Here’s one bit of early Christmas merchandise that we’re not going to complain about. For once. Hitting shelves now, only at Walmart, introducing… gingerbread-flavored Oreos.

We haven’t been able to get our hands on the cookies yet, but consensus around the Consumerist virtual “office” is that this is one Oreo novelty flavor that we would actually be interested in eating. (The candy corn ones…eh, not so much.) For now, we’re forced to rely on other published reviews. Fortunately, there’s a lot of them. Marketers know that if you want lots of online chatter about something, send it to ordinary bloggers for free. There’s an entire mini-industry of blogs that do nothing but “review” things they get for free (disclosed per FTC rules.) That industry is a subject for another post. For now, the reviews:

On a Whim reviewed the cookies, and even tried double-stacking them with the filling from Candy Corn Oreos. This blog didn’t appear to get the cookies for free.

Gingerbread might be the less accessible sibling to vanilla with its inoffensive blandness, but the creme and cookies just don’t come together for an enjoyable experience. I’m sorry, but for an Oreo to be not but a bore is a serious crime. Even licking the creme off a cookie isn’t enjoyable. Doing so is more of an exercise, because the creme is so stiff and processed that it might just stir up a less than pleasant memory for older men. What I do like is that the ginger does at least come through, despite two boring goldies diluting an already dull flavor. And that’s just the problem: The ginger flavor isn’t prominent enough which, combined with two cookies that aren’t working any “mmmhmmm” magic, creates for a dismal experience. Like their colors, gingerbread Oreos prove themselves to be the pork chop stuck between sides of mashed potatoes (without gravy, I might add).

FATGUYFOODBLOG (who also appeared to have bought his own cookies):

The moment you rip into the package you can smell the gingerbread flavor, it’s not as powerful as with the Birthday Cake Oreos, but it’s definitely there. But the big question is…how do they taste? The answer? Fantastic. I went from pleasantly surprised to nearly clapping to applaud Oreo on another job well done. The cookie seems like it might be a bit crunchier than usual, perhaps to mimic a gingerbread cookie. The cream is the usual Oreo cream consistency, but with a sweet gingerbread flavor that isn’t overpowering in the least. Together? Cookie perfection.

Also, just as an added bit of awesomeness, try these with apple cider. Mike did this on a whim the other night and lost his mind. I thought he might be pumping it up more than it was worth until I tried it myself. It’s like a match made in heaven. I’m pretty sure beams of golden light shot down from the clouds right into my mouth. I also found they go great with hot coffee. But let’s face it, what cookie doesn’t?

Creative bloggers have also already created recipes with the gingerbread treats: Pumpkin Gingerbread Cheesecake and Gingerbread Oreo Truffles, for example.

There you have it. Maybe you’ll like them. Maybe you won’t. But they’re round, they’re gingerbread, and they’re at Walmart for just a limited time.

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