REVIEW: Fillows Creme Filled Cereal (Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme and Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll)

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General Mills Fillows Hershey s Cookies n Creme Cereal

Can I say that of all the cereal types here-to-now discovered by humanity, stuff-filled cereals by far have the most potential? Yes, I know corn loops, toasted oat rings, whole wheat squares, and (maybe) even sweet seasoned crisped rice all have roles to play in a complete breakfast, but the flavor-stuffed cavities of cereals like Kellogg’s Krave are structurally in another dimension.

Think of them as the chocolate eclairs of the cereal world. Don’t like eclairs? Fine, a creme-filled donut. And thanks to General Mills’ new Fillows cereal, we now have a competitor to Kellogg’s Krave.

Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme

General Mills Fillows Hershey s Cookies n Creme Cereal Wading in Milk

Call me an overly visual taster, but the appearance of chocolate squares with the promise of a creme filling inside made me expect the taste of Oreo cookies. However, I was massively disappointed when, on the first bite, the cloying taste of nothing but vanilla and sugar assaulted my taste buds. With the oh-so-slightest hint of cocoa on the backend, each square felt like a façade, as if I’d been served a veggie burger instead of a bleeding disc of cow. This marked the high point of my cereal disillusionment for the day.

To be fair, Hershey’s do not make Oreo cookies; they make Cookies ‘n’ Crème candy bars. And with that as a baseline, I tried the cereal again and appreciated it more for its unabashed vanilla sweetness. Still, there are some off flavors going on — notably, an artificial marshmallow taste that really seems to come out in milk. They don’t help the cereal stay true to either cookies ‘n’ creme the bar or the flavor.

General Mills Fillows Hershey s Cookies n Creme Cereal Spoon

That, to be honest, might be part of the problem. Cookies ‘n’ Creme Fillows are too sweet to be enjoyed with milk, and probably on the verge of being too sweet for most people as a snack (full disclosure: I’m not like most people). But at least when eaten dry the cocoa becomes a little more rounded, with a mild but enjoyable Cocoa Puffs flavor. It’s lost in milk, though, which makes the cereal a slight disappointment.

Purchased Price: $3.64
Size: 22 oz. box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3/4 cup) 230 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll

General Mills Fillows Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Cereal

The legacy of bakery-inspired cereals is a mixed bag. While there are some great ones — such as Kellogg’s bygone Cinnabon cereal — more often than not even the good ones don’t really taste like donuts or french toast or cinnamon rolls.

Let me be real with y’all: Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Fillows legitimately tastes like a cinnamon roll. What’s more, they might even be better than an actual Pillsbury cinnamon roll.

General Mills Fillows Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Cereal Wading in Milk

Like the Cookies ‘n’ Creme Fillows, these are overwhelmingly sweet at 19 grams of sugar per 52 grams of cereal. However, the sweetness feels like a match with the concentrated cinnamon flavor. Even eaten dry, there’s a certain richness in each square, mimicking the gooey buttery interior of a cinnamon roll. This flavor heightened in milk, where the squares take on an indulgent churros appeal.

General Mills Fillows Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Cereal Spoon

Granted, when you review cereal you learn to write a lot of vague crap, but let me state this unequivocally: This is the best Cinnamon Roll cereal I’ve had in 30 years of eating processed sugar for breakfast. Buy this.

Purchased Price: $3.64
Size: 22 oz. box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3/4 cup) 230 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

Overall, it’s good to see General Mills partner with Hershey’s and Pillsbury to join the filled cereal market. While the Cookies ‘n’ Creme flavor doesn’t seem to work in a cereal, they’ve definitely found a winner with the Pillsbury Doughboy. Let’s hope it sticks around.

REVIEW: Blueberry Cheerios Cereal

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Blueberry Cheerios Cereal

What are Blueberry Cheerios?

After decades of Honey Nut and the occasional new flavor of Cheerios, it seems like we’ve gotten at least 20 new varieties in the past couple years, with Blueberry being the latest to hit shelves.

How are they?

Blueberry Cheerios are not quite up to snuff with the

Blueberry Cheerios Cereal Dry

First off, the scent is pitch perfect. I bet you could name this cereal in a blind sniff test with no hesitation. The cereal pieces appear to be caked with a purplish dust with little bits of actual pureed blueberry.

The flavor is not as strong as I expected. The first few bites give you a quick blueberry hit, but it soon fades as the dust dissipates into the milk.

Blueberry Cheerios Cereal Games

There are no artificial flavors, which I assumed and appreciated. That said, when it comes to blueberry, I think I prefer a regrettable sugary start to my morning. This is the adult’s

Is there anything else you need to know?

Blueberry Cheerios Cereal Wet

It’s almost two cereals in one. You start with purple o’s and white milk, but within a minute you have an almost normal looking bowl of Cheerios floating in a purplish run-off.

The milk ends up being the tastiest part as the cereal pieces get blander. I drank the second half of the bowl, cereal pieces and all.

Conclusion:

I’ve tried most of the fruit Cheerios (Banana, Peach, Berry, etc.) and I honestly think they’re all superior. Blueberry is still a solid cereal, but I’d put it near the bottom in terms of Cheerios flavors.

I know we’ve had Fruity Cheerios in the past, but I would love a “Fruit Medley” mix consisting of all the previously mentioned flavors. Blueberry would make a great supporting player.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 10.9 oz
Purchased at: Shop Rite
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (3/4 cup) 110 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 125 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Maple Cheerios Cereal

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Maple Cheerios Cereal

Well, all the pumpkin stuff is out, so that can mean only one thing – it’s also maple season!

Now I don’t know if fall necessarily makes people think “maple syrup” but brands sure like to load the shelves with maple flavor variants around this time of year, and I’m certainly not complaining.

I’m particularly excited about one brand’s (American) foray into the maple realm – Cheerios.

Cheerios has been knocking it out of the park lately with new flavors. In the past year, I’ve enjoyed its takes on

There’s a nice waft of maple scent when you open the box, but the cereal pieces themselves aren’t flashy. They look like a standard bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios.

Maple Cheerios Cereal 2

I ate a quick handful of dry Maple Cheerios before pouring in the milk to get a true idea of the taste. The amount of flavor is on par with the aforementioned flavors you’ve probably already had. Cheerios never really overpower you with too much sweetness. I enjoy that because it gives me a sense that I’m eating healthy. Well, healthier.

After I added milk, the cereal lost some of its luster. Honestly, they kinda tasted like Honey Nut Cheerios, which is an all-time classic cereal, but I imagine that news may be disappointing to some. Don’t be too bummed, as there’s still a maple finish, so it’s not exactly like Honey Nut.

Maple Cheerios Cereal 3

One other thing I noticed was that despite not being “waffle” flavored, there’s almost a buttery essence as they sog in the milk. It was really nice. If you’re expecting these to be the new “Waffle Crisp” or “French Toast Crunch,” that’s not what you’re gonna get, but I will say this is like a snooty grownup version of those confectionary classics.

While there isn’t a maple explosion, fans of Honey Nut Cheerios should find this a satisfying bowl of cereal. The leftover milk was pleasantly maple flavored and somehow a lot sweeter than the cereal itself. It was a little too sweet for me if I had to find fault.

Maple Cheerios Cereal 4

You can eat these plain or in milk, and you’ll more than likely enjoy them either way. You can also do what I do and cover a banana in peanut butter, then sprinkle Cheerios on top™. I find this to be a great pre-gym snack. I actually sold the recipe to Blue Apron. I’m pretty sure Food and Wine Magazine named it the “Best New Recipe” of 2014.

So yeah, Maple Cheerios is another great flavor in its lineup. I hope it keeps the product line rolling. Gimmie some coconut Cheerios. How about something crazy like pineapple? How about going nuts and combining them for a Pina Colada type flavor? I’m excited to see what’s next.

(Nutrition Facts – 3/4 cup – 110 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 120 milligrams of potassium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 10.8 oz. box
Purchased at: Wegmans
Rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: Another winning flavor for Cheerios. Tasted like Honey Nut. Good dry or in milk. Tastes great on a peanut butter covered banana! Game on the back of the box.
Cons: Perhaps a little light on the Maple flavor. Milk runoff somehow too sweet. Canada’s apparently had this flavor for a while. Summer’s over. I lied – Blue Apron sent me a cease and desist.

QUICK REVIEW: Cheerios Oat Crunch Cinnamon Cereal

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Cheerios Oat Crunch Cinnamon Cereal

What is it?

A new variety of Cheerios that combines Multi Grain Cheerios, whole oats, and real cinnamon. If you’re not familiar with the multi grain cereal, it’s made with five types of whole grains — oats, corn, rice, millet, and sorghum. It’s not the first cinnamon-flavored version of the cereal.

How is it?

Cheerios Oat Crunch Cinnamon Cereal 2

It’s really good.

Although, I’m not surprised by that.

Cheerios has a good track record when it comes to cinnamon cereals, and I guess that comes down to the fact that the real stuff is used, not anything artificial. The level of flavor is just right, and it hides the fact that you’re eating some sorghum.

It’s not going to make you leave Cinnamon Toast Crunch for it, but it has enough of the sweet stuff that you might cheat on CTC once in a while. Shhhh! I won’t tell. I’ll keep in on the DL. The cinnamon doesn’t seem to wash off when in milk because the dairy at the bottom of my bowl was mostly devoid of the warm spice.

Cheerios Oat Crunch Cinnamon Cereal 3

The oats provide a nice crunch that’s more noticeable the longer the cereal pieces sit in milk. Don’t think of the oats as the limp things in oatmeal. Instead, they’re more like the oats in a Nature Valley granola bar that resist the urge to head on over to Soggyville. Hence, the cereal’s name.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Sorghum is also used to make alcoholic beverages. Um, that’s it.

Conclusion:

Cheerios Oat Crunch Cinnamon Cereal is an excellent addition to the line. Before trying it, I thought the oats wouldn’t do much, but they do provide a noticeable crunch boost. Its sweet spice flavor is great, but now I’d like to taste it on Chocolate Cheerios Cereal.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 15.2 oz. box
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup) – 200 calories, 45 calories from fat, 4.5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 1 gram of polyunsaturated fat, 2.5 grams of monounsaturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 140 milligrams of potassium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, 22 grams of other carbohydrates, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: General Mills Dippin’ Dots Cereal (Cookies ‘n Cream and Banana Split)

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General Mills Dippin Dots Cereal Cookies N Cream and Banana Split

Are actual Dippin’ Dots still a thing anymore?

I used to beg my mom to buy it for me all the time when I was a kid, but I can’t even remember the last time I saw a Dippin’ Dots kiosk. For something that used to tout itself as being the “Ice Cream of the Future,” it sure seems like it hasn’t aged well. Perhaps a reason for its lack of success was that the ice cream had to be stored in ultra-cold super-freezers, which prevented people from buying and eating them at home.

Thankfully for those of us who don’t have freezers that can hold ice cream at -40° F, the kind people over at General Mills lent their breakfast-making prowess to Dippin’ Dots to recreate two of its most popular flavors into a much more easily distributable cereal form.

General Mills Dippin Dots Cookies n Cream Cereal

The Cookies ‘n Cream flavor features tan and brown cereal puffs mixed with clusters of milk chocolate-coated cookie bits. Opening the bag, there was an aroma that reminded me more of Corn Pops mixed with a few crushed Oreo wafers than it did of ice cream.

The corn-heavy smell of the cereal foreshadowed its flavor, which didn’t taste like Cookies ‘n Cream at all. I had hoped the brown and tan puffs would emulate both flavors respectively, but they instead had that generic “corn-y” taste shared by most cereal puffs.

The chocolate cookie clusters were the only element that actually tasted like how they were supposed to, but there weren’t nearly enough of them to go around, and I found they had a tendency to sink to the bottom of my bowl once I added milk.

General Mills Dippin Dots Banana Split Cereal

Banana Split is constructed like the Cookies ‘n Cream version, but the quality here is a different story. I was hesitant to try it at first since banana is a flavor that often oversteps into the territory of being overly artificial. But it turns out it was what this cereal needed to overcome the flavor coming from the corn flour in the puffs.

Every bite I took tasted like authentic, sweet bananas and the banana-flavored white chocolate crunchies brought that creamy element of vanilla that really let this cereal hone in on being an ice cream-inspired flavor.

General Mills Dippin Dots Cereal Cookies N Cream and Banana Split 2

While I’m on the topic of those crunchies, they’re the best part of the cereal. Dippin’ Dots should consider boxing them up and selling them as candy. But there seemed to be way more of them in my box of Banana Split than in my box of Cookies ‘n Cream.

Both flavors got soggy quickly in milk, but the Banana Split flavor was able to use this to its advantage by getting the dairy to work alongside the white chocolate crunchies to produce a flavor reminiscent of a melting banana split. Cookies ‘n Cream didn’t fare as well. It sopped up the milk and tasted like mushy Corn Pops that had jarring chunks of chocolate coated sandwich cookies in it.

So, has Dippin’ Dots created the Cereal of the Future? Probably not, but it sure is fun to be able to say that you’ve just had a bowl of Dippin’ Dots for breakfast.

(Nutrition Facts – 1 cup – Cookies ‘n Cream – 120 calories, 15 calories from fat, 1.5 grams of total fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 65 milligrams of potassium, 27 grams of total carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 10 grams of sugars, 15 grams of other carbohydrates, and 2 grams of protein. Banana Split – 130 calories, 20 calories from fat, 2.5 grams of total fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 115 milligrams of sodium, 55 milligrams of potassium, 27 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 11 grams of sugars, 15 grams of other carbohydrates, and 2 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $3.64 each
Size: 18 oz. box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 3 out of 10 (Cookies ‘n Cream)
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Banana Split)
Pros: Not needing a super-freezer. Great flavor in the Banana Split version. Awesome crunchies in both flavors! Getting to tell people that you’ve just had Dippin’ Dots for breakfast.
Cons: Not enough flavor in the Cookies ‘n Cream variety. Neither one holds up well in milk. Crunchy bits are not available in stand-alone candy form.

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