The Takeout

Crumbl has become a phenomenon among chain bakeries, and for good reason. Not only are its treats — particularly its oversized cookies — over the top, but Crumbl's social media virality has also won the intrigue of many. Now, you can get copycat Crumbl cookies at the grocery store for a fraction of the price you'd pay at the bakery chain. Andersen's Crazy Cookies are dupes about as huge as Crumbl's, weighing approximately 5 ounces each.

It feels like everyone who's ever set foot in a kitchen is now sharing cooking hacks on TikTok, and one way to get a tip to go viral seems to be to append a numerical mnemonic to it. Hence, we have the 5-6-7 rule for burger cooking, the 3-3-2-2 tip for steak searing, and the 3-2-1 method for tender pork ribs. A sequence of digits may appear to be a scientific formula that will guarantee best results, but this isn't always the case.

There are pretty stellar dupes out there, from Walmart's version of the iconic Oreo to the many copycat products you can find at Aldi (some of which are arguably better than the brand-name alternative). But what about the candies that bring the same colorful, chocolatey experience without the iconic "m" stamped on the shell? Well, as it turns out, there are plenty of M&M dupes on the market, too.

We've all experienced that dire plight where a food craving arises and Old Mother Hubbard's cupboards are bare. Savory dishes are often more forgiving in that situation because certain elements can be swapped or outright omitted from recipes and you'll still walk away with something tasty, like a Stanley Tucci-level four-ingredient frittata. Desserts, on the other hand, tend to heavily depend on each and every component as they're often integral to the structure and profile.

It's not a secret that Trader Joe's is no ordinary supermarket, and its trademark quirkiness extends to the product selection. There are some staples you won't find at TJ's, but at the same time, the chain is a treasure trove of hidden gems that are hard to get anywhere else. Case in point: TJ's shaved lamb shoulder. It's a fat-marbled and flavor-packed cut of meat that isn't always available in American supermarkets, and shoppers have taken note.

In today's economy, who can justify stopping by a local taco shop every other day? Thankfully, there are other options, perhaps not as fresh, that you can find in the freezer aisle of your local grocery or convenience store. These are inexpensive beef burritos that aren't very big, but you could probably get two for the price of a single Taco Bell bean burrito.

Do you start your day with coffee or tea? Tea may get all kinds of positive PR, but coffee has nutritional benefits too. In fact, it has powers we're only beginning to understand. In the hopes of remedying any knowledge gaps, The Takeout spoke with Johannah Katz, RD. As the dietitian informed us, coffee may have a few drawbacks, but it can also do a lot of good for your body.

The economy may be abysmal and politics more polarizing than ever, but if there's one thing people aren't souring on, it's the sweet taste of candy. In 2025, U.S. candy sales hit a new high of $55 billion, and are projected to keep on climbing. There is no shortage of places to get your sugar fix, either. Dollar Tree is a great source of super-cheap candies, while Aldi's candies and chocolates are also quite budget friendly, and Five Below has unique finds you should try at least once.

Let's be real for a moment. Is there anything that shredded cheese can't make better? Okay, maybe you shouldn't sprinkle it over most desserts – although cheddar is the apple pie topping that divides our nation – but shredded cheese is the not-so-secret weapon for elevating a lot of dishes from tasty to totally tempting. Whether you use spicy pepper jack or creamy mozzarella shreds, cheese is sure to please.

Next time you need an easy dessert to satisfy your chocolate cravings, try baking three-ingredient brownies with just Nutella, eggs, and flour. In this super simple recipe, Nutella is like a brownie mix. It contains all the typical brownie ingredients like cocoa powder, oil, sugar, and vanilla, so all that is left to add are the eggs and flour. Now, some bakers would argue that the recipe is missing baking powder, so their recipes include self-rising flour to make up for it.