Have you noticed that in the past few years, baked cheese snacks have really taken off? Though it’s not surprising how popular they’ve become, it is surprising that it’s taken this long. In most stores, you can find variations from brand name options to fancy baked crisps, all the perfect accouterment to a cheese board, or just a great bedtime (or anytime) snack.
As a treat, Whisps‘ PR team reached out to me to see if I wanted to try their assortment of flavors, and I would have had to be a fool to say no to all that cheesy goodness. We’ve covered Whisps before and you can find all the details here, but now, when I opened the box, one thought did linger, which baked cheese will be the best of the bunch? Find out with me!
I taste-tested all Whips flavors and ranked them based on what they brought to the table flavor-wise, assuming the consistency and texture would be relatively similar for all. I did skip their Bacon flavor, since I don’t eat bacon, but there is no meat in them – the flavor is just spices.
What are the flavors and how do they stack up?
1. Asiago & Pepper Jack
This flavor caught my eye first. Its title was longest and the cheeses used are not typically found in baked cheese snacks I’ve seen before. I dug in and found myself unable to stick to just a few. I nearly finished the whole bag before remembering I had about five other flavors to try too.
The flavor is strongly cheesy and then surprises you with a kick of heat that lingers for about 20 seconds before dissipating. It’s something a little different than, and a welcome change from, what you’d normally experience from a snack like these.
Rating: 9/10
2. Tangy Ranch
These were a lot more orange than I expected out of the bag. Made with 100% cheddar cheese, I think it may have missed the mark on ranch flavoring. While still very tasty and cheesy, I had to deduct a point or two for the lack of ranch we were promised on the bag.
Rating: 6/10
3. Tomato Basil
A parmesan crisp with added spices, these had the very distinct and pleasant taste that one would normally associate with a Margherita pizza. The basil and tomato notes come through fantastically and they definitely check all the right boxes. My one note would be that I could see the flavor being a bit too overpowering to make you want to eat the full bag in one sitting. Although, given how quickly you’ll likely devour the others, that might not be the worst for your moderation.
Rating: 7/10
4. Nacho
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this one. Cheese flavored cheese seemed… redundant? And yet, somehow, they did manage to find a new flavor here. Don’t get me wrong, there is a strong cheddar flavor here, but there’s something else too. It’s kind of like a light Doritos flavor that I can’t quite put my finger on in any other term. Still yummy, though.
Rating: 6/10
5. Cheddar
The first of the more basic flavors, I saved cheddar for later in the bunch as I’ve tasted other cheddar crisps before. I was interested in seeing the difference between these and the other cheddar-based crisps.
I gotta say, of all the ones I’d tasted, these weren’t very impressive. Compared to the Ranch flavor, they were generally more mild in flavor and though they still tasted like cheddar, it wasn’t as rich as I was expecting. Perhaps an aged-cheddar would have lended more?
Rating: 5/10
6. Parmesan
Parmesan is the OG cheese crisp flavor, so I had to save it for last, if nothing else, out of respect.
These were also pretty standard. They had a more faint parmesan flavor than I expected, but still more bold than the cheddar. I could see myself mindlessly snacking on these, though likely not craving them the way I might the Asiago & Pepperjack or Tomato Basil.
Rating: 5/10
So which Whisp IS the Best Whisp?
Putting aside the Bacon flavor that I didn’t taste, by far the winning flavor was Asiago & Pepperjack. Something about the rich flavor and added heat just tickled my tastebuds. Tomato Basil was a pleasant new option too. If you’re not like me and like blander flavors, I’d imagine the plain cheddar or parmesan might suit you better.
And, if you need some inspiration, or aren’t a fan of any of these flavor options, why not try your hand at experimenting with your own? And while you’re at it, pair it with some wine.
So, which would be your best baked cheese crisp pick?