Tag: Cereal

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Minecraft Creeper Crunch Cereal

Marvo 7 Comments

Kellogg s Minecraft Creeper Crunch Cereal Box

Kellogg’s Minecraft Creeper Crunch Cereal is a cinnamon-flavored cereal with marshmallows. Oh, I’m sorry, not just any marshmallows, but something called Creeper Bit Marshmallows.

Full disclosure: Because I’m only allowed to use boring word processing and image editing apps on my computer, I’ve never played Minecraft. I did play Minesweeper…once. Apparently, they aren’t the same. So I don’t know what a creeper is.

I assume it’s a bad guy in the game who secretly takes photos of other characters in unflattering positions or steals their underwear. Again, I haven’t played Minecraft, so I don’t know. I’m only speaking about creepers from experie…um, experiments I’ve read about creepers in real life.

Kellogg s Minecraft Creeper Crunch Cereal Closeup

The multigrain cereal pieces have a pleasant and heavy cinnamon aroma, which isn’t surprising since the spice is listed as an ingredient. But when I first opened the box, the cereal’s shape bothered me. However, I couldn’t put my finger on why. I’m sure the pieces represent something in the game I don’t play, but after eating three-fourths of the box, I realized they remind me of dry cat food.

Like the box, the marbits are green, and although they look like they could glow, they do not, as you can see in the photo below.

Kellogg s Minecraft Creeper Crunch Cereal No Glow

So I have an online record of making fun of cereals with movie tie-ins because it seems 95 percent of the time they’re just sweetened oat or corn pieces with marshmallows. And I was ready to pounce on this cereal + marshmallow combo, but much like the cinnamon spice warmed my taste buds, it also warmed my heart enough to like this. Also, the marshmallows helped by enhancing the cereal’s sweetness. I mean, it’s not even close to being in the same universe as Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but I found it decent tasting.

Although I should add that it’s less decent when eaten dry, it smells better than it tastes, and it dissolves in my mouth in an odd way that I’ve never experienced before with a cereal.

Since many folks play Minecraft, I should mention every box unlocks a special in-game clothing item for your character. The code is inside the box, and since I don’t play Minecraft, here’s my box’s code — W73C2-K36QK-V6PRJ-YYFHD-PK2CZ (I hope that’s correct because some of the print was difficult to read).

You’re welcome, the first person to type in the code correctly. And, I’m sorry to everyone else after that person. But if you want your own code, go buy Kellogg’s Minecraft Creeper Crunch Cereal. Just remember to eat it with milk.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample of the product. (Thanks Kellogg’s!) Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 8 oz box
Purchased at: Received from Kellogg’s
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 1/3 cup without milk) 140 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 130 milligrams of sodium, 33 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Smartfood Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries Popcorn Mix

Marvo 2 Comments

Smartfood Cap n Crunch s Crunch Berries Popcorn Mix Bag

When I first heard about Smartfood’s Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries Popcorn Mix, I thought, “Why isn’t there a Cap’n Crunch Kettle Corn Mix?”

But after putting more thought than anyone should about the idea, I realized, “Do I REALLY want popcorn kernel hulls lodged into whatever scratches are made by the Cap’n Crunch cereal?”

Nope.

This less hurtful snack combines Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries from Quaker, owned by PepsiCo, with berry-flavored popcorn from Smartfood, also owned by PepsiCo. Because of the added kernel seasoning, it would be difficult to recreate this combo after its limited time is up with merely a bag of plain microwave popcorn and box of Oops All Berries.

But this is tasty enough that it should come back, or be a permanent addition to the Smartfood lineup.

Smartfood Cap n Crunch s Crunch Berries Popcorn Mix Bag Closeup

Sadly, the popcorn itself isn’t colored like rainbow popcorn. Instead, at a quick glance, they look like plain popcorn. But there is a seasoning layer that makes the popped kernels look like they spent some time suntanning on the deck of the S.S. Guppy. That coating provides a noticeable amount of berry flavor and light saltiness. But it’s not enough to make the popcorn alone a satisfying snack or a product that should be added to the Smartfood lineup.

The Crunch Berries amp up the berry flavor to a level you’d get if you were, well, eating Crunch Berries cereal. I know. It’s a little anticlimactic. Maybe if I rephrase it with ship-speak? The cereal’s flavor hits the bow, stem, port, and starboard sides of my tongue full steam ahead with berry. It’s berry good.

While I find this snack to be wonderful, there is a minor, but correctable issue. When I first started eating it by blindly grabbing some from its bag, I’d feel for the cereal pieces and then feel for some popcorn before pulling out my hand. But almost every time, my fingers would pull out only popcorn. I guess the cereal piece I felt for slipped away somehow. Or I might have the worst luck or useless fingers. But being able to see the cereal pieces, pick one up, and then grab some popcorn helped tremendously.

While Smartfood Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries Popcorn Mix tastes pretty much like Crunch Berries, I did love having the two crunchy textures of popcorn and cereal at the same time in my mouth. Yes, this does seem like an odd combination, but I’m happy to report it works well.

DISCLOSURE: I received free samples of the product. (Thanks, PepsiCo!) Doing so did not influence my review, although it totally seems like it. But I assure you it did not.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 6 1/4 oz bag
Purchased at: Received from PepsiCo
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 3/4 cups) 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 110 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 6 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Special Edition Cookies & Creme Krispies Cereal

Marvo 5 Comments

Kellogg s Special Edition Cookies Creme Krispies Cereal Box

What is Kellogg’s Special Edition Cookies & Creme Krispies?

It’s a flavor I didn’t see coming. I thought Rice Krispies was now all about making colorful seasonal versions, like its Spring Colors and Red & Blue varieties, because they would look cool in a Rice Krispies Treat. I expected an orange and brown fall-colored cereal to appear before any new flavor. But here we are with a cereal made rice, sugar, salt, rice flour, malt flavor, cocoa processed with alkali, and natural flavor.

How is it?

While Rice Krispies snap, crackle, and pop, its flavor, no matter the variety, has never popped, and that’s the case with this cereal. It’s probably the reason why I’ve preferred Cocoa Pebbles over Cocoa Rice Krispies.

Kellogg s Special Edition Cookies Creme Krispies Cereal Closeup

It’s been a while since I’ve had Cocoa Rice Krispies because, you know, the whole Cocoa-Pebbles-being-better-thing. So I can’t say how or if this differs from Cocoa Rice Krispies. But I’ve eaten through three-fourths of this box of Cookies & Creme Krispies, which smells like Cocoa Pebbles Lite, and found myself being fine with the mild cocoa flavor. That’s something I can’t say about Cocoa Krispies.

But I don’t taste the creme part.

Which makes me wonder if we have to include our own creme, i.e., milk. I use Silk Vanilla Soy Milk, so pouring it into this cereal adds a creme flavor. But I don’t taste it when I eat it dry, which, by the way, is still quite good.

Anything else you need to know?

Kellogg s Special Edition Cookies Creme Krispies Cereal Super Closeup

The cereal isn’t as sprinkled with cocoa cookies specks as what’s shown on the box. It’s a bit more sparse.

I would’ve turned this into Rice Krispies Treats, and there’s even a recipe on the back of the box, so I don’t have to Google one and then have every ad I see from then on be about baking. But then I thought about the last time I made Rice Krispies Treats and how I ate the entire sheet. I didn’t even cut it into pieces. My fingers pecked at the marshmallow and cereal treat slab like a bird.

Conclusion:

I’ve found most Rice Krispies varieties to be underwhelming, so I’m surprised I enjoyed Kellogg’s Cookies & Creme Krispies. Maybe I should buy another box and make a Rice Krispies Treats slab that my fingers can peck at.

Purchased Price: Way too much on eBay
Size: 12 oz box
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 1/4 cup without milk) 160 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 37 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 13 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Limited Edition Froot Loops Tropical Cereal

Marvo 1 Comment

Kellogg s Limited Edition Froot Loops Tropical Cereal Box

What is Kellogg’s Limited Edition Froot Loops Tropical Cereal?

It’s a sweetened multi-grain cereal with pineapple, banana, orange, and mango flavors.

How is it?

Of the four fruits listed, pineapple is the only one I can truly distinguish with my non-toucan-sized nose.

Like regular Froot Loops, there aren’t any differences in flavor between the colors. So mix and match all you want, it’ll all taste the same in your mouth. And what does it taste like? Well, I can best explain it by taking the opening sentence of this review and adding some delete HTML tags to it, like this:

A sweetened multi-grain cereal with pineapple, banana, orange, and mango flavors.

If your tongue can pinpoint the banana in this, that would be more impressive than it being able to tie a cherry stem into a knot.

Kellogg s Limited Edition Froot Loops Tropical Cereal Closeup

When eaten dry, the pineapple and orange flavors are most noticeable. Unfortunately, I’ve only been able to get a hint of mango in the aftertaste. But don’t eat this dry! When eating it with my usual Silk Vanilla Soy Milk, it tastes much better, and the fruitiness comes out more. Also, eating it dry allows the underlying multi-grain cereal to be more prominent in the aftertaste. I also noticed is that, even with milk, the flavors don’t have the same punch as original Froot Loops.

Anything else you need to know?

Even though the colors don’t determine any flavors, it’s hard to ignore the green ones. I understand the yellow one, which represents bananas and pineapples. The orange one is self-explanatory, and it probably also represents the mango. But I don’t understand the green ones. Looking at the box, do they stand for coconut tree leaves or the pineapple’s crown? It could also be mango, but a green mango means it’s not ripe.

Conclusion:

Overall, Limited Edition Froot Loops Tropical Cereal was a bit of a letdown. As someone who enjoys banana, naturally or artificially flavored (Hello, fellow banana Runts lovers!), I wish I could taste it in this. Also, I do wish it had the same fruitiness level as regular Froot Loops.

Purchased Price: Way too much of eBay
Size: 10.1 oz box
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 1/3 cup without milk) 150 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 34 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert

Marvo 1 Comment

Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert

What is Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert?

It’s vanilla frozen dairy dessert, a cereal swirl, and Lucky Charms marshmallows from the folks at Dreyer’s. It made its debut with a Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ice Cream. Yes, the CTC one is ice cream, although light ice cream, and this is frozen dairy dessert. Sometimes life isn’t fair.

How is it?

It tastes better than it looks.

Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert Top

I mean that the vanilla base looks like dirty snow to me, and since most of what I see is that base, it’s slightly unappealing. The bright colors from the Lucky Charms marshmallows are definitely a visual contrast to the frozen dairy dessert base. However, most of them in my container had melted into shapeless color globs, making the view from above look like a canvas drop cloth under a first grader’s painting or the Care Bears not taking care of Care-a-lot.

As for the cereal swirl, I don’t know if it exists because it’s not noticeable visually or texturally. Is the dirty snow base actually a fusion of the vanilla base AND cereal swirl?

This frozen dairy dessert does a great job of incorporating all the flavors in a bowl of Lucky Charms. ALL. THE. FLAVORS. The marshmallows, the milk, AND the sweetened oat cereal are all there with every frozen spoonful. And because Lucky Charms is one of my all-time favorite cereals, this 1.5 quart-sized treat tastes delightful. But, after eating one-fifth of the tub, its flavor also makes me think of ice cream in a crunchy sugar cone.

Anything else you need to know?

Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert Marbits

Because it’s frozen dairy dessert, it’s super easy to scoop out. Also, I’m disappointed the marbits lack that freeze-dried mouthfeel. Instead, they’re just soft melted sugar globs.

Conclusion:

This treat captures Lucky Charms wonderfully, and I recommend it if you’re a fan of the cereal. I could be cliche and write Lucky Charms Frozen Dairy Dessert is, um, you know. But I won’t. But it is, um, you know.

Purchased Price: $2.80
Size: 1.5 quart tub
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 160 calories, 5 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 70 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.