Cinnamon Toast Crunch Apple

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

Review: Without having them side-by-side, I can't say how this cereal differs from Cinnamon Toast Crunch's seasonal fall variety, Apple Pie Toast Crunch. What does apple pie have, other than apples? I know it's not caramel, because you have to add Dulce de Leche Toast Crunch to get the Caramel Apple flavor. Regardless, if Apple Jacks is any indication (and it is, although I would pick Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, myself), this is a great flavor idea for a cinnamon cereal. I mean, some cereal novelties are pretty out there, while others are obvious. This one's a no-brainer.

I could smell the pleasant aroma of apples as soon as I opened the box. And it's a pretty box - in a complementary shade of green. The cereal is good. It's sweet, and the apple flavor blends with the cinnamon really well. I still don't know how it differs from Apple Pie Toast Crunch, but this version is more universal. I notice the box doesn't say "new" (I could believe this flavor has been floated before), or even "limited". Will it stick around? It's about the most logical choice of alternate for a cinnamon cereal as I could think of (even more so than chocolate, although I do like Chocolate Toast Crunch). Kellogg's (which manufactures Apple Jacks) better beware.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: It's the applesauce-flavored milkshake you never knew you wanted!

Frosted Flakes Chocolate Peanut

Name: Frosted Flakes Chocolate Peanut
Variation: Frosted Flakes
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: Although admittedly a novel idea for a cereal, this new variety of Frosted Flakes stops just short of one of my favorite flavor combinations. Why did they choose peanuts over peanut butter? Who knows. Maybe because it sounds vaguely more nutritious, for a brand that markets itself to school athletes. Then again, peanut butter is a popular flavor for protein shakes...

You could be forgiven for missing this (as I initially did), but there are no actual peanuts in this cereal; as the small, faded script under the title reluctantly admits, the peanut flavor is artificial (and you can kinda tell). I guess that makes it safe for people with peanut allergies? Although it does beg the question, what's the point?

The design on the box shows a square of chocolate packed with nuts, and the inherent crunchiness of Frosted Flakes lends itself well to that impression. I just don't know that the artificial peanut flavor adds anything meaningful to the cereal (besides novelty). But the base is still Chocolate Frosted Flakes, so I can't rate it any lower than two bowls.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Anybody for some peanuts in their chocolate milk?

Froot Loops Wild-Berry

Name: Froot Loops Wild-Berry
Variation: Froot Loops
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: Do you remember Froot Loops Tropical, from a few years back? I was surprised I didn't like it. Well, now there's a new fruity variation on a cereal that is normally citrus-flavored. I don't know why they chose to hyphenate the term "wild-berry"; I'm just surprised this is the first I've ever heard of a wild berry version of Froot Loops!

The cereal smells very fruity right out of the box. The color is kind of subdued - these red, orange, and purple loops give me the impression of a V8 smoothie. But they have a light, crunchy bite, and a good berry flavor that can't be denied. Try it with fresh strawberries and blueberries for a delightful treat!

I like how experimental Kellogg's has been with Froot Loops of late. I feel like this cereal rectifies the travesty that was Froot Loops Wonka (which should have been Cocoa Loops in the first place). I don't think I'd pick it over regular Froot Loops, but I would consider it a worthy alternative to join the brand. Alas; this "limited edition" probably won't last long...

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Actually berry-flavored!

Toy Story 5

Name: Toy Story 5
Variation: n/a
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: I was a kid when the first Toy Story movie came out (over thirty years ago...), but I haven't really followed the franchise since then. But judging from the cereal tie-in, there's a fifth one coming out this year. I saw a trailer for it in the theater recently, and the premise resonated with me: on the dangers of tech devices, which prioritize screen time over real world interactions and exercising imagination. I must be getting old, if I'm complaining about modern technology ruining kids' brains. Although there are real issues involved here.

But this is a cereal blog, so what about the cereal? I'm concerned that it will be another one of Kellogg's opportunistic marketing blunders, like the endless remixes of their terrible berry stars cereal. These pale, "vanilla-flavored loops" couldn't look blander. They're white as a ghost, with the merest hint of sprinkles. If these were cupcakes, what a paltry celebration they would inspire. This cereal is in desperate need of some marshmallows. I don't hate it, but I'm struggling to find a reason to enjoy it. I certainly won't be buying it again, not even to "grab all four boxes" (who is Kellogg's kidding?). I think I got lucky and got the best one on my first try (with apologies to both Woody and Buzz), featuring Jessie the cowgirl rag doll.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Vanilla-flavored.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Root Beer Float

Name: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Root Beer Float
Variation: Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Here's a novel flavor for the summer - and coming on the heels of Mystery Crunch, which I suspect was cream soda-flavored. What's next, Fruity Pebbles Orange Soda? Although I'd prefer grape soda. I used to drink root beer when I was a kid, but that's not really a habit that followed me into adulthood. I like the fireworks design on the box - it's festive, without being too patriotic (sadly, on the 250th anniversary of the United States' founding, there's very little about this country to be proud of). Eaten dry, this cereal has that unmistakable root beer flavor. I'm not sure how much of a "float" sensation there is, beyond simply adding cold milk. But the flavor is kind of subdued in milk, and the cereal isn't as sweet or cinnamon-y as Cinnamon Toast Crunch usually is. Honestly, I'm not crazy about it. I'd sooner pick up another box of Mystery Crunch, and I never liked cream soda half as much as root beer - so that's saying something.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: More of a root beer float than the cereal itself.

Squishmallows Spring Vibes

Name: Squishmallows Spring Vibes
Variation: Squishmallows
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: Aside from the hot pink box, I'm struggling to determine what makes this "Spring Vibes" version any different from last year's Squishmallows cereal, so this review might sound repetitive. It does give off spring vibes (although it did that last year, too) - with its pale, yellow loops and pretty pink, blue, and purple marshmallows. Although the sheer variety of Squishmallows depicted on the box is sorely represented by these marshmallows. But that's to be expected - cereal marbits are far from the best medium for artistic expression. Their aesthetic value (setting aside the pivotal role they have in enhancing the flavor profile of a cereal) rarely extends beyond providing a pleasing pop of color. This is a perfectly pleasant marshmallow-flavored cereal, but I'm wondering if the market is saturated between this and Peeps cereal (also manufactured by Kellogg's)...

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Like a mini marshmallow milkshake.

Strawberry Lucky Charms

Name: Strawberry Lucky Charms
Variation: Lucky Charms
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: I had just missed Fruity Lucky Charms around the time that I started this blog, but this tie-in with the new Super Mario Galaxy movie reminds me of that cereal. I like how putting Mario on the front of the box opposite Lucky emphasizes how much Lucky's green outfit makes him look like Luigi.

The oat pieces are coated in a pretty pink layer of strawberry flavoring - which would have made them the perfect base for my Pixie Charms fantasy cereal. However, the "galactic marshmallows" just look like swirled blue, red, and green lemons. Apparently, General Mills didn't learn with their Galactic Lucky Charms that as cool a concept as space is, you really can't effectively represent something as nebulous as a "galaxy" in the form of a dehydrated marshmallow bit.

The small yellow stars, on the other hand, look great. (As cool as the unicorns and rainbows are, it's a testament to the importance of simplicity when it comes to marshmallow design). There are stars of all different colors drawn on the side of the box - I think the cereal would have looked better if they had ditched all the other marshmallows and just focused on the stars. Anyway, it's a lot better than the last Super Mario cereal I tried - you can't go wrong with Lucky Charms - and even better still with fresh strawberries cut up into it!

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Purple like an overcast sky - every stargazer's worst nightmare.

Scooby Doo! Cinnamon Crisp!

Name: Scooby Doo! Cinnamon Crisp!
Variation: n/a
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: After trying Cinnamon Pebbles not that long ago, my interest in purely cinnamon-flavored cereals has wavered. Not that I don't like cinnamon, but I'm not sure it's a flavor that can really stand on its own. I mean, even Cinnamon Toast Crunch has that rich, buttery flavor going for it. However, this cereal turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The paw-shaped biscuits are good as a dry snack, offering a crispy bite. And in milk, they have a much more satisfying mouthfeel than Pebbles do. Honestly, it's a relief after three weeks of not-so-great cereals. But, it's still a lot of cinnamon - I'm finding that when I eat too much cinnamon, it irritates my throat a little bit. As a final note, the back of the box offers a mystery (appropriately enough) for you to try to solve while you eat breakfast, and it actually provides a fair challenge.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Tastes like cinnamon cookies!

Glazed Donut Holes - Blueberry

Name: Glazed Donut Holes - Blueberry
Variation: Glazed Donut Holes, Froot Loops
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: This year, Kellogg's is adding a new flavor to their Glazed Donut Holes lineup, and it's such a natural fit, it's a wonder it wasn't released with the first wave! Being a fruity cereal, blueberry is a great choice for the Froot Loops banner. Now, you might recall that Froot Loops is a lemon-flavored cereal (somewhat surprisingly), but anything in the lemonade family seems appropriate to me. The pink box even accurately depicts the way blueberry lemonade turns red and not blue (again, somewhat surprisingly)!

The cereal smells very blueberry-y. In fact, I think it smells more strongly of blueberries than it tastes. Obviously, it's improved by adding fresh blueberries, which is a natural pairing. The puffs are glazed and crunchy, with a good mouthfeel, but the more bites I take, the plainer it tastes. I like donuts, but I don't know that I'm crazy about donut holes in particular. I don't hate this cereal, but would I buy it again? I doubt it. At this point, I think my enthusiasm for this lineup is pretty much played out.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: You do get blueberry milk at the end.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter

Name: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter
Variation: Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: I like peanut butter, so I was pretty excited when I spotted this new version of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. It's not something I would have expected to see, but Cinnamon Toast Crunch seems to be throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks lately. Some of their varieties have been hits, and some have been misses. But this one holds promise.

If the combination sounds weird to you, I can tell you that I have had peanut butter on French toast (also: waffles), and it's quite good. As is this cereal. You take a bite, and then that rich, peanut buttery taste kicks in. It's not super sweet, and by the end of the bowl it gets kinda dry - like you've just had a mouthful of peanut butter. But I like it a lot. I think it would be great mixed with something sweet and fruity like Cinnamon Toast Crunch Strawberry. I better get myself to the store before it's discontinued!

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Swirled with peanut butter & cinnadust.

Cocoa Loops

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

Review: I should really stop giving these companies ideas for new cereals - seeing as I'll never see so much as a penny of their profits. This is the version of Froot Loops the world needed when Kellogg's was promoting the Wonka movie. A movie about a guy who builds a chocolate factory. I mean, the box is even purple! You all thought I was crazy back then for suggesting a chocolate version of Froot Loops. (After all, it's a fruity cereal - it's right there in the name! Although the word "cocoa" has two o's without misspelling it). And yet, here we are. I couldn't be more excited to try it.

It has a good cocoa flavor. Kellogg's doesn't really have a chocolate cereal (I'm not counting Cocoa Krispies, because it's a Krispies cereal), so this cereal would seem to be poised to compete with General Mills' Cocoa Puffs. It even turns the milk chocolate! Kellogg's cereals don't have a good track record when it comes to that, so I'm impressed. My only regret is that I bought such a small box. I guess I'll have to go back to the store and get another one. I wonder how long it'll stick around.

Rating: 🥣🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Chocolatey, as advertised.

Honey Bunches of Oats - Sugar Cookie

Name: Honey Bunches of Oats - Sugar Cookie
Variation: Honey Bunches of Oats
Manufacturer: Post

Review: After a short break, we're heading into the holiday rush now, starting with this exciting new flavor of Honey Bunches of Oats! Opening the box, it smells strongly of sugar cookies. But it's not as colorful as the box would suggest - these "festive" red and green sprinkles are barely noticeable. The flavor is good, though. The texture is a lot different from a soft, doughy cookie (that's one thing The Elf on the Shelf got right), but the taste is on point. I might even like it better than Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch! In any case, it's a delightful treat for the holidays.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Did somebody order a sugar cookie milkshake?

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!

Jettas Mix

Name: Justin Jefferson's Jettas Mix
Variation: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cheerios
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Like with the Kelce Mix from last year, I have no idea who Justin Jefferson is - but it's a pretty box, with holographic lettering. Unlike that other mix, this cereal combines limited edition varieties (new Cinnamon Toast Crunch Strawberry, and Frosted Lemon Cheerios) instead of a bunch of staples. But it's an intriguing combination of flavors - like a strawberry lemonade, but with a hint of buttery cinnamon. It tastes very refreshing. I think the lemon is more prominent than the strawberry, and the cinnamon adds an interesting flourish. The box says Justin Jefferson has a "sweet tooth" - but while this cereal is sweet, it runs fruity rather than chocolatey. As such, it's not what I would choose for my signature cereal, but I do like it. Makes a great dry snack, too.

Rating: 🥣🥣
Leftover Milk: Like a horchata mixed with strawberry lemonade!

Cheerios Protein (Cookies & Creme)

Name: Cookies & Creme Cheerios Protein
Variation: Cheerios
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: Although I don't love cookies & "creme", I've been looking forward to trying this flavor from Cheerios' new protein-packed lineup, because it's the most candy-adjacent, and I don't think I've ever seen a cookies & creme flavor of Cheerios before. But if you can imagine a health-conscious version of Oreo O's, this would be it. Each bite initially greets you with the flavor of cookies & creme, then gives over to an unmistakable impression of oats. This time, the "spot the differences" puzzle on the back of the box features a lively city park scene.

In fairness, these cereals have grown on me - as varieties of Cheerios usually do, once your palate adjusts to their relative plainness compared to other cereals on the market. I took some of this cereal dry to eat while camping and it was perfectly appetizing (unlike Honey Bunches of Oats with Real Strawberries, which I thought would be a good dry snack, but very much wasn't). I think they do pretty well for what they are. I don't know that I would call them a "health food" - they're neither low sugar nor fat free. But, if you're looking for a protein supplement in your diet, I feel like you could probably do a lot worse than this.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Tastes like cookies & creme!

Cheerios Protein (Strawberry)

Name: Strawberry Cheerios Protein
Variation: Cheerios
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: This version of Cheerios' new protein-packed cereals doesn't have a bad strawberry flavor. Really, it just has the same problems as the last one I tried - the Cheerios are really dense (as if they were muscle-bound - I'm not sure if it would be hilarious or disturbing if this cereal were called Muscle Rings), and there's a hint of a vegetable-y flavor. The cereal is improved by the addition of fresh strawberries, as you could imagine. But I still see it as something you would add to a deliberate, protein-focused diet, and not something I would pick up to eat otherwise, especially considering how many great flavors of regular Cheerios are out there. The back of the box features a "spot the differences" puzzle with a pretty strawberry orchard scene.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Pink and fruity (what is this, Trix?).

Cheerios Protein (Cinnamon)

Name: Cinnamon Cheerios Protein
Variation: Cheerios
Manufacturer: General Mills

Review: I initially ignored these new protein-packed varieties of Cheerios, but I was looking to fill out a few empty slots on my blog (that's a first!) through the end of the year, so I'm giving them a try, after all. Starting with... Cinnamon! (Comparisons to regular Cinnamon Cheerios would be appropriate).

Fortified with pea protein, these Cheerios appear slightly smaller and denser than normal Cheerios. They smell and taste strongly of cinnamon - and I also happened to notice that brown sugar is listed among the ingredients. They taste alright, but I don't love them. Maybe this is just my imagination, but I daresay I detect a hint of a vegetable-y flavor.

If I were making a concentrated effort to increase protein in my diet (and I'm not the bodybuilding type), I could stomach this cereal (it's a lot better than Veggie Blends), but I don't think I would go out of my way to eat it again. Though, the back of the box has a "spot the differences" puzzle featuring a mountain scene that makes me feel right at home.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Very sweet and cinnamon-y.

Frosted Flakes Cookies & Creme Milkshake

Name: Frosted Flakes Cookies & Creme Milkshake
Variation: Frosted Flakes
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: After Strawberry Milkshake and Chocolate Milkshake, I predicted that Frosted Flakes would come out with a Vanilla Milkshake variety. This isn't quite the same thing, but it's pretty close. After all, cookies & creme is more "creme" than cookies. And it's a better idea, anyway. Oreo milkshakes are pretty popular. That said, it's not the milkshake I would order at the local diner.

The flakes don't look all that appealing, with their sickly-looking black flecks. It does have a faint cookie flavor, but I don't understand all these "token" chocolate flavors. If you like chocolate, you want a lot of it, not just a sprinkle. And the "creme" doesn't do anything for me. This cereal is marginally more interesting than plain Frosted Flakes, but you should know that's not saying much.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Don't worry, you'll get the milkshake you were promised.

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!

Frosted Flakes

Name: Frosted Flakes
Variation: Corn Flakes
Manufacturer: Kellogg's

Review: I've had an opportunity to try a lot of cereals that I don't like for this blog, but while I still maintain a low opinion of Rice Krispies, I've learned to appreciate Frosted Flakes. The flakes themselves still aren't my favorite cereal shape, but at least they have a sweet flavor. If forced to eat this cereal, I could tolerate it. The frosting alone offers a world of improvement over plain Corn Flakes. But you'd have to add marshmallows, or make it chocolate (or both :-p), to actually get me to say I like it.

Rating: 🥣
Leftover Milk: Sweet like frosting.