Tag: Cereal

REVIEW: Reese’s Big Cup with Reese’s Puffs

Marvo 7 Comments

Reese s Big Cup with Reese s Puffs Wrapper

When I first heard about Reese’s Big Cup with Reese’s Puffs, I had to do some mental measurements. Because as someone who has stuffed his face with the popular chocolate and peanut butter-flavored cereal enough times to be familiar with its size, I wondered if several Reese’s Puffs could fit in a Reese’s Big Cup.

Well, all that mental math was for naught because what’s inside these big peanut butter cups is not the cereal we’ve been eating as part of a complete breakfast or the only thing in the house so it ended up being dinner. What’s stuffed in these cups is less puffy and more pellet-y.

Reese s Big Cup with Reese s Puffs Top

The Reese’s cereal pieces suspended in the peanut butter are a tiny 3/16ths of an inch in diameter, and although it may not look like it in the photo below, they are plentiful. They seem to be primarily concentrated in the middle of the cup, hence the bulges in the center. But a few cereal pieces have found their way to the edges.

Reese s Big Cup with Reese s Puffs Split

Reese s Big Cup with Reese s Puffs Mini Cereal

But after eating several of these, I can’t say the mini cereal pieces enhance the flavor of the Big Cup. I’m not surprised because I assumed chocolate and peanut butter-flavored cereal would get lost in actual peanut butter and chocolate. But I’m okay with that because the mini cereal pieces provide a satisfying crunch to go along with the irresistible Reese’s flavor.

Think of that texture as what you’d get with a Crun…oh wait, this is a Hershey product, and the fine folks there sent me samples, so I mean, think of that texture as what you’d get with a Krackle bar but with a Reese’s Cup. As someone who steals is lucky enough to end up with all the Krackle miniature bars from a mini bar assortment, I love the crispy cereal pieces within the gritty, salty peanut butter.

Reese’s Big Cup with Reese’s Puffs isn’t as earth-shattering as the peanut butter cup being stuffed with Reese’s Pieces or potato chips (or maybe someday with bacon bits…just an idea, Hershey’s). Also, I can understand how this might be ho-hum to some, but I find it delightful.

DISCLOSURE: I received free product samples from Hershey’s. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 1.2 oz bar
Purchased at: Received from Hershey’s
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 package) 170 calories, 9 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 115 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 17 grams of sugar (including 16 grams of added sugar), and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Insta-Bowl

Denis 4 Comments

Kellogg s Frosted Flakes Insta Bowl Bowl

What is it?

It’s Frosted Flakes with powdered milk in a single-serve bowl. All you need to do is add a bit of cold water, and magically you have milk in your cereal! Now that we have sodas and jelly beans with all the flavors of a Thanksgiving meal, this doesn’t seem so futuristic, but it’s a good option when fresh milk is not available.

It’s also available with Apple Jacks, Froot Loops, and Raisin Bran Crunch.

Kellogg s Frosted Flakes Insta Bowl Lid

How is it?

Well, it’s a little unnerving to pour water on cereal, and the stirring process needs to be done with some caution as to not crush too many flakes. But in the end, it basically tastes like Frosted Flakes with milk, which I guess is the idea.

Kellogg s Frosted Flakes Insta Bowl Powder

Kellogg s Frosted Flakes Insta Bowl Water

There are a few caveats though. First, there’s an odd odor to this after peeling off the top, but I couldn’t quite place it. The best I can do is to say it smelled like a cleaning product, which is not what I’m looking for in a breakfast cereal. Perhaps it was just from the packaging, or maybe powdered milk has a unique aroma. (I have no idea what powered milk smells like on its own, and I didn’t have any on hand to test it).

Kellogg s Frosted Flakes Insta Bowl Mixed

The milk tasted a bit sweeter than I expected, but that might have been because I let the water sit in the sugar-coated flakes a little too long while I was taking the spectacular photos you see with this review.

I was also surprised that the flakes got soggy within a few minutes, which again could be partly blamed on the photoshoot. But don’t dawdle when you eat this unless you like mushy flakes.

Anything else you need to know?

Do not try eating cereal with only water. Trust me. One of my not-so-proud parenting moments happened when my daughter, a cereal-eating fanatic, was about four years old. One morning, we were completely of milk, likely due to poor planning on my part. Now this was a child whose morning routine was not to be trifled with, so my bold idea that she eat the cereal dry was voted down. Instead, she suggested using water instead of milk. Not wanting to stifle her out-of-the-box thinking, I gave her plan a thumbs up and even assured her it would taste fine, despite knowing it was not likely to end well. And it didn’t. She gagged on the watery cereal in a dramatic way that only a little kid can do, and that day I think she started to think her dad was not quite as smart as she previously thought.

Conclusion:

Kellogg s Frosted Flakes Insta Bowl Spoon

If you have milk (that’s not expired) sitting in your refrigerator or if you can borrow steal some from the community fridge at work, then obviously that’s a better option. But if your morning is not complete without milk in your cereal and you only have access to water, then this will get the job done for you.

Purchased Price: $1.98
Size: One bowl (1.6 oz)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 190 calories, 4 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 34 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, 16 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Golden Foods Fruti Rolls Bubble Gum Cereal

Vin 6 Comments

Golden Foods Fruti Rolls Bubble Gum Cereal Box

What is it?

If you’ve ever wondered what gum-flavored cereal might taste like, Dollar Tree has got you covered with Golden Foods’ Fruti Rolls Bubble Gum Cereal.

Well, actually, it’s a Dollar and a Quarter Tree now “thanks to inflation.”

Hey, speaking of inflation – Bubble Gum! It’s back… in cereal form!

How are they?

Not to sound like a classist big shot, but I’ve never bought cereal from a dollar store. That’s not to say I went into this review with any preconceived notions or biases. I actually love the premise of bubble gum-flavored cereal and was pretty pumped to try it.

I’m not mad I did or anything, but this certainly isn’t a quality cereal. Well, for a millisecond it was. I thought I found a diamond in the rough.

Unfortunately, “diamond” went bye-bye almost instantly, and it basically just became “rough.”

Golden Foods Fruti Rolls Bubble Gum Cereal Bowl

It starts with a really pleasant bubble gum aroma and a very authentic generic bubble gum flavor that works well in cereal form.

That being said, it turns to pure cardboard before you can say “Golden Foods Fruti Rolls.”

Big League Chew can’t hold a candle to this flavor loss. Even Fruit Stripe Gum’s flavor lasts an eternity in comparison.

This cereal sets records for gum AND cereal flavor loss at the same time. Ripley’s can back me up.

Golden Foods Fruti Rolls Bubble Gum Cereal Closeup

Anything else you need to know?

The flavor doesn’t really hold much longer as a dry snack, and it didn’t transform the milk at all – no flavor, not even much color runoff from the rings that are basically pink and blue Apple Jacks. If you were so inclined, you could buy a box, split the colors, re-seal it and have the cheapest gender reveal party of all time.

Golden Foods Fruti Rolls Bubble Gum Cereal Warning

With that said, maybe don’t eat this cereal if you’re in the process of creating human life because there’s a rather ominous warning on the box. Luckily for me, I don’t live in California, so I guess I’m just immune to the effects of acrylamide.

Conclusion:

I hate wasting food, but these are worth picking up even if you try ’em once and then toss the massive box. It’s a buck (and a quarter.)

One of the big dogs in the cereal world should take notes and release a bubble gum-flavored cereal with at least four seconds of flavor. I’d be down.

Purchased Price: $1.25
Size: 17 oz
Purchased at: Dollar Tree
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup) 160 calories, 1 gram of fat, 150 milligrams of sodium, 34 grams of total carbohydrates, 12 grams of total sugars, 1 gram of fiber, 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: CinnaFuego Toast Crunch

Marvo 4 Comments

CinnaFuego Toast Crunch Pouch

This CinnaFuego Toast Crunch pouch of fiery cereal that can only be purchased online at Walmart.com starting on August 12, 2022 (while supplies last) makes me scratch my head.

(UPDATE: The announced date is August 12, but as I type this, it’s already available for purchase on the Walmart website.)

You may think it’s the cereal itself that’s making me feel this way, but it’s not. It’s the packaging, specifically that hole at the top. If it’s available online only, why is it there? If it’s not going to be in a store, it doesn’t need that hole to be put on a display hook.

While I don’t know why that hole is there, I do know that, despite being a Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, CinnaFuego Toast Crunch will not appeal to everyone.

It’s been eons since I’ve had Wrigley’s Big Red gum, but after opening this cereal’s pouch, its scent brought back thoughts of that classic chewing gum. It made my mouth water a bit, and I wish that water stayed in my mouth because this cereal is fuego.

CinnaFuego Toast Crunch Closeup 2

As I chewed on a piece, which looks exactly like regular Cinnamon Toast Crunch, I didn’t think it was spicy. However, after a few moments, the heat wave came. But it wasn’t too fuego. That thought changed after shoveling a spoonful with milk into my mouth. Again, it took a few moments, but the addition of more pieces stoked the fire. It’s a notch or two lower than Flamin’ Hot and maybe slightly higher than Hot Tamales candy. I can handle this spicy cereal in small doses, but I couldn’t eat a regular-sized serving as part of a complete breakfast.

CinnaFuego Toast Crunch Spoon

Now, if you’re thinking, “If you’re eating it with milk, it shouldn’t be so bad because the milk will temper the heat.” Well, I drink soy and pea milk, and they’re like paper to the flaming arrow that is this cereal. And I’m not sure dairy milk will make a difference because the cinnamon AND peppers will be washed into it.

The product’s press release says the combination of Cinnadust and spicy peppers will deliver an absolutely absurd experience. That tastes right to me, but it doesn’t offer an absolutely delicious experience. When I eat this, I don’t think of Cinnamon Toast Crunch at all. Instead, Big Red gum or Hot Tamales comes to mind, and on the cinnamon snack scale, the classic cereal is far ahead of the gum and candy. I’m more tickled by its uniqueness than its flavor. There’s also a bitterness that occasionally pops up in the aftertaste that I quickly forget about when the spiciness starts poking in my mouth.

CinnaFuego Toast Crunch is a fascinating product and it was neat to try. If you’re interested in finding out what a spicy breakfast cereal is like, you should purchase this. But, if this is hanging on a display hook at a brick-and-mortar store in the future, I wouldn’t try it again.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free product sample from Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 5.9 oz pouch
Purchased at: Received from Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 ounce) 3 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 8 grams of sugar (8 grams of added sugar), and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Post Waffle Crisp Cereal (2022)

Marvo 9 Comments

Post Waffle Crisp Cereal Box

I didn’t ask for the return of Post Waffle Crisp Cereal because I didn’t know it was gone.

Honestly, it’s been over a decade since I’ve had a bowl of it. When I discovered it was discontinued, I wondered why because, from what I remember, it’s a great tasting cereal. Well, I guess since I didn’t buy it, I’m part of the reason why it got axed. I took it for granted and didn’t give it the love it deserved. Although, now that I think about it, I rarely saw it on shelves. So maybe it’s not that I didn’t give it love. Instead, Waffle Crisp avoided me, so I couldn’t give it the love it deserved. Yeah, that’s it.

But now it’s back, and I got a free sample, so I can reconnect. And after enjoying it again, I wonder why I’ve been so cold to Waffle Crisp. Maybe it’s me and always being interested in the hot newness instead of the classics. Although now that I think about it, perhaps it’s Post’s fault because it seems so focused on pushing new Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles products into other grocery store aisles that it distracts me from other Post cereals. Yeah, that’s it.

Post Waffle Crisp Cereal Dry

But I’ll forgive Post because the box has filled my office with an enticing artificial maple aroma. Its flavor fills me with regret because I have denied my taste buds this delicious cereal for so long. With one sniff and taste, there’s no denying this is a waffles and syrup-flavored cereal, although there were moments when I could’ve sworn I tasted Cap’n Crunch, which is what I said about another waffles-flavored cereal. After finishing a bowl, I wanted to eat more. So I did the adult thing. I ate another bowl. Because that’s what adults can do.

Post Waffle Crisp Cereal Milk

But it’s not just the flavor that gets me; it’s how the cereal is like waffles in another way. Those holes in every piece are good at capturing and holding milk, much like the pockets on a waffle contain syrup. But even though they’re milk sponges, they maintain some crunchiness thanks to their denseness. As for the after milk, because a noticeable amount of syrup flavor ends up in it, it’s a wonderful way to end a bowl of cereal.

While I haven’t experienced Waffle Crisp as much as I should have since its debut in 1996, I’m glad it’s been given another chance, and I’ve been given another opportunity to provide it with the love it deserves.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free product sample. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 11.5 oz box
Purchased at: Received from Post
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 1/4 cup) 160 calories, 2 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 34 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 15 grams of sugar (15 grams of added sugar), and 2 grams of protein.