Tag: Kellogg’s

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Honey Nut Frosted Flakes

Marvo 5 Comments

Kellogg s Honey Nut Frosted Flakes Cereal

I want to start this review by writing about the back of the box of Kellogg’s Honey Nut Frosted Flakes.

It’s pure edutainment. It’s as if a Highlights for Children magazine, Where’s Waldo book, and the Wikipedia entry for honey got put into a stew.

I haven’t been paying attention to the back of cereal boxes lately, but this one is mwah. You might be thinking puzzles on the back of a cereal box are super easy and you could solve them before the third spoonful enters your mouth. But these aren’t. I mean, they aren’t as difficult as a Saturday or Sunday New York Times Crossword puzzle, but they seem to stimulate my mind slightly more than the cereal impresses my tongue.

Kellogg s Honey Nut Frosted Flakes Cereal Spoons

Kellogg s Honey Nut Frosted Flakes Cereal Clovers

Kellogg s Honey Nut Frosted Flakes Cereal Honeycomb

The puzzles include finding six spoons in the scenery, finding a four-leaf clover in a patch of three-leaf clovers, and going through a honeycomb maze. Plus, there’s this tidbit (or tidbuzz?) on the box: Honeybees visit more than 2,000,000 flowers just to make one pound of honey. Did you know that? I didn’t, but now I do thanks to this box.

As others on the internet have pointed out, Kellogg’s Honey Nut Frosted Flakes seems like it’s meant as payback at General Mills for coming out with Lucky Charms Frosted Flakes last year that featured a font similar to what Kellogg’s uses with its Frosted Flakes. A later box design came with a different font, but it seems Kellogg’s didn’t forget what the Big G did. So here we are with a cereal to compete with Honey Nut Cheerios.

While they both are “honey nut” cereals, their flavors are entirely different. Both use real honey, but Buzz the Bee should be jealous because the frosted corn flakes are noticeably sweeter than the whole wheat oat pieces. But what might be helping with that is the natural sweetness from the corn itself.

Kellogg s Honey Nut Frosted Flakes Cereal Closup

Honey Nut Cheerios may have a lighter sweetness, but it’s much nuttier. This might be because natural almond flavor is one of the cereal’s main ingredients, while the Kellogg’s cereal makes no mention of nuts in the ingredients. This difference is perhaps the reason why the flakes taste, at times, like original Frosted Flakes. Because of that, I slightly prefer Honey Nut Cheerios over its corn flake competition.

But if you want something that’s flavorful and a little functional, then Honey Nut Cheerios is the clear winner. Both are fortified with vitamins and minerals, but because Cheerios is made with whole grains, they provide two grams of fiber per 3/4 cup serving. As for Honey Nut Frosted Flakes, its box has more fiber than the zero grams the cereal has.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample of the product. Doing so did not influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 13.7 oz. box
Purchased at: Received from Kellogg’s
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3/4 cup) 110 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 35 milligrams of potassium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Limited Edition Banana Creme Frosted Flakes

Marvo 6 Comments

Kellogg s Limited Edition Banana Creme Frosted Flakes

Banana Frosted Flakes is one of my favorite cereals of all time. ALL TIME. I miss it dearly.

So much so that I’ve written about them and have a recurring dream where I fight Tony the Tiger to enter the discontinued cereals vault, which he is guarding, so that I can eat another bowl of my beloved cereal. But he always defeats me and right before the knockout blow he says, “You’re gr-r-reatly mistaken that I’ll allow you to enter this vault.”

But now, there’s Limited Edition Frosted Flakes Banana Creme. Will it be the reason why I no longer have to write cereal odes or fight Tony the Tiger in my sleep? Unfortunately, the written and violent pleas will have to continue.

The flakes have a faint pleasant banana aroma mixed with the familiar scent of Frosted Flakes. They’re coated with a layer of frosting that makes them look similar to the original variety. There aren’t any dried fruit bits on them or the word “banana” in the ingredients list.

Kellogg s Limited Edition Banana Creme Frosted Flakes Closeup

There’s an adequate amount of banana flavor at first. But, by the fifth or sixth spoonful, it changes into something different from the first few dips into the cereal bowl. The fruitiness takes a backseat, and the frosting’s sweetness takes control. This happened whether I ate them dry or with milk. But those first spoonfuls brings a smile to my face.

While there’s sufficient flavor, I can’t help but think Kellogg’s could’ve added more, which might’ve helped make it a little more lasting. It could’ve taken the dried fruit from its Banana Raisin Bran (one of my favorite cereals of 2018) and added them to this. That addition might’ve made this one of my early favorites of 2019. But they weren’t so this ends up being a little disappointing to me.

If I weren’t a child of the 80s and 90s who got to experience the Golden Age of Breakfast Cereal that included Banana Frosted Flakes, I’d probably like this more than I do.

I do like it because I LOVE banana flavored products and there are traces of it. But its lack of a lasting flavor makes me go bananas.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample of the product. Doing so did not influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: N/A
Purchased at: Received from Kellogg’s
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3/4 cup w/o milk) 110 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 30 milligrams of potassium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Frosted Flakes Cereal

Sarah 2 Comments

Kellogg s Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Frosted Flakes

I am a grump during the summer, so I generally welcome any hint that fall is around the corner. I was excited to try the Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Frosted Flakes, especially since it was 90 degrees out and I. Am. So. Done. With. Summer.

I opened the box eagerly, hoping for the essence of autumn to wrap me in its crisp coziness. Whoa. The scent was artificial and strong — pumpkin spice wool sweater, pumpkin spice window cleaner, pumpkin spice plastic wrap, but definitely not anything edible.

Kellogg s Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Frosted Flakes 2

Before pouring in the milk, I tasted a few of the dry cereal pieces. Less sugary than regular Frosted Flakes, it was more like corn flakes with a dusting of nutmeg. Unfortunately, I couldn’t imagine eating these dry no matter how desperately I wanted to move on to autumn.

Kellogg s Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Frosted Flakes 4

I was nearing the point of resigning myself to more days of summer by the time I poured the milk. Lo and behold, visions of campfires, football games, and open windows slowly emerged. Faint notes of pumpkin pie were in each spoonful, though the “spice” was a hit or miss in each bite. Some bites were more nutmeg forward, while others were more cinnamon-y. It was hard to detect any pumpkin, leading me to wonder if there was any in there at all, because it was definitely more spice than pumpkin.

Kellogg s Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Frosted Flakes 5

Not wanting to give up on this fall flavor quite yet, I prepared myself another bowl. It was better than the first, tasting more and more like pumpkin pie with each bite. I was pouring even more cereal into the bowl before I knew it, perhaps distracted by the artwork on the back of the box touting “Tony’s Pumpkin Up the Jams Festival.” I used to have a pair of Jams (as did any other hip kid in the 80s) and the idea of having gourds up in them did not sound comfortable. Soon I was daydreaming of fall music festivals, the state fair, hot chocolate, and PSLs.

Aha! Now I know why I was enjoying each bowl of this cereal more than the previous one! The left-behind milk increasingly tasted more and more like the creamy Thanksgiving pie as more spice infused it as I ate. The spice in the milk was balanced and a faint pumpkin flavor peeked through. I almost enjoyed drinking the milk as much as I enjoy a pumpkin spice latte.

Almost.

Kellogg s Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Frosted Flakes 3

Unfortunately, this was a lot of mediocre cereal to endure for a small amount of goodness. Next time, I’ll get my pumpkin spice fix elsewhere. If I want it on my cereal, I’ll sprinkle some on regular Frosted Flakes instead.

(Why haven’t I thought of that before???)

(Nutrition Facts – 3/4 cup – 110 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 10 grams of sugars, and 1 gram of protein.)

Purchased Price: $2.69
Size: 10 oz. box
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 5 out of 10
Pros: Not overly sweet. Mild flavors were not cloying and tasted natural.
Cons: Strong plastic smell. Minimal pumpkin flavor. Needs to soak up milk before best flavors come out.

QUICK REVIEW: Kellogg’s Wild Berry Froot Loops Cereal

Marvo 9 Comments

Kellogg s Wild Berry Froot Loops Cereal

What is it?

Froot-flavored loops and froot-flavored staars that mostly don’t look like regular Froot Loops. There are red pieces, which I assume represent strawberries, purple pieces, which may stand for blackberries, teal pieces for blue raspberries, and green pieces that don’t symbolize any berry and are there just to throw us for a Froot Loop.

Kellogg s Wild Berry Froot Loops Cereal 2

How is it?

As expected, it doesn’t have a generic amalgamation of a wide spectrum of fruity flavors like original Froot Loops. Instead, it’s like a generic amalgamation of a wide spectrum of berry flavors.

It’s not bad. Sometimes it reminds me of berry smoothies I’ve made for myself and other times it tastes like snack bars with dried berries. Can I pinpoint particular berries by eating individual pieces? No, but who, besides birds and infants, eat cereal pieces one by one. Okay, maybe a few of you, but not spoon-wielding me.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Froot Loops’ mascot, Toucan Sam, has said to follow your nose to the fruity taste of the cereal he represents. But if I did that with his new Wild Berry Froot Loops, I’m sure my nose would lead me away from it because it smells weird. Inside the bag or right after pouring it into a bowl, my beak noticed a plasticky and berry smell. It reminds me of those scented play dolls my sister had in the 80s whose eyes would follow me around the room. The aroma subsides once I pour the milk, but it’s odd and a little unappetizing.

Conclusion:

Kellogg’s Wild Berry Froot Loops Cereal is a decent cereal, but I have to say it doesn’t compete with the original. It’s different and a nice change of pace, but I’m not wild about it.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample from Kellogg’s, but this didn’t influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 10 oz. box
Purchased at: Received from Kellogg’s
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup) 110 calories, 5 calories from fat, 0.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

QUICK REVIEW: Kellogg’s Raisin Bran with Bananas

Vin 13 Comments

Kellogg s Raisin Bran with Bananas

What is it?

You’re not gonna believe this, but it’s Raisin Bran with bananas added in! No false advertising here.

How is it?

It’s everything you expect it to be. Do you like Raisin Bran? If so, this improves on the original. I mean, think about it, how could you possibly go wrong adding in banana flavor?

Kellogg s Raisin Bran with Bananas 2

I’ve actually been on record about not really being a big “fruit in cereal” guy. While I’ll eat banana in just about anything, I always found adding banana slices in milk a little too slimy for my liking. This cereal takes care of that.

Kellogg s Raisin Bran with Bananas 3

The banana chips are great. Actual banana is too wet and mushy. The standard banana chips you buy in bags are too hard and caramelized. These are a perfect width, flavor, and texture. They really knocked it out the park. The banana pieces have a nice little crisp and a perfect banana flavor without it tasting too sugary and artificial.

Sometimes raisins can be overwhelming but mixed with the early crunch of the bran flakes (they sog up super quick) and the crisp of the banana chips, this cereal really blends textures nicely.

Also – and don’t hold me to this – I think the flakes had a tad of banana flavor added to them. It tasted that way to me at least.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Don’t expect a banana in every bite. If Raisin Bran gives you two scoops of raisins per box, you’re probably looking at about a half scoop of bananas. Sure, I’d prefer a few more, but I didn’t think the ratio was too bad. The banana flavor is constant.

Conclusion:

There’s something about Raisin Bran that just feels like a fulfilling start to the day. Adding bananas to the mix was a brilliant move, and this cereal is a big flavor and textural win in my book.

Purchased Price: $3.00
Size: 14.5 oz. box
Purchased at: Acme
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup) 200 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 105 milligrams of sodium, 45 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.