10 Breakfast Cereals from the 70s and 80s That No Longer Exist
The ‘70s and ‘80s were a golden age of breakfast innovation, where cereal aisles were packed with wild flavors, vibrant colors, and downright bizarre concepts.
From marshmallow-packed sugar bombs to gimmicky tie-ins with cartoons and superheroes, every box promised a breakfast adventure. While some cereals became classics, many vanished, leaving only a sugary memory for those lucky enough to have crunched through their childhood.
Whether it was rainbow-colored rings, chocolate-flavored ghosts, or crispy critters shaped like famous mascots, these long-lost cereals are a delicious reminder of a time when breakfast was pure, unfiltered fun—one spoonful at a time!
1. Crispy Wheats ‘n Raisins
Crispy Wheats ‘n Raisins was Kellogg’s answer to Raisin Bran, but with an extra crunch.
They marketed it as a cereal that wouldn’t get soggy, promising a delightful crunch in every bite. Despite the promise, kids were more enchanted by cereals that turned the milk blue. It quietly disappeared from breakfast tables, leaving only the nostalgic crunch in memories.
Perhaps it was too sophisticated for the sugar-loving youth of the time. Whether you enjoyed it or not, it left a crunchy mark in cereal history.
2. Waffelos
Waffelos was like having dessert for breakfast. These crunchy little waffle-shaped pieces were drenched in maple syrup flavor.
Despite its sugary promise, it faded into oblivion. Maybe the idea of licking a maple syrup bottle at 7 AM wasn’t appealing to everyone. Those who loved it remember it as a syrupy start to the day.
The rest simply moved on to more colorful cereals. Nevertheless, Waffelos holds a sweet spot in some breakfast hearts.
3. C-3PO’s
C-3PO’s cereal, launched in 1984, was every Star Wars fan’s morning dream—or was it?
The cereal was described as “twin rings, interlocked for flavor,” but were essentially sweetened oats shaped like figure eights. The galaxy far, far away wasn’t ready for a C-3PO-themed breakfast, and it vanished faster than a starship in hyperspace.
Though it attempted to capitalize on Star Wars mania, it didn’t become a force to be reckoned with in the cereal aisle.
4. Mr. T Cereal
Mr. T Cereal was shaped like tiny T’s, because who wouldn’t want to start their day with Mr. T?
With the toughest guy of the ‘80s on the box, it promised a breakfast of champions. However, even Mr. T’s endorsement couldn’t save it from disappearing faster than an A-Team mission.
For a short time, fans could enjoy a bowl full of attitude and crunch. It remains a nostalgic nod to those who pity the fool who missed it.
5. Smurf Berry Crunch
Smurf Berry Crunch promised to bring the taste of Smurf Berries to your breakfast bowl, even if they were entirely fictional.
This blue and red sugar explosion became a breakfast favorite for those wanting to smurf up their morning routine. While it turned milk an unusual shade of blue, it also turned breakfast time into a whimsical adventure.
Sadly, it joined the ranks of vanished cereals, leaving only a colorful memory in its wake.
6. Donkey Kong Cereal
Inspired by the popular arcade game, Donkey Kong Cereal brought the thrill of the arcade to your breakfast bowl.
Shaped like tiny barrels, it promised an adventure with every bite. Despite its fun appearance, it tasted much like a Cap’n Crunch knockoff. As the arcade craze faded, so did this cereal.
It’s remembered fondly by those who grew up saving princesses one breakfast at a time. The legacy of Donkey Kong lives on in gaming, but not in cereal.
7. Yummy Mummy
Yummy Mummy was the forgotten monster cereal of the ‘80s.
While Count Chocula and Franken Berry got all the glory, Yummy Mummy offered a fruit-flavored twist. Its neon colors and sugary marshmallows guaranteed a hyperactive morning. Despite its vibrant allure, it quickly vanished from cereal aisles.
It was more of a ghost than a staple breakfast item, yet it remains a sweet spectral memory for those who enjoyed its fleeting presence.
8. Pac-Man Cereal
Pac-Man Cereal combined corn puffs with Pac-Man-shaped marshmallows, creating a breakfast that was as confusing as it was fun.
Like a gaming-themed Lucky Charms, it promised power pellets for breakfast. While it didn’t quite give you the ability to outrun ghosts, it certainly added a playful twist to the morning routine.
As quickly as it appeared, it disappeared from shelves, leaving behind only the nostalgia of chomping through breakfast like a classic arcade game.
9. Nerds Cereal
Nerds Cereal was a sugar rush waiting to happen, with two separate bags of tiny, crunchy cereal—one grape, one strawberry.
Much like the candy itself, it was like eating pure sugar for breakfast. This cereal was too much even by ‘80s standards. Imagine starting your day with a bowl of Nerds candy and milk.
Yes, it was as intense as it sounds. Despite its short-lived existence, it holds a special place in the hearts of sugar enthusiasts.
10. Circus Fun
Circus Fun was a carnival in every bowl, with circus-themed shapes like horses, balls, and elephants.
While commercials promised a non-stop party, it was actually an overly sweet disaster. It turned milk into a neon science experiment, promising fun but delivering chaos. Despite its brief run, it’s remembered as a sugary, colorful escapade in breakfast history.
Those who dared to indulge found a circus of flavors greeting them every morning, now just a memory of breakfast adventures past.