Dark Chocolate Reese's Puffs

Name: Dark Chocolate Reese's Puffs
Variation: Reese's Puffs
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Two words: instant fave. I could end the review there, but then I wouldn't get to talk about how great this cereal is. Not only is it a brilliant idea, it's entirely up my alley. I'm ashamed I didn't think of it first. And as a night owl, I dig the "after dark" box design. All that, before I've even poured my first bowl! But I'm confident that I'm gonna love it, because there's no way they could mess this one up. Sometimes, you just know.

I want to say that the chocolate puffs are a little darker than usual, but I'd have to compare them side-by-side with regular Reese's Puffs to say for sure. I think they've done a good job of capturing that dark chocolate flavor - slightly bitter, and less sweet. Dark chocolate can be a bit of an acquired taste, and one that is sometimes misunderstood. It has a more intense chocolate flavor, but some people are surprised that it's not as sweet as the chocolate they're used to.

You see, chocolate isn't intrinsically sweet. It does taste better sweetened (some people eat 100% cacao for bragging rights, but I think that's silly); dark chocolate just doesn't go as hard with the sweetness, so the actual chocolate flavor can shine. It's a more mature, more sophisticated, more "adult" version of chocolate - like chocolate after dark, which is perfectly encapsulated by the midnight aesthetic of the cereal box.

"Midnight is technically morning."

Also, sometimes people ask, is dark chocolate better than milk chocolate? In my mind, it's not an either/or situation. They're two different kinds of chocolate, but they're both chocolate, and they're both good. It's not like you'll graduate to dark chocolate and then stop liking milk chocolate. But if you do acquire a taste for it, dark chocolate can be a rewarding indulgence - something a little bit extra, without just piling on more sugar. There's definitely a bit of a mystique to it, and this cereal captures that well.

Rating: 🥣🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Not as heavily flavored as I'd like, but that's standard for Reese's Puffs.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Mexican Style Hot Chocolate

Name: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Mexican Style Hot Chocolate
Variation: Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Cinnamon Toast Crunch shows off their south-of-the-border flare once again with an intriguing new flavor for the holidays. (Although it makes for an obnoxiously long title). I had to look up what constitutes "Mexican style" hot chocolate - there's a little more to it than just adding cinnamon. I'm interested to find out how this cereal compares to regular Chocolate Toast Crunch (which has been, inexplicably, discontinued recently).

First off, the toasties are very dark - suggesting a darker chocolate than usual. I know dark chocolate isn't to everyone's taste, but I'm a fan. Honestly, the best hot cocoa I've ever had has been dark chocolate. There's definitely something more going on here beyond just chocolate and cinnamon, though. It's actually a little bit spicy. Like CinnaFuego Toast Crunch, but (mercifully) dialed down to just a slight tingle on your tongue. The first bowl was a little bit strange, then it began to grow on me. But after eating it for days on end, I think it's beginning to irritate my throat. If nothing else, this has definitely been the most unique hot cocoa cereal I've ever tried.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Like a frozen Mexican style hot chocolate!

[Experiment] Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Cheerios

Name: Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Cheerios
Variation: Chocolate Cheerios (manufactured by General Mills)

Review: This was, perhaps, the best experiment to come out of my first wave of envisioning fantasy cereals. And the best part is, you can really make it! I used Chocolate Cheerios, dark chocolate oat clusters, and fresh pomegranate seeds. I had wanted to use dark chocolate Cheerios, but I couldn't find any. There was a Multi Grain Cheerios Dark Chocolate Crunch years ago but it's long gone, and the consensus seems to be that there wasn't enough dark chocolate in it. I saw these dark chocolate clusters in the store, and I thought they would be a perfect addition to a bowl of Chocolate Cheerios. The pomegranate is what puts it over the top, though, adding a tart splash of fruitiness that pairs well with the dark chocolate.

I used fresh pomegranate seeds (which are a bit of a chore to prepare), but if this were a real cereal, I wouldn't be opposed to using dried pomegranate - maybe those dried cranberries infused with pomegranate juice? - or even artificial flavoring if that's what it takes. I would have liked to have tried a full bowl of dark chocolate Cheerios, but I think adding the dark chocolate clusters to regular Chocolate Cheerios works. Plus, it gives the cereal some textural variety (it's a bit chewy, between the oat clusters and the pomegranate seeds, but it's quite good), and imitates some of those other "Medley" and "Oat Crunch" varieties you can find on the shelves. You know, I'm starting to think there might be a real market for cereal add-ins. I've put fresh fruit in my cereal before (though never anything as exotic as pomegranate), but these clusters open the door wide to further experimentation...

Rating: 🥣🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Chocolatey, with a splash of pomegranate!