Cereal is something I grew up with and having tried so many over the years, I had to put them in a list!
Cereals routinely go in and out of stock often, some more than others. This also means that while one may “still be in production”, it can be incredibly difficult to find for some time. It’s also not uncommon to only find certain ones online or at select retailors. There are also different variants released during certain times. For example, holiday decorated colored cereals, different designs, or ones that turn milk certain colors.
Here is my personal ranking. I will update this as I try new ones!
Table of Contents
| Tiers | Page |
| S A B C D F | 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
S Tier
Marshmallow Cocoa Pebbles
When you think they couldn’t improve Cocoa Pebbles, they did – with marshmallows!
Marshmallow Fruity Pebbles
Fruity Pebbles are already so sweet and with the addition of marshmallows, it’s a magical fruity sugar rush.
Cocoa Pebbles
Super chocolatey, almost tasting a little dark but also very sweet at the same time. The texture is amazing especially when its sat in milk for a few minutes, forming thick spoonable bunches, and the cereal milk afterwards is wonderful.
Fruity Pebbles
Exactly like Cocoa Pebbles but with an amazing, sweer fruity taste. If only other fruit tasting cereals could replicate such a flavor!
Dulce De Leche Toast Crunch
I can’t believe this dethroned the OGs. They’re slightly sweeter and with that hint of dulce de leche flavor, it’s simply a small step above the originals.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Sweet cinnamon and sugar, what’s not the love? The texture is wonderful both dry and even overly soggy, it’s just a cereal that refuses to be bad! And the cereal milk? Don’t even get me started! Also, the little cinnamon toast piece characters are both funny and adorable!
Snoop Cereal Cinnamon Toasteez
I cannot tell the difference between these and Cinnamon Toast Crunch in terms of everything, from taste to texture. Aside from that, the cereal box is quite small and there aren’t many servings inside, especially when considering it’s a lot more money than CTC.
Snoop Dogg and Master P released this cereal alongside Fruity Hoopz and Frosted Drizzlers summer 2023. Initially released on Amazon and then in stores some time later.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls
These taste about identical to originals. These get soggier faster, becoming squishy due to size. Other reviews claim there’s light frostingish taste and texture is different – I didn’t notice this but the texture does become slightly pasty and squishy. Overall, I prefer the OGs but these were great, I love the squishy chewy texture in milk.
Released late May / early June 2022.
Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries
Never having liked these as a kid, I tried them as an adult and was in deep thought about why I didn’t love this before. It’s a bit fruity and a bit sweet but not overly so. You can really make out the taste and texture differences of the fruity Berries with the Cap’n Crunch, it’s a great combination. The overall texture is crunchy but not too rough. In milk, it softens a bit while still being somewhat crunchy, and the flavor seems to come out and mix together nicely even more. Cereal milk is a little sweet and fruity.
Cocoa Puffs Loaded
Even dry, these are incredibly soft and a super thin crunch, and they also have a tiny moist center filling. Saturated with milk, they quickly become even softer, almost soggy and spongey, and the flavors really start to come together. It’s indeed nearly as chocolatey as Cocoa Puffs, but it’s more like a creamy version of it and nowhere near as rough or crunchy in texture. I especially love how chocolatey the milk gets. Overall, wonderful dry and in milk, especially if you like soggier or softer cereals.
Released January 2024 alongside loaded versions of Trix and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Churros
Coming in a little less sweet and more crunchy (I prefer less crunchy) than the OGs, these were still a very good cereal!
Life Cinnamon
The “healthy adult” version of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. These are not as sweet but still great, and the texture is also really good. A great alternative to CTC!
Krave Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Biting into a dry one, I noticed the soft cookie dough insides – it was amazing! It tasted exactly like sweet cookie dough! In milk, the texture gets a little softer but doesn’t lose it’s structure. This is what Cookie Crisp should taste like.
Released late 2020 / early 2021. ‘Special Edition’ could be limited edition they occasionally bring back.
Post S’Mores
Pretty close to S’mores but not as sweet. The graham crackers taste very similar to the typical honey grahams you’d use for s’mores, the chocolate puffs and marshmallow were just OK, but all together, it was a magical combination that may be as close to a s’more as you’ll get. Texture is a mix with the marshmallows, crackers, and chocolate puffs. These are exceptionally good dry!
Compared to Kellogg’s version, these are much, much better (you can see my review of Kellogg’s Smorz below in the list).
Malt-O-Meal S’mores
About identical to Post S’mores (this makes sense because Malt-O-Meal is owned by Post). Overall, it’s close to s’mores just a little different as it’s a cereal. The chocolate pebbles are crunchy, puffy, and a bit rough with a light milk chocolate flavor. Interestingly, most of the sweetness seems to come from the sugar coated graham cracker squares that do taste like graham crackers but sweeter. The marshmallows are typical cereal marshmallows and a bit disappointing. These are amazing dry and in milk, while the sweetness is a little lighter, it still comes together to form a great combination.
Not sure when these released but reviews date back several years.
Krave Chocolate
Likely the most authentic chocolate I’ve tasted in a cereal. The inside contains real bits of hardened chocolate, and the outside tastes like a sweet cookie-biscuit-like-thing. It’s a great, tasty combination! It’s also good dry and in milk, but especially in milk as it softens up and the chocolate on the inside just melts in your mouth!
Released in the UK in 2010 with several more varieties in the following years. It was introduced in the US in 2012 with several flavors and has continued to introduce new ones like the cookie dough flavor in late 2020.
Fudge Brownie
This cereal reminds me of Cocoa Puffs but so much better. It has a strong, sweet chocolate flavor where the chocolate flavor itself differs from the more darker-chocolate flavored Cocoa Puffs. It’s also not as crunchy, eventually getting a little soft with milk. The semi-large marshmallows are a nice touch. The chocolate milk from it tastes great! Definitely reminds you of a sweet brownie!
Released late 2022 / early 2023 alongside Walmart’s brand, Great Value, Apple Fritter. On the box, both say ‘limited edition’ although there doesn’t seem to be a corresponding holiday or event to warrant it.
Little Debbie Nutty Buddy
Tastes exactly like Reese’s Puffs but slightly toned down but much better texture. It gets a little soft in milk creating a wonderful texture! Decent dry, even better in milk, almost like the flavor was enhanced! And nice trivia in the back too! Much better than the Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie cereal.
Released late September / early October 2022.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Minis
Tastes identical to Cinnamon Toast Crunch except the texture is a bit different. Instead of the squares, these are fairly crunchy little balls that still remain a tad crunchy in milk, not getting as soft as the originals.
Released November 2022 alongside Trix & Reese’s Puffs Mini Cereals.
Reese’s Puffs Minis
The taste is identical to Reese’s Puffs although the texture on these is so much better. Since they are smaller, they get softer faster and aren’t as rough in your mouth as the originals. They also especially like sticking together in milk so you end up with huge spoonfuls of them!
Released November 2022 alongside Trix & Cinnamon Toast Crunch Mini Cereals.
Cocoa Krispies
If Cocoa Pebbles has a distant cousin, this would be it. The cereal is great, although I personally prefer the more dark chocolatey taste and better texture from Pebbles.
Chocolate Toast Crunch
An overall good chocolate cinnamony cereal. The cinnamon really elevates the chocolate and makes for an interesting combination.
Special K – Fruit & Yogurt
Sweet yogurt clusters make this a wonderfully tasting cereal with a chunky texture.
The original Special K was released in 1955, not sure about this one.
Cinnamon Sugar Krispies
These give Cinnamon Toast Crunch a run for their money, in fact, if you prefer the Krispie texture, this is for you! They’re very sweet, consisting of a strong cinnamon sugar taste.
Cookie Dough Bites
Tastes a lot like cookie dough! It’s sweet, fairly crunchy in milk but not too crunchy. Great tasting dry too. Very close to its candy counterpart that it’s mimicking. This is what Cookie Crisp should be!
Released August 2022 as part of 25th Anniversary of the Cookie Dough Bites Candy. The history of this candy can be found here.
Cinnabon
Fairly sweet but not over the top. It has a cinnamon, frosting-like taste to it that tastes a lot like a cinnamon roll. Crunchy, although the texture isn’t too tough and has a soft glaze to it. Softens up a little in milk, cereal milk is OK but could be better. It’s also amazing dry!
Dating back to 1991, this cereal has an extensive history. It was released in late 2022 after a four year hiatus.
