Reese's Puffs PB&J

Name: Reese's Puffs PB&J Strawberry Jelly
Variation: Reese's Puffs
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: I remarked in an earlier review that since the Reese's brand has a lot of varied products, they could afford to be a little more adventurous with their Reese's Puffs cereal. That's even more true now than when I wrote it. Happily, General Mills has begun to oblige, with such gems as Peanut Butter Lovers, and this year's Dark Chocolate Reese's Puffs. If you've been paying attention, you'll no doubt have seen the recent PB&J-inspired version of Reese's peanut butter cups. They were my holy grail last Halloween. And now you can get it in cereal form! I've only seen strawberry so far - which, to be fair, is my preferred variety, but it's fun to have that color contrast with grape. (I allowed for both when I did my imaginary mock-up of a PB&J version of Cap'n Crunch).

At a quick glance, the cereal looks just like regular Reese's Puffs. But a closer look will reveal that some of the puffs have a slightly reddish cast - and a flavor that resembles not just strawberries, but actual strawberry jam. In the bowl, the flavor is present without being overpowering, which contributes to a coherent taste experience. Obviously, this cereal differs from a peanut butter & jelly sandwich in that it includes chocolate, but it does a good job of imitating that unique blend of flavors. It's a creative and uncommon idea for a cereal, while still being a perfect match for the brand. I like it a lot! Now, will we ever get a Reese's Puffs with marshmallows?

Rating: 🥣🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: It doesn't quite rise to the level of a PB&J milkshake. :-/

Cocoa Loops Wonka

Name: Cocoa Loops Wonka
Variation: Froot Loops
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: The rollout on General Mills' Wonka-themed Froot Loops cereals - in conjunction with the late 2023 release of Wonka, a movie centered on the eccentric confectioner at the heart of the story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - has been an unmitigated train wreck. Initially sporting a ridiculously unwieldy name, they decided to make the cereal wild berry-flavored (because, I dunno, Willy Wonka wears purple?), instead of the obvious choice to honor the proprietor of a chocolate factory. Perhaps they were waiting for the debut of Cocoa Loops, which appeared early this year? Well, now we get Cocoa Loops Wonka, which finally rights the ship. And not only is it chocolate, it's got marshmallows!

But how is it? It doesn't taste as chocolatey as it smells (despite what Kellogg's wonky math inadvertently taught us regarding the surface area of loops versus puffs). The loops are kind of big and hard to chew, as compared to, say, Cocoa Puffs. This cereal should have been a slam dunk; it's good - it's just not great. Which puts me in an awkward position, given that the base, Froot Loops - being one of my favorites from childhood - already starts with a three bowl rating. Turning it chocolate, and then adding marshmallows, are two upgrades I would be inclined to applaud on principle. But does every chocolate cereal with marshmallows deserve a three bowl rating?

With Froot Loops, Kellogg's (which I generally regard as the second-rate competitor to General Mills) has made the better fruity cereal (I'm lukewarm about Trix). But there are better "chocolate with marshmallow" cereals out there. Pretty much every one I've tried, I think - Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms (in multiple iterations), Count Chocula, Elf on the Shelf (and its competitor, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer), Cocoa Pebbles, even Kellogg's own Frosted Flakes! (Not to mention the GOAT, may she rest in peace). In light of that fact, and despite rating Cocoa Loops three bowls without having marshmallows (don't think about it too hard), I'm docking this cereal one bowl to give it a two bowl rating.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Barely flavored, as is characteristic of Kellogg's cereals.