Wicked (Elphaba Caramel Apple)

Name: Wicked (Elphaba Caramel Apple)
Variation: n/a
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: It's time to try Elphaba's caramel apple cereal! Can I just say, I think caramel apple is a great flavor for fall. I'm surprised there isn't a dependable standard that appears on the shelves every year. You can't even have Caramel Apple Toast Crunch without getting Apple Pie Toast Crunch and Dulce de Leche Toast Crunch (assuming you can find them both), and mixing them together. Apple Jacks tried a Caramel variety once upon a time, but I barely had a chance to taste it. I thought Monster Cereals' new addition Carmella Creeper was here to stay, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of her this year.

On to the cereal at hand. These puffs are a sickly green color, but it contributes to the "Wicked Witch" aesthetic - similar to Snow White's poisoned apple, but that's a different story. The texture and corn flavor is comparable to that of Glinda Good Berry, but with caramel in place of strawberry. It does remind me of eating Carmella Creeper without the marshmallows. But how come these "caramel apple" cereals always taste predominantly of caramel, but not really apple? Apple is a good flavor! TMNT Mutant Mayhem was just cinnamon apple - no caramel - and it was pretty good. Very sweet and fruity, like applesauce. Come to think of it, this cereal reminds me more of caramel corn.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Imagine somebody dropped a single Werther's Original into your milk.

I mentioned that pink and green were my favorite colors, didn't I? Well, I also like putting them together, so I couldn't resist mixing Glinda and Elphaba in the same bowl. And you know what? It's actually quite good. The Good Berry adds some needed fruitiness that was lacking from the Caramel Apple. Perhaps they should have mixed them together from the get-go. I guess these witches really are two halves of a whole heart!

Monster Combos

Three years ago, the appearance of Monster Mash cereal inspired me to combine my own mix of the Monster Cereals together for a frightful concoction. The result was disappointing; there was just too much going on in the bowl. So I'd been thinking of trying out different combinations of these cereals, two at a time. And with last year's introduction of Carmella Creeper to the lineup - a caramel apple cereal - the possibilities show even more promise. Step into my kitchen laboratory, and we'll try some experiments!

Chocolate/Caramel Apple

I thought this sounded like a good combination - chocolate and caramel go well together, and it's in a similar vein to the classic fall treat, the candy apple. And it does taste good. Honestly, I think the chocolate draws out the caramel flavor better. I'm surprised General Mills hasn't done something like this yet, although Carmella Creeper is still pretty new. Maybe it'll be next year's version of Monster Mash. I'd like that.

Strawberry/Blueberry

Mixing the two berry cereals together seemed like a no-brainer, although their similarity means the combination lacks distinction. And though, as expected, the flavors complement each other well, it's not as fruity as I would have thought. It tastes mostly of corn. Even the milk is surprisingly plain. Once again, it's the marshmallows alone that carry this cereal.

Caramel Apple/Strawberry

Visually, the green balances out that vibrant pink, and the marshmallows kind of fade into the background. When I eat Carmella Creeper alone, the flavors don't really stand out, but pairing it with something else seems to make the caramel pop. This is like plain Carmella Creeper, but with a slightly fruitier balance. I'd say it's an improvement over either cereal alone.

Caramel Apple/Blueberry

As far as I can tell, this is the combination they use for Monster Mash Remix - although they probably use a different mix of marshmallows, and who can be sure what flavors they might add without telegraphing it with the proper dyes? On that note, the colors complement each other well - bright green contrasted with dark purple. And the flavors do, too - better than you might think, pouring caramel over blueberries. This is pretty similar to caramel apple/strawberry, but I think Boo Berry has a slightly better flavor than Franken Berry, so this is a little bit better. It's not a bad choice for a Monster Mash; although I would still prefer chocolate/caramel apple.

Strawberry/Chocolate

Chocolate-covered strawberries, anyone? The brown and pink make a nice contrast. I feel like the fruity flavor is more front-and-center, but there's a nice chocolate undercurrent. It's not a bad combination - it certainly makes Franken Berry more palatable. I don't think I like it as much as chocolate/caramel apple, though. Every once in awhile, I get a bite that seems to clash, but I'm not sure why.

Blueberry/Chocolate

Although conceptually very similar to strawberry/chocolate, I think blueberries and chocolate is a somewhat less common combination. But still good. The purple Boo Berry pieces are so dark, you can hardly distinguish them from the brown Count Chocula pieces. It's a shame it doesn't make as good a visual impression (looks do matter), because I think it tastes better than the mix with Franken Berry. Which was to be expected.

Caramel Apple/Berry

I did this with Count Chocula way back when, so I thought it would only be fair to give Carmella Creeper a chance. And it's not bad. I used two parts caramel apple (1 cup) to each part strawberry and blueberry (half cup each) for a proper balance of flavors. It's really not that much different from using Franken Berry or Boo Berry alone. And the mix of colors looks much more lively. I have no idea why they don't use this as their Monster Mash; I think it's just as good.

Berry/Chocolate

Although I did this once before, with all the other combinations I was mixing together, I figured I could stand to give it a second chance. And this time, like with my caramel apple/berry concoction, I mixed the chocolate 2:1 with the strawberry and blueberry, so it's equal parts chocolate and fruity. The blending of the Count Chocula and Boo Berry pieces does dull the visual impression a little - on the other hand, it has more of a gradient look. I taste the chocolate more than the fruitiness. That said, the fruitiness kind of clashes with the chocolate for some reason. I honestly can't say why this combination doesn't work better, but the success of Monster Mash clearly relies on the presence of newcomer Carmella Creeper.

Monster Medley

I'm calling this "Monster Medley" because Monster Mash was already taken. You know I had to do it. But yeah, there's a lot going on in this cereal. The flavors aren't bad, but it doesn't really coalesce into a single flavor experience. Even if you take the time to mix it up evenly, you're bound to get a different concentration of pieces in every spoonful. It looks interesting, though - with all those colors. And now, I'm kinda sick of the Monster Cereals. I don't think I wanna eat them again for a whole year... :-p

Dulce de Leche Toast Crunch

Name: Dulce de Leche Toast Crunch
Variation: Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Fancy though it sounds, this is essentially Cinnamon Toast Crunch with a caramel flavor - and it's quite good. Much better than that abomination that was Tres Leches Toast Crunch. I'm not surprised you can find it year-round, and have been able to for some time now. It might even be my favorite alternate version of Cinnamon Toast Crunch - besides Chocolate Toast Crunch, of course. And if you have some Apple Pie Toast Crunch on hand to mix in, all the better! If I have this cereal a few more times, I might consider bumping its rating up to three bowls in the future, but for now, I'll just let it coast where it's at.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Sweet and caramelicious!

[Flashback] Apple Jacks Caramel

Notice: Flashback reviews have been written from memory, without having the cereal in front of me. I started taking pictures of notable cereal varieties several years before I decided to start a blog reviewing them. As such, details beyond whether I simply liked the cereal or not may be hazy, especially regarding the quality of the leftover milk. Whenever possible, I have made an effort to procure another box of the cereal for a proper review (even the ones I didn't like), but due to the ephemeral nature of many of these novelty cereals, this is not always possible.

Name: Apple Jacks Caramel
Variation: Apple Jacks
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: I regret not finding this cereal earlier (it would have made for a good comparison with Caramel Apple Toast Crunch), as by the time I got this box, the cereal tasted noticeably stale. As such, I cannot give it a proper review, but I wanted to document its existence in case I don't ever see it again. As far as I can tell, this flavor was released in the summer of 2020 (which was otherwise a fallow year for novelty cereals in my experience; but maybe that's because I was a shut-in throughout the height of the pandemic). I wish it were easier to track production dates and release schedules for these cereals, from a more authoritative source than hunting news articles and reviews. There should be a database somewhere...

Rating: (withheld)

Carmella Creeper

Name: Carmella Creeper
Variation: Monster Cereals
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: I'm very excited that General Mills is introducing (for the first time in 36 years!) a brand new member of the Monsters line of cereals this year. My only regret is that I haven't had a proper chance to review Fruity Yummy Mummy yet (my great regret from 2013, when I was only just starting to get back into eating cereal).

Before even trying it, I can say that I love everything about this cereal. Conceptually, it's an excellent choice of addition to the lineup. It's a zombie character; she's a girl; it has an eerie green motif that is quite festive; and the flavor is caramel apple!

Not only is this an intriguing flavor - and a great choice for a cereal available exclusively in the fall - but it adds some welcome novelty to a lineup that, if not for Count Chocula, would be nothing but different shades of "fruity with marshmallows" (although last year's Frute Brute was surprisingly good - I still think it should replace Franken Berry in the regular trio). All that's left is to actually try the cereal and see how it tastes. :-p

The color of this cereal is not the prettiest shade of green, but I think it effectively conveys the look of zombified flesh. The flavor and texture seem consistent with the other Monster cereals - you're not punched in the mouth with it, but there's an underscore of caramel apple flavor. And the marshmallows pull their weight (although they don't look very distinctively like anything in particular).

I don't think this is going to become my new favorite Monster cereal. Nobody can compete with Count Chocula; and I don't think I like it even as much as the new and improved Frute Brute (wish that would stick around). But I like that it stands out from the other cereals with a unique flavor that is perfectly poised to join the lineup. Whether or not this one lasts - I guess that depends on how well everyone else likes it.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Not really colored and only subtly flavored.

Dunkin' Caramel Macchiato

Name: Dunkin' Caramel Macchiato
Variation: n/a
Manufacturer: Post

Review: I suppose I should begin this review with a confession. I don't like the taste of coffee. That's why I waited so long to buy this cereal at closeout prices. In hindsight, I regret missing the chance to try the Mocha Latte flavor also, but really (to quote Blind Willie Johnson), it's nobody's fault but mine. I remember seeing them both on the shelves, and passing them over time and time again.

Anyway, when you open the box, it smells like you just walked into a coffee shop. I suppose the predominant flavors are caramel and coffee. I like that there are marshmallows involved. The texture of the cereal is pleasant. I think that, if circumstances were different, I could easily like this cereal. I just can't get past that distinctive coffee taste.

As a closing remark, "Dunkin'" seems to be rebranding itself lately to compete with Starbucks. But I'll take donuts over coffee any day of the week. This was a great idea for a breakfast cereal (especially considering that a lot of people drink coffee first thing in the morning), but I would be far more excited by a line of Dunkin' cereals based on different kinds of donuts. Chocolate sprinkles, jelly-filled, Bavarian cream... Think of the possibilities!

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: It's an instant Frappuccino!

Banana Caramel Cheerios

Name: Banana Caramel Cheerios
Variation: Cheerios
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Cheerios is getting really good at banana flavoring - I ate a handful of these, and it gave me that genuine flavor sensation of eating sliced bananas in my cereal (even better is adding actual sliced bananas to this cereal!). The caramel flavor is not super strong, but it's a good complement to the banana flavor, so it doesn't just taste like straight banana. I'd be intrigued to see a Chocolate - or better yet, Peanut Butter! - Banana Cheerios in the future (General Mills, take note). I don't know if I'd pick this cereal over Strawberry Banana Cheerios, but I do like it. It sounds like a weird flavor, but it's good. I happened to note that it vanished off the shelves pretty quickly last fall (whereas Honey Vanilla Cheerios, which I didn't like as much, is hanging around), so I'm glad I grabbed a box while it was available.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Seems you can always count on Cheerios, these days, to leave you with some interestingly-flavored milk at the end of your bowl of cereal.

[Flashback] Girl Scouts Thin Mints & Caramel Crunch

Notice: Flashback reviews have been written from memory, without having the cereal in front of me. I started taking pictures of notable cereal varieties several years before I decided to start a blog reviewing them. As such, details beyond whether I simply liked the cereal or not may be hazy, especially regarding the quality of the leftover milk. Whenever possible, I have made an effort to procure another box of the cereal for a proper review (even the ones I didn't like), but due to the ephemeral nature of many of these novelty cereals, this is not always possible.

Name: Thin Mints & Caramel Crunch
Variation: Girl Scouts
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Let me preface this review by saying that I am a big fan of Girl Scout cookies, and think that they should license their cookies for tie-ins with more products. Especially ice cream. Every year I buy a few boxes of cookies and use them to make Girl Scout cookie milkshakes. I noticed that Dairy Queen has started advertising Thin Mint blizzards the past couple springs. Though I do like Thin Mints, mint isn't my favorite companion to chocolate - that would be peanut butter, which is why Tagalongs are my favorite Girl Scout cookie.

Suffice to say, I was very excited when I saw these two versions of Girl Scout cookies in cereal form, back in early 2017, imitating what I believe are the Girl Scouts' two most popular cookies - Thin Mints and Samoas. I like Samoas, too (mmm, toasted coconut), but I prefer them in smaller doses. What I remember of these cereals is that I, predictably, liked Thin Mints better than Caramel Crunch. I'd love to see them both in stores again, because I think I'm due for a reappraisal of their merits. And if they made a Tagalong cereal? Goddess be praised!

Rating: 🥣🥣

Chocolate Caramel Crunch

Name: Chocolate Caramel Crunch
Variation: Cap'n Crunch
Manufacturer: Quaker Oats

Review: My recent experience with novelty editions of Cap'n Crunch has largely included holiday editions that still taste like the regular cereal, so I was really excited to try this Chocolate Caramel Crunch. Caramel may not be my favorite companion to chocolate (that would be peanut butter), but it's certainly not a bad choice. I remember the first time I had a bowl of this cereal last fall, the flavor combination was a little off-putting. But as I worked my way through the box, the taste of it grew on me (as sometimes happens). After all, it is still Cap'n Crunch. This cereal may not be my favorite ship in the captain's fleet, but I do enjoy eating it.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Flavored with chocolate and caramel!

Caramel Apple Toast Crunch

Name: Dulce de Leche Toast Crunch + Apple Pie Toast Crunch
Variation: Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Technically, this is two different cereals - Dulce de Leche (a.k.a. caramel) Toast Crunch, and Apple Pie Toast Crunch. Individually, I like the caramel Toast Crunch better. It's pretty neat how the other one tastes like apples, but I think the flavor is maybe a tad strong. The box itself recommends mixing them together for a "caramel apple flavor explosion", and I gotta say, it's a great idea. It's rare to have an autumn-themed cereal that's flavor-based, and not just branded for Halloween.

Sometimes sold separately.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Caramel apple goodness!