Kellogg's Cinnabon cereal

Typically, the word "Cinnabon™" means a soft and sticky cinnamon roll and that I'm killing time in either an airport or a shopping mall.  The good people at Kellogg's have now licensed the "Cinnabon™" name to bring that experience to the kitchen table.

The Facts:

• Ingredients: CORN MEAL, SUGAR, CINNAMON TOPPING (SUGAR, FRUCTOSE, DEXTROSE, CINNAMON, CARDAMON, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), WHOLE OAT FLOUR, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL†, SALT, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), NIACINAMIDE, REDUCED IRON, RED #40, YELLOW #5, ZINC OXIDE, BLUE #1, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), BHT (PRESERVATIVE), YELLOW #6, RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), VITAMIN A PALMITATE, FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN D, VITAMIN B12.† LESS THAN 0.5g TRANS FAT PER SERVING
• Notable Nutrition Info (per dry cup): Calories:120; Total Fat: 2g; Sodium: 115mg; Potassium: 40mg; Carbohydrates: 25g; Protein: 2g; The complete "Nutrition Facts" can be found here.

So how was it?

The spiral "cinnamon-roll" shape of the cereal appears stamped or molded and is nowhere nearly as well defined in shape as the box art.  The pieces have a mottled brown color and a sparkly sheen from the sugar and "cinnamon topping" (see ingredients list above). Unlike an actual dense and heavy Cinnabon cinnamon roll, the cereal is porous and light.

With milk and in the mouth, Cinnabon cereal has the flavor of Cinnamon Toast Crunch with the texture of Cap'n Crunch.  The cinnamon flavor, though not overpowering, dominates over the sugar and

corn-oat-wheat base.  Since I'm not a huge fan of cinnamon myself, it's almost a deal-breaker.  The crunchiness itself held up throughout the entire bowl, with minimal sogginess at the end (very unlike a gooey cinnamon roll, but then again, who wants a gooey bowl of cereal?).  However, the pores in the cereal make it almost gritty and sharp while chewing; my gums flinched each time I raised the spoon.

So was it worth it?

At $3.50+ per box, with only 9 servings per box, this stuff definitely isn't an economic choice for breakfast.  Curiously, I found myself snacking on it straight from the box and enjoying it more this way.  I would recommend this for cinnamon lovers who feel Cinnamon Toast Crunch is too mild, but otherwise there is nothing else that would lead me to write angry letters to Kellogg's once they pull this novelty cereal from the shelves.

Final Grade: C+

Note: Kellogg's also offers Cinnabon cereal bars and pancakes.