with a pleasant cake batter flavor.
But let’s be frank, the real star of the show is the empanada crust. It was freshly fried rather than stale, offering a perfect balance of crispy and chewy textures. The edges were shatteringly crisp, yet the dough maintained a lovely chew that prevented it from dissolving instantly in the mouth. We actually had something to sink our teeth into. Furthermore, the nature of the dough added a savory element to the mix, preventing the dessert from becoming cloyingly sweet.
The glaze also provided a nice touch. Although it is simply described as a pink glaze, it carries a slightly fruity note. It adds a hint of acidity that makes the overall flavor profile more balanced and enjoyable. Perhaps the most appealing aspect, however, was the generous coating of sprinkles. One of our favorite things about Milkbar is their unabashed embrace of nostalgia, and seeing that reflected in this collaboration made us very happy.
Cons — If you have an aversion to the taste of artificial cake batter, you are almost guaranteed to dislike this. While the filling is pleasant, it does possess that classic artificial cake flavor. We find that nostalgic and charming, but we can easily see how others might not find that to be an attractive quality.
Otherwise, our only real complaint regarding the empanada is the value. It is remarkably small compared to our expectations, especially given the price point. Considering the general value of Taco Bell’s menu, it was a huge shock to find that this item was only about five or six bites long.
