Every year, the end of July marks the moment I’m over summer and ready to be embraced by the sweet chill of autumn. Maybe it’s because my birthday is at the end of July (gifts are welcome), after which I have nothing to celebrate other than a full month ahead of sticky humidity and overly aggressive bees who have taken an unsettling interest in my daily activities. Regardless of the reason, now also marks the time that my favorite summer flavors—berry and lemon—enter the clearance aisle of my heart, making way for pumpkin, apple, and, best of all, maple.
Post Limited Edition Fruity Pebbles Waffles Cereal feels like the perfect product for this transition period, combining flavors of bright summer fruitiness with sweet maple syrup. Imagine two Post greats, Fruity Pebbles and Waffle Crisp, joined as one in the form of tiny waffle cereal pieces flecked with rainbow bits. Fred Flintstone has never given me a reason not to trust him, so I bought the (woolly?) mammoth Family Size box from Walmart.
I could smell the maple emanating from the box the moment I took it off the shelf. The scent was so strong that my cat inspected the unopened box for several minutes with a thoroughness he usually reserves for salmon. From the scent alone, I expected Waffle Crisp cleverly disguised by rainbow sprinkles, but I was surprised that the fruity cereal taste was at the forefront. That generic fruity flavor, which I find to be mostly citrusy with some cherry notes, is supported by a subtle toasted, buttery base. There is a slight maple flavor in the cereal, but, weirdly, it leaves a pronounced aftertaste.
While I would have loved a touch more maple, I could not stop eating this cereal. I particularly love its texture: crisp and crunchy without the airy chewiness of cereals that use primarily corn bases. (Fruity Pebbles Waffles Cereal uses both oat and corn.) Even in milk, the pieces keep their crunch. The texture alone makes me prefer this cereal to the original Fruity Pebbles and their tiny, sogginess-prone flakes.
Post Limited Edition Fruity Pebbles Waffles Cereal is a fun, novel twist on two old favorites. The flavors complement each other well enough to overcome the mash-up gimmick, resulting in a product that feels very much like its own thing worth trying while you can find it. Unlike the immortal Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, this duo of flavors is only around for a limited time.
Purchased Price: $4.93
Purchased at: Walmart
Size: 19 oz – Family Size box
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 1 1/2 cup serving) 160 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 15 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein
