Cinnamon Toast Crunch is one of the greatest cereals of all time. The original Stuffed Puffs is what happens when graham crackers realize it’s the third wheel and lets chocolate and marshmallow finally be alone together.
As a fan of both, my eyes got as big as marshmallows when I first saw the promo photos for Stuffed Puffs Big Bites Cinnamon Toast Crunch Filled Marshmallows. Even before trying them, I thought a Cinnamon Toast Crunch-coated marshmallow with a Cinnamon Toast Crunch-flavored creme would be epic. But after trying them, my eyes are as puffy as marshmallows from all the crying about how NOT epic they are.
Okay, I didn’t cry, but I’m a little disappointed with these.
Although the cereal is pulverized into dust, I expected some crunch from the coating. There is a crunch, but after getting up close and personal with these, it turns out it doesn’t come from the cereal.
Instead, it comes from opaque crystals dotted across the surface. The light crunch is similar to the sugary coating on Peeps, but because those crystals aren’t everywhere, like on Peeps, the cereal dust’s soft texture gets exposed. Cinnamon Toast Crunch’s lowercase crunch is part of what makes it so great and to not have it here is saddening.
Also, the coating lacks a noticeable Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavor. I think there’s a hint of it, but I’m surprised it doesn’t stand out for something that covers so much surface area. So lack of crunch and flavor makes it seem like the cereal is really there for looks and not much else. If the crushed cereal wasn’t so smashed, the coating might have had an authentic cereal crunch and a bit more flavor.
While the exterior doesn’t remind me of the popular cereal, the creme filling somewhat does, and it provides all the cinnamon flavor. Although, I get more of a cinnamon roll vibe (and aroma) than a Cinnamon Toast Crunch vibe. But I’m not complaining about that because the filling is scrumptious. There are also crumbles in the creme, and I do notice them, but they have a soggy oat texture, and I’m wondering what’s the point of them.
I’ve enjoyed most Stuffed Puffs I’ve stuffed into my mouth, and, of course, every morning, afternoon, and evening is a little brighter after a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but this mashup of the two is just good and not great. Maybe I shouldn’t have had such high expectations, or I’m being a Snack Scrooge. I don’t know. But I’m just closing my eyes and shaking my head at what could’ve been.
DISCLOSURE: I received free product samples. Doing so did not influence my review.
Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 5.9 oz pouch
Purchased at: Received from Stuffed Puffs (but are exclusively available at Walmart)
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 piece) 80 calories, 2 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar (including 10 grams of added sugar), and 1 gram of protein.