Tag: Kellogg’s

REVIEW: Kellogg’s The Elf on the Shelf North Pole Snow Creme Cereal

Mark 3 Comments

Kellogg s The Elf on the Shelf North Pole Snow Creme Cereal Box

What is it?

The Elf on the Shelf line of cereals* has a new Walmart-exclusive flavor that “magically cools your mouth as you eat.”

*I can’t believe Elf on the Shelf is now a line of cereals, plural.

How is it?

Kellogg s The Elf on the Shelf North Pole Snow Creme Cereal Dry

Let’s start with the promise of cooling. When I eat a piece dry, I do notice a sensation in my mouth, one that I don’t get from other cereals. Is it cooling? I don’t know; you might be able to convince me it’s a warming sensation.

Kellogg s The Elf on the Shelf North Pole Snow Creme Cereal Milk

But in milk, the feeling is diluted. I do get some kind of cooling phenomenon when I drink the leftover milk, but that might just be the literal temperature.

I compared the ingredients with the Elf on the Shelf Sugar Cookie Cereal, and it appears that the magic ingredient is calcium carbonate. Any geologist worth their halite* can tell you that’s limestone.

*salt

As for the flavor, I have no idea what “North Pole Snow Creme” is. But the waffle cone on the box suggests that it’s supposed to be vanilla. It does taste like vanilla, which is hard to mess up. But really, this just tastes like any other generically sweet corn cereal.

Kellogg s The Elf on the Shelf North Pole Snow Creme Cereal No Marshmallows

The marshmallows are so rare that Kellogg’s needn’t have bothered.

Anything else you need to know?

I compared this new cereal with the Sugar Cookie variety, and the Snow Creme version is better. So if you’re at Walmart, there’s no need to pick up that red and green variety.

The wintry color scheme of this cereal is my favorite part.

Conclusion:

The Elf on the Shelf branding means this cereal is an opportunistic cash grab, not a worthwhile cereal on its own. The “cooling” sensation is too subtle to be, well, cool.

Purchased Price: $4.48
Size: 12.2 oz. box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 1/3 cup, 39 grams) 140 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 0 grams of monounsaturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 34 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of dietary fiber, 13 grams of sugar (including 13 grams of added sugar), and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Little Debbie Nutty Buddy Cereal

Marvo 8 Comments

Kellogg s Little Debbie Nutty Buddy Cereal Box

Kellogg’s Little Debbie Nutty Buddy Cereal tastes familiar to me. You might be thinking, “Well, yeah, it’s supposed to taste like a Lil’ Deb Nutty Buddy.” But that’s not it, and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t, even though I’ve never had a Nutty Buddy.

Why am I so sure?

Well, the previous two Kellogg’s and Little Debbie collaborations didn’t taste like the actual treats, so there’s an excellent chance this also doesn’t.

Instead, this reminds me of something that many of you have probably never had — round chocolate puffs from 7-Eleven Japan that we can get here on this rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Note that I mentioned the snack is chocolatey, but not peanut buttery.

Kellogg s Little Debbie Nutty Buddy Cereal Bowl

I’ve eaten half the box, and I’m not convinced that what I’m tasting, besides the chocolate, is peanut butter. My taste buds think it’s the underlying puff, which is made with whole grain oat, whole wheat, and rice flours. Maybe it’s Kellogg’s version of artificial peanut butter flavor, or the company’s attempt at replicating the taste of Nutty Buddy’s wafers, or perhaps both. But whatever it is, it’s the dominant flavor.

Now, the thing about that 7-Eleven snack I mentioned earlier is that it’s one of my favorite things to eat. So having an entire bowlful of something that tastes like it in milk has been awesome. Even though my taste buds aren’t convinced there’s peanut butter flavor, they love this cereal and its airiness.

Kellogg s Little Debbie Nutty Buddy Cereal Holes

Now, some of you might be wondering about those holes. Despite being in every piece, the cereal doesn’t instantly get soggy. When they do get milklogged, they are quite squishy. But I wonder if these, with their sugary coating, would’ve been like tiny Noah’s Arks if those holes weren’t there to help facilitate the sogginess. Anyway, if you’re a slow cereal eater, you’ve been warned.

While I’ve never tasted a Nutty Buddy, which prevents me from comparing it with this cereal, I’ve had enough chocolate, peanut butter, and chocolate AND peanut butter cereals to compare. I think my taste buds might be stereotyping what peanut butter-flavored cereals should be, and I don’t notice any of those with this. So maybe Kellogg’s is doing something different with the peanut butter here. Or maybe my taste buds are broken and I’m overthinking things. Anyhoo, Kellogg’s Little Debbie Nutty Buddy Cereal is quite good as a chocolate with maybe peanut butter flavor cereal.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 13.1 oz box (Family Size)
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 1/3 cup – cereal only) 170 calories, 3 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 1.5 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 1 gram of monounsaturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 33 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar (including 15 grams of added sugar), and 2 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: Kellogg’s Eggo Froot Loops Waffles (2022)

Brandon 3 Comments

Kellogg s Eggo Froot Loops Waffles Box

What is it?

We’ve known for some time that Froot Loops is discontent with their lot in life. Dissatisfied for years now with their small corner on the grocery store shelf, nestled between the Honey Smacks and the Apple Jacks, they’ve been throwing themselves around like some rummed-up pirate on shore leave.

They were gummies for a spell after they were Pop-Tarts; they’ve been made into bars and straws. They were Easter Peeps once, and who could forget the time they became donuts from Carl’s Jr.? Well, now they’ve made their way into Eggo waffles. (Well, again. The first time was in 2003. Given the shared parentage, maybe it’s surprising it’s not a standard offering.)

How is it?

Kellogg s Eggo Froot Loops Waffles Plated

It’s exactly as you imagine: mostly run-of-the-mill Eggo waffles, but every so often, you get an aggressively sweet bit of Froot Loops cereal. There was no discernible textural difference between the regular waffle and the cereal piece, but I could see them, and I sure as hell could taste them.

I tried them plain and then in a universally standard waffle format — i.e. with butter and syrup — and it is worth noting that, while the Froot Loops taste is powerful on the naked waffle, when gussied up, it loses 95% of its impact. With butter and syrup, you’re just eating a normal waffle that gets weirdly chemical-tasting at the end.

Kellogg s Eggo Froot Loops Waffles Closeup

Anything else you need to know?

These weren’t bad; I don’t want anyone to think that. I’m just not sure under what circumstance they get eaten. Most people eat waffles with toppings, yeah? And if you’re topping these things, there’s no point in having them be Froot Loops waffles. It’s a real Catch Twenty-Toucan Sam. (Oh wow, I am so sorry about that. It just slipped out.)

Conclusion:

Froot Loops should work on their self-esteem and realize that, as the world’s preeminent artificially fruit-flavored, ring-shaped cereal, they are good enough, they make us proud, and all we want is for them to be happy with who they are.

Purchased Price: $2.69
Size: 12.3 oz/10 waffles
Purchased at: Sun Fresh
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 waffles) 190 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 370 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 7 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Snickerdoodle Pop-Tarts

Erin 6 Comments

Snickerdoodle Pop Tarts Box

When I heard there was a Snickerdoodle Pop-Tart out, I was excited because I happen to love cookies, and I figured it’s hard to screw up something like cinnamon and sugar, right? They sounded more up my breakfast alley than flavors like Peach Cobbler or Everything Bagel. Turns out I was wrong. From my first glance at this box, I feared something had gone awry. The packaging couldn’t be more lackluster, and it represents the contents accurately.

Snickerdoodle Pop Tarts Cracks

Straight out of the foil, these Pop-Tarts are too soft and crumbly to hold themselves together. One was splitting so badly along multiple fault lines that it could definitely never be placed in a conventional toaster. I thought it was a fluke, but upon picking up the other one, it became clear that it, too, was ready to fall apart unless I used the utmost care and immediately set it down. They’re sprinkled with coarse-grained sugar, which is nice in many applications but not what one typically rolls snickerdoodles in. These sugar pebbles atop the sandy-bordering-on-gray pastry base make for an ugly appearance, but there’s no reason to hold that against them just yet.

Snickerdoodle Pop Tarts Filling

I’ll eat Pop-Tarts any way they come to me, so I set about snacking on discrepant pieces of the first pastry as an initial test while I waited for the second to toast (with a silent prayer it didn’t collapse in the process). They taste pretty generic, and I can’t keep them from further falling apart in my hands. I’m missing the classic tang you’d typically find in a snickerdoodle, usually present thanks to cream of tartar that adds flavor and chew to the cookie. The filling is weirdly viscous and kind of gluey, like what you’d find in a not great pecan pie.

Snickerdoodle Pop Tarts Stretch

The toasted pastry emerged almost slightly burnt in places, but it managed to only lose one corner to crumbliness. The darker toasted parts of this remind me of burnt marshmallows, which isn’t normally a bad thing but isn’t anything I associate with snickerdoodles. The more I ate of both the toasted and untoasted tarts, the more both seemed to be mostly flavored like cinnamon-y marshmallows.

I refuse to believe this is a thing that anyone does, but because the box always claims that you can enjoy them frozen, I threw one in the freezer to complete the experience. The cooling muted some of the marshmallow flavor, but the filling is even less agreeable when it’s cold, stretching as you pull off a piece and slowly contracting in an unappetizing fashion.

Snickerdoodle Pop Tarts Toasted

Everything about this flavor seems thrown together, possibly by someone who’s never eaten a snickerdoodle or made a Pop-Tart. They aren’t bad necessarily, although the filling texture is off, but there’s nothing to really set them apart or make them worth trying. They could as easily have been called “Sugar and Cinnamon” or “Cinnamon Roll” or maybe “Cinnamon Corn Syrup” as “Snickerdoodle,” and because I consider the regular Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon version to be top-tier, it makes me wonder why they’d bother with these.

Purchased Price: $3.49
Size: 8 count box
Purchased at: Jewel-Osco
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 pastries) 380 calories, 11 grams of total fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 440 milligrams of sodium, 67 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 24 grams of total sugars, and 4 grams of protein.