What qualifies as a successfully transformative “Shake Up” (let alone one with an exclamation point at the end) in the cereal world? Is it enough to simply “shake together” a bunch of existing cereal bits, or do you need to “shake in” something entirely new? Well we’re about to find out, because Pebbles’ new pair of pieced-together pouches represent both ends of that continuum, and I’m here to be the supreme arbiter—the Lady Justice holding the bowl-shaped scales, if you will—of just how good they really are.
So let’s do this, Post: shake up my stomach like a wedding-day bottle of champagne! Continue reading →
…is what I said to myself upon hearing the news that Waffle Crisp, discontinued in 2018, was returning to American shelves. Less than a week ago, I penned an overdramatic elegy for Waffle Crisp, believing I may have just taste tested one of the last produced boxes of the stuff in Mexico—where it seemingly never really got discontinued in the first place.
Honestly, it was a cathartic exercise of closure, and Post had to go ruin the moment’s beauty by pulling a deus ex machina, bagging up a bunch of Waffle Crisp, and shipping it out. I’m kidding, of course: I’m genuinely very excited that Waffle Crisp will have wide availability again. These bags have already been spotted at Walmart, and you can check their site for availability near you.
However, I will warn you that this newly returned Waffle Crisp appears to be the same as the Mexican edition—in fact, those didn’t even have Spanish boxes. Just stickers over the English text. What that means is, it’s probably gonna taste a bit different from what you remember. In my experience, this strain of Waffle Crisp emphasizes the buttery and toasted elements of a waffle more so than the maple bits. This is still good, mind you, but if your nostalgia trip feels a little off, that’s probably why.
My thanks to Cereal Life and Michael for the photographic evidence.
In every romance movie with a tense post-high school breakup, there must be a cautiously sublime reunion in adulthood, where things feel good, but not quite right. There’s too much history at that point: inevitable comparisons are drawn, so much time has been lost, there are uncomfortable questions and unexpected answers.
Anyway, that’s how I feel about tasting Waffle Crisp again for the first time in over two years, when it was officially discontinued by Post following a long period of limited availability. I’ve heard rumors and nuggets of truth for a while now indicating that Waffle Crisp was still available in other countries, but it was hard to find conclusive answers when so many online stores list the stuff without actually having it available for purchase. But after noodling around the web so much in pursuit of my long-lost golden dream, I had to bite the short stack when I noticed Mexican Candy Lady only had one remaining box of Waffle Crisp from Mexico—she does not appear to have restocked recently so I worry this really was my last chance and Waffle Crisp’s last gasp.
But no matter, there’s no need to stay steeped in the past when I can still go face-first into this bowl of bite-sized waffles. New Year’s kisses are sweeter with syrup, after all. Continue reading →
Oh no, this is all wrong: April 1st is still months (of snow and slush) away. I’m afraid we must accept an uncomfortable truth—food science’s rate of cereal experimentation has mutated far faster and more disturbingly than any human could possibly orchestrate.
Breakfast must be growing self aware. And it wants a taste of intelligent life.
First we saw cereal take on the shape and emotional imbalance of young humans. Soon it will use malleable marshmallow to mimic our planet’s cutest animals. But with this latest news? It’s trying to transmute itself into flesh.
Just a week ago, I got a cryptic tip in the comments section about a possible pseudo-Waffle Crisp revival. It wasn’t hard to picture what flavor was being hinted at, but I ultimately had no visual reference to go off of.
That is, until today, when Instagram users Dan J. and Canadian Candy Hunters shared this very real, very mouthwatering pore-watering box of Post & Honey Bunches of Oats’ Chicken & Waffles Cereal in Toronto. But while it may make sense that this sticky-skinned Southern comfort flavor has flown to land of maple syrup, U.S. thrill and grill-seekers need not fret: this Canadian-made cereal is hitting America.
(EDIT: As of January 2020, Waffle Crisp has again been spotted in America. So far, in bagged form at Walmart!)
Oof.
This one hurts.
No one ever thinks they’ll outlive their favorite cereals. After all, for many of us, the iconic flavors and mascots that built the breakfast aisle, from Cheerios to Frosted Flakes, have existed since we were born and strongly endured as mythical presences through the golden graces of youth.
If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a pantheon of cereal characters to build a childhood.
And for me, one of those most trusted breakfast table companions was Waffle Crisp. Where others have fond loaven recollections of French Toast Crunch, my maple memories are less Francophilic and more Belgicious. Though my Belgian heritage may be to thank, the miniature waffles’ sticky sweet maple syrup glaze really filled heart with joy—much like real syrup cascading into a freshly ironed waffle’s checkered pockets.
Oh, and the iconic smell that precedes the cereal, filling any kitchen, conservatory, or football stadium where the box is opened? I need it in cologne form, yesterday.
That’s why I chose Waffle Crisp for my first ever “Classic Review,” and it’s why I nearly shed a single, amber tear when hearing from fan Sydney N. that he spotted the cereal on Post’s discontinued products page.
(Waffle) battered and heartbroken, I reached out to Post, hoping this listing was just some horrible prank pulled by Dr. Burnt Toast, to get back at the wonderful Waffle Boy, but their customer service team confirmed my fears.
Yes, Waffle Crisp has been discontinued. It’s a sad day, especially when Post has been cranking out a number of great cereals lately. Waffle Crisp has already been difficult for many to find in the last few years, but with the cereal’s (literally) rich, Eggo-topping 20+ year history, it would be especially sad if the success of Oreo O’s and its ilk was what pushed Waffle Boy off shelves.
All hope might not be lost, of course: those of lucky enough to have reliable WC access can stock up while we can, and despite this news, Post’s extremely similar Good Morenings Waffle Crunch cereal—whose in-store availability, appropriately, also waffles—hasn’t been officially discontinued yet [EDIT: I’m told this has also been discontinued 🥺].
So while the flavor may persevere, and while old cereals make fan-requested comebacks all the time (I hope they bring the grandmas back too in 20 years, and maybe a Pancake Crisp variant while they’re at it), I guess I’ll have to eat a bowl of Maple Cheerios in respectful solidarity, recognizing that my youthful maple tastes have to grow up a little. And add a little fiber too.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t leave this article with one last elegy for my departing friend: Oh, Waffle Boy, the Post, the Post is calling From bowl to bowl, and down the pantry side. The syrup’s gone, and all the milk is sogging, It’s you, it’s you must go and I must crunch alone.
