OREO Banana Pudding, Chicken & Waffles and Deep Fried? Why Does This Feel Like a County Fair?

I don't know what's happening in the OREO kitchen lately, but apparently somebody has been spending a little too much time at the county fair.

Banana Pudding? Chicken & Waffles? Deep Fried?

All we're missing is a Ferris wheel and somebody selling giant turkey legs.

OREO has introduced three limited-edition flavors for its 2026 Twist, Lick, Vote campaign, and the whole thing has turned into a surprisingly entertaining competition.

The idea is simple. Try the three flavors, vote for your favorite, and the winner earns a return appearance in 2027.

But after seeing what people are saying about these cookies, choosing a winner might not be quite so simple.

OREO Banana Pudding Seems to Be the Crowd Favorite

Let's start with the one getting some serious love.

OREO Banana Pudding combines vanilla wafer-flavored cookies with banana and vanilla pudding creme.

If you grew up eating homemade banana pudding layered with vanilla wafers, you can probably understand the appeal.

And apparently, plenty of OREO fans do.

Some are calling it one of the best specialty flavors OREO has released in years. Others are already stocking up because they're worried it might not win the vote.

But not everybody is impressed.

The biggest complaint? That familiar artificial banana taste.

Some fans say it reminds them more of Banana Laffy Taffy than actual banana pudding. For people who love banana candy, that might be a selling point. For everyone else, perhaps not.

Still, Banana Pudding seems to have built a loyal following, and it may be the flavor to beat.

OREO Chicken & Waffles Is Actually Surprising People

Now this is where I have questions.

Chicken and waffles is a wonderful combination. Crispy fried chicken, fluffy waffles, maple syrup. It's a sweet and savory dish that works beautifully on a brunch plate.

But who decided we needed it between two cookies?

OREO Chicken & Waffles features waffle-textured cookies with a dual-layer creme inspired by fried chicken and maple syrup.

And here's the surprise.

Some people actually love it.

Early reviews describe a noticeable maple flavor, a slightly savory finish, and something surprisingly close to the experience OREO was trying to recreate.

A few people who expected to dislike it have admitted that it grew on them after a second taste.

Of course, others aren't nearly as enthusiastic. Some find the combination confusing, while others think savory seasoning simply has no business anywhere near an OREO.

And I understand both sides.

There's something fascinating about a cookie that makes people stop and ask whether they're tasting breakfast, dessert, or dinner.

Personally, I'm curious about the maple component. The chicken part is where I need a little convincing.

OREO Deep Fried Might Be the Most Divisive of Them All

Now we're officially at the carnival.

Deep-fried OREOs are already a favorite at fairs across the country. Take a cookie, dip it in batter, fry it until golden, and cover it with powdered sugar.

It's a ridiculous dessert, but a delicious one when it's done right.

So naturally, OREO decided to make a cookie that tastes like the deep-fried version of itself.

Think about that for a moment.

OREO Deep Fried features fried dough-flavored cookies and layers of dark chocolate and fried dough-flavored creme.

And the early reactions are all over the place.

Some fans say OREO absolutely captured that warm, sweet fried-dough flavor. Others are impressed by how closely the creme resembles the filling of a traditional OREO.

But then there are the people describing an unusual oily aftertaste.

Some love it. Some can't finish the package.

That may be the biggest challenge with this particular flavor. A real deep-fried OREO isn't just about taste. It's the warm batter, soft cookie center and powdered sugar that make the whole experience memorable.

Trying to recreate that in a packaged cookie is ambitious.

Then again, that might be exactly why some fans are voting for it.

It's strange, it's different, and it's probably the most imaginative idea in the collection.

Three Flavors. One Winner. And Some Very Strong Opinions.

What makes this campaign interesting isn't just the unusual flavors. It's how differently people are reacting to them.

Banana Pudding seems to be winning over the dessert lovers.

Chicken & Waffles is getting unexpected support from people who appreciate the sweet and savory combination.

And Deep Fried has managed to inspire both enthusiastic praise and some remarkably strong criticism.

There doesn't seem to be one flavor everyone agrees on.

Which is probably exactly what OREO wanted.

Rather than simply launching three new cookies, the company has given fans an actual reason to debate which flavor deserves another chance.

For anyone who wants to make their own comparisons, the OREO Banana Pudding, Chicken & Waffles and Deep Fried three-flavor collection puts all three contenders together.

So Who's Going to Win?

Voting closes October 12, and OREO is scheduled to announce the winning flavor on October 13, 2026.

The winner gets another limited-edition appearance in 2027.

My money would be on Banana Pudding based on the enthusiasm it's generating, but I'm not ready to underestimate the other two.

Chicken & Waffles has surprised enough people to make things interesting, and Deep Fried has some very loyal supporters.

One thing is certain. OREO has managed to make a cookie competition feel more like a food festival.

And now I really want to know who's going home with the blue ribbon.

October 13 can't come soon enough.