18 Discontinued Cereal Flavors You Forgot About
These discontinued cereal flavors represent forgotten experiments that once tried to redefine breakfast but could not survive the test of time.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Cereal companies have released countless flavors and variations, many of which failed despite creative marketing. From candy-inspired blends like Smorz and Pop-Tarts Crunch to quirky surprises like Hidden Treasures, these cereals offered bold innovations that ultimately faded away. Looking back, they remind us how nostalgic childhood favorites often vanish as quickly as they appear.
1. Oreo O’s with Marshmallows
Image from Wikipedia
Oreo O’s was initially released in 1998, but for a short time, they added marshmallows to the mix. The combination of cookie-flavored rings and sweet puffs made it even more indulgent. Sadly, this marshmallow edition disappeared even before the base Oreo O’s themselves were discontinued.
2. Banana Frosted Flakes
Image from Wikipedia
In the 1980s, Kellogg’s experimented with adding banana flavoring to their classic Frosted Flakes. Tony the Tiger promoted them as a tropical twist, but fans were divided on whether the banana coating tasted natural. It quietly vanished from shelves after a few years.
3. Ice Cream Cone Cereal
Image from Wikipedia
This 1987 cereal looked like tiny sugar cones filled with puffed corn meant to mimic vanilla ice cream. General Mills hoped the playful design would hook kids, but it did not last long despite its charm. It returned briefly in 2003 before fading again.
4. Smorz Cereal
Image from Wikipedia
Smorz was a chocolate, marshmallow, and graham-inspired cereal introduced by Kellogg’s in 2003. It offered the campfire treat in breakfast form, but nutrition critics quickly called it “candy in a bowl.” Despite occasional comebacks, it has been discontinued multiple times.
5. Sprinkle Spangles
Image from Wikipedia
Launched in 1993 by General Mills, Sprinkle Spangles were star-shaped pieces covered in colorful sprinkles. The cereal was promoted with a genie mascot voiced by Dom DeLuise. Even with its fun design, it was pulled by the late 1990s.
6. Apple Cinnamon Rice Krispies
Image from Wikipedia
In the 1990s, Kellogg’s tried to freshen up Rice Krispies by adding apple and cinnamon flavoring. The idea was to compete with Apple Jacks while keeping the signature “snap, crackle, pop.” The flavor never gained long-term popularity and was discontinued.
7. Pop-Tarts Crunch
Image from Wikipedia
This cereal debuted in 1994 and came in strawberry and brown sugar cinnamon flavors. It was designed to taste like miniature versions of the popular toaster pastry. Fans loved it, but Kellogg’s discontinued it after only a short run.
8. Reese’s Puffs Peanut Butter & Chocolate Lovers
Image from Wikipedia
While Reese’s Puffs remain popular, this limited edition doubled the peanut butter and chocolate flavoring. Released briefly in the early 2010s, it gave fans an even richer taste of the candy-inspired cereal. It has since been phased out and replaced with new limited releases.
9. Hidden Treasures
Image from Wikipedia
Introduced by General Mills in 1993, this cereal had plain corn squares, some of which contained fruit-flavored filling. Kids loved the surprise element of discovering which pieces had gooey centers. However, the excitement was short-lived, and it was discontinued by the mid-’90s.
10. French Toast Crunch (Original Flavor)
Image from Wikipedia
French Toast Crunch first hit shelves in 1995, shaped like tiny slices of toast. Although it made a triumphant return in 2014, the original maple-heavy recipe was not exactly the same as the first version. Many nostalgic fans still recall the discontinued original flavor fondly.
11. Cinna-Crunch Pebbles
Image from Wikipedia
Post added a cinnamon version of Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles in 1997. The cereal combined the same crisp rice texture with a warm spice twist. Unfortunately, it never reached the success of its colorful counterparts and was discontinued.
12. S’mores Crunch
Image from Wikipedia
General Mills launched this cereal in the 1980s as a graham-based square mixed with chocolate and marshmallow bits. It tried to capture the camping classic but struggled against similar sweet cereals. It disappeared from shelves after only a few years.
13. Berry Berry Kix
Image from Wikipedia
This was a fruity twist on the traditional Kix cereal, featuring bright berry flavors. It gained a decent following in the 1990s but never outshone its plainer sibling. General Mills pulled it quietly after sales dipped.
14. Donkey Kong Cereal
Image from Wikipedia
Released in 1981 by Ralston, Donkey Kong Cereal capitalized on the video game craze. It featured crunchy barrel-shaped pieces with a sweet corn flavor. Despite the popularity of the arcade game, the cereal lasted only about a year.
15. Rocky Road Cereal
Image from Wikipedia
Introduced by General Foods in the 1980s, Rocky Road cereal combined chocolate, marshmallow, and nut-flavored pieces. It was inspired by the ice cream flavor of the same name. Unfortunately, it never established a lasting fan base.
16. Cocoa Frosted Flakes
Image from Wikipedia
Kellogg’s released this variation in the late 1990s, adding a chocolate coating to their popular cereal. While Tony the Tiger tried to promote it as “Gr-r-reat,” the flavor did not stick around. It was eventually pulled in favor of the original.
17. Pac-Man Cereal
Image from Wikipedia
Launched in 1983 by General Mills, Pac-Man cereal had corn puffs mixed with marshmallow shapes of the game characters. The tie-in with the video game craze made it an instant hit with kids. However, as Pac-Man fever faded, so did the cereal.
18. Honey Nut Clusters
Image from Wikipedia
General Mills introduced Honey Nut Clusters in 1987, featuring flakes and honey-coated clusters of oats and nuts. It gained a reputation as a healthier sweet cereal. Despite its fan following, it was quietly discontinued in the 2010s.