Gardetto’s is a popular snack mix made by General Mills. It contains a blend of rye chips, wheat chips, sesame breadsticks, and more. The classic Gardetto’s mix has been around for decades. More recently, General Mills has expanded the Gardetto’s line to include several flavor varieties and special seasonal editions.
One of the special options is Gardetto’s Special Request. This version contains the classic Gardetto’s blend but allows you to customize it by selecting up to two of six ingredient options. This article will explore the Special Request ingredients you can choose from.
Overview of Gardetto’s Special Request
Gardetto’s Special Request launched in 2019 as a way to allow snackers to create their perfect custom mix. General Mills promoted it heavily on social media and through influencer campaigns.
The Special Request bag contains the original Gardetto’s mix as its base. Then you get to pick one or two ingredients to add in from the following options:
- Yogurt-covered raisins
- Toasted almonds
- Chocolate mini-chips
- Yogurt chips
- Pretzel twists
- Sesame sticks
The ingredients you select are listed on the front of the bag. Each bag makes five 1/2 cup servings. Nutrition facts vary slightly depending on your add-in choices.
This product provides an interesting way for snack lovers to customize their food. Next, we’ll take a detailed look at each potential add-in ingredient.
Yogurt-Covered Raisins
One of the most popular Special Request additions is the yogurt-covered raisins. These tangy, sweet dried grapes provide flavor and texture contrast to the crunchy Gardetto’s base.
The raisins themselves are made from seedless red grapes. They undergo processing to remove most of their moisture content. This naturally preserves them and concentrates their sweetness.
General Mills coats the raisins in a thick yogurt shell. The yogurt provides a creamy, tart taste and smooth mouthfeel. It also adheres the exterior seasonings.
The two main seasonings used on the yogurt coating are cinnamon and sugar. They add familiar warming and sweet flavors loved by many people.
Overall, the yogurt-covered raisins deliver a burst of fruitiness and spice to balance the blend. Their chewy texture offsets the Gardetto’s crunch.
Nutrition Facts for Yogurt-Covered Raisins
Here is the nutrition breakdown for a 1/2 cup serving of yogurt-covered raisins:
| Calories | 250 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 4g |
| Sodium | 55mg |
| Total Carbs | 58g |
| Protein | 3g |
Toasted Almonds
Crunchy almonds are another popular mix-in for Gardetto’s Special Request. They provide nutty flavor and a satisfying heartiness.
The almonds are first dry roasted. This process brings out their natural oils and nuttiness through maillard browning. The almonds’ skins become fragrantly toasted.
After roasting, the almonds get lightly seasoned. Just a touch of salt is added to balance their sweetness and intensify their flavors. This seasoning adheres nicely to their textured skins.
When you add toasted almonds to your Special Request bag, they provide great protein and healthy fats. Their signature crunch also complements the other ingredients.
Nutrition Facts for Toasted Almonds
Here is the nutrition information for 1/2 cup toasted almonds:
| Calories | 389 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 35g |
| Sodium | 74mg |
| Total Carbs | 13g |
| Protein | 13g |
Chocolate Mini Chips
For lovers of chocolate and sweets, the mini chocolate chips are an ideal add-in. They provide melty chocolate in every bite.
The chips start with real chocolate liquor. Chocolate liquor is the ground, liquefied form of cacao beans. It provides rich chocolate flavor and cocoa butter for smooth melting.
Sugar, cocoa powder, and other seasonings get blended in to balance and enhance the chocolate. An emulsifier helps keep the cocoa butter incorporated so the chips melt smoothly.
The chocolate mixture then gets poured into small chip shapes. As they cool and harden, you’re left with tiny morsels bursting with chocolate goodness.
Sprinkled throughout your Special Request mix, these decadent chips create little pockets of chocolate. They add sweetness and richness to the snack blend.
Nutrition Facts for Chocolate Chips
Here are the nutrition facts for 1/2 cup chocolate mini chips:
| Calories | 387 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 20g |
| Sodium | 7mg |
| Total Carbs | 61g |
| Protein | 3g |
Yogurt Chips
Gardetto’s yogurt chips provide a creamy, tangy crunch to the mix. They contain no chocolate, making them a lighter option.
To make the yogurt chips, General Mills starts with a plain yogurt base. This provides the signature tart, fermented flavor of yogurt.
They add complementary seasonings to the yogurt to enhance its flavor. Common yogurt chip seasonings include vanilla, lemon, strawberry, and blueberry.
The yogurt then gets shaped into small discs or chips. As they dry, the yogurt firms up while retaining moisture and flavor.
These yogurt chips offer great textural contrast to the other Gardetto’s components. They also provide touches of fruitiness and creamy tang.
Nutrition Facts for Yogurt Chips
The nutrition information for 1/2 cup yogurt chips is:
| Calories | 207 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 3g |
| Sodium | 124mg |
| Total Carbs | 40g |
| Protein | 4g |
Pretzel Twists
Pretzel twists are a crunchy, salty addition to Gardetto’s Special Request. They provide big pretzel flavor in a miniature twisted shape.
To make them, flour, yeast, salt, and water get combined into a stretchy dough. After resting, the dough gets portioned out and hand-twisted into small knots.
The pretzel twists are briefly boiled in an alkaline water bath. This gives them their signature sheen and chewy interior texture.
After boiling, the pretzels get salted and baked until deeply browned. This develops rich toasted flavors.
When you add pretzel twists to your Special Request bag, they provide crunchy bursts of salt and savoriness.
Nutrition Facts for Pretzel Twists
Here are the nutrition facts for 1/2 cup pretzel twists:
| Calories | 173 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 1g |
| Sodium | 467mg |
| Total Carbs | 36g |
| Protein | 5g |
Sesame Sticks
Finally, sesame sticks bring nutty, toasted flavor to Gardetto’s Special Request. They have an iconic crisp, crunchy texture.
Natural sesame seeds get mixed with sugar, oil, and salt. The mixture is pressed into long, thin sticks and baked until perfectly crisped.
The sesame seeds toast during baking, developing a rich nuttiness. Meanwhile, the sugar caramelizes, adding sweetness and crunch.
Sesame sticks have been part of the Gardetto’s lineup since the original snack mix. Their texture pairs well with the other ingredients’ crunch.
Nutrition Facts for Sesame Sticks
Here is the nutrition information for 1/2 cup sesame sticks:
| Calories | 260 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 12g |
| Sodium | 314mg |
| Total Carbs | 35g |
| Protein | 6g |
Conclusion
Gardetto’s Special Request provides snack lovers with fun customization options. Within the classic Gardetto’s blend, you can add one or two ingredients to create your perfect snack mix.
The six mix-in options range from sweet yogurt chips to nutty toasted almonds. Each provides unique flavors and textures to complement the signature crunch of Gardetto’s.
Next time you’re craving Gardetto’s, consider grabbing a Special Request bag. With options like chocolate chips, pretzels, and more, you can tailor the snack to your tastes.
Happy snacking!
