REVIEW: Kellogg’s Froot Loops Ice Cream

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Full disclosure: I’m a Fruity Pebbles guy. If I had to rank the three most popular fruity cereals, it would go Fruity Pebbles, Froot Loops, and then Trix. I don’t hate Trix, but I’d pick the others over it if given the option. Sorry, silly rabbit, Trix are not as tasty as the other two.

The reason why I feel Fruity Pebbles is a superior cereal over Froot Loops is because the colorful rice cereal is sweeter and has a more significant fruity kick than the bright O’s from Kellogg’s.

With that said, this Froot Loops Ice Cream has a fruitiness and a sweetness I wish the actual cereal had. The flavor is undoubtedly Froot Loops but enhanced, like a baseball player from the early 2000s. This might be the sugar talking, but if Toucan Sam ate this ice cream, he would switch from using his beak to follow Froot Loops’ scent to pecking the peepers of the people who have the power to change the cereal’s recipe to make it taste as great as this ice cream.

However, despite being inspired by a cereal, this dessert somehow lacks any crunch. There are specks of pulverized Froot Loops floating in the cereal milk-flavored ice cream base, but most are on the border of being microscopic, which is definitely too small to provide any texture. But I guess being tiny allows them to permeate Froot Loops flavor throughout the ice cream in the 14-fluid-ounce container.

Now, I guess I could buy a box of Froot Loops and crush some on top, but not to the point where they’re nearly microscopic, to get some crunch. But let’s be honest: that’s way too much effort for a dessert. Heck, I’m too lazy to even scoop this into a bowl.

If you’re a Froot Loops fanatic, do yourself a favor and pick up this ice cream. Even if you’re on Team Fruity Pebbles or Team Trix, I think it’ll tickle your taste buds.

Purchased Price: $6.99*
Size: 14 fl oz container
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 210 calories, 11 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 45 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar (including 15 grams of added sugar), and 3 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Ice Cream

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As an adult who loves cereal but can almost never wake up on time to consume a normal breakfast (and even if I could, I can’t be counted on to have non-expired milk on hand), I found the concept of Kellogg’s new breakfast cereal flavored ice creams intriguing. Freed from the confines of a balanced breakfast, perhaps Frosted Flakes could finally team up with an even more indulgent dairy in the form of ice cream and become a childhood dream come true. Who didn’t want ice cream for breakfast? Also, Kellogg’s went so far as to make these ice creams and not “frozen dairy desserts.” Additionally, this ice cream base is cereal milk flavored and not just vanilla. It should be good! Dare I say, Gr-r-eat?

I do not dare. Opening the container, I couldn’t help but notice this is a boring pint. It was obvious that the flakes were completely obliterated, and no effort was made to include any whole flakes or larger chunks of them. I suppose if you throw Frosted Flakes into a mixer, you can’t really expect them to maintain their structural identity. I guess I expected them to sprinkle in a few whole pieces, maybe coated with something to ensure they provided some crunch. If not for the packaging, you’d never know there were Frosted Flakes in here. The sandy-colored specks that remain from the cereal pieces are just that…sandy. It’s as if you’d dropped your ice cream at the beach and were determined to follow the five-second rule and enjoy it anyway. However, instead of eventually getting beyond the sanded part, the grittiness has permeated the whole way through.

I could overlook the pulverized flakes if the ice cream itself was good. I’m not that picky about ice cream, but this stuff is just disappointing. The texture is oddly gummy and not in a way that feels intentional. If I got an ice cream maker and this was the result of my first batch, I’d pat myself on the back because I technically made ice cream, and then I would definitely never use that recipe again. It appears the folks at Kellogg’s were less discerning.

The price here is the same as Ben & Jerry’s, but this seems like a worse quality product and instead of swirls and mix-ins, you’re only getting smashed corn flakes. I don’t mind the overall flavor and could be convinced its milky sweetness resembles cereal milk, but it’s mostly nondescript and the tiny flecks just aren’t enough to remind me of actual Frosted Flakes. It feels like Kellogg’s is relying on consumers to try this line solely based on the clout its beloved cereals carry, but I think it will have to put in a little more effort if it wants repeat customers. I found this pint on the bottom shelf at my store, and after having tried it, I can safely say that’s where it belongs.

Purchased Price: $5.29
Size: 14 fl oz
Purchased at: Jewel-Osco
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 210 calories, 11 grams of total fat, 45mg of cholesterol, 65 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of total carbs, 20 grams of total sugars, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Strawberry Cereal

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It’s Valentine’s Season, and in the junk food world, that means one thing: chocolate and strawberries. Or chocolate or strawberries. Or chocolate-covered strawberries. Okay, so that’s three things, I guess. Or just one, if it’s chocolate-covered strawberries. Either way, Valentine’s Day.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch — no stranger to branching out beyond its square Cinnadust-blasted archetypal form — is ready to celebrate the season of romance with its own lusty offering, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Strawberry. It’s not a weird concept, really, I don’t guess. I mean, people put strawberries on top of French toast all the time. Well, okay, I guess that requires you to overlook that Cinnamon Toast Crunch is cinnamon toast-based and not French toast. But you get the idea. It’s like making cinnamon toast and then topping it with strawberries. Is that a thing? Well, it is now. And in cereal form!

So, does it work? I honestly can’t decide! I mean it. It’s strange, but I’ve had a few bowls and can’t decide how I feel.

The thing is, it’s exactly what it sets out to be — and that’s what I’m so on the fence about: do we actually need strawberry cinnamon toast? The base layer here is very identifiably Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but there’s a slightly tart strawberry punch instead of that sugary, cinnamony finish. But also? It’s not strawberry enough. One thing CTC isn’t shy about, as the basketball fans say, is “going hard in the paint.” Cinnamon Toast Crunch and all of its sugar cookie, gingerbread, and waffle iterations are boldly seasoned, not for the faint of heart.

And so, honestly, it feels like if they wanted to commit to this strawberry thing, they should have really gone heavy with the strawberry seasoning shaker. I’d go one step further and suggest that they would have been just as well served to limit the cinnamon component entirely. Just go Strawberry Toast Crunch. (Hy-Vee does [or did?] a “blueberry squares” cereal that was just that, but, you know, with a crazy-strong blueberry flavoring, and it is [or was?] a solid 9 out of 10. That’s what this could have been.)

I’m not mad about this cereal, but I’m also not in love with it. When Cupid finally shoots it with his arrow, and it goes to Cereal Heaven, I won’t mourn it.

Purchased Price: $4.93
Size: 18.8 oz box (Family Size)
Purchased at: Walmart (Exclusive)
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (41 grams) 170 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 33 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Cap’n Crunch Arctic Crunch Vanilla Frost Cereal

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With arctic air blasting through the Midwest, it felt fitting to consume the new Limited Edition Cap’n Crunch Arctic Crunch Vanilla Frost Cereal. Unlike the real feel of a -20°F wind chill, this cereal was actually quite pleasant!

The box graphics took me back to childhood—sitting at the table, reading the box with interesting facts while munching away. I ate a lot of Cap’n Crunch as a kid because, for some reason, it was the only cereal my parents allowed. I remember getting so sick of it, but since my parents never threw anything out, I had to finish the stale boxes. And yet, I still have the fondest memories of the Cap’n!

After opening the box, I realized it was all Crunch Berries—just blue and cream-colored spheres. A sweet deal, since that’s the best part, amirite?!

The texture was as I remembered: slightly rough, with some slight roof-of-the-mouth scraping. It was as satisfying as I remember, like a harder Cheetos puff—a crunch leading to a slight squish and gumminess that gets stuck to your molars.

One thing that surprised me: I remember Crunchberries Cereal getting uber soggy as a kid, but this held up well. The milk did intensify the blue color, but that was about it.

Flavor-wise, it was straightforward vanilla. Nothing fancy—no Madagascar or Tahitian vanilla, just plain ol’ vanilla. For some reason, I wanted the blue pieces to taste different. It’s like when people think each color in Froot Loops has a unique flavor, but nope—it’s all the same. No surprise blueberry twist here!

I was slightly disappointed that my milk didn’t turn blue—though I guess this isn’t called “Star Wars Blue Milk Cereal.” It did impart a mild vanilla flavor to the milk, at least.

Overall, it was tasty, but honestly very safe and boring. If Quaker really wanted to lean into the “arctic” theme, it should have taken inspiration from Kellogg’s Elf on the Shelf and ICEE cereals and added a cooling effect.

Purchased Price: $4.93
Size: 15.5 oz (Family Size)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 ¼ cup (38g) – 150 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 33 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 15 grams of sugar (includes 15 grams of added sugar, 1 gram of sugar alcohol), and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Blueberry Bran Crunch Cereal

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I like Kellogg’s Raisin Bran. However, I suppose by the time you reach your 30s, that isn’t an entirely taboo thing to admit, but when I was younger, it felt like admitting math class was fun.

In pulling together my thoughts for this Kellogg’s Blueberry Bran Crunch Cereal review, I found myself trying to nail down what it is about the classic Raisin Bran that’s so enjoyable. I think it boils down to texture and flavor. The big, chewy, and sweet raisins offer an occasional texture change from the crunchy, slightly bitter bran flakes.

While this new cereal is an extension of the Raisin Bran Crunch line, the thought of a blueberry version of Raisin Bran was intriguing. It seems like blueberry or blueberry lemon-flavored items are popping up all around grocery shelves these days.

I prepped myself a bowl of the listed serving size, one cup of cereal with 3/4 cup of milk. There were visible oat clusters with little dehydrated blueberries, which definitely stood out more once the milk was added. There was also a very strong blueberry aroma.

The sweet bran flakes were just like those in classic Raisin Bran Crunch. They didn’t absorb the milk too quickly. The oat clusters were fairly underwhelming and offered almost no crunch. They had a very similar texture to the bran flakes and not much unique flavor, so they were sort of lost in the bite.

The stand-out flavor was the added natural blueberry. It was present in every single bite and made the milk taste like the aftertaste of a blueberry donut. It wasn’t a bad flavor by any means, but it was very one-note. I couldn’t discern the texture of a blueberry piece when I got them in a spoonful either. So, in the end, these could have been blueberry-flavored bran flakes, and the experience would have been the same. Just okay.

I’ll also note that the bag had a decent percentage of crumbs.

Overall, I appreciate the attempt to create a new spin on an existing cereal. But in the end, this is an example of heavy-handed flavor addition and freeze-dried fruit pieces that are likely super expensive and don’t add much to the experience. I’ll always root for blueberry-flavored items, but this one is a miss.

Purchased Price: $6.49
Size: 15.8 oz. box
Purchased at: Jewel Osco
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup cereal) 210 Calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 49 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.