19 Discontinued Cereals That Belong Back On Shelves
Remember Saturday mornings as a kid? Cartoons blaring while you shoveled spoonfuls of sugary, colorful cereal into your mouth?
Some of our favorite breakfast treats have vanished over the years, leaving a cereal-shaped hole in our hearts.
I still dream about some of these discontinued gems that deserve another chance to grace our breakfast tables.
1. Bamm-Bamm Berry Pebbles
The purple box with the Flintstones’ strongest toddler used to make my whole week! Unlike regular Fruity Pebbles, these berry-flavored gems packed a punch of wild berry flavor that turned your milk into a magical purple potion. My sister and I would race to finish our bowls just to drink that sweet, berry-infused milk at the end.
The cereal had these amazing swirls of deep purple and blue that looked like tiny edible gemstones. Launched in the late ’80s, Bamm-Bamm Berry Pebbles disappeared way too soon, leaving us with only the regular Pebbles varieties. The berry-forward flavor profile was ahead of its time and would absolutely crush in today’s nostalgia-driven market.
2. C3POs
Star Wars mania hit the breakfast table in 1984 with these robot-shaped honey-sweetened oat and corn bits! Named after everyone’s favorite golden protocol droid, C3POs were tiny figure-eight shaped pieces that supposedly represented the droid’s mechanical workings. I traded my Star Wars action figures just to get my hands on those special edition boxes.
The commercial featured Anthony Daniels (the actual C-3PO actor!) declaring them “a most acceptable breakfast cereal.” Despite their stellar taste and movie tie-in appeal, Kellogg’s retired these galactic treats after just two years. With Star Wars more popular than ever, bringing back C3POs would be a marketing slam dunk that would have fans lining up faster than you can say “May the Force be with you.”
3. Oreo O’s
Holy cookie crumbs! These little rings of chocolate goodness with white cream specks brought the iconic sandwich cookie directly to our breakfast bowls. Launched in 1997, they were basically permission to eat dessert for breakfast – a childhood dream come true! My mom rarely allowed sugary cereals, but on special occasions, she’d cave to my Oreo O’s begging.
Each bite delivered that unmistakable Oreo flavor without the hassle of dunking or twisting. The chocolate milk it created? Absolutely legendary. While they’ve made brief comebacks in limited markets, Oreo O’s deserve a permanent spot in the cereal aisle. The original recipe with the marshmallow bits (called Creme Filling) was discontinued in 2007 and still haunts my taste buds to this day.
4. Pink Panther Flakes
Bright pink corn flakes that turned your milk pink? Absolute breakfast magic! These sweet, fruit-flavored flakes from Post featured the cool cartoon cat on every box, bringing a splash of color to morning routines everywhere. I convinced my grandfather these were healthy because they had the word “fruit” on the box. The cereal’s strawberry flavor wasn’t subtle – it was bold, sweet, and exactly what my sugar-craving taste buds wanted.
Each spoonful left a trail of pink milk that I’d slurp up with glee. Discontinued in the 1970s, Pink Panther Flakes were a victim of changing breakfast trends. With today’s love for vibrant, Instagram-worthy foods, these photogenic pink flakes would surely make a splash among both nostalgic adults and color-loving kids.
5. Cröonchy Stars
The Swedish Chef from The Muppets brought his hilarious cooking skills to breakfast with these cinnamon-flavored star-shaped cereal pieces. “Bork bork bork” was printed on every box, along with the Chef’s garbled cooking instructions that made me giggle while munching. Grandma would imitate the Swedish Chef’s voice while pouring my bowl, making breakfast a full-on comedy show.
The cereal itself was seriously tasty – crunchy stars with the perfect balance of cinnamon and sweetness that held up surprisingly well in milk. Created in 1988 and gone by the early ’90s, Cröonchy Stars were a true culinary masterpiece from Jim Henson’s kitchen to ours. With Muppet nostalgia stronger than ever, bringing back the Swedish Chef’s breakfast creation would be a guaranteed hit across generations.
6. Sugar Krinkles
Nightmare fuel or breakfast delight? Sugar Krinkles featured possibly the creepiest mascot in cereal history – a clown-faced girl with wide eyes that followed you around the kitchen. Despite the terrifying packaging, these sugar-coated puffed rice pieces were absolutely delicious! My dad told me stories about racing downstairs for a bowl in the 1950s, though he admitted hiding the box so the clown wouldn’t watch him eat.
The cereal’s texture was unique – light and airy with a satisfying crunch and sweet coating that created a perfect balance. Post discontinued this gem decades ago, probably due to the nightmare-inducing box art. With a mascot makeover, these sweet, krinkly puffs could find new life in today’s cereal market where texture and nostalgic flavors rule the breakfast table.
7. Reptar Crunch
Stomping straight out of Rugrats and into our cereal bowls, Reptar Crunch brought Nickelodeon’s favorite fictional dinosaur to breakfast time! These green and purple loops turned milk an awesome shade of teal – proof you were eating something truly radical. I begged my mom to buy it every time we went grocery shopping because it made me feel like I was part of Tommy Pickles’ gang.
The fruity flavor was similar to Froot Loops but with a tangier kick that made it distinctly Reptar-worthy. Released as a limited-edition tie-in during the height of Rugrats popularity in the late ’90s, Reptar Crunch disappeared far too quickly. With ’90s nostalgia at an all-time high and a Rugrats reboot already happening, bringing back this cereal would be a roaring success with millennials and their kids.
8. Smurf‑Berry Crunch
Those little blue forest dwellers knew how to make one smurftastic cereal! Launched in 1983, Smurf-Berry Crunch featured red and blue berry-shaped pieces that were so vibrant they seemed almost magical – just like the cartoon characters themselves. Watching Smurfs on TV while munching these berries made Saturday mornings complete. The sweet, fruity taste wasn’t just another Crunch Berry knockoff; it had a distinct flavor that seemed to capture the essence of whatever smurfberries might actually taste like.
Post later replaced it with Smurf Magic Berries (adding marshmallows), but both disappeared by the early ’90s. With the Smurfs enjoying periodic movie revivals, bringing back this colorful breakfast would bridge generations – letting parents share a piece of their childhood while kids discover the joy of turning their milk blue!
9. Cupcake Pebbles
Birthday cake for breakfast? Yes please! Cupcake Pebbles brought the joy of frosted birthday treats to our cereal bowls with pink and white rice pieces that somehow perfectly captured that boxed cake mix flavor we all secretly love. My birthday tradition was eating Cupcake Pebbles instead of actual cake. Each spoonful delivered that sweet vanilla frosting taste without the mess of actual cupcakes.
The milk afterward tasted like melted birthday cake ice cream – pure morning magic! Released in 2010 as a limited-time offering, Cupcake Pebbles disappeared way too soon. With the current obsession for birthday cake-flavored everything, bringing back this festive version of the classic Pebbles would be a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults looking for a sprinkle of celebration in their everyday breakfast.
10. Nerds Cereal
Only the ’80s would give us a breakfast based on tiny, tangy candy! Nerds Cereal came in a split box with two separate compartments – orange on one side, strawberry/grape on the other – just like the candy boxes. Pure breakfast rebellion! I’d mix the flavors despite the separate packaging because I was a breakfast anarchist. The sweet, fruity pieces had that signature Nerds tang that made your taste buds do a happy dance. Each colorful nugget delivered a satisfying crunch that held up impressively well in milk.
Ralston pulled this gem from shelves in the late ’80s, likely because parents finally realized they were basically serving candy for breakfast. But in today’s world where nostalgia rules and adult cereal fans have purchasing power, a Nerds Cereal comeback would surely fly off shelves faster than you can say “sugar rush.”
11. Mr. T Cereal
I pity the fool who missed out on Mr. T Cereal! This sweet corn and oat cereal shaped like the letter ‘T’ brought the A-Team star’s tough-guy energy right to your breakfast table. The commercials featured Mr. T himself declaring it “cool” in his iconic gold chains. My older brother collected the Mr. T temporary tattoos included in special boxes.
We’d pretend to be on the A-Team while crunching away on those sweet T-shaped pieces. The flavor was similar to Cap’n Crunch but somehow more intense – just like Mr. T himself. Quaker discontinued this bodacious breakfast in 1984 after a brief but memorable run. With ’80s nostalgia everywhere and Mr. T still a beloved pop culture icon, bringing back this cereal would definitely get a new generation to follow his breakfast advice: “Don’t be a fool – eat my cereal!”
12. Magic Puffs
Lucky Charms’ forgotten magical cousin deserves another chance to shine! Magic Puffs combined star-shaped cereal pieces with colorful marshmallow bits shaped like wizards, wands, and magical creatures. The wizard mascot on the box promised breakfast enchantment with every bite. I discovered these at my cousin’s house during summer vacation and was instantly hooked.
The star pieces had a honey-graham flavor that perfectly complemented the sweet marshmallows. What made them truly special was how the marshmallows would change color in milk, creating a rainbow swirl effect. General Mills discontinued this magical creation in the early ’90s despite its innovative color-changing technology. In today’s market where food experiences and Instagram-worthy effects matter, Magic Puffs would cast a spell on a whole new generation of cereal lovers looking for a little breakfast enchantment.
13. Banana Frosted Flakes
Tony the Tiger went tropical with this banana-flavored twist on the classic Frosted Flakes! Unlike artificial banana candy flavors, these flakes somehow captured the taste of actual ripe bananas with a perfect balance of sweetness and authentic fruit flavor. Summer mornings at my grandmother’s house always included a bowl of these golden flakes.
The banana aroma would fill the kitchen, making even my picky brother ask for seconds. Adding actual banana slices on top created the ultimate banana bonanza that no other cereal has matched since. Kellogg’s introduced this tropical variation in the ’80s but sadly discontinued it despite its devoted following. With banana-flavored everything making a comeback and health-conscious consumers appreciating fruit flavors, bringing back Banana Frosted Flakes would be, as Tony would say, “Gr-r-reat!” for both nostalgic adults and curious kids.
14. Choco Donuts
Chocolate donuts you could pour milk over without creating a soggy mess? General Mills nailed it with Choco Donuts cereal! These miniature chocolate donut replicas complete with white “frosting” stripes delivered the donut shop experience in a bowl. My dad would pretend we were at a fancy breakfast cafe while serving these on Sunday mornings.
The chocolate flavor was rich without being overwhelming, and the pieces maintained their donut shape and crunch even after swimming in milk for several minutes – a true cereal engineering marvel. Launched in the early 2000s, Choco Donuts disappeared after a short production run. With today’s donut craze and the popularity of dessert-inspired cereals, bringing back these chocolate rings would satisfy both the breakfast traditionalist and the sweet-tooth rebel looking for a morning treat that bridges the gap between cereal and pastry.
15. Yummy Mummy
The forgotten member of General Mills’ monster cereal family deserves resurrection! Yummy Mummy featured orange and vanilla frosted cereal pieces with fruit-flavored marshmallow bits wrapped in colorful “bandages” – a perfect Halloween breakfast that was too good for just one season. Halloween morning meant monster cereals at our house, and Yummy Mummy was always my first choice.
The orange cream flavor was like a Creamsicle in cereal form, with those fruity marshmallows adding bursts of sweetness in every bite. Introduced in 1987 and discontinued by 1993, Yummy Mummy didn’t get the same staying power as Count Chocula or Boo Berry. While the other monster cereals make seasonal appearances, poor Yummy Mummy remains in the cereal afterlife. It’s time to unwrap this mummified treat and give it another chance to shine alongside its monster friends.
16. Nickelodeon Green Slime
Getting slimed never tasted so good! This cereal brought Nickelodeon’s iconic green goop to breakfast with green and orange cereal pieces that turned milk into slime. The commercial even featured kids getting cereal-slimed just like on the network’s game shows! Saturday mornings watching Nickelodeon while eating Green Slime cereal made me feel like I was part of the shows.
The cereal had a tangy, citrus flavor that was surprisingly sophisticated for a kid’s product. The best part was watching the milk gradually turn green as you ate. Released in the mid-’90s during Nickelodeon’s golden era, Green Slime cereal vanished too quickly. With ’90s Nick nostalgia at fever pitch and slime still central to the network’s identity, bringing back this interactive breakfast would appeal to both parents who grew up saying “I don’t know” and a new generation ready to get slimed.
17. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cereal
Cowabunga, dude! This radical cereal brought turtle power to breakfast with ninja net-shaped cereal pieces and marshmallow “pizza” bits. The box featured all four turtles in their animated glory, making it as collectible as it was delicious. My brother and I would fight over who got to keep the empty boxes for our TMNT shrine. The cereal itself was a vanilla-flavored dream with a hint of sweetness that wasn’t overwhelming.
Those pizza marshmallows were strangely addictive despite not tasting anything like actual pizza. Ralston introduced this tubular breakfast during the height of turtle mania in 1989, but it disappeared as the original cartoon faded. With TMNT constantly being rebooted for new generations and ’80s/’90s nostalgia driving consumer choices, bringing back this cereal would have fans of all ages shouting “Heroes in a half shell” at the breakfast table once again.
18. Ice Cream Cones
Summer breakfast bliss came in the form of Ice Cream Cones cereal! These cone-shaped pieces with colorful “scoops” on top brilliantly captured the essence of the classic dessert without melting. Each spoonful delivered the flavor of vanilla ice cream and sugar cones with sprinkle-colored bits mixed in. Beach vacation mornings always included this treat at our rental house. The texture combination was genius – the cone pieces stayed crunchy while the ice cream top had a lighter, melt-in-your-mouth quality.
My sister and I would pretend we were running an ice cream shop while sorting the pieces by color. General Mills released this summer-themed cereal in the early 2000s as a limited edition that never made a permanent return. With the current popularity of dessert-inspired cereals and nostalgic flavors, Ice Cream Cones cereal deserves another scoop at breakfast stardom.
19. Product 19
The unsung hero of nutritional cereals! Product 19 wasn’t flashy – it didn’t have cartoon mascots or crazy colors – but it packed 100% of 19 essential vitamins and minerals in each serving. The simple flakes had a uniquely satisfying taste that health-conscious cereal lovers still dream about. My health-nut aunt introduced me to Product 19 during a summer visit.
I expected it to taste like cardboard but was shocked by its pleasant, slightly sweet flavor. It became my secret “adult” cereal that made me feel sophisticated while actually enjoying something good for me. Kellogg’s quietly discontinued this nutritional powerhouse in 2016 after a nearly 50-year run. In today’s wellness-focused market, Product 19’s straightforward nutrition proposition would appeal to health-conscious consumers tired of navigating misleading health claims and seeking simple, nutrient-dense breakfast options.