Honey Stinger brings chocolate to Stinger Waffles

by Alicia MacLeay
posted Monday, March 12, 2012 at 8:42 am

Honey Stinger Waffle samples at Outdoor Retailer in January.

What made me pull a 180 in the crowded, gear overloaded halls of Outdoor Retailer in January? A chocolate Honey Stinger Waffle.

Actually, it was a prototype wrapper of a chocolate Honey Stinger Waffle. Samples weren't yet available, so in fact I was drawn to a piece of empty packaging, or future trash.

The new chocolate flavor Stinger Waffles come out this week. Bill Gamber, Honey Stinger co-founder, says customers have asked for a chocolate version since the waffle's 2010 introduction.

I've been a consumer and fan of Honey Stinger energy gels, chews, and protein bars for several years. I have my own prodigious stash (bought on my own dime), and even have given variety packs of them to more than one runner as a birthday present (I may be a strange friend, but I am also a practical one).

Last year, while training for my first, though not last, ultra, I tried the Stinger Waffles in original Honey and Vanilla flavors. They became a fueling highlight on long runs. I like, or at least tolerate, a number of gels and chews, but the Stinger Waffle was on another level. I timed its consumption for maximum enjoyment. I told people, well my husband and some friends, about it after runs (no one had asked).

Love him or hate him, Lance Armstrong, co-owner of Honey Stinger, gets credit for the Stinger Waffle concept, and face time on the package. It's based on the traditional stroopwafel, a waffle made from two thin layers of baked batter with syrup filling, popular with European cyclists looking for a quick energy boost.

Not surprisingly, the Stinger Waffle is on the sweet side, which isn't for every palette, but in the right doses it works for me. So, I'm eager to try the chocolate version and find out if it lives up to expectations and is as good as it should be.

All Stinger Waffles are 160 calories and certified USDA Organic. Flavors include original honey, vanilla, strawberry, and now chocolate. Lemon may be on the way this summer.

Chocolate Stinger Waffle

Ingredients: Organic wheat flour, organic palm fruit oil, organic rice syrup, organic cane sugar, organic whole wheat flour, organic cocoa, organic soy flour, organic honey, natural flavor, sea salt, organic soy lecithin, baking soda.
Available: March 15, 2012
MSRP: $1.39

Is there an outdoor food or drink you've been inspired to shout about from mountaintops, or maybe regretted for days in the backcountry?

Share it below, or in our Camp Kitchen and Recipes community forums. Or write a review.

Filed under: Honey Stinger, food, run

Comments

Rick-Pittsburgh

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March 12, 2012 at 2:11 p.m. (EDT)

This is making me quite hungry for waffles for some odd reason. I am definitely interested in these for trail consumption.

The price seems fair as well(I think that's comparable to what I pay for one of those "super sized" Snickers bars.)

Callahan

234 reviewer rep
1,465 forum posts

March 12, 2012 at 2:34 p.m. (EDT)

and then pancakes

azrhino

38 reviewer rep
395 forum posts

March 12, 2012 at 3:19 p.m. (EDT)

OMG! Chocolate Stingers!

I love Stingers! Even if you pay no attention to their nutrietional value they are awesome trail snacks. I like the Vanilla, but Chocolate is a drug for me so I think I have a new fav. 2 cases please.

GaryPalmer

142 reviewer rep
3,114 forum posts

March 12, 2012 at 3:36 p.m. (EDT)

From the recipe, sounds like one could make up the mix themselves. I make my own soups from scratch then after I find the mix that works best, I mix em up dry and put them in Ziploc bags to use on the trail.

Alicia MacLeay (Alicia)

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March 12, 2012 at 3:46 p.m. (EDT)

I admit that I went and ate a vanilla one after I wrote this blog, with the excuse that it was for my tempo run.

I need to order a few chocolate ones to see how they fare in comparison. For some reason the strawberry does not appeal to me, but I think lemon could be good.

I promise to write an actual review with pros and cons (they can crumble and the package can be a little hard to open). I'll probably wait till I've tested the chocolate version first though.

Gary, I was also thinking that some people could try to make their own, just like with trail mix or bars. If you try it and make something similar, let us know how it works.

Alicia MacLeay (Alicia)

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March 12, 2012 at 3:49 p.m. (EDT)

azrhino said:

OMG! Chocolate Stingers!

That was pretty much my reaction when I walked by and saw the wrapper, only to learn they didn't actually exist to sample yet.

Rick-Pittsburgh

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March 12, 2012 at 3:49 p.m. (EDT)

Alicia said:

I promise to write an actual review with pros and cons (they can crumble and the package can be a little hard to open). I'll probably wait till I've tested the chocolate version first though.

We're holding you too it. ;)

azrhino

38 reviewer rep
395 forum posts

March 12, 2012 at 4:50 p.m. (EDT)

Remember a good product review requires extensive testing. I'm thinking atleast a dozen or so must be eatin to really get a good idea about them :)

Rick-Pittsburgh

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March 12, 2012 at 4:53 p.m. (EDT)

azrhino said:

Remember a good product review requires extensive testing. I'm thinking atleast a dozen or so must be eatin to really get a good idea about them :)

So if I sit on the couch and eat a dozen of them I can get at the review?

Alicia MacLeay (Alicia)

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March 12, 2012 at 6:37 p.m. (EDT)

I almost wrote the review today, then realized how short-sighted that was when I could/should be eating more waffles of various flavors (like chocolate) in the name of a good comparative review.

So, it's really in the best interest of the community for me to eat more of them first.

giftogab

128 reviewer rep
1,055 forum posts

March 12, 2012 at 10:56 p.m. (EDT)

May have to add some of these on my way out of the country for the trek!

phraber

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60 forum posts

March 13, 2012 at 11:48 p.m. (EDT)

And no fear of arsenic toxicity- I now view Stingers more favorably than the rice syrup energy foods.

phraber

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March 13, 2012 at 11:50 p.m. (EDT)

oh well nevermind I just read the ingredients list. sigh.

Pathloser

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March 14, 2012 at 5:00 a.m. (EDT)

Amazing how you can add chocolate to things and it is nearly always an improvement (it's like a natural law or something).

If these are the 'dutch waffles' that europeans put on top of their coffee to warm up, then they are becoming more popular over here as well. They were originally being imported to the UK, from De Rit, by wholefoods distributors but now there is a place in Wales doing them, even the miniature ones.

Of the De Rit brand, the hazelnut flavour is the best, methinks, followed by the honey ones. The ones made of sugar syrup have always been popular with vegans. I never thought 'slow release' honey would catch on as an energy snack. Like the Panda Bar liquorice, they are a great alternative to pure sugar but they tend to freeze outdoors in the winter.

I am going to have some coffee and a honey waffle now, in honour of this thread.

Alicia MacLeay (Alicia)

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March 14, 2012 at 7:01 a.m. (EDT)

Pathloser said:

Amazing how you can add chocolate to things and it is nearly always an improvement (it's like a natural law or something).

Very, very true. Hopefully true in this case as well.

Pathloser said:

I am going to have some coffee and a honey waffle now, in honour of this thread.

I wonder how many people ate (or wished they could eat) a waffle after reading this.

thetentman

RETAILER

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March 22, 2012 at 8:42 a.m. (EDT)

Stroop Waffle Dessert Recipe

I dreamt this up the other day while looking at Lance's face on the package. I can get Stroop Waffles at a local shop somewhat cheaper than the Honey Stingers.

Ingredients

Stroop Waffle

Vanilla Ice Cream

Apple

Cinnamon

Heat the Stroop Waffle in a bowl in the microwave for 30 secs or so.

Peel the apple and chop into bits (do this first)

Put chopped apple on warm Stroop Waffle

Sprinkle with Cinnamon

! scoop vanilla ice cream on top

Sprinkle again with cinnamon

EAT and enjoy!