Breakfast time used to be way more exciting when grocery store shelves were packed with colorful, creative cereals that made mornings feel like a party. Many of our favorite childhood cereals have vanished from stores, leaving us with nothing but sweet memories and empty bowls.
Food companies have discontinued dozens of beloved cereals over the years, breaking the hearts of fans everywhere. Here are 14 amazing cereals that deserve to make a comeback and brighten our breakfast tables once again.
1. Dunkaroos Cereal
Remember when cookies and milk became a cereal? Dunkaroos Cereal brought the magic of the beloved snack straight to your breakfast bowl in the early 2000s.
Each spoonful delivered tiny cookie pieces that tasted just like vanilla wafers, swimming in creamy milk that turned sweet and delicious. The cereal captured everything kids loved about the original Dunkaroos without needing to dip anything.
Parents appreciated how it made breakfast fun while still providing some nutrition. The combination of familiar cookie flavor with the convenience of cereal made mornings special for countless families across America.
2. French Toast Crunch
Nothing beat the amazing taste of French Toast Crunch, which looked exactly like tiny pieces of real French toast. Each golden square was perfectly shaped and seasoned with cinnamon and maple flavoring.
The cereal stayed crunchy in milk longer than most others, giving you time to enjoy every bite. Kids loved how it made their milk taste like syrup from a pancake breakfast.
General Mills brought it back briefly in 2014, proving that demand still exists for this incredible cereal. The short return showed just how much people missed having French toast flavor available every morning without the cooking hassle.
3. Oreo O’s
Oreo O’s made chocolate cookies acceptable for breakfast, and kids everywhere rejoiced when it hit shelves in the late 1990s. The cereal looked like tiny Oreo cookies but stayed crispy in milk.
Each piece had the perfect balance of chocolate cookie flavor with hints of cream filling. The milk turned chocolatey, creating a double treat that made mornings feel like dessert time.
Post discontinued it in 2007, leaving Oreo fans heartbroken and searching for alternatives. While you can still find it in some international markets, American breakfast tables have never been the same without these miniature cookie rings.
4. Waffle Crisp
Waffle Crisp delivered the taste of fresh waffles with syrup in every crunchy bite. The cereal pieces actually looked like tiny golden waffles, complete with square indentations just like the real thing.
Post created something special with this cereal’s maple syrup coating that made milk taste amazing. The texture stayed perfectly crispy, giving you that satisfying crunch throughout your entire bowl.
Discontinued in 2018, Waffle Crisp left behind legions of fans who still search store shelves hoping for its return. The unique waffle shape and authentic breakfast flavor made it stand out from every other cereal option available today.
5. Rice Krispies Treats Cereal
Kellogg’s genius idea turned the beloved Rice Krispies Treats into a breakfast cereal that tasted exactly like the marshmallow bars. Each piece was a tiny version of the real treat.
The cereal combined crispy rice with sweet marshmallow coating, creating the perfect balance of textures and flavors. Kids could finally have their favorite snack for breakfast without any guilt from parents.
Limited releases over the years have proven that people still crave this amazing cereal experience. The combination of familiar Rice Krispies with gooey marshmallow flavor created something truly special that deserves a permanent spot on grocery shelves everywhere.
6. Banana Frosted Flakes
Tony the Tiger went tropical with Banana Frosted Flakes, adding real banana flavor to the classic frosted corn flakes formula. The yellow-tinted flakes brought sunshine to breakfast bowls everywhere.
Each flake was coated with banana-flavored sugar that made milk taste like a banana milkshake. The cereal offered a healthier way to enjoy banana flavor without needing fresh fruit every morning.
Kellogg’s discontinued this tropical twist, leaving banana lovers searching for alternatives that never quite match the original. The unique combination of Tony’s classic crunch with tropical banana sweetness created a breakfast experience that many people still miss today.
7. Cinnamon Mini Buns
Kellogg’s Cinnamon Mini Buns looked exactly like tiny cinnamon rolls, complete with swirl patterns and sweet cinnamon coating. Each piece was perfectly shaped to resemble miniature bakery treats.
The cereal delivered authentic cinnamon roll flavor without the mess or cooking time of real pastries. The pieces stayed crunchy while releasing delicious cinnamon sweetness into the milk.
Discontinued in the early 2000s, this cereal left cinnamon roll fans disappointed and searching for replacements. The realistic appearance combined with genuine bakery flavor made breakfast feel like a special treat rather than just another meal.
8. Chocolate Frosted Flakes
Tony the Tiger went to the dark side with Chocolate Frosted Flakes, coating classic corn flakes with rich chocolate frosting instead of regular sugar. The result was breakfast magic for chocolate lovers.
Each flake delivered the familiar crunch of Frosted Flakes with deep chocolate flavor that turned milk into chocolate heaven. Kids finally had a legitimate reason to eat chocolate for breakfast.
Kellogg’s brought this back occasionally, but never made it a permanent fixture like it deserves to be. The combination of classic Frosted Flakes texture with chocolate coating created the perfect balance between familiar comfort and exciting new flavor that breakfast tables need.
9. Sprinkle Spangles
General Mills created pure breakfast joy with Sprinkle Spangles, a cereal that looked like tiny donuts covered in colorful sprinkles. Each piece was a perfect ring shape with rainbow decorations.
The vanilla-flavored cereal base paired perfectly with the sweet sprinkles, creating a donut shop experience at home. The colorful appearance made breakfast feel like a celebration every single morning.
Discontinued after just a few years in the 1990s, Sprinkle Spangles left behind fans who still remember its unique appearance and taste. The combination of fun visuals with genuine donut flavor made it stand out from every other cereal option available during that era.
10. Ghostbusters Cereal
Ralston capitalized on movie magic with Ghostbusters Cereal, featuring ghost-shaped marshmallows floating among fruity cereal pieces. The supernatural breakfast experience thrilled kids and movie fans alike.
Each bowl contained white ghost marshmallows that looked exactly like the movie spirits, plus colorful fruit-flavored pieces. The cereal made breakfast feel like an adventure in paranormal investigation.
Tied to the original movie’s release, this cereal disappeared when the promotional period ended, leaving fans wanting more. The combination of popular movie themes with fun marshmallow shapes created a breakfast experience that perfectly captured the excitement of the beloved film.
11. Nerds Cereal
Ralston transformed the popular Nerds candy into a breakfast cereal that delivered the same tangy, fruity flavor in every spoonful. The cereal pieces looked like enlarged versions of the tiny candies.
Each bite provided the signature Nerds taste with a satisfying crunch that worked perfectly with cold milk. The bright colors made breakfast bowls look like rainbow candy dishes.
Discontinued after a brief run in the 1980s, Nerds Cereal proved that candy-to-cereal conversions could work brilliantly. The authentic candy flavor combined with breakfast convenience created something special that candy lovers and cereal fans both appreciated and still remember fondly today.
12. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cereal
Ralston brought turtle power to breakfast tables with TMNT Cereal, featuring ninja-themed shapes and colors that made kids feel like heroes in a half shell. The cereal captured the cartoon’s energy perfectly.
Each bowl contained turtle-shaped pieces in the signature green color, plus other fun shapes related to the popular cartoon series. The fruity flavor made breakfast exciting for young ninja fans.
Tied to the cartoon’s popularity, this cereal vanished when the promotional period ended, disappointing countless turtle fans. The combination of beloved cartoon characters with fun breakfast shapes created morning excitement that turned ordinary cereal time into an adventure with favorite heroes.
13. Banana Nut Crunch
Post created breakfast perfection with Banana Nut Crunch, combining real banana flavor with crunchy nuts in every bite. The cereal delivered the taste of fresh banana bread without any baking required.
Each spoonful provided sweet banana pieces alongside satisfying nut clusters that added perfect texture variety. The combination created a more sophisticated breakfast option that adults and kids both enjoyed.
Discontinued despite having a loyal following, this cereal left banana bread lovers searching for adequate replacements. The authentic banana flavor paired with real nuts created a breakfast experience that felt homemade and special, making ordinary mornings taste like weekend bakery visits.
14. Strawberry Shortcake Cereal
General Mills captured dessert magic with Strawberry Shortcake Cereal, featuring pieces that looked and tasted like the beloved dessert. Each bowl delivered authentic strawberry and cake flavors together.
The cereal combined strawberry-flavored pieces with cake-like chunks that created the perfect dessert experience for breakfast. The pink and white colors made every bowl look as good as it tasted.
Tied to the popular character brand, this cereal disappeared when licensing ended, leaving dessert lovers disappointed. The authentic strawberry shortcake flavor combined with fun character theming created a breakfast that felt like a special treat rather than just another morning meal option.
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