Walk down the cereal aisle today, and you’re met with endless choices. But what about the cereals of yesteryear? Many beloved childhood brands have vanished from shelves, leaving us with only fond memories. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit ten popular breakfast cereals that no longer exist.
Mr. T Cereal
In the 1980s, Mr. T was everywhere! Capitalizing on his popularity from The A-Team and Rocky III, Quaker Oats launched Mr. T Cereal in 1984. These sweetened corn and oat pieces shaped like the letter “T” tasted similar to Cap’n Crunch. Remember Pee-wee Herman’s iconic line, “I pity the poor fool that don’t eat my cereal?” from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure? Sadly, Mr. T cereal was discontinued in 1993, likely due to the waning popularity of the iconic character.
Hidden Treasures
General Mills introduced Hidden Treasures in 1993. These sweetened corn squares looked identical, but some contained a hidden icing filling flavored with cherry, grape, and orange. The tagline, “The taste that’s full of surprises!” perfectly captured the excitement of discovering a treasure. Unfortunately, Hidden Treasures disappeared in 1995 after a short two-year run, becoming a fond memory for those who enjoyed it.
C-3PO’s
In 1984, a year after Return of the Jedi, Kellogg’s released C-3PO’s cereal. This cereal consisted of honey-sweetened oats, wheat, and corn shaped like the number eight and tasted like Alpha-Bits but with twice the crunch. Marketing included standees, trading cards, cutout masks, and even a send-away offer for a Kenner Star Wars action figure. Sadly, C-3PO’s was discontinued in 1986, after only two years. Boxes have since become highly collectible.
Fruit-Shaped Trix & Mini Trix
Trix cereal transformed from fruit-flavored puffs to fruit shapes in 1991. After reverting to the original puffs in 2006, General Mills brought back the fruit shapes in 2018 due to popular demand. However, Mini Trix, introduced in 2015 as a limited edition, smaller version of the puffs, disappeared once all boxes were sold and haven’t returned. It seems gone for good.
Fruity Marshmallow Krispies
Marshmallow Rice Krispies Cereal debuted in 1982. It brought the taste of Rice Krispies Treats to your breakfast bowl. Kellogg’s followed up with Fruity Marshmallow Krispies in 1987, featuring orange, lemon, grape, and raspberry marshmallow pieces. This cereal remained popular into the early 1990s but was discontinued in the mid-to-late 1990s. Though Fruity Marshmallow Krispies are gone, you can still find Rice Krispies Treats Cereal today.
Pac-Man Cereal
In 1983, Pac-Man, the highest-grossing video game of all time, got its own cereal. The cereal consisted of crunchy sweetened corn pieces with marshmallow bits shaped like Pac-Man and the ghosts Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. An upgrade later included Ms. Pac-Man marshmallows with a pink bow and larger Super Pac-Man marshmallows. Pac-Man cereal was discontinued in 1988 due to the character’s declining popularity.
Nerds Cereal
Ralston introduced Nerds cereal in 1985, based on the popular candy. It was split into two flavors, orange/cherry and strawberry/grape, marketed with the tagline, “Which side are you gonna eat first?” Some boxes included small boxes of Nerds candy! Despite issues with the cereal becoming mushy and the flavors sometimes creating a sour taste, Nerds cereal had a dedicated following. Ralston discontinued it towards the end of the decade.
S’mores Grahams
General Mills launched S’mores Grahams in 1982. It featured chocolate graham cracker pieces and tiny marshmallows, similar to those in powdered hot chocolate. The mascot, the S’morecerer, whisked kids away from danger to enjoy a bowl. Discontinued in 1988, S’mores Grahams returned briefly in the late 1990s before disappearing again. Kellogg’s introduced a similar version, Smorz, in 2003, but it too was discontinued in 2019.
Powdered Donutz
General Mills released Powdered Donutz in 1980, offering a cereal that looked like puffier, sweeter powdered Cheerios. Marketed as a “cereal that looks and tastes like real donuts!” it was popular among kids despite not being the healthiest option. A chocolate version followed but wasn’t as successful. Powdered Donutz lasted until 1989. General Mills later introduced Frosted Cheerios, a less sugary alternative.
Nintendo Cereal System
In 1988, Ralston introduced the Nintendo Cereal System. Each box contained two bags: one side featured Super Mario Bros. cereal, while the other featured The Legend of Zelda cereal. “Fruit-flavored Marios, Mushrooms, and Goomas” and “Berry-flavored Links, Hearts, and Shields” filled the boxes. Each box included collectible trading cards. Sadly, Ralston discontinued the Nintendo Cereal System after only a year, making it a highly sought-after collectible today.
These discontinued cereals evoke a sense of nostalgia for simpler times. While they may be gone from store shelves, they live on in our memories. From Mr. T’s “T” shaped pieces to the dual-flavored Nerds, each cereal had its unique charm.
What are your memories of these cereals? Do you have any other discontinued favorites? Leave a comment below!
