15 Discontinued Breakfast Cereals from the ’80s and ’90s That Fans Still Miss
Take a nostalgic bite out of breakfast history with these 15 beloved, discontinued cereals from the ’80s and ’90s that fans still crave decades later.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Long before avocado toast and protein bars, breakfast was getting down into a technicolor bowl of sweet, cartoon-character-licensed cereal. From the maple-topped crunch of Waffelos to the video game splendor of Nintendo Cereal System, the 1980s and 1990s were a halcyon age of whimsical, short-lived breakfast foods. This recap looks at 15 gone-but-not-forgotten cereals that captured imaginations, ignited morning delight, and still haunt the memories (and taste buds) of enthusiasts who hope they’d return to the shelves.
1. Waffelos (Post, 1979–mid-80s)
Image from Breakfast Cereal Wiki - Fandom
Waffelos were a waffle-shaped maple syrup-flavored cereal that tasted like Sunday morning in every bite. Their mascot was Waffelo Bill, a gritty cowboy who corralled flavor like he did cattle. Though they had a cult following, they quietly disappeared and have been a thorn in the side of retro cereal enthusiasts ever since.
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cereal (Ralston, 1989–1993)
Image from TMNTPedia - Fandom
Full of marshmallow “ninja nets” and puffed rice, this cereal profited from the Turtles’ cartoon heyday. Every box contained an awesome TMNT prize, such as trading cards and stickers. It vanished as the Turtle mania cooled in the mid-90s, but collectors yearn for it on retro forums.
3. Ghostbusters Cereal (Ralston, 1985–1990)
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With fruit-flavored O’s and marshmallow-shaped ghosts, Ghostbusters Cereal was a ghostly success for kids. Its package included Slimer and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and breakfast became a pop culture phenomenon. Unfortunately, it disappeared along with the popularity of the cartoon.
4. C-3PO’s (Kellogg’s, 1984–1986)
Image from Reddit
C-3PO’s were a honey-flavored, double O-shaped Star Wars-branded cereal. Released during the post-Return of the Jedi merchandising craze, it lasted all too briefly. Star Wars enthusiasts have long clamored for a comeback, but the droid’s breakfast life is history.
5. Dunkin’ Donuts Cereal (Ralston, 1988)
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This sweet cereal was available in two varieties — Glazed Style and Chocolate — that replicated the actual donut experience. With impossibly true flavor and a playful idea, it pleased children and coffee-loving grown-ups as well. Sadly, its excessive sugar levels and brief novelty factor determined its fate.
6. Mr. T Cereal (Quaker, 1984–1993)
Image from Wikipedia
“I pity the fool who skips breakfast!” Mr. T’s cereal featured T-shaped corn and oat pieces and was promoted with the tough-guy charm of its namesake. Despite a strong pop culture tie-in and appearances in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, it eventually faded out of stores.
7. Nintendo Cereal System (Ralston, 1988–1989)
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This split-box cereal came in two flavors: Super Mario Bros. (fruity) and The Legend of Zelda (berry). The double-pack approach was radical, reaching out to 8-bit gamers directly. Sadly, it tasted better in concept than it did and was dropped after only one year.
8. Smurf Berry Crunch (Post, 1983–late 80s)
Image from Smurfs Wiki - Fandom
A vibrant red and blue cereal flavored with berries, Smurf Berry Crunch brought cartoon magic to the breakfast bowl. It was eventually rebranded as Smurf Magic Berries with marshmallows, but both incarnations proved short-lived. It remains a favorite among fans for its sweet flavor and Smurf-tastic box graphics.
9. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Cereal (Ralston, 1990–1991)
Image from Bill & Ted Wiki - Fandom
Nucleus-shaped and lightning bolt-shaped, this cereal honored the cult-favorite time-traveling duo. It tasted like cinnamon and marshmallow and captured the zany spirit of the films. Unfortunately, it vanished quicker than a phone booth time portal.
10. Sprinkle Spangles (General Mills, 1993–1998)
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Sprinkle Spangles were sugar-cookie-flavored stars sprinkled with rainbow sprinkles, meant to make breakfast dessert-like. Its mascot, Sprinkle Genie (who was voiced by Dom DeLuise), wished “your wish for sprinkle-covered cereal.” It didn’t last long in a health-conscious world despite its gleaming promise.
11. Urkel-O’s (Ralston, 1991–1993)
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Named after the Family Matters character Steve Urkel, these strawberry and banana O’s were just as offbeat and iconic as the character. Jaleel White became so enamored with the cereal in ads, including performing Urkel dance steps. When Urkel fever broke, so did the cereal.
12. Cinnamon Mini Buns (Kellogg’s, early 90s)
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Small cinnamon rolls in cereal bite-sized bits, these introduced bakery vibes into your breakfast bowl. They packed a good cinnamon-sugar wallop and possessed a fair crunch. Axed before they were ever able to make a big splash, they are remembered fondly by kids who love sweets.
13. Batman Cereal (Ralston, 1989–1990)
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Released to tie in with Tim Burton’s Batman, this cereal was sold in a black, yellow-logoed box that closely resembled the film’s logo. The cereal itself was a corn puffed into shape like small bats, sweetened but not too sweetly. When the movie tie-in wore off, so did the product.
14. Ice Cream Cones Cereal (General Mills, 1987, briefly reissued in 2003)
Image from SATURDAY MORNINGS FOREVER
This cereal attempted to recreate the ice cream experience with cone-shaped cereal pieces and freeze-dried ice cream puffs. It was available in Vanilla and Chocolate Chip varieties and tasted more like dessert than breakfast. Although it generated initial buzz, it quickly melted out of favor.
15. O.J.’s Cereal (Kellogg’s, 1985)
Image from Reddit
Promoted as the cereal with “10% real orange juice flavor,” O.J.’s came with bright orange O’s and a tangy-sweet flavor. Its rootin’-tootin’ cowboy mascot added some wild west fun. Its strange flavor was too wacky for broad popularity, and it disappeared after a brief run.