Review: Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Pumpkin Spice

Thanks to Starbucks Pumpkin Spice has been a popular fad the last several years, but this fall it seems as if everyone has jumped on the bandwagon to take advantage of the annual rite of heading toward winter. Kellogg is one example of a me-too company that hopes to capitalize on this taste frenzy, and has released a Limited Edition of Frosted Mini-Wheats Pumpkin Spice. Is this just another copycat effort, or is it a legitimate cereal? Let's find out.


The whole point behind pumpkin spice is the flavor, and this cereal had better live up to its expectations. Well it does. My biggest fear is that would be laden with artificial flavors or over-dosed with the spices. It does neither. Kellogg uses only natural flavors and their is only a hint of the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice. Just enough to ensure that this is what the box says it is, but allows the mild, lightly sweetened pumpkin taste to come through. Pretty impressive.

Texture for this product is no surprise, as Mini-Wheats are Mini-Wheats. But, the combination with the pumpkin spice flavor is a great combination. Even right out of the box, the grainy nature goes well with it, but after soaking in milk for 5-10 minutes its even better as the smooth texture is a great fit for what we want from pumpkin.

Pumpkin spice has become a hot item because it is a comfort food, and therefore the experience it delivers is critical. Kellogg has made sure to conform this cereal to the larger cultural demands. There's orange frosting, and the box speaks autumn and wholeness. It works.

Cereals that are designed for experience are typically not paragons of healthfulness. But, this one comes pretty close. As they highlight on the box with milk it delivers up to 9g of protein, and like all Mini-Wheats the whole grains provide an excellent source of fiber. With the one exception of the sugar content a little higher than the 20% of weight threshold, this cereal has a well-rounded nutritional profile. Even the sugar content can be forgiven considering the enjoyable, seasonal nature of this product.

What more can I say? If you crave pumpkin spice, this is one cereal you will want to eat. And, because it is a limited edition you may want to stock up. Otherwise it will be an entire year until you can have your fix again!

(Review protocol HERE)