Like Michael Meyers or Freddy Krueger, the taste of Halloween is already quietly creeping onto store shelves. But unlike Mike or Fred, pumpkin spice wants to please your taste buds instead of leaving them severed and bloody on the kitchen floor.
After all, pumpkin spice is addicting, and that’s why we keep inviting it back into our homes like dimwitted stock characters in a vampire movie. So whether you’re a pumpkin spice nut or a frustrated recoverer of “pumpkin spice fatigue,” please forgive me for disrupting your hot dogs ‘n’ lemonade days of August with General Mills’ new Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Cheerios.
Speaking of nuts, these Pumpkin Spice Cheerios really should have been called Butternut Squash Cheerios. They look like butternut squash, they taste like butternut squash, and my grandma would probably love to serve a bowl of them as a Thanksgiving appetizer—just like butternut squash.
Plus, Pumpkin Spice Cheerios are gluten-free, meaning General Mills cranked the oat flour factor up to approximately 10.31 (see what I did there?). Thankfully, an oat base is probably the best choice for a pumpkin-flavored cereal, because the toasted, earthy oat flavor provides a respectable crunch and a neutral launching platform for the cereal’s more interesting flavors.
The heart of these Cheerios’ pumpkin flavor comes from real pumpkin puree. After both flavors of Tiny Toast, it comes as no surprise that General Mills is saying “hooray for puree!” again. The pumpkin puree oozes authentic veggie vibes into the oat-y pores of each cereal piece: every moist, starchy, and yes, even squashy canned pumpkin taste note is here.
But since this harvest vegetable flavor is a little bland on its own, Pumpkin Spice Cheerios are spiced up with a few different, well, spices. Three of pumpkin spice’s quintessential Fab Five are here: cinnamon and nutmeg, two perennial PS All-Stars, bring mild bursts of fiery zest, while the ever-underrated cloves pack an herbal bite and a smoky aftertaste.
Pumpkin Spice Cheerios (left) & Honey Nut Cheerios (right)
This combination of oaky oats and woodsy spices is made even better by Pumpkin Spice Cheerios’ “refiner’s syrup” ingredient. You know how Honey Nut Cheerios have honey, brown sugar syrup, and natural almond flavoring to give them their shiny glaze and buttery, nutty flavor? Well refiner’s syrup does the same for Pumpkin Spice Cheerios, and it’s why this autumnal cereal feels like the soap opera lovechild of Honey Nut Cheerios and a plump butternut squash.
We now return to, “The Rolled Oats and the Beautiful.”
Milk is a huge plus for Pumpkin Spice Cheerios—as canned pumpkin enthusiasts know, a little creaminess goes a long way. The milk left behind at the bottom of my bowl was a peaceful pumpkin cocktail that combined the best spicy and squashy parts of the cereal that swam in it.
Pumpkin Spice Cheerios are a strong first showing from General Mills for this fall’s incoming pumpkin spice rodeo. They take the best, genuinely vegetable-y parts of last year’s Pumpkin Puffins and improve on the formula with a unique spice trio. I would’ve liked to have seen allspice and ginger join the party, but I’m sure those two are hard at work making the Gingerbread Toast Crunch cereal we’ll surely see this winter.
Or at least I hope so: there are only so many times I can beg uncomfortable mall Santas for a gingerbread cereal before they ban me from the premises.
All restraining orders and naughty lists aside, pumpkin spice lovers will love this nutty twist on a classic fall flavor. And as for all you canned pumpkin enthusiasts out there, I’ll see you at our yearly convention: ‘Kin Can Con 2016.
The Bowl: Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Cheerios
The Breakdown: A closer relative to Honey Nut Cheerios than normal Cheerios, these squashy, spicy, and syrupy rings are a great—albeit a bit tame—way to kick off the Halloween season without going too batty just yet.
The Bottom Line: 8 Olympic swimming pools full of pumpkin spiced milk out of 10
(Quick Nutrition Facts: 110 calories, 2 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein per 3/4 cup serving.)
***And a massive, massive thanks goes to our friends at The Junk Food Aisle for sending me these Pumpkin Spice Cheerios early. Be sure to toss them a follow for impressively prompt coverage of all things snack-able. And if you’re trying to find out where to buy Pumpkin Spice Cheerios, this box was purchased at Jewel-Osco.
Oh, and one more thing. Our friends over at Junk Banter reviewed Pumpkin Spice Cheerios, too. Read their thoughts to get the full scoop (note: no pumpkin guts were scooped in the making of either review).***
Was so excited to find Pumpkin Spice Cheerios (Family size 4.99) @ WalMart.
So first thing this morning I just had to open the box & taste ’em. A little stronger than expected but that was ok. After a couple handfuls (it had a chemically after taste) I said well they’ll probably be better w/ milk. I used Unsweetened Almond Milk … definitely brought down the flavoring but still left a bad taste in my mouth.
Was a let down.
Will finish this box but will not purchase again.
submitted 9.14.2017
Did you review Kellogg’s special k pumpkin crunch cereal?
Yep! https://www.cerealously.net/review-kelloggs-limited-edition-special-k-pumpkin-spice-crunch/
I’m sorta surprised we haven’t seen a Pumpkin Spice or Pumpkin Bread Toast Crunch, or a PBJ Toast Crunch (with half pb, half strawberry or grape pieces)!
Mmm, PB&J? Now you’re talking right to my heart!
You know, I used to really get into the pumpkin spice and pumpkin pie flavors, but the more “real” food I eat, the less attractive I find pumpkin in junk food form. This is not the case for most things — I’d rather eat Cocoa Puffs than actual Chocolate, or Cinnamon Toast Crunch than actual, buttered cinnamon sugar toast. But I guess what I’m saying is that when you’re go-to dinner in roasted kabocha squash with soy butter and sesame seeds (topped with soft boiled eggs) you just kind of set yourself up for failure with a cereal 🙂
I do like this direction for limited edition cereals, though, and will end up trying this eventually. I sort of wonder what Cheerios will do for the winter…
Yeah, I agree for the most part. But I think Pumpkin Spice Cheerios are really try to draw in the gluten free, no artificial stuff folks with this one. I imagine a lot of overlap between that community and the “fans of pumpkin spice” community. Thankfully this is much more cost effective than you’re kabocha squash dinner. 😉
If they don’t do Gingerbread Cheerios this winter, then I expect silence on the Cheerios front. It would probably be too hard to make any other iconic christmas flavor without using artificial sources.
Roasted Chestnut Cheerios?
Figgy Pudding Cheerios?
Cranberry Cheerios?
My God General Mills should hire me. These need to happen
Thanks.
Now all I can think about is the potential greatness that Gingerbread Toast Crunch could provide.
I would almost set up myself for a downer because of how truly awesome SGTC was.