[Experiment] Marshmallow Krispies

Description: Since Rice Krispies Treats are the only thing Rice Krispies has going for it, I'm surprised I've never seen a box of Rice Krispies with marshmallows (there is evidence that Rice Krispies Treats cereal existed at one time, but I missed it). So I decided to make my own! I pilfered some of the marshmallows from Oreo Puffs, and added them to a bowl of Rice Krispies. It's obviously an improvement, but even marshmallows can't mask the plainness of the Rice Krispies.

I thought it would be better with Frosted Krispies as the base, so I tried that, too. It was sweet enough, but I'm not sure it's wise to add marshmallows to a cereal that already has 15g of sugar per cup (by comparison, Lucky Charms has only 12). It doesn't taste quite like Rice Krispies Treats, but then, the Rice Krispies aren't actually coated with marshmallow. I don't like this cereal enough to warrant duplicating this experiment, but I think there's potential here for Kellogg's to tweak the formula. I'd try it if they gave it a shot.

Rating: 🥣

Rice Krispies

Name: Rice Krispies
Variation: n/a
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: Like Fruity Pebbles, every holiday version of Rice Krispies (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter(?), and Fourth of July) is just plain Rice Krispies dyed different colors. So this review is just a formality. I already know I don't like Rice Krispies. In fact, I didn't even eat the bowl of cereal I poured for this picture. At least, not without modification. But since I thought of a good experiment to do with this cereal, it was the perfect opportunity to bite the bullet and get this review out of the way. Do I really need to say anything more than that? Unless you're planning on making Rice Krispies Treats, steer clear of this cereal - and give it a wide berth while you're at it.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: What milk?

[Experiment] Autumn Krispies

Description: I noticed something interesting while I was documenting the different seasonal varieties of Rice Krispies. Notwithstanding the Valentine's Day version (which I was not expecting), and the Halloween version (which is an outlier), the summer, winter, and spring varieties all cycle through two of three different colors (adding them to plain "white" Krispies) - red, blue, and green. If it were up to me, I would leave red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July; pick out the white and just use red and green for Christmas; and add an Easter-y purple to the blue and green of spring. Then, you could also add that purple to the orange for Halloween. But I have an even better idea for an autumn-themed version of Rice Krispies, and it's inspired by the colors of fall foliage.

With and without "unturned" greens and pale "yellows".

I used a combination of Shocking Orange and Cocoa Krispies for the orange and brown, and separated out the reds and greens from Holiday Colors (in a painstaking effort I hope I'll never have to repeat). I used Cinnamon Sugar Krispies for the yellows, since they have a slightly darker tinge than regular Rice Krispies, which look too bright and white to pass for an autumn gold. Doesn't it look great? I think it would fit in perfectly with a Thanksgiving motif. I just wish it had a better flavor. Or any flavor, really.

Rating: 🥣

Rainbow Krispies

Name: Rainbow Krispies
Variation: Rice Krispies
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: When I was trying out the different colored holiday versions of Rice Krispies and brainstorming my own ideas, I came up with the idea of doing Rainbow Krispies. But I nixed it because I've never known Rice Krispies to put out purple Krispies (even though I think they would mix well with Spring Colors). Also, I realized that it would just be Fruity Pebbles, without any flavor. But then, this spring, I go to the store and find that Kellogg's has actually released a Rainbow Krispies! It's colorful, it smells fruity, and it's even got new scoop shapes - it's blatantly obvious that this is Rice Krispies trying to be Fruity Pebbles. So how does it stack up?

Firstly, does it even count as a Krispies cereal if the pieces are now solid scoops? It still snaps, crackles, and pops, but maybe a little less than before. And it's definitely not skimping on the flavor - which is reassuring, given how bland Rice Krispies usually are. However, the taste has an almost over-saturated, "syrup-y" quality, like digging your spoon into the juices at the bottom of a snow cone (but not in a good way). I'd rather eat this than most varieties of Rice Krispies, but that doesn't mean I like it. Is it better than Fruity Pebbles? I doubt it. But I will say that Kellogg's has done a pretty good job of bringing new life to the Krispies lineup with this cereal; and though it may be a cliché in this era, I rather enjoy the rainbow branding.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Fruity, and NOT absorbed by the cereal!

CinnaFuego Toast Crunch

Name: CinnaFuego Toast Crunch
Variation: Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Spicy foods are ubiquitous these days (even Cool Ranch Doritos are getting Flamin' Hot), and it's ridiculous how extreme they're getting (anyone for some Carolina Reaper Cheetos?). I'm not a masochist when it comes to spicy foods, but I like the flavor of jalapeños, so I can stand a little bit of heat. I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to try CinnaFuego Toast Crunch. A spicy cereal? Now that's a novel idea.

They look just like regular Cinnamon Toast Crunch pieces (you could totally prank someone with these), but smell like those Atomic Fireball candies. They taste like "sweet cinnamon heat", but feel like a kick to the back of the throat. You could definitely snack on these dry, but I was curious to find out how they fare in milk (since milk is known to neutralize the effects of spicy foods). They're actually still very spicy in milk.

How spicy is it? I'm not an expert on the Scoville scale (nor am I accustomed to eating a lot of spicy foods), but I'd say it's spicier than jalapeños, and probably more on a level with cayenne peppers. It's not extremely hot, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart, either. It was a fun idea, and I'm glad I got to try them, but I wouldn't voluntarily eat them again. I'm glad they came in a small pouch, and not a full-sized box.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Sweet and spicy.

BONUS: Flamin' Hot Krispies!

Just kidding. I put these red Krispies together all in one bowl, and it really looked like they should be "flamin' hot". But they're not. They're just plain old, boring Rice Krispies.

Cocoa Krispies

Name: Cocoa Krispies
Variation: Rice Krispies
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: I'd like it noted for the record that, having already bought Cocoa Krispies once, I tried to resist buying another box just because they added "more chocolatey flavor". But in the end, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it. After all, I've never encountered an instance where "more chocolatey flavor" was anything but a good thing - and this is no exception.

The main problem with Rice Krispies is that it has no flavor. And chocolate is one of my favorite flavors, so adding cocoa to the Krispies is a pretty good idea. However, as neat as the popping effect is, these Krispies are mostly puffed air. They've got a satisfying crunch, but there's an undercurrent of "crisped rice" taste that I'm not terribly fond of. In comparison, Cocoa Pebbles has a deeper, richer cocoa flavor. Krispies also seem to suck up the milk more. There's not much point in turning the milk chocolate if there's no milk at the end to drink.

I've backed myself into a bit of a corner in rating this cereal. By Rice Krispies standards, this cereal deserves a two bowl rating, since it's better than any other flavor I've had (including Cinnamon Sugar Krispies, which I gave two bowls). But by normal standards, it should really get a one bowl rating, if for no other reason than I wouldn't buy it over Cocoa Pebbles (or any other of the many chocolate cereals on the market). So I'll just throw that out as a caveat, and leave it at that.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Milk? All there is is a crunchy, cocoa sludge.

Blue & Green Krispies

Name: Rice Krispies Blue & Green Color Mix
Variation: Rice Krispies
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: It would be just like Kellogg's to hamstring my enjoyment of what should be my last box of plain, old, boring Rice Krispies, by instilling me with doubt over the fact that I was expecting "Spring Colors" at Easter, and instead got "Blue & Green Color Mix" at St. Patrick's Day (it is pretty, though). Is this really the last holiday variety I'll need to pick up? I wasn't expecting a Valentine's Day version, after all. And why is the name so generic? "Blue & Green Color Mix" is descriptive, but it's not as poetic as "Spring Colors". Are we going to get "Red & Green Color Mix" instead of "Holiday Colors" next Christmas? Regardless, I hope this is the last batch of Rice Krispies Treats I'll have to make for a while. Heaven forbid we get a Blue & White Dads & Grads Edition in June... (For once, I hope the cereal companies aren't listening).

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Plain.

Red & White Krispies

Name: Rice Krispies Red & White Color Mix
Variation: Rice Krispies
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: Not to be confused with Red & Blue Krispies. I would have liked to have seen pink Krispies in this, in addition to the red. But I guess that would throw off the balance of using different combinations of red, blue, and green Krispies for the different holiday varieties (except Halloween, which is special for some reason). I was actually surprised to find a Valentine's Day version of Rice Krispies on the shelves - and a little annoyed, because I thought Easter was going to be the last holiday I'd have to endure another box of this dreck. It looks nice, though!

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Pink, and plain.

Rice Krispies with Holiday Colors

Name: Rice Krispies with Holiday Colors
Variation: Rice Krispies
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: At this point, I'm just collecting the different seasonal varieties of Rice Krispies to complete the set, so I can have them documented for posterity on my blog. In fact, I didn't even eat that whole bowl you see in the picture. I poured most of it back into the box before adding a splash of milk, and ate only enough to confirm that it tastes just like every other box of plain Rice Krispies I've had so far - which is to say on the dull side of plain. The red and green Krispies are certainly appreciated for Christmas, but at this point, I'm not even sure I like Rice Krispies Treats enough to keep buying these...

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Nothing to write home about.

Frosted Krispies

Name: Frosted Krispies
Variation: Rice Krispies
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: After trying regular Rice Krispies (in both Shocking Orange and Red & Blue) and being completely turned off from how bland the cereal was, I was very curious to try these Frosted Krispies to see how they compare. Some people like to make a big deal about how sweet and sugary breakfast cereals are, but my opinion is that it's par for the course. After all, you wouldn't drink unsweetened lemonade, would you? As expected, these Frosted Krispies are much sweeter than plain Rice Krispies, which is to their benefit. I'd say that it makes them palatable (I was actually able to finish the bowl I'd poured this time!), but they're still quite plain in the grand scheme of things. They're not as good as Cinnamon Sugar Krispies were, which have a flavor beyond just being "sweet". I definitely won't be in a hurry to have this cereal again.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: What little milk is left after the cereal is gone tastes very sweet.

Shocking Orange Krispies

Name: Rice Krispies Shocking Orange Colored Cereal
Variation: Rice Krispies
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: After trying Red & Blue Krispies, I felt a bit like a sucker buying this cereal, knowing full well that I wasn't going to like it. Although you can't say that I'm not dedicated to the mission statement of this blog, which is to document and try novelty cereal varieties. At least I can still make them into Rice Krispies Treats. Which, I'm convinced at this point, is all that plain Rice Krispies are really good for. I'm pretty sure even Kellogg's acknowledges this, as the treats are pictured right on the front of the box, with the recipe on the side. I have to give them credit for coloring the Krispies orange for Halloween. But it's not enough to make me actually like the cereal. Maybe if they mixed it with half Cocoa Krispies, it would taste better - and it would still be visually on theme for the holiday!

I'd still rather they were all chocolate...

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Blander than plain.

Red & Blue Krispies

Name: Rice Krispies with Red & Blue Krispies
Variation: Rice Krispies
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: I assume this cereal tastes exactly like regular Rice Krispies, just with some of the Krispies turned red or blue. Which is admittedly a good idea. Think of the different colors and color combinations they could use for a variety of purposes? But wow. This cereal is so bland. It's like eating plain, unseasoned rice. I will be using the rest of this box (mixed with butter and marshmallow, of course) to make Rice Krispies Treats for sure. I couldn't even finish eating the bowl I'd poured (and frankly, that's a first for me - I had to go wash my mouth out with some Chocolate Toast Crunch). I'm surprised this cereal has such a fun popping effect, because otherwise, I could totally see this porridge being the product Kellogg originally invented, as the legend goes, to dull the passions of asylum inmates...

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: A pasty sludge.

Cinnamon Sugar Krispies

Name: Cinnamon Sugar Krispies
Variation: Rice Krispies
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: It's ironic (although probably not unusual) that I love Rice Krispies Treats, but never eat Rice Krispies cereal. (Have they ever made a Rice Krispies cereal with marshmallows? Because they totally should). It just seems too plain. Who gets excited for crisped rice? I'll grant you that the popping effect is a lot of fun, but like Pebbles, this is another cereal that absorbs the milk and turns into a crunchy sludge. Adding a cinnamon sugar flavor is a brilliant idea - the taste is very reminiscent of cinnamon sugar toast (and I feel like an idiot, but I'm just realizing this is what Cinnamon Toast Crunch is supposed to be emulating), but perhaps the flavor could be a bit stronger. As the focal point of my breakfast, I got bored with it very quick, but I was much more impressed with both the flavor and the texture when eating a smaller bowl on the side with my lunch. So, better in smaller doses? There are probably not going to be a lot of varieties of Rice Krispies that I like, so I'm going to give this one the benefit of the doubt and give it a rating of two bowls.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: What milk?

Cookies & Creme Krispies

Name: Cookies & Creme Krispies
Variation: Rice Krispies
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: I don't dislike milk and cookies. But "cookies & cream" isn't one of my favorite flavors, because I feel that it emphasizes the cream to the exclusion of the cookies. The same can be said of this cereal. And the little black specks that are supposed to represent the cookies? They're a joke. The best cookies & cream ice cream I ever had was in an ice cream shop in Asheville, NC. It had huge chunks of chocolate chip cookie in it (not the Oreo-style chocolate sandwich cookie that is more common in cookies & cream). But that's not what you're getting here. It snaps. It crackles. It pops. But it tastes predominantly of crunchy, vanilla milk.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: What's not absorbed by the Krispies tastes expectedly of cookies & cream.