REVIEW: Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Ice Cream

/ / Reviews / 3 Comments

As an adult who loves cereal but can almost never wake up on time to consume a normal breakfast (and even if I could, I can’t be counted on to have non-expired milk on hand), I found the concept of Kellogg’s new breakfast cereal flavored ice creams intriguing. Freed from the confines of a balanced breakfast, perhaps Frosted Flakes could finally team up with an even more indulgent dairy in the form of ice cream and become a childhood dream come true. Who didn’t want ice cream for breakfast? Also, Kellogg’s went so far as to make these ice creams and not “frozen dairy desserts.” Additionally, this ice cream base is cereal milk flavored and not just vanilla. It should be good! Dare I say, Gr-r-eat?

I do not dare. Opening the container, I couldn’t help but notice this is a boring pint. It was obvious that the flakes were completely obliterated, and no effort was made to include any whole flakes or larger chunks of them. I suppose if you throw Frosted Flakes into a mixer, you can’t really expect them to maintain their structural identity. I guess I expected them to sprinkle in a few whole pieces, maybe coated with something to ensure they provided some crunch. If not for the packaging, you’d never know there were Frosted Flakes in here. The sandy-colored specks that remain from the cereal pieces are just that…sandy. It’s as if you’d dropped your ice cream at the beach and were determined to follow the five-second rule and enjoy it anyway. However, instead of eventually getting beyond the sanded part, the grittiness has permeated the whole way through.

I could overlook the pulverized flakes if the ice cream itself was good. I’m not that picky about ice cream, but this stuff is just disappointing. The texture is oddly gummy and not in a way that feels intentional. If I got an ice cream maker and this was the result of my first batch, I’d pat myself on the back because I technically made ice cream, and then I would definitely never use that recipe again. It appears the folks at Kellogg’s were less discerning.

The price here is the same as Ben & Jerry’s, but this seems like a worse quality product and instead of swirls and mix-ins, you’re only getting smashed corn flakes. I don’t mind the overall flavor and could be convinced its milky sweetness resembles cereal milk, but it’s mostly nondescript and the tiny flecks just aren’t enough to remind me of actual Frosted Flakes. It feels like Kellogg’s is relying on consumers to try this line solely based on the clout its beloved cereals carry, but I think it will have to put in a little more effort if it wants repeat customers. I found this pint on the bottom shelf at my store, and after having tried it, I can safely say that’s where it belongs.

Purchased Price: $5.29
Size: 14 fl oz
Purchased at: Jewel-Osco
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 210 calories, 11 grams of total fat, 45mg of cholesterol, 65 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of total carbs, 20 grams of total sugars, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Strawberry Cereal

/ / Reviews / 3 Comments

It’s Valentine’s Season, and in the junk food world, that means one thing: chocolate and strawberries. Or chocolate or strawberries. Or chocolate-covered strawberries. Okay, so that’s three things, I guess. Or just one, if it’s chocolate-covered strawberries. Either way, Valentine’s Day.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch — no stranger to branching out beyond its square Cinnadust-blasted archetypal form — is ready to celebrate the season of romance with its own lusty offering, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Strawberry. It’s not a weird concept, really, I don’t guess. I mean, people put strawberries on top of French toast all the time. Well, okay, I guess that requires you to overlook that Cinnamon Toast Crunch is cinnamon toast-based and not French toast. But you get the idea. It’s like making cinnamon toast and then topping it with strawberries. Is that a thing? Well, it is now. And in cereal form!

So, does it work? I honestly can’t decide! I mean it. It’s strange, but I’ve had a few bowls and can’t decide how I feel.

The thing is, it’s exactly what it sets out to be — and that’s what I’m so on the fence about: do we actually need strawberry cinnamon toast? The base layer here is very identifiably Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but there’s a slightly tart strawberry punch instead of that sugary, cinnamony finish. But also? It’s not strawberry enough. One thing CTC isn’t shy about, as the basketball fans say, is “going hard in the paint.” Cinnamon Toast Crunch and all of its sugar cookie, gingerbread, and waffle iterations are boldly seasoned, not for the faint of heart.

And so, honestly, it feels like if they wanted to commit to this strawberry thing, they should have really gone heavy with the strawberry seasoning shaker. I’d go one step further and suggest that they would have been just as well served to limit the cinnamon component entirely. Just go Strawberry Toast Crunch. (Hy-Vee does [or did?] a “blueberry squares” cereal that was just that, but, you know, with a crazy-strong blueberry flavoring, and it is [or was?] a solid 9 out of 10. That’s what this could have been.)

I’m not mad about this cereal, but I’m also not in love with it. When Cupid finally shoots it with his arrow, and it goes to Cereal Heaven, I won’t mourn it.

Purchased Price: $4.93
Size: 18.8 oz box (Family Size)
Purchased at: Walmart (Exclusive)
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (41 grams) 170 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 33 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Cap’n Crunch Arctic Crunch Vanilla Frost Cereal

/ / Reviews / 5 Comments

With arctic air blasting through the Midwest, it felt fitting to consume the new Limited Edition Cap’n Crunch Arctic Crunch Vanilla Frost Cereal. Unlike the real feel of a -20°F wind chill, this cereal was actually quite pleasant!

The box graphics took me back to childhood—sitting at the table, reading the box with interesting facts while munching away. I ate a lot of Cap’n Crunch as a kid because, for some reason, it was the only cereal my parents allowed. I remember getting so sick of it, but since my parents never threw anything out, I had to finish the stale boxes. And yet, I still have the fondest memories of the Cap’n!

After opening the box, I realized it was all Crunch Berries—just blue and cream-colored spheres. A sweet deal, since that’s the best part, amirite?!

The texture was as I remembered: slightly rough, with some slight roof-of-the-mouth scraping. It was as satisfying as I remember, like a harder Cheetos puff—a crunch leading to a slight squish and gumminess that gets stuck to your molars.

One thing that surprised me: I remember Crunchberries Cereal getting uber soggy as a kid, but this held up well. The milk did intensify the blue color, but that was about it.

Flavor-wise, it was straightforward vanilla. Nothing fancy—no Madagascar or Tahitian vanilla, just plain ol’ vanilla. For some reason, I wanted the blue pieces to taste different. It’s like when people think each color in Froot Loops has a unique flavor, but nope—it’s all the same. No surprise blueberry twist here!

I was slightly disappointed that my milk didn’t turn blue—though I guess this isn’t called “Star Wars Blue Milk Cereal.” It did impart a mild vanilla flavor to the milk, at least.

Overall, it was tasty, but honestly very safe and boring. If Quaker really wanted to lean into the “arctic” theme, it should have taken inspiration from Kellogg’s and and added a cooling effect.

Purchased Price: $4.93
Size: 15.5 oz (Family Size)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 ¼ cup (38g) – 150 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 33 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 15 grams of sugar (includes 15 grams of added sugar, 1 gram of sugar alcohol), and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Blueberry Bran Crunch Cereal

/ / Reviews / 10 Comments

I like Kellogg’s Raisin Bran. However, I suppose by the time you reach your 30s, that isn’t an entirely taboo thing to admit, but when I was younger, it felt like admitting math class was fun.

In pulling together my thoughts for this Kellogg’s Blueberry Bran Crunch Cereal review, I found myself trying to nail down what it is about the classic Raisin Bran that’s so enjoyable. I think it boils down to texture and flavor. The big, chewy, and sweet raisins offer an occasional texture change from the crunchy, slightly bitter bran flakes.

While this new cereal is an extension of the Raisin Bran Crunch line, the thought of a blueberry version of Raisin Bran was intriguing. It seems like blueberry or blueberry lemon-flavored items are popping up all around grocery shelves these days.

I prepped myself a bowl of the listed serving size, one cup of cereal with 3/4 cup of milk. There were visible oat clusters with little dehydrated blueberries, which definitely stood out more once the milk was added. There was also a very strong blueberry aroma.

The sweet bran flakes were just like those in classic Raisin Bran Crunch. They didn’t absorb the milk too quickly. The oat clusters were fairly underwhelming and offered almost no crunch. They had a very similar texture to the bran flakes and not much unique flavor, so they were sort of lost in the bite.

The stand-out flavor was the added natural blueberry. It was present in every single bite and made the milk taste like the aftertaste of a blueberry donut. It wasn’t a bad flavor by any means, but it was very one-note. I couldn’t discern the texture of a blueberry piece when I got them in a spoonful either. So, in the end, these could have been blueberry-flavored bran flakes, and the experience would have been the same. Just okay.

I’ll also note that the bag had a decent percentage of crumbs.

Overall, I appreciate the attempt to create a new spin on an existing cereal. But in the end, this is an example of heavy-handed flavor addition and freeze-dried fruit pieces that are likely super expensive and don’t add much to the experience. I’ll always root for blueberry-flavored items, but this one is a miss.

Purchased Price: $6.49
Size: 15.8 oz. box
Purchased at: Jewel Osco
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup cereal) 210 Calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 49 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: General Mills S’mores and Chocolate Strawberry Loaded Cereals

/ / Reviews / 2 Comments

For the sake of synergy, I was hoping S’mores Loaded Cereal would’ve been Golden Grahams S’mores Loaded. The moniker has been used a couple of times, so why not give the neglected O.G.G. (Original Golden Grahams) some L-O-V-E. As for the Chocolate Strawberry Loaded Cereal, it fits with the current Valentine’s season that began well before all the air was taken out of the last Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon.

The two new Loaded Cereals join a loaded lineup that includes Trix, Cocoa Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Birthday Cake. Before trying them, I predicted I would enjoy the S’mores one much more than the Chocolate Strawberry, but to my surprise, that wasn’t the case.

With this fruity and chocolatey cereal, the strawberry stands out more than the cocoa creme filling, and thinking back to all the other strawberry-flavored breakfast cereals I’ve had in the past, this one might be the best tasting. While the chocolate plays second fiddle, it adds a bit of decadence to the bowl. Unfortunately, while I was able to eat two bowls of it, my five-year-old son seemed to like these more than I did and protected the cereal like a lioness protecting her cubs. One time, when I wanted some as a snack, he gave me a stink eye as I pulled the box from the cabinet. Then he said, “That cereal is red, and so is your blood. I hope we don’t have to see your blood, Daddy.” I considered that a threat, so I returned the cereal and grabbed the S’mores one instead.

While I prefer the Chocolate Strawberry one and wish I could eat more, the S’mores Loaded Cereal is good. Although, at first, I thought the pieces lacked a marshmallow taste. But after a few more spoonfuls, my taste buds could detect a hint of something marshmallow-y. They have a noticeable chocolate aroma in the bag, but that doesn’t translate to a bold chocolate flavor. It’s slightly less noticeable than the creme in the other new flavor. Also, I taste more of the underlying wheat instead of a graham flavor. It’s not optimal, but it doesn’t ruin the cereal.

When I tried the original Loaded flavors, there was a, for lack of a better word, sliminess to them when they sat in milk for too long. It’s still there with these, but less so than what I experienced before. Also, much like the original varieties, I think these make for a better dry snack than in a bowl with milk, no matter what kind of dairy is used.

As I mentioned, I liked the Chocolate Strawberry Loaded over S’mores Loaded, but I enjoyed both more than the previous Loaded Cereal varieties.

DISCLOSURE: I received free product samples from General Mills. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 15.6 oz box (S’mores), 18.1 oz box (Chocolate Strawberry)
Rating: 7 out of 10 (S’mores), 8 out of 10 (Chocolate Strawberry)
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup – cereal only) S’mores – 230 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar (including 14 grams of added sugar), and 3 grams of protein. Chocolate Strawberry – 220 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar (including 14 grams of added sugar), and 3 grams of protein.

Scroll to Top