REVIEW: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal

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Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal box

When I saw Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal on the grocery store shelf, I didn’t realize it was a new product. Even though it is new cereal season (and new ice cream season—the most wonderful time of year indeed), I thought I had tried the product before.

I may have gotten Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal confused with Peanut Butter Toast Crunch, which this site reviewed in both 2004 and 2013. However, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal is a different product. Unlike the previous variety, which boasted a purely peanut butter flavor, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal combines peanut butter flavor with the brand’s signature Cinnadust.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal back of box

The package doesn’t make this distinction obvious, unless you read the back of the box. I was not motivated to read the back of the box because I hadn’t done so since cereal boxes promised prizes inside. My cereal-related memory is so long that the only prize I look for now is added fiber.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal in a bowl

With the cereal’s identity clarified, Cinnamon Toast Crunch’s latest decennial experiment with peanut butter is just okay. The familiar toasty, crispy squares do not have a consistently noticeable amount of peanut butter flavor. The cinnamon sugar taste is more prominent, although the cereal appears to use less Cinnadust than standard Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The result is a lightly spiced, subtly nutty cereal.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal close up

If you are dubious about peanut butter and cinnamon complementing each other, the flavor combination works and is reminiscent of cookie butter. In this cereal, the flavors aren’t bad, just diluted. Imagine spreading peanut butter on your toast, scraping it off, and applying a little cinnamon sugar instead. Maybe you only have a few grains of cinnamon sugar left, or maybe a small gust of wind blows through your kitchen and lifts the Cinnadust right off your toast. What a way to start the morning—you should have gone with the fiber.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal in milk

In milk, the peanut butter wakes up and asks to be noticed. It still is light compared to other peanut butter cereals, but the milk gives the peanut butter flavor a richer, creamier vibe while weakening the Cinnadust. The cinnamon milk that gets left behind still satisfies.

Compared to original Cinnamon Toast Crunch or really good peanut butter cereal (see: Peanut Butter Lovers Reese’s Puffs), Cinnamon Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal tastes like a partial attempt at both cinnamon and peanut butter. To everything, there is a season, and maybe Cinnamon Toast Crunch will produce a perfect peanut butter pairing next time.

Purchased Price: $5.69
Purchased at: Giant Eagle
Size: 12.3 oz (348 g) box
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 1 cup) 170 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 270 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Post Limited Edition Honey Bunches of Oats Sugar Cookie Cereal

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Honey Bunches of Oats Sugar Cookie Cereal in front of a tree

I was going to start this review off with an “It’s tiiiiime!” joke, but after this year’s announcement from Mariah Carey, I’m not feeling it. Instead, I’ll just quote Clark Griswold: “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”… starting right after Halloween, anyway.

Sugar Cookie is an underrated (and underutilized) holiday flavor in my humble opinion. As an enthusiastic enjoyer of more subtle flavors like marshmallow and cotton candy, I think it’s a perfect mild note that doesn’t hit you in the face with a gingerbread or peppermint mocha hammer, but still manages to be festive and special.

Upon opening the inner bag, a festive sugar cookie aroma wafts out. The scent is admittedly stronger than the flavor is, but it’s still a good indicator of what’s in store. The box promises “Festive Sprinkles” and sort of delivers, in a muted, subdued way that left me staring into a spoon trying to find them.

Honey Bunches of Oats Sugar Cookie Cereal in a bowl and milk

Flavor-wise, these are on point. The classic Honey Bunches of Oats you love with a splash of festive flair. There’s a kicked-up note of warm vanilla and a nice buttery aftertaste to mellow it out. The holiday-forward cookie taste pairs really beautifully with the sweet flakes and the granola clusters. It’s a subtle but distinct difference to the OG formulations, so if you’re looking for a festive breakfast that’s not too far removed from your comfort zone, these are a solid choice.

Honey Bunches of Oats Sugar Cookie Cereal box with a bowl of it next to it.

I’m a fan of Honey Bunches of Oats in general, but I like these even more than my former favorite, Almond. And I applaud the makers for doing something different and festive rather than another “Festive New Look, Same Great Taste” offering (looking glaring at you, Pebbles!) that also manages to be subtle and nonthreatening enough that it won’t bother even picky eaters.

Way to go, Post Cereals! My mornings between November 1 and December 31 have gotten just the right amount of festive!

Purchased Price: $5.29
Size: 15.2 oz box (Family Size)
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup – cereal only) 160 calories, 2 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of total carbs, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 12 grams of total sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal

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Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal Box

Stranger Things is in the midst of a generational run when it comes to brand collabs months before a show or movie releases. The fifth and final season of the popular Netflix show begins its three-part rollout on Thanksgiving, but branded products began popping up on shelves as early as July and August. I’m looking at you, God-awful Chocolate Strawberry Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies that were so bad we didn’t even review them here — yuck. From Cake Bites to Klondike Ice Cream Cones to frozen pizzas and endless amounts of clothing, candy, and candles, the Stranger Things finale is not coming or going quietly.

Fortunately for the cereal-lovers (me), whereas most brands phone it in with a generic-flavored colorful puff cereal to promote their movie or show (Wednesday, Wicked, Bluey, etc), the brand new Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch is not only an under-utilized flavor, but perfectly on theme for the show. Demogorgon Crunch is a syrup-flavored cereal with Upside Down marshmallows, in the shape of a flashlight, a demogorgon, and a d20 die.

Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal close up

If you are wondering where Eggo Cereal went, I have your answer: right here. Eggo cereal has never been as punchy, intense, and downright delicious as Post’s Waffle Crisp, and the same remains true for this “new” spin by Kellogg’s. But it makes perfect sense. In the show, Eleven eats tons of Eggo waffles, and there is already a new line of Eggo waffles out for the show’s final season. I can’t be mad at a company for doing an obvious slam dunk move and pulling it off. The hefty cereal pieces bear a nice, slightly mild maple flavor with a touch of butteriness that works well as a dry snack and holds their own in milk perfectly.

Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal in a bowl

Generally speaking, marshmallows make every cereal better, and this is no exception. The marshmallows have a very sweet, vanilla-leaning flavor that is more pronounced than most cereal marshmallows and stands out well against the maple notes. My one major complaint is that, compared to Lucky Charms or my beloved Monster Cereals, the marshmallow-to-cereal-ratio is a bit lacking. To be fair, the cereal pieces here have a lot more flavor than most marshmallow-laden breakfast boxes, but I still could use more with this otherwise really satisfying release.

Kellogg's Stranger Things Demogorgon Crunch Cereal back of box

The box design and theming of Demogorgon Crunch is a 10 out of 10. I love the retro look and feel of the entire presentation, and the product is good enough to keep around on shelves beyond just a promotional item, too. This is the first time I have tried a maple cereal with marshmallows, and I am in favor of bringing this one back once it inevitably vanishes into the Upside Down after the promo cycle ends.

Purchased Price: $6.99
Size: 12.1 ounces
Purchased at: Target.com
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 1/3 cup. 40g) 150 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 150 milligrams of sodium, 34 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 14 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Caramel Corn Chex Cereal

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I could make the argument, based on absolutely zero research, that Chex is the most versatile cereal of all time. Seriously, no brand has ever put out more flavors, based on no research, and Chex pieces are unequivocally the world’s favorite snack mix ingredient… and I am, of course, basing this on zero research. Not even a simple Google.

Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Wheat Chex. Who can beat Chex? Cheerios?!

Yeah, maybe Cheerios actually. They do a lot. Ah man, are Cheerios better than Chex?

No! Wait, this is about Chex. Cheerios Shmeerios. They’re not better, they just have better PR.

Has Cheerios ever released a Caramel Corn flavor like Chex just did?! I’m not gonna research it, but I don’t think so. Checkmate, Cheerios.

I know what you’re thinking, surely Chex has done similar flavors to Caramel Corn before, but that was Caramel *beat* Corn Chex, and this is Caramel Corn *beat* Chex. It’s like “Under Pressure” and “Ice Ice Baby,” totally different, but both absolute bangers.

I’mma need you to stop, collaborate, and listen, because this is a great cereal.

Limited Edition Caramel Corn Chex Cereal in a bowl

When I tore the bag open, I was instantly hit with a nostalgic whiff of my favorite cereal of all time, the brand that dropped the “Cheeri,” because it was cleaner – Oh’s.

Where are my Oh’s fans at? Good news, Caramel Corn Chex smells and tastes pretty similar to Honey Oh’s, except not in that show-offy Cheerio ring shape, but the classic Chex weave.

While I can’t sit here and tell you these taste exactly like legitimate caramel corn, the sweetness does subside, and it manages to take on a cornier character. A valiant effort, and also how people describe me to a T – “the sweetness subsides to reveal a cornier character.”

Limited Edition Caramel Corn Chex Cereal in milk

I am a little bummed these don’t get closer to actual caramel corn flavor though. They hit the Fiddle, but don’t quite get there on the Faddle.

If you’ve ever had Honey Nut Chex Mix, this isn’t too far off from that, if at all. These are pretty sweet, and maybe even a bit too hard because of the sugary glaze coating, but they work well as a dry snack. I’m not usually one to eat cereal without milk, but I’ve been popping handfuls all week. Whereas something like dry Cap’n Crunch will leave me feeling Crap’y, these hit the spot.

Limited Edition Caramel Corn Chex Cereal on spoon

I keep mentioning “honey” because I guess I don’t taste much of a difference between honey-based cereals and the “caramel” represented here. Honey’s good though, right? We like honey.

Limited Edition Caramel Corn Chex Cereal in another bowl

So, with that said, I feel some are gonna think this cereal’s name is a bit of a stretch, but I still believe it’s a crowd pleaser. It has the sweetness of a kid’s cereal, but Chex just feels more acceptable as an adult, so it should be fun for the whole family – hence the Family Sized box.

Limited Edition Caramel Corn Chex Cereal recipes on back of box

This is an easy recommendation. I’m actually gonna grab another box because it has some fun Chex Mix recipes I wanna try. Why spend $4 on a pre-made bag when you can customize your own and buy each individual ingredient for a grand total of $38?

Purchased Price: $4.93
Size: 19.6 oz Family Size
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 Cup) 160 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 38 grams of total carbohydrates, 12 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of dietary fiber, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Mexican Hot Chocolate Cereal

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Cinnamon Toast Crunch is one of the most beloved cereals, and many of its limited edition seasonal flavors, such as Apple Pie and Sugar Cookie, have been home runs.

For this year’s winter season, we get another seasonal flavor: Mexican Style Hot Chocolate. Since we’ve already had Churros, Dulce de Leche, and Tres Leches, it only makes sense that we would get another Mexican-adjacent flavor. Though this cereal is evidently for wintertime, it’s out early enough that you could include it for your Day of the Dead celebrations if you wanted.

Mexican hot chocolate typically has cinnamon, and sometimes it has “hot” spices like cayenne pepper. Thankfully, this cereal does not have hot spices (even though we have seen that before!).

I expected that the chocolate flavoring would be subtle. But the cereal pieces are generously dusted with a cocoa-y powder, and there’s no mistaking that this is a chocolate cereal.

With that said, the chocolate flavor is not aggressive. Chocolate fiends might wish for more, and it doesn’t really impart much cocoa flavor to the milk. But if you want something super chocolatey, you can just pick a different chocolate cereal instead.

Obviously, this cereal prominently features cinnamon. Is it different than regular cinnamon in Cinnamon Toast Crunch? I don’t actually know, but it seems that way to me. The combination of cocoa and cinnamon gives the cereal a robust flavor. While this is a sugary cereal with anthropomorphic cartoon cereal pieces on the front, the cereal seems slightly more mature than the ordinary version.

Mexican Style Hot Chocolate Cinnamon Toast Crunch is a delightful addition to the canon of CTC flavors, and I will definitely buy it again this season.

Purchased Price: $4.93
Size: 18.8 oz box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup) 170 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 1 gram of polyunsaturated fat, 3 grams of monounsaturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 31 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 12 grams of sugar (including 12 grams of added sugar), and 3 grams of protein.

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