Tag: Cereal

REVIEW: Chocolate Peanut Butter Corn Pops (2019)

Vin

Kellogg s Chocolate Peanut Butter Corn Pops Cereal

What are Chocolate Peanut Butter Corn Pops?

An expansion of the Corn Pops line of cereals that first hit shelves in the simpler days of 2007 but somehow didn’t catch on.

How are they?

Well, do you like Corn Pops? How about Reese’s Puffs? Ever had the urge to mix them together?

Here ya go, well, kinda.

Kellogg s Chocolate Peanut Butter Corn Pops Cereal Dry

The texture is distinctly Corn Pops. Each piece is caked in a clingy chocolate peanut butter powder that reminds me a bit of the sugar on the sweet “Muddy Buddy” Chex Mixes.

These smell and taste just like Reese’s Puffs – briefly. As that fades, I start to taste old school Corn Pops. Just hearing that, you’d think Chocolate Peanut Butter Pops were an all-time great, but I have to admit, I’m a tad disappointed in the overall flavor.

They start as Reese’s and end as Corn Pops but only get to about 75% of each’s best. This is a very good bowl of cereal, it’s just not as elite as I had hoped.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Kellogg s Chocolate Peanut Butter Corn Pops Cereal Spooned

These Pops stay impressively crisp in milk. I’m almost suspicious of how it’s possible. There’s gotta be some freaky preservative using dark magic.

I can’t recall the last bowl of cereal I had where the pieces weren’t even close to soggy by the last bite. The powder remains the entire time as well, so don’t expect much cereal milk runoff.

Conclusion:

Kellogg s Chocolate Peanut Butter Corn Pops Cereal with Regular CP

I love Corn Pops. They’re not my ultimate “end boss” favorite, but I’d be satisfied if they were my desert island cereal.

These come up a bit short of my expectations, but I’ll still destroy the box, and I imagine most people will be happy. I’m hoping these do well this go around, because I need some new Corn Pops flavor in my life. *insert famous Corn Pops slogan here*

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 10.5 oz
Purchased at: Shop Rite
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup) 160 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 190 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Fillows Creme Filled Cereal (Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme and Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll)

Adam 3 Comments

General Mills Fillows Hershey s Cookies n Creme Cereal

Can I say that of all the cereal types here-to-now discovered by humanity, stuff-filled cereals by far have the most potential? Yes, I know corn loops, toasted oat rings, whole wheat squares, and (maybe) even sweet seasoned crisped rice all have roles to play in a complete breakfast, but the flavor-stuffed cavities of cereals like Kellogg’s Krave are structurally in another dimension.

Think of them as the chocolate eclairs of the cereal world. Don’t like eclairs? Fine, a creme-filled donut. And thanks to General Mills’ new Fillows cereal, we now have a competitor to Kellogg’s Krave.

Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme

General Mills Fillows Hershey s Cookies n Creme Cereal Wading in Milk

Call me an overly visual taster, but the appearance of chocolate squares with the promise of a creme filling inside made me expect the taste of Oreo cookies. However, I was massively disappointed when, on the first bite, the cloying taste of nothing but vanilla and sugar assaulted my taste buds. With the oh-so-slightest hint of cocoa on the backend, each square felt like a façade, as if I’d been served a veggie burger instead of a bleeding disc of cow. This marked the high point of my cereal disillusionment for the day.

To be fair, Hershey’s do not make Oreo cookies; they make Cookies ‘n’ Crème candy bars. And with that as a baseline, I tried the cereal again and appreciated it more for its unabashed vanilla sweetness. Still, there are some off flavors going on — notably, an artificial marshmallow taste that really seems to come out in milk. They don’t help the cereal stay true to either cookies ‘n’ creme the bar or the flavor.

General Mills Fillows Hershey s Cookies n Creme Cereal Spoon

That, to be honest, might be part of the problem. Cookies ‘n’ Creme Fillows are too sweet to be enjoyed with milk, and probably on the verge of being too sweet for most people as a snack (full disclosure: I’m not like most people). But at least when eaten dry the cocoa becomes a little more rounded, with a mild but enjoyable Cocoa Puffs flavor. It’s lost in milk, though, which makes the cereal a slight disappointment.

Purchased Price: $3.64
Size: 22 oz. box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3/4 cup) 230 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll

General Mills Fillows Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Cereal

The legacy of bakery-inspired cereals is a mixed bag. While there are some great ones — such as Kellogg’s bygone Cinnabon cereal — more often than not even the good ones don’t really taste like donuts or french toast or cinnamon rolls.

Let me be real with y’all: Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Fillows legitimately tastes like a cinnamon roll. What’s more, they might even be better than an actual Pillsbury cinnamon roll.

General Mills Fillows Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Cereal Wading in Milk

Like the Cookies ‘n’ Creme Fillows, these are overwhelmingly sweet at 19 grams of sugar per 52 grams of cereal. However, the sweetness feels like a match with the concentrated cinnamon flavor. Even eaten dry, there’s a certain richness in each square, mimicking the gooey buttery interior of a cinnamon roll. This flavor heightened in milk, where the squares take on an indulgent churros appeal.

General Mills Fillows Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Cereal Spoon

Granted, when you review cereal you learn to write a lot of vague crap, but let me state this unequivocally: This is the best Cinnamon Roll cereal I’ve had in 30 years of eating processed sugar for breakfast. Buy this.

Purchased Price: $3.64
Size: 22 oz. box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3/4 cup) 230 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

Overall, it’s good to see General Mills partner with Hershey’s and Pillsbury to join the filled cereal market. While the Cookies ‘n’ Creme flavor doesn’t seem to work in a cereal, they’ve definitely found a winner with the Pillsbury Doughboy. Let’s hope it sticks around.

REVIEW: Blueberry Cheerios Cereal

Vin 8 Comments

Blueberry Cheerios Cereal

What are Blueberry Cheerios?

After decades of Honey Nut and the occasional new flavor of Cheerios, it seems like we’ve gotten at least 20 new varieties in the past couple years, with Blueberry being the latest to hit shelves.

How are they?

Blueberry Cheerios are not quite up to snuff with the previous fruit inspired flavors, but that’s not to say they’re bad.

Blueberry Cheerios Cereal Dry

First off, the scent is pitch perfect. I bet you could name this cereal in a blind sniff test with no hesitation. The cereal pieces appear to be caked with a purplish dust with little bits of actual pureed blueberry.

The flavor is not as strong as I expected. The first few bites give you a quick blueberry hit, but it soon fades as the dust dissipates into the milk.

Blueberry Cheerios Cereal Games

There are no artificial flavors, which I assumed and appreciated. That said, when it comes to blueberry, I think I prefer a regrettable sugary start to my morning. This is the adult’s Blueberry Toast Crunch, which is odd considering a toddler could master the games on the box.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Blueberry Cheerios Cereal Wet

It’s almost two cereals in one. You start with purple o’s and white milk, but within a minute you have an almost normal looking bowl of Cheerios floating in a purplish run-off.

The milk ends up being the tastiest part as the cereal pieces get blander. I drank the second half of the bowl, cereal pieces and all.

Conclusion:

I’ve tried most of the fruit Cheerios (Banana, Peach, Berry, etc.) and I honestly think they’re all superior. Blueberry is still a solid cereal, but I’d put it near the bottom in terms of Cheerios flavors.

I know we’ve had Fruity Cheerios in the past, but I would love a “Fruit Medley” mix consisting of all the previously mentioned flavors. Blueberry would make a great supporting player.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 10.9 oz
Purchased at: Shop Rite
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3/4 cup) 110 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 125 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Limited Edition Caticorn Cereal

Meghan 4 Comments

Kellogg s Limited Edition Caticorn Cereal

What is Kellogg’s Limited Edition Caticorn Cereal?

While the Kellogg’s R&D department has been busy cranking out new cereals like Taylor Swift churns out sappy love songs, its marketing team has recently recruited a cousin of the former internet sensation Nyan Cat to join its cast of colorful and kid-friendly characters.

Since I bet a bunch of you are about to do this anyway, I’ll give you a moment to open up a video of the famous feline earworm in another tab.

This is named for the adorable cat/unicorn hybrid plastered on each box and features berry-flavored cereal rings studded with glittery sparkles.

How is it?

Similar to how its mascot is easily overshadowed by a different rainbow-surfing cat, Caticorn cereal tastes like a less appealing version of some of Kellogg’s existing offerings. Precisely, it tastes like a less fruity version of Froot Loops, and offers a vaguely strawberry-ish flavor to excite your taste buds.

Kellogg s Limited Edition Caticorn Cereal Dry

Fittingly, a bowl of Caticorn cereal resembles a never-ending pink ocean, foreshadowing how monotonous eating it is. Despite the colorful and entertaining box (which even includes a guide to help you figure out your Caticorn name!) there’s nothing to keep your attention once you get inside. Even the sprinkles, which Kellogg’s felt were noteworthy enough to write a whole blurb about, are so easy to forget that some people may not even realize they’re there unless someone points it out first.

Kellogg s Limited Edition Caticorn Cereal Side of Box

Is there anything else you need to know?

Kellogg s Limited Edition Caticorn Cereal in Milk

Much like Rice Krispies, Caticorn cereal starts to go soggy the moment it touches any liquid. I would recommend eating it out of one of those Anti-Soggy cereal bowls so you don’t end up eating a morning meal of strawberry-flavored corn mush.

Conclusion:

Although it’s far from bad, I can’t see myself ever buying another box of Caticorn cereal. With so many other similar and tastier choices lining the breakfast aisle, there isn’t any reason to choose this over one of Kellogg’s other offerings.

Purchased Price: $5.98
Size: 2 18 oz. boxes (1 lb. 2.7 oz. total)
Purchased at: Sam’s Club
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 1 cup – 110 calories, 5 calories from fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 45 milligrams of potassium, 26 grams of total carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 11 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Honey Brunches of Oats Chicken & Waffles and Maple Bacon Donuts Cereals

Marvo 2 Comments

Post Honey Brunches of Oats Limited Edition Chicken Waffles Cereal

It’s odd to see onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, marjoram, sage, and thyme in the ingredients list for a breakfast cereal. But there they are on the side of the box for Limited Edition Honey Brunches of Oats Chicken & Waffles Cereal.

Oh, this is NOT an April Fools joke.

Even though I have the skills, software, mischievous disposition, and a nearby FedEx Office to print what I need to create fake packaging, Honey Brunches of Oats Chicken & Waffles and Maple Bacon Donuts Cereals are real. Pinch yourself, slap yourself, tickle yourself, or drop your phone on your toe to prove you’re not dreaming.

Post Honey Brunches of Oats Limited Edition Maple Bacon Donuts Cereal

Post has rolled out these two flavors to celebrate National Cereal Day, which is celebrated annually on March 7 and celebrated almost daily by those who have a large dedicated section in their kitchen for cereal.

Chicken & Waffles combines waffle-shaped maple cereal, savory chicken drumstick-shaped pieces, and frosted and unfrosted flakes. Maple Bacon Donut comes with dark-colored smoky donut-shaped loops and frosted and unfrosted flakes. To be honest, eating unfrosted flakes is scarier than chomping on chicken-flavored cereal.

Post Honey Brunches of Oats Limited Edition Chicken Waffles Cereal Closeup

Post Honey Brunches of Oats Limited Edition Maple Bacon Donuts Cereal Closeup

Even though chicken and bacon are in the names, the meat flavoring is artificial, and Post makes sure to let you know with disclaimers that say no chickens or pigs were harmed in the making of either cereal.

Both have that sweet underlying aroma that’s present with any Honey Bunches of Oats variety. That smell is a good start, but it doesn’t lead to a satisfying finish.

When eaten alone, I could taste the onion powder, garlic powder, etc. used with the chicken-shaped pieces and the artificial smokiness in the cereal loops. I could see myself eating the former as a snack, even though it seems weird to have them in a bowl of cereal and I don’t think of them as tasting like “fried chicken.” But the acrid smoky flavor from the latter doesn’t sit right with my tongue. Perhaps “smoky” isn’t the right adjective. It’s more like sweet burnt flavored.

As odd as it sounds to have those flavors in breakfast cereal, most of the savoriness gets lost among the sweeter components. With the chicken pieces, there are moments when I taste it, but for the most part, the maple stands out. The bacon-flavored loops also fade into the rest of the cereal. Thankfully, the burntness isn’t too noticeable, but all the different flavors seem to negate each other in an unusual way that creates a bland tasting cereal.

As you can tell, if I had to choose one over the other, it would be Chicken & Waffles by a lot. It’s 95 percent waffle/maple flavored, which makes for a decent cereal, but I wish I could taste more chicken.

With both it’s disappointing they aren’t either great tasting or really gross. If they were great tasting, I’d encourage you to buy them so you could experience the magic. If they were really gross, I’d encourage you to buy them for novelty sake and so you could experience the horror. But since they are neither, I don’t think they’re worth your time or money, or a good way to celebrate National Cereal Day.

Thanks to TIB reader Dale M for sending me both cereals.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 11 oz. box (Chicken & Waffles)
Size: 13 oz. box (Maple Bacon Donuts)
Purchased at: Giant Eagle
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Chicken & Waffles)
Rating: 5 out of 10 (Maple Bacon Donuts)
Nutrition Facts: (3/4 cup without milk) Chicken & Waffles – 110 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 40 milligrams of potassium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Maple Bacon Donuts – 110 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 45 milligrams of potassium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.