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It's spooky season, which means I'm throwing every box of Halloween cereal I find into the cart. Since we're deep into October, my pantry has runneth over with limited edition Halloween cereals. My kids are begging me to let them have some, but this is my thing. Plus, it's still socially acceptable for them to go door-to-door threatening people with tricks for free candy. Get out there and work for your sugar, kids!
If you want to make your kids jealous (or ok, even share with them), here are the best Halloween breakfast cereals in my professional opinion.
1st place: Monster Mash Remix
Monster Mash Cereal Remix - See at Amazon
Monster Mash is basically the spooky cereal version of the 1980s country supergroup The Highwaymen. Only, Monster Mash has an extra member. In 2021, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of monster cereals, Monster Mash combines the best aspects of classics Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry as well as short-lived Yummy Mummy and Frute Brute. This year they add DJ Carmella Creeper and form the best Halloween cereal I've ever had. The fruitiness takes center stages, specifically strawberry and blueberry with a subtle chocolatey Chocula influence. Overall, the ensemble plays well together for a balanced delectable treat.
Rating: 10/10
Some nutritional info: 11g of sugar per serving, main ingredient is whole grain corn, 2g fiber and protein
2nd place: Chocolate Frosted Flakes with Spooky Marshmallows
Frosted Flakes Chocolate Cereal with Spooky Marshmallows - See at Amazon
I'm a fan of classic Frosted Flakes — I might even go so far as to say they're grrrreat. The Chocolate with Spooky Marshmallows version is the most sugar-packed cereal I tested. The marshmallow shapes are a ghost, bat, and Frankenstein's monster. I mostly enjoyed the flavor: a strong chocolate flavoring with sugary marshmallow bursts. The Spooky Frosted Flakes appeared to have more marshmallows than the other cereals on this list, and with its excess chocolate, it did the best job of flavoring the leftover milk. This year's box features a spooky Tony the Tiger instead of Frankenstein's monster, but it's the same deliciousness inside.
Rating: 8/10
Some nutritional info: 17g sugar per serving, main ingredient is milled corn, <1g fiber, 2g protein
3rd place: Reese's Puffs Bats
Reese's Bats Cereal - See at Amazon
Is there a better candy brand than Reese's? Not in my book. I snatch up anything Reese's. I still have some unopened boxes of the limited edition Travis Scott Reeses Puffs. Reese's Puffs Bats bats taste exactly the same as normal Reese's Puffs, which is fine by me. Reese's Puffs Bats has an evenly balanced combination of peanut butter-flavored bats and chocolate-flavored bats. I like that the sweetness isn't overbearing. Interesting fact: This is the only cereal on our list that doesn't have marshmallows.
Rating: 7/10
Some nutritional info: 12g of sugar per serving, main ingredient is whole grain corn, has peanuts, 2g fiber, 3g protein
Honorable mention: Count Chocula
Count Chocula Cereal - See at Amazon
Based on an informal survey of my foodie group and Google search volume, Count Chocola is the most popular spooky cereal. It's also the oldest (a title it shares with Franken Berry). It will always hold a special place in my heart. Consisting of chocolatey whole grain corn bits and marshmallow pieces, Count Chocula is my favorite of General Mills' monster cereals. Specifically, I like that it turns the leftover milk into chocolate milk so you get an extra treat.
Rating: 7/10
Some nutritional info: 12g of sugar per serving, main ingredient is whole grain corn, 1g fiber and protein
Honorable mention: Froot Loops with Spooky Marshmallows
Froot Loops Marshmallow Breakfast Cereal - See at Amazon
My neighbor had a rough day last week, and he just offhandedly mentioned that he could go for some Froot Loops. I (begrudgingly) gave him a bowl of this, and his mood improved dramatically. I'm a fan of Froot Loops, and the spooky marshmallows just add to the flavorpalooza. However, I don't like that it contains wheat since I have to go easy on gluten. Also, the games and jokes on the box are the exact same as the ones on Frosted Flakes and Apple Jacks.
Rating: 7/10
Some nutritional info: 15g of sugar per serving, main ingredient is sugar, contains wheat, 2g fiber and protein
Honorable mention: Apple Jacks with Spooky Marshmallows
Apple Jacks Marshmallow Breakfast Cereal - See at Amazon
Apple Jacks with Spooky Marshmallows is remarkably similar to the Froot Loops. They have the same bat, ghost, and Frankenstein's monster marshmallows and two colors of O-shaped corn/wheat bits. The difference is in the flavoring of the bits. The Apple Jacks taste more like apples. If you prefer Apple Jacks to Froot Loops in general, you may want to go with this instead of our #5 pick.
Rating: 6/10
Some nutritional info: 16g of sugar per serving, main ingredient is sugar, contains wheat, 2g fiber and protein
Honorable mention: Boo Berry
Boo Berry Cereal - See at Amazon
Boo Berry was introduced in 1973, two years after its Franken Berry and Count Chocula comrades. I will gladly chow down on Boo Berry if the above options aren't available, but I think it suffers from low sugar content. After eating a bowl of the spooky Frosted Flakes, Boo Berry tastes bland in comparison. Still, if you love blueberry-flavored sweets and want a relatively low-sugar sugary cereal, Boo Berry is the way to go.
Rating: 5/10
Some nutritional info: 11g of sugar per serving, main ingredient is whole grain corn, 1g fiber and protein
Last place: Franken Berry
Franken Berry Cereal - See at Amazon
Please don't email me to tell me that it should be called "Frankenstein's Monster Berry." We are dealing with a portmanteau here, and for all we know, "Franken" is short for "Frankenstein's Monster." That said, this is essentially the same cereal as Boo Berry, only it's vaguely strawberry-flavored rather than blueberry. If the strawberry flavor was more pronounced, I'd rate this higher, but as it is, it's too mild. Still, I hide the box from my kids.
Rating: 5/10
Some nutritional info: 11g of sugar per serving, main ingredient is whole grain corn, 1g fiber and protein
James Brains Senior Reporter, Insider Reviews James is a Senior Reporter for Insider Reviews, specializing in sleep, HVAC, vacuums, and kitchen appliances. He has tested more than 70 mattresses from startups like Casper and legacy brands like Tempur-Pedic, using his background in experimental psychology to develop objective tests and evaluate comfort, support, motion transfer, and more. He authors our guide to the best mattresses. In addition to being Insider Reviews' mattress expert, James has extensively covered vacuums, air conditioners, air purifiers, and more within the HVAC space. He's tested more than 40 vacuums from brands like iRobot and Dyson and is no stranger to keeping his house at a chilly 60 degrees Fahrenheit for weeks on end, all in the name of testing air conditioners.He's a multifaceted writer who has covered everything from health and fitness to consumer technology. His mission is to help people get the most value for their money by guiding them in making informed buying decisions.James lives in Lansing, Michigan, with his wife, two kids, a tabby cat, and a rambunctious rat terrier. When James isn't testing products and writing for Insider, he helps run a popular local Facebook group, Lansing Foodies, and plans the Olive Burger Festival.See below for some of his work:- The 13 best mattresses of 2024, tested and reviewed
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