How has there never been a Cinnamon Rice Krispies cereal before?

Okay, technically there was an Apple Cinnamon Rice Krispies in the mid-’90s, and I’m sure it tasted like a rad, cracklin’ apple crumble. But a full-blooded, spicy-sweet Cinnamon Rice Krispies cereal? Nope: there’s no mention of that in my cereal history book.

But we all know it should exist! I mean, just sprinkle the crumbs at the bottom of a Cinnamon Toast Crunch bag over your next bowl of Rice Krispies, and I’m sure you’ll agree that Snap, Crackle, and Pop should have joined forces with Wendell, Bob, and Quello years ago.

Thankfully, we don’t have to rely on Kellogg’s flavor alchemy wizards for a cinnamon-infused crisped rice cereal. Erewhon—a cereal manufacturer I had never tried before today—has a gluten-free product to fit this incredibly specific breakfast niche. It’s called Cinnamon Crispy Brown Rice, and with a name like that, this cereal needs a trio of cartoon dwarf mascots named Smack, Crinkle, and Pep.

Who said originality is dead?

All cinnamon aside, I immediately prefer Erewhon’s crisped rice formula to plain ol’ Rice Krispies, simply because it’s made of brown rice instead of white. The flavor difference is hard to describe, but it’s like making French toast with hearty homemade wheat bread instead of Wonder Bread (no offense, Wonder Bread; you’re an American classic, brother). I can actually taste rich, earthy grain notes instead of ghostly air.

And speaking of French Toast, the brown rice base provides a hearty platform for the cinnamon flavor. On my first bite, I was caressed by a warm cinnamon sweetness that was tempered by the rice’s underlying woodsiness. With an ethereally crisp crunch that dissolved into a spice-speckled aftertaste, that inaugural spoonful left me happier than a kid in a China shop.

Err, I mean a bull in a candy store. Oh, you get the idea.

The problem is that the next spoonful didn’t give my taste buds the same cozy cinnamon hug. They say “you never forget your first love,” and the same concept applies here. My mouth quickly got used to the cinnamon flavor, so subsequent bites just tasted like faintly seasoned brown rice. Only after I waited a minute or two between tastings did the fun cinnamon sensation return.

So unless you like methodical morning breakfasts that last well into the evening, Cinnamon Crispy Brown Rice may leave you impatient. Luckily, milk makes up for this cereal’s cinnamon sensory saturation.

I wondered whether this “healthier” take on crisped rice would be able to match Rice Krispies’ iconic milk crackle. And after 5 minutes of straight crackling, I’m happy to say that it more than meets the challenge. I’m convinced that I could’ve cultivated my own rice paddy and had a successful first harvest before my bowl of Cinnamon Crispy Brown Rice stopped producing cereal static.

Adding milk gives the rice bits a stickier cinnamon glaze, and while it doesn’t solve “The Case of the Disappearing Cinnamon,” milk does supplement the problem by seeping a cool creaminess into the rice pieces, which then join together into a gooey ball of cinnamon and vanilla. It doesn’t hurt that the earthy cinnamon endmilk tastes sophisticated enough to be sipped out of a crystal tumbler.

“I’ll have a browned cinnamilk on the rocks, my good man.”

So while this cereal’s diminishing marginal cinnamon returns (thank you, Economics 101) hurts it in the long run, Cinnamon Crispy Brown Rice is still a pleasant step-up from normal Rice Krispies. And even though this cereal boasts that it’s low in sugar, there’s a thought in the back of my mind I can’t shake:

I really wanna add marshmallows and butter to make Cinnamon Crispy Brown Rice Treats.

The Bowl: Erewhon Cinnamon Crispy Brown Rice Cereal

The Breakdown: Despite its tasty embrace of cinnamon and multigrain bread, this cereal’s flavor relationship isn’t strong enough to make it past the honeymoon.

The Bottom Line: 7 Wonder Bread bro hugs out of 10

(Quick Nutrition Facts: 110 calories, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein per 1 cup serving)

***Note: this cereal was one of several samples sent to me by Attune Foods. I’d recommend checking Walmart, Whole Foods, or online if you want to find your own.***