This time: A Cinnamoroll-themed cinnamon roll.
Sanrio has created a lot of cute characters. You definitely know Hello Kitty, right? Pompompurin, maybe? Cinnamoroll is yet another Sanrio creation. Out of HUNDREDS. If you recognise 5 or 6, you're doing well.
Cinnamoroll isn't a sweet treat with eyes, though. It's a dog. Yeah, a dog with massive ears. And that just so happens to have a cinnamon roll-shaped tail.
Anyway. It's Cinnamoroll's 15th anniversary this year (2017)... that's the official line, anyway. 15th anniversary promos for Cinnamoroll are happening this year. Never mind that the character was created in 2001. That's 16 years, people!
So we're celebrating, and with a real cinnamon roll instead of a cake. Nice and appropriate, until you realise you're eating something that resembles a cartoon dog's tail.
Weirdly, this is a special from KFC. I haven't been able to work out why. There are no other Cinnamoroll or Sanrio promos running alongside this one. Just a new cinnamon roll on the menu. It could be ordered by itself, or as part of a drink set.
The box has instructions for reheating on one side. Pastries are always best warm, if you ask me. I was given a warm cinnamon roll to start with - and near enough ran to sit down, so I could eat straight away.
You can see it through the heart-shaped plastic window, if it isn't steamed over. Cinnamoroll is wearing a KFC uniform. Only the hat and jaunty bow tie are visible, but that's a Japanese KFC uniform for sure.
Once you've opened the box, it can't be resealed. Which is a shame - I was ready to wipe down the inside and keep the packaging. But it barely even folds back into a box shape. I wanted to keep this little cartoon of Cinammoroll doing some weirdly suggestive icing.
Okay. Box open, cinnamon roll on table.
Now, what do you notice about this on a first look?
Why yes, this cinnamon roll is indeed much smaller than the promo images suggest. I expected to have to cut it up, and take it on a chunk at a time. No chance.
And it seems a bit darker than the pictures, too. To be honest, the outside (definitely the top) was burnt. That's probably something that varies by branch. Still a shame.
Once I got past the slightly overdone bits, the inside of the roll was pure heaven. The whole swirl was coated with a generous dose of sweet cinnamon. The white icing on the top covered 90% of the burnt flavour, which could well be a deliberate tactic.
It didn't taste bad, and it didn't crumble to pastry dust as soon as I picked it up. And the middle was soft, still warm right at the centre, and seriously delicious. That middle was the best bit by far.
Happy anniversary, Cinnamoroll. I hope for many more sweet treats named after all your friends.
Verdict: 9/10. Sweet on the outside, sweet on the inside.