Double Chocolate Cookie Crisp

Name: Double Chocolate Cookie Crisp
Variation: Cookie Crisp
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: This is apparently the return of "a 2000s fan favorite flavor", but that was during the period between when I ate cereal as a kid, and when my interest resurfaced in the 2010s. So it's new to me! And right up my alley - as a chocolate fan, I love double chocolate chip cookies. And this cereal is, expectedly, just like Cookie Crisp, but more chocolatey. Honestly, it's delicious. And even better with fresh strawberries cut up into it! An instant favorite. It's a great start, but there's still a world of potential for alternate flavors of Cookie Crisp out there. Can we see a Sugar Cookie Crisp for the holidays this year?

Rating: 🥣🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Reminiscent of pouring chocolate syrup into a glass of milk!

Cookie Crisp

Name: Cookie Crisp
Variation: n/a
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Featuring "the great taste of chocolate chip cookies & milk". I like chocolate chip cookies. I like them more than Oreos. And milk and cookies are a natural match (although I prefer cookies in ice cream). But while it's a staple, I'm surprised that this cereal isn't more popular. It seems to be the most overlooked of Big G's flagship cereals (alongside Honey Nut Cheerios, Reese's Puffs, Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms, Trix, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch), and is the one that gets the least novelty variations, despite there being a lot of potential in terms of different kinds of cookies you could use. I still want my Sugar Cookie Crisp, and that's just the tip of the iceberg of what they could create - Double Chocolate Cookie Crisp, Brookie Crisp, Peanut Butter Cookie Crisp, Snickerdoodle Crisp, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Crisp, Red Velvet Cookie Crisp, and the collaboration with Panera Bread - Kitchen Sink Cookie Crisp! The list of missed opportunities just goes on and on...

Anyway, the cereal consists of cute little saucers that resemble chocolate chip cookies - and the visual impression is quite enticing. They have a sweet, doughy taste with a hint of chocolate, and are crisp and crunchy. Even in milk, they only soften up a little bit - and that might be my only complaint. Some people like crispy cookies. I prefer it when they're soft. But it's a good cereal, with surprisingly little competition. And you can't beat the thrill of having cookies for breakfast!

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: It's not strong, but you can definitely taste the chocolate chip cookie flavor.

TMNT Mutant Mayhem

Name: TMNT Mutant Mayhem Cowabunga Cinnamon Apple
Variation: Cookie Crisp?
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: I was intrigued by this cereal promoting the new animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie Mutant Mayhem right from the outset, with its "Cowabunga Cinnamon Apple" flavor, and the fact that it has marshmallows. Is this General Mills' answer to Kellogg's Apple Jacks? The Nickelodeon tag calls to mind last year's variation, Apple Jacks Nickelodeon Slime. The back of the box features half of a board game, in what feels like a cheap ploy to get you to buy a second box; but the game looks fun pieced together.

"Collect both games to complete the adventure."

Upon opening the box, I see suspiciously Cookie Crisp-like wafers, but with a sweet and apple-y taste. The marshmallows (I feel like there could be more of them, or have they sunk to the bottom of the box?) are little green turtle heads with their four different colored masks. I would describe the taste as if applesauce were made into a cereal, but the flavor fades a little bit as your tongue acclimates to it. The wafers offer a satisfying crunch, and the occasional bite of marshmallow is always appreciated.

I feel like these flat, round saucers could easily have been pizzas - I'm surprised they didn't capitalize on that. But I guess that would have been a weird flavor for a cereal (can you imagine "Pizza Puffs", or "Marinara and Mozzarella Crunch"?). I feel like this cereal distinguishes itself perfectly well from Apple Jacks, despite featuring a similar flavor (though it's a good choice as we're heading in to fall). As to whether I prefer it over Apple Jacks with Marshmallows? Hard to say.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Definite hints of apple & cinnamon.

IHOP Mini Pancake Cereal

Name: IHOP Mini Pancake Cereal - Blueberry & Syrup
Variation: Cookie Crisp?
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Like DunkAroos, I suspect this is another low-key variation of Cookie Crisp (a cereal that deserves more novelty variations than it gets), based on the sprinkled, saucer-shaped cereal pieces. And they are purple! "Blueberry & Syrup" is a pretty accurate description of how this cereal tastes. And the milk it leaves behind is pleasantly blue, with sprinkles that effectively evoke the spirit of "blueberry".

To be honest, my expectations for this cereal weren't high - and not because I don't like IHOP. It's just that (as I've written before) I don't get that excited for cereals that imitate breakfast foods. But I was pleasantly surprised. I think I like this cereal at least as much as Eggo Homestyle and Waffle Crisp, and definitely better than French Toast Crunch. Which is funny, because outside of the cereal bowl, I like French toast better than pancakes and waffles both...

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: The epitome of "blueberry milk".

DunkAroos

Name: DunkAroos
Variation: Cookie Crisp?
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: I guess you might remember this treat from the '90s. I am vaguely aware of it, but it was never a product I was crazy about. It's basically cookies dipped in vanilla frosting. The cereal is actually very reminiscent of Cookie Crisp, but with vanilla instead of chocolate chip cookies. And while I don't have anything against vanilla, it's not a flavor that tends to get me excited. Now, if they ever make a chocolate DunkAroos cereal, I'm gonna have to give that a try.

In addition to shining a spotlight on '90s slang, the back of the cereal box provides a series of fascinating examples of how much technology has improved since the '90s - mainly focusing on the dizzying power we carry around in our pockets these days in the form of mobile phones. It's easy to take this power for granted, since it's become a regular fixture of our everyday lives, but it really is remarkable when put into perspective. I think I enjoyed the back of the box even more than the cereal itself!

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Plain, in spite of the derelict sprinkles left behind.