Cool American Doritos is one of the most popular flavors of Doritos tortilla chips. The exact flavor profile of Cool American Doritos has been a source of speculation and debate among chip enthusiasts for years. In this article, we will examine the likely ingredients that give Cool American Doritos its distinctive taste and aroma. We will also look at how this flavor compares to other popular Doritos varieties.
The Cool Ranch Legacy
Cool American Doritos originated as Cool Ranch Doritos when the flavor debuted in 1986. It was introduced as a new tangy, savory complement to the existing Nacho Cheese Doritos. The original Cool Ranch Doritos were a big hit and quickly became one of the brand’s top selling flavors.
Over the years, Cool Ranch Doritos underwent a few minor recipe tweaks and name changes. In 2009, the name was updated to Cooler Ranch Doritos. Then in 2013, the current Cool American flavor branding was introduced. However, despite the name changes, the core Cool Ranch taste profile that made this flavor famous has stayed largely the same.
Common Ingredients in Cool American Doritos
While the exact recipe for Cool American Doritos is proprietary, some key ingredients can be deduced based on the flavor’s characteristics. These likely ingredients include:
– Monosodium glutamate (MSG) – MSG is a common flavor enhancer in processed foods. It adds a savory umami taste that makes flavors like cheese and ranch pop. MSG may be partly responsible for the signature Doritos taste.
– Buttermilk solids – Dried buttermilk solids add a creamy, tangy dairy flavor. They provide the cooling effect that balances the spice blend.
– Garlic and onion powders – Doritos list “natural flavors” on their ingredients label. The rich, savory taste indicates flavors like garlic and onion powder are used.
– Sour cream powder – Many ranch dressings use sour cream as an ingredient. Sour cream powder replicates this flavor in a shelf-stable way.
– Citric acid – A small amount of citric acid adds some tartness, which brightens the other flavors.
– Cheddar cheese powder – Though it may contain other cheeses too, cheddar powder gives it the classic orange Doritos color and cheesy taste.
The Secret Spice Blend
The most intriguing part of the Cool American Doritos flavor is the spice blend. The blend likely contains some of the following spices:
– Oregano – An Italian herb that gives pizza its recognizable taste. Oregano’s robust herbaceous flavor complements the cheesy and creamy elements.
– Thyme – Similar to oregano, thyme adds an herbal component. Its lemon-mint taste pairs well with onion and garlic.
– Paprika – Used to add both flavor and color. Paprika’s mild peppery taste enhances other spices.
– Onion powder – Onion powder mixes with garlic powder to create a savory flavor base. It may be used two times in the blend for extra onion taste.
– Black pepper – A small amount of black pepper adds a little heat and also brings out the flavors of the other spices.
The exact amounts and proportions of each spice are secrets closely guarded by Frito-Lay. However, the combination clearly works to make the Cool American flavor Doritos irresistible to its many fans.
How Cool American Compares to Other Popular Doritos Flavors
While it originated as a complement to Nacho Cheese Doritos, the Cool American flavor profile sets it apart and gives it its own unique identity:
– Nacho Cheese – Focused purely on cheesy flavor, with no herb or spice components. Nacho Cheese relies just on cheddar, Romano, and monosodium glutamate for flavor.
– Spicy Sweet Chili – A bolder, hotter flavor with a blend of chili peppers, garlic, and sugar. The heat is balanced by some honey and molasses sweetness.
– Spicy Nacho – Similar to Nacho Cheese, but with the addition of chili, cumin, and paprika to give it some heat. The cheese still takes center stage in the taste profile.
– Flamas – Doritos’ hottest flavor. It features a Mexican-inspired blend of chili peppers, lime, and molasses. The intensity of the heat sets it far apart from the more subtle Cool American.
Compared to these other varieties, Cool American Doritos stands out for its herbaceous ranch taste and balanced spice blend. The cooling dairy flavors combined with the signature Doritos cheddar taste gives Cool American a one-of-a-kind flavor profile in the Doritos line-up.
Other Cool Ranch Flavored Snacks
Due to the popularity of Cool Ranch Doritos, many other snack brands have created their own Cool Ranch flavored products including:
| Brand | Cool Ranch Product |
|---|---|
| Fritos | Cool Ranch Twists |
| Ruffles | Cool Ranch Potato Chips |
| Cheez-It | Cool Ranch Snack Crackers |
| Pringles | Cool Ranch Stackable Chips |
| Tostitos | Cool Ranch Tortilla Chips |
| Frito-Lay | Cooler Ranch Popcorners |
Some brands try to replicate the taste exactly, while others put their own spin on the ranch and spice flavors. But Cool Ranch has proven to have wide cross-brand appeal as both a tribute and reimagining of the original Cool American Doritos flavor.
Other Uses for Cool Ranch Seasoning
The Cool Ranch flavor is strong enough that many people have found other novel uses for it beyond just eating it on chips, including:
– Seasoning for chicken, fish or vegetables – The seasoning can add flavor to otherwise plain dishes. Works especially well on air fryer or oven roasted foods.
– Rim salt for margaritas or bloody marys – For a savory, Tex-Mex style cocktail rim in place of plain salt.
– Topping for casseroles or potatoes – Gives an extra flavor punch to cheesy or creamy baked dishes.
– Salad topper – Crushed Cool Ranch chips can be used in place of traditional croutons on salads.
– Flavoring for dressings and dips – Adds a ranch taste to homemade dips and dressing recipes.
– Powder for spiced nuts – Brush nuts with oil or butter then toss with seasoning for instant spiced snack mix.
– Coating for chicken wings or fingers – Provides a crispy, flavorful exterior when baked or fried.
Due to its addictive taste, people have found many creative culinary uses for getting even more Cool Ranch flavor into their favorite foods. This demonstrates just how versatile and universally loved this unique Doritos flavor truly is.
Cool American Doritos Nutrition Facts
Like most snack foods, Cool American Doritos are high in calories, fat, and sodium. Here are the nutrition facts for a 1-ounce (about 18 chips) serving size:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 160 |
| Total Fat | 10g |
| Saturated Fat | 1.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 270mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 15g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g |
| Sugars | 0g |
| Protein | 2g |
As an occasional snack food, Cool American Doritos can be enjoyed as part of an overall balanced diet. But moderation is key when eating high calorie, high sodium foods like flavored tortilla chips.
Where to Buy Cool American Doritos
Cool American flavored Doritos are widely available at most major grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and mass retailers in the United States. Typically Cool American Doritos are sold in single serve bags containing 1 to 1.75 ounces of chips. Larger value sized bags with up to 18 ounces of chips are also available at many stores.
Here are some of the most common places to find Cool American Doritos for sale:
– Grocery stores – Found in the potato chip aisle at stores like Walmart, Target, Kroger, Safeway, etc.
– Convenience stores – Sold at 7-Eleven, Circle K, Wawa and other convenience stores.
– Gas stations – Available at the food marts attached to gas stations.
– Dollar stores – Often sold in smaller single serve bags at stores like Dollar General and Family Dollar.
– Vending machines – May be found in chip vending machines in offices, schools, airports, etc.
– Online – Can be purchased through websites like Amazon, Walmart.com, Frito-Lay.com, and other online snack retailers.
Cool American Doritos are typically available year-round as a permanent flavor in the Doritos rotation. But occasionally special edition packaging is released for limited-time promotions.
Conclusion
Cool American Doritos have maintained a loyal fanbase for over 35 years thanks to their addictive combination of cheesy, creamy ranch flavor and Tex-Mex spices. The tangy, savory taste provides a bolt of flavor on your tongue in every chip.
While the exact spice blend proportions remain a mystery, ingredients like buttermilk, onion, garlic, paprika and oregano seem to be key in producing the distinctive Cool Ranch taste. This flavor profile has become so popular that it has spawned many spin-off products and copycat recipes.
Next time you are looking for a bold, crowd-pleasing snack, grab a bag of Cool American Doritos. Just beware – they have a magical ability to disappear quickly, so stock up!