REVIEW: General Mills Peanut Butter Toast Crunch Cereal

Peanut Butter Toast Crunch

A semi-reliable airplane magazine article recently informed me that Americans munch somewhere around 700 million pounds of peanuts per year, which would theoretically cover the floor of the Grand Canyon.

I don’t know who (Farmer? Intern? The spokes-peanut of Planters?) figured out that statistic, but I’m grateful, not just for the relief of mathematical anxiety I held regarding the square footage required in the peanut-to-Grand Canyon ratio, but also to be enlightened on this high degree of national support for the peanut.

Having served duty in everything from Thai peanut satay to Snickers, the peanut is one noble and versatile legume. It was with this nobility in mind that, at the cusp of my New Year, I decided it my goal to ferry my fair share of this national statistic on peanut ingestion, and what better place to begin than with General Mills’ Peanut Butter Toast Crunch.

No, you’re not having déjà vu (unless that particular “vu” had something to do with me telling you you’re not having déjà vu, which, in that case: you’re having déjà vu! How exciting!). General Mills released a version of this smack-daddy back in 2004, which was soon discontinued.

Despite this seedy past, the squares have returned in what hopes to be a reformulation of their retired counterpart, and, indeed, things are kicking off on the right foot as the reliable Cinnamon Toast Crunch mascot, Wendell, seems to be overseeing all the necessary preparations for this cereal in his underground Toast Lair.

Peanut Butter Toast Crunch The Toast Lair

It’s like the Bat Cave, but with industrial strength Hamilton Beach toasters.

Hope seems to stand in the form of redemption, and it is with this in mind that I rip open the bag before me…

Holy frosted mountains majesty submerged in amber waves of grain! These actually taste like peanut butter! Roasted peanut butter! The volcanic puff of peanuts that eschews from this bag literally pulls your hand (if not your full head) straight down into the crunchy carbohydrate squares within. Do not be ashamed of this maneuver.

Each little square has the hint of a salty-sweet balance I so yearn for in a peanut butter while still being just a tinge sweeter than smo-joe peanut butter straight from the jar. This is a good thing as, if there is anything that Steven Spielberg’s cinematic endeavors have taught me over the years, it’s that nearly everyone, even short little extra terrestrials, likes peanut butter a little sweet. I dare say that wobbly little alien friend of a younger Drew Barrymore just might swap his one-note Reese’s Pieces for the nutty, crunchy goodness delivered by Wendell here.

Peanut Butter Toast Crunch ET and Wendell

Wendell: encouraging extra terrestrial diplomatic relations.

“Crusty” is not a term that often denotes tasty, but here, crusty is da bomb diggity. What with each little square coming with a generous coating of its peanut-butter-sugar layer, these little squares are crusty as Quint from Jaws in that cool one-eyed, heroic sailor type of way.

As for the shape, they look similar to their Cinnamon Toast kin, which is to say they look like little brown rugs. I was going to say I would cover my flooring with a Peanut Butter Toast Crunch rug, but then I’d walk all over it and that would crush the cereal and then couldn’t eat it and that would make me sad. There is no need for sadness here.

Peanut Butter Toast Crunch Closeup

If you’re a milk explorer, I’m happy to say that these did fair in the 8-minute milk test, where they shed their sugar coatings (tears of sorrow) while still sustaining a semi-spoonable structure (yay!). Eventually, however, these do succumb to the inevitable break-apart into the liquid. Oh, how I yearn for a grain that does not dissolve in milk. Where’s an atom re-arranger when you need one?

If you’re feeling like it’s a special day, chocolate or strawberry milk pairs well for spoon-related endeavors. Or better yet, pour mocha in there to ensure a kick-in-the-rear that would provide you drum-bangin’ powers that surpass those of the Energizer bunny even if you’re not musically inclined.

No question: these little reformulated squares charmed the mismatched socks offa’ me. It’s like Christmas returned for an encore. They are a smidge hard to find, but I hold hopes that they will spread soon enough as these are destined to go hand-in-hand in the degree of quality and love I hold for Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch and Reese’s Puffs, which both serve me dutifully on the days that cereal consists of 80 percent of my diet.

(Nutrition Facts – 3/4 cup – 120 calories, 25 calories from fat, 3 grams of fat, 0.5 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 75 mg of potassium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 8 grams of sugars, and 2 grams of protein.)

Item: General Mills Peanut Butter Toast Crunch Cereal
Purchased Price: $2.97 (on sale)
Size: 12 ounce box
Purchased at: Harris Teeter
Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Tastes of peanut butter. Crunchy. Crusty. Encourages extra terrestrial diplomatic relations. A Bat Cave of toasters. One-eyed sailors. Banging a huge drum.
Cons: Not as great in milk. Tough to find. Mathematical anxiety. Too many references to Steven Spielberg.

22 thoughts to “REVIEW: General Mills Peanut Butter Toast Crunch Cereal”

    1. Strongly disagree. Recently had a house full of teenagers as well as my ten year old son. They were grossed out by the peanut butter flavor.
      My oldest daughter who is a huge fan of cinnamon toast crunch was excited by the prospect of a on version only to find it disgusting. Of all off the kids sampling this that morning, not one of them said they want a full bowl. Most speed at just a piece or two. We are not fans. Tried, failed.

      1. I totally agree with you they are disgusting the worst bowl of cereal I ever ate.

  1. I agree completly. As a side note, milk and peanut butter cereal don’t match unless we’re talking PB Puffs. These go great in a trail mix bag with honey nut cheerios and chocolate chips, btw.

    1. Adam, you’re totally right! PB Puffs are still #1 milk/PB combo… BUT PBTC IS A CLOSE SECOND!

  2. You had me at hello… err I mean Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I had the Frosted Toast Crunch and they were good. But now you’re combining my favourite spread with a great breakfast cereal. That’s just too much..

  3. I’m gonna take “tough to find” meaning I’ll never see them in my town, adding to a list of products I want so desperately to try but probably never will (Lemon Oreos, Haagen Dazs Peppermint Bark Ice Cream, Ben & Jerry’s Oatmeal Cookie Chunk and Cinnamon Buns…I hate this list).

    1. Kenneth Rathburn, I hate it that you don’t have access to those items where you live, I have tried all of those and I can confirm that they are really very good.

  4. I agree with Billy, this cereal is AMAZING! I bought two boxes at WM last night. I would love to see them bring back French Toast Crunch as well.

  5. Yes. YESSS. This was my most favorite cereal when it first came out, and I was so upset to see it disappear from the shelves. My mom brought home a box today and I about died. So excited for breakfast tomorrow!

  6. Just finished off a box. This is definitely my new favorite PB cereal. (possibly my new all time favorite cereal)

  7. I just bought a box of this cereal today, and I think it is probably the nastiest tasting cereal I’ve ever had. The first bite literally made me gag. Does not taste anything like peanut butter to me. Awful.

    1. I completely agree with you, cardboard would have more flavor! I don’t necessarily have a sweet tooth, but if there were any expectations that these could rival the original cinnamon, you’d be sorely wrong. I just don’t understand why this is such a glowing review and that everyone else is agreeing with it! So confused.

      1. I think Brian and Chris are outta’ their MINDS!!! PBTC is the best thing to hit the the cereal aficionado scene in years.

  8. Was thrilled to see these back on the shelf. I loved them when they were out back in 04-05. Bought two boxes. Even the check out gal at the store was thrilled to see them again! Love this cereal!

  9. Reading this reminded me that I had bought a box of this a few weeks ago. I wonder whatever happened to it, as I never saw or tasted it…

  10. I came across this while I’m eating this very cereal. I think it tastes great in milk, it loses some of its flavour but not all. There’s one convenience store in my city that sells this, I buy 2-3 boxes at a time… obsession maybe?

  11. I don’t know how to explain this cereal with any other word than garbage. I couldn’t decide if it taste more like crab or potatoes but neither are flavora I’d want to associate with pb cereal. Gross

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