Happy 85th birthday, Cheerios! Confetti is the perfect flavor to help us celebrate. I like that Cheerios approaches its Confetti flavor in the same manner as I approach a new year: with a celebratory spirit but realistic expectations.

Brands often use “confetti” to describe flavor in the context of other desserts, like confetti cake or confetti cookies. Because delivering dessert for breakfast isn’t really the brand’s style, Cheerios avoids alluding to extravagant sweets in its name. Yet, Confetti Cheerios aren’t just your standard O’s dressed up for a party. Available in Family Size and Standard Size boxes, as well as single-serve cups, Confetti Cheerios is sweetened and vanilla-flavored.

Confetti Cheerios lives up to its product description; it tastes lightly sweet with a tinge of vanilla. Although the vanilla flavor is subtle, the cereal delivers a nice balance of sweetness with wholesome oaty goodness. Imagine a less-sweet Lucky Charms or a vanilla-forward Frosted Cheerios.

The “confetti” element adds pretty flecks of color, but no extra flavor and very little texture. The confetti is not the same nonpareil (or sprinkle or jimmy—pick your preferred flourish) that you would find in a baked good or candy bar. It appears to be made of the same stuff as the cereal’s base. Consider this bonus: these Cheerios contain no artificial colors or flavors.

While the dry cereal is pleasant, the flavor tastes more vibrant in milk. I would never confuse the contents of my single-serve cereal cup with a slice of confetti cake, but the wonderful vanilla aroma may have given me pause. My opinion shifted from “I’m glad they didn’t try to name this cereal after cake” to “Eh, they could have gotten away with it.” All it took was a splash of milk.

If you’re looking for a blowout bash of flavor that will leave you sweeping up confetti for weeks, Confetti Cheerios may not be your style. As an enjoyable gathering of pleasant, well-acquainted flavors, this new addition brings some fresh fun to the breakfast table. Whether you’re turning 85 or simply getting to work on time, Confetti Cheerios make it easy to sustain the celebration.

Purchased Price: $1.00
Purchased at: Walmart
Size: 1.4 oz (39 g) single serving cup
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 150 calories, 2 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.