The 70s are known for being the decade of bell-bottom pants, disco fever, lava lamps, and free love. But did you know that it was also a golden age for breakfast cereal? That’s right, the 1970s introduced a host of iconic and beloved options to supermarket shelves.
From the sweet and sugary to the health-conscious and inventive, the groovy 70s gave consumers some of the best cereals to have ever graced the breakfast bowls of both children and adults alike.
And while some of these cereals have since been discontinued, others have gone on to become the industry’s biggest and most enduring successes.
So, get ready to look back, reminisce, and rediscover the cereal brands that made breakfast an unforgettable part of the 1970s experience. Here are the
25 Best Breakfast Cereals From The 70s
Cocoa Pebbles Cereal
Cocoa Pebbles is arguably one of the most beloved breakfast cereals ever made, one that has delighted taste buds since its original release in 1971.
Created by Post, Cocoa Pebbles cereal features characters from the classic children’s cartoon The Flintstones, and contains chocolate-flavored crispy rice cereal bits infused with a rich cocoa aroma.
The best part of eating Cocoa Pebbles is the way the cereal slowly transforms your milk into a delicious chocolatey drink.
Over the years, Cocoa Pebbles has become a classic and enduring favorite of children and adults alike, making it one of the most consistent best-selling breakfast cereals of all time.
King Vitaman Cereal
King Vitaman is another classic 70s breakfast cereal that maintained a loyal fan base until its unfortunate discontinuation in 2019.
Created by Quaker Oats, King Vitaman cereal contained highly distinctive slightly sugary little crowns and appealed to both kids and adults alike. The cereal’s most avid fans approved of its wholesome list of ingredients and the fact that it contained significantly less sugar than most of its competition.
King Vitaman was a nutritious and tasty breakfast option and it is a shame that it can no longer be bought.
Sugar Chex Cereal
Sugar Chex was a delightful breakfast cereal that was a favorite of those looking to satisfy their sweet-tooth cravings.
Created by General Mills in 1970, Sugar Chex offered a unique twist on the classic Chex cereal formula by infusing it with a generous coating of sugary goodness. The result was a breakfast cereal that was both super crunchy and very sweet, making it a popular choice for kids.
The square-shaped Chex pieces of Sugar Chex, as always, provided the classic satisfying texture of the original cereal, while the added sugar turned each bite into a burst of sweetness in your mouth.
Whether enjoyed with cold milk over your favorite Saturday morning cartoons or as a convenient on-the-go energizing snack throughout the day, Sugar Chex was a treat that never failed to deliver on its promise of sugary goodness.
While it may not have constituted the healthiest of breakfasts, Sugar Chex certainly added a touch of rich indulgence to your morning routine.
Count Chocula Cereal
Count Chocula is another icon of American breakfast. This delicious and enduring breakfast cereal favorite was first introduced in 1971, and it still continues to capture the hearts of chocolate-loving cereal enthusiasts to this day.
Count Chocula features “spooky” chocolate-flavored frosted cereal pieces and marshmallow bits for an extra hint of sweetness. The cereal’s chocolatey flavor is rich and irresistible, and the marshmallows also add a bit of playful texture to each bite.
Despite its distinct chocolatey sweetness, this corn/whole grain cereal is low fat with no cholesterol or saturated or trans fats. It is also a good source of important minerals like calcium, vitamins and iron. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its delicious taste, ingenious branding, and the nostalgic joy it brings to those who grew up in the 70s enjoying this chocolaty morning treat.
Norman Cereal
The next cereal on the list of the best breakfast cereals of the 1970s is Norman cereal. This lesser-known breakfast cereal was released in 1971 by Nabisco and quickly gained a loyal fan base due to its rather unique buttery taste.
It was very similar in shape and texture to more popular options like King Vitaman or Cocoa Puffs, but it had a very rich, very sweet, buttery flavor.
Despite its uniqueness, the cereal was not commercially successful and Nabisco chose to discontinue its sales shortly after. Nevertheless, those among us who remember its buttery sweetness well, know that it deserves its spot on this list.
Franken Berry Cereal
Franken Berry is another highly popular breakfast cereal from the folks at General Mills.
The cereal was released alongside Count Chocula as the other half of their hyper-successful Monster Breakfast line of cereals, and it features flavorful strawberry-flavored cereal pieces with marshmallow bits in the same shapes as their chocolatey counterpart.
Franken Berry cereal is known for its dramatic and vibrant pink color and super sweet strawberry taste. The cereal’s playful branding and the lovable Franken Berry mascot (a loveable cartoon version of the famous Frankenstein monster) have made it a beloved choice for kids, especially around Halloween time.
Cocoa Hoots Cereal
The next cereal on the list is another lesser-known and often-forgotten gem from the 70s: Cocoa Hoots.
Cocoa Hoots was a delicious chocolate-flavored multigrain cereal produced by breakfast giant Kellogs. The cereal was very similar in shape and texture to the more popular Cheerios breakfast cereal, but, in my humble opinion, far superior in taste and branding.
Unfortunately, the cute mascot called Newton the Owl, and the rich-chocolate flavor were not enough to catapult this cereal to the upper echelons of the industry. Not even the presence of a young Jodie Foster in one early commercial for Cocoa Hoots was enough.
Sir Grapefellow Cereal
Sir Grapefellow Cereal was released by General Mills in 1972. This highly unique cereal contained grape-flavored oat cereal pieces and sweet “grape” marshmallow bits.
The likable mascot, Sir Grapefellow, was a distinguished, mustachioed World War I pilot, who embodied the spirit of adventure, with a nod to the nostalgia of early 20th-century flying aces.
The cereal’s sweet grape flavor appealed to both kids and adults, which earned Sir Grapefellow cereal a dedicated following during its short-lived time on the market.
Unfortunately, despite its unique flavor and memorable mascot, the cereal was eventually discontinued. Nevertheless, Sir Grapefellow remains one of breakfast cereal history’s most beloved and imaginative products.
Baron Von Redberry Cereal
Baron Von Redberry cereal was another delightful creation by General Mills alongside Sir Grapefellow. Introduced as a direct counterpart to their grape-flavored oat cereal, much like how Franken Berry was a direct counterpart to Count Chocula.
Baron Von Redberry contained bright red berry-flavored oat cereal pieces and berry-flavored marshmallows.
The mascot was Baron Von Redberry, another whimsical pilot fond of mischievous banter. Kids loved him as much as they loved Sir Grapefellow, and adults loved the berry flavor, which many described as similar to that of fruit punch.
Despite running into the same early discontinuation as Sir Grapefellow, it remains a fond memory for those who enjoyed its early morning tangy sweetness.
Boo Berry Cereal
Boo Berry cereal is another beloved breakfast cereal introduced in the 70s that featured a spooky theme and a fruity blueberry flavor profile.
Released in 1973 as part of the famed monster trio, alongside Count Chocula and Franken Berry, Boo Berry cereal contained ghostly blueberry-flavored cereal bits and sweet marshmallow bits. The mascot, a friendly and cheerful ghost, was a hit with the kids.
Thanks to the popular spooky branding and sweet flavor, Boo Berry has remained one of the most popular and successful breakfast cereals in the industry.
Cinnamon Crunch Cereal
Cinnamon Crunch, actually called Jean LaFoote’s Cinnamon Crunch, was a delightful breakfast cereal that was released in 1973 for the Cap’n Crunch line of breakfast cereals. And much like the original product,
Cinnamon Crunch was made up of square-shaped pieces made out of a nutritious combination of oats and corn. However, unlike the original’s sugary butter flavor, Cinnamon Crunch featured a delicious cinnamon taste.
The aromatic and comforting flavor of cinnamon added a delightful warmth to 1970s mornings, which combined with fresh cold milk to make for a truly satisfying breakfast experience.
Cinnamon Crunch’s irresistible blend of crunch and spice would prove a very popular formula, and would eventually lead to hyper-successful products such as Cinnamon Roll Crunch.
Quangaroos Cereal
Quake’s Orange Quangaroos, later simply sold as Orange Quangaroos, was another unique and inventive take on breakfast cereal. Looking to stand out from the competition, Quaker created an orange-flavored cereal that would turn milk a bright orange color.
While some people disliked the orange taste, often referring to a metallic flavor, Quangaroos remains one of the most unique and inventive breakfast cereals released in the 70s.
Fruit Brute Cereal
Fruit Brute cereal was a fruit-flavored breakfast cereal produced by General Mills in 1974 as part of the highly popular monster cereal brand, alongside Count Chocula, Franken Berry, Boo Berry, and Fruity Yummy Mummy.
Fruit Brute stood out from its label mates and competition thanks to its unique and tasty combination of fruity flavors, which were enhanced by the addition of fruity marshmallows.
The cereal’s mascot, Fruit Brute, was a friendly and lively werewolf, which added to the product’s charm.
While Fruit Brute was a popular choice among cereal-loving kids, it never reached the heights of popularity enjoyed by Count Chocula or Franken Berry and ended up being discontinued. However, it would make a comeback from time to time and it remains a nostalgic favorite of mine, worthy of this list for its fruity flavor and its place among the iconic monster-themed cereal products.
Fruity Freakies Cereal
Fruity Freakies is a memorable and colorful breakfast cereal from the 1970s that became quite popular with children due to its vibrant, eye-catching colors and kooky arming marketing campaign.
The cereal featured a variety of fruit-flavored pieces of different shapes and colors, each representing one of the 7 “freakies” characters that adorned the boxes and featured heavily in the commercials. These creatures had instantly endearing names such as BossMoss, Cowmumble, and Snorkledof.
While Fruity Freakies eventually disappeared from store shelves, it remains a nostalgic and beloved memory in many people’s lives reminding us of the whimsy and excitement that accompanied breakfast time during the groovy 70s.
Golden Grahams Cereal
Golden Grahams is a classic of the breakfast cereal world that deserves to be on this and any other list that aims to highlight the industry’s best.
Introduced to the market in 1975 by General Mills, Golden Grahams cereal stands out with its unique combination of flavors and textures.
The cereal contains square-shaped graham cracker pieces, made out of whole wheat and corn that have been toasted to perfection, with a subtle taste of honey and brown sugar.
Golden Grahams can be enjoyed with a bowl of cold milk or eaten dry as a crunchy midday snack.
Over the years the Golden Grahams brand has expanded to include variations of the classic formula, but its enduring popularity is a testament to the cereal’s addictively comforting taste.
Corny Snaps Cereal
Corny-Snaps was sold as the “ready-sweetened cereal made from a combination of corn and oats” and provided a similar breakfast experience to Cheerios but with an arguably funner mascot.
The cereal pieces in Corny Snaps were similar in size, texture, and flavor to the world-renowned Cheerios, but with a unique shape, described as a warped letter “S”, which added a more playful and whimsical twist to breakfast time.
Cinnamon Nut Cheerios Cereal
Speaking of Cheerios, Cinnamon Nut Cheerios is a delightful and ultra-popular variation of the classic Cheerios breakfast cereal.
Cinnamon Nut Cheerios combined the wholesome goodness of the traditional whole grain oats of Cheerios with the delicious comforting warmth of cinnamon and nuts.
Each rounded O piece in Cinnamon Nut Cheerios is infused with a satisfyingly sweet and highly aromatic experience.
Grins & Smiles & Giggles & Laughs
Grins & Smiles & Giggles & Laughs was a breakfast cereal by the Quaker Oats Company in the 1970s whose aim was to bring joy and laughter to breakfast time with its whimsical name and colorful packaging.
The cereal itself consisted of your typical sweetened oat cereal pieces, but the product was marketed as a fun and enjoyable option for kids, encouraging a positive and lighthearted start to the day.
Though Grins & Smiles & Giggles & Laughs may no longer be available today, it remains a fondly remembered cereal that brought whimsy to breakfast tables around America.
Moonstones Cereal
Moonstones Cereal was a fruity breakfast cereal introduced to the market in 1976 by Ralston with a space-themed twist.
Moonstones contained cereal pieces shaped like stars, half-moons, and planets.
Marketed with the aid of a convoluted science-fiction tale about residents of the moon, this crunchy and fruity cereal was a hit with kids with a penchant for space. Especially because the cereal offered several premiums to their eager fans, including magnets, stickers, and other assorted toys.
Despite not being available today, Moonstones cereal remains a highly nostalgic part of 1970s breakfast culture.
Cookie Crisp Chocolate Chip Cereal
The Cookie-Crisp brand is one of the most popular breakfast cereals ever created, and the Cookie-Crisp Chocolate Chip cereal variety is one of my personal favorites of all time.
Known far and wide for its unique cookie-shaped pieces, by combining the taste of chocolate chip cookies with the convenience of breakfast cereal, Cookie Crisp attained sustained popularity and customer loyalty.
Each small rounded piece is infused with the rich and distinct flavor of freshly-baked chocolate chip treats, resulting in an indulgent and addictive breakfast experience.
Crunchy Loggs Cereal
Kellogg’s Crunchy Loggs cereal delivered a satisfying and crispy texture that made breakfast a memorable and pleasant experience. Each bite-sized log-shaped piece was heartily crunchy and added a playful element to that 70s morning routine.
But the cereal did not only satisfy with its pleasant texture, it also offered a wholesome and nutritious meal, which made it stand out from the generally sugar-laden competition thanks to its carefully selected formula of whole grains, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals.
Kellogg’s Crunchy Loggs was about satisfying crunch and wholesome flavors, and for that, it holds a special place in breakfast memories.
Crazy Cow Strawberry Cereal
Crazy Cow Strawberry Cereal was a frosted-type cereal that transformed regular milk into strawberry-flavored milk.
The box instructed kids to add milk, stir, and enjoy the strawberry milk goodness afterward. But don’t let the sweet flavor trick you, Crazy Cow Strawberry cereal provided a quite respectable 25% of essential nutrients.
Crazy Cow Strawberry turned breakfast time into a sweet and fruity experience for kids with its delicious taste and the magic of turning milk into flavored milk in the bowl.
Waffelos Cereal
Rounding out the 1970s list of best breakfast cereals, we have another classic Ralston product: the Waffelos, a delectable breakfast treat that brought the flavors of waffles and maple syrup to your cereal bowl.
Waffelos cereal pieces were shaped like mini-waffles and tasted like waffles, thanks to their maple syrup coating. The overall experience was sweet without being cloying, leading to a satisfying breakfast experience.
The cereal was fortified with eight vitamins and minerals, including iron, which provided a boost of essential nutrients to go along with its delicious taste.
Waffelos cereal also had a likable mascot in the way of Waffelo Bill, who was accompanied by his trusty steed. Their playful presence added a memorable touch of fun to the brand, helping to capture the imagination of both children and parents alike.
Frosted Rice Cereal
Introduced to markets in 1977 by breakfast giant Kellogg’s, Frosted Rice cereal had a unique and rather unintended quirk: it contained so much iron that individual pieces could be picked up with a magnet. This was swiftly addressed by Kellogg’s, with a significant reduction of the formula’s iron content, ensuring that the cereal could no longer be lifted with magnetic items.
But besides this somewhat unprecedented quirk, the cereal itself was a delight, and its crispy puffed rice grains, coated in sweet frosting, offered customers a satisfying breakfast experience whether enjoyed with milk or as a dry treat.
Adding to the appeal of Frosted Rice cereal was its iconic mascot, Tony Jr., son of the world-renowned Tony the Tiger.
Tony Jr had previously helped his father promote the classic breakfast cereal Frosted Flakes in both print and television ads, so his presence on boxes of Frosted Rice cereal reminded customers of the trusted Kellogg’s brand.
Honey Nut Cheerios
Honey Nut Cheerios needs no introduction. This beloved breakfast cereal is cherished around the world for its sweet and pleasantly nutty flavor.
Honey Nut Cheerios is one of the most popular breakfast options for its balance of subtle sweetness and rich nuttiness. Each crunchy piece creates a satisfying texture in the mouth and provides much-needed fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
If you are looking for a great-tasting classic from the 70s that is still around today, Honey Nut Cheerios is it. This cereal will continue to be the go-to choice for cereal enthusiasts for years to come.
The 1970s was a golden era for breakfast cereals, with a wide range of delicious and iconic options for cereal lovers of all ages. From classic recipes to risky innovations, these cereals offer an enjoyable start to your morning.
So, whether you were a fan of fruity flavors, chocolaty richness, or the satisfying crunch of toasted whole grains, the 70s had something for everyone.
