The 20 Best Cereals, In Order

Sorry Cheerios, you didn't make the cut.

Breakfast cereal is one of those great equalizers in life, that can help you find something in common with just about anyone. Our team comes from totally opposite corners of the country, we're all a few years apart from each other in age and grew up in wildly different households. Guess what thing we all did? Ate cereal for breakfast.

We've already laid out the worst cereals of all time, and recommended that you not stuff any of that garbage in your face -- especially not first thing in the morning. Today, I'm tackling the best cereals, in order. Just to be clear: none of the cereals below are bad or "worst." They are all breakfasts I'd happily engage in on a regular basis. This list has absolutely nothing to do with health benefits -- there is a lot of sugar present.

Also, if you don't see a cereal on this list or on the worst list, that means that it is a middling, forgettable cereal, regardless of its marketing prowess or ubiquity -- I'm looking at you, Cheerios.

20
Waffle Crisp
Amazon
Obviously I am aware of the fact that this is a disgusting choice. That is why they are the worst of the best. A bowl of these little fake maple bombs probably contains more sugar than a bowl of ice cream. But I ate the hell out of them when I was a teenager and I would probably still do it.
19
Corn Flakes
Amazon
Not exciting, but sometimes really satisfying.
18
Grape-Nuts
Amazon
Look, you can throw rocks at me about this if you want to, but I know there are other secret Grape-Nut lovers out there with me. United we stand, you guys.
17
Frankenberry
Amazon
Definitely the best of the seasonal Halloween Monster cereals.
16
Corn Pops
Amazon
These are the weirdest shape and harken back to a time where eating a bowl full of corn for breakfast seemed like a great idea.
15
Raisin Bran
Amazon
When you want Raisin Bran, there is no other cereal that will satisfy you.
14
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Amazon
When I was a kid I used to think to myself, "When I'm a grown up, I'm going to eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch whenever I want to, since my mom won't let me eat it for breakfast." I don't, but I could.
13
Cinnamon Chex
Amazon
As one of our editors put it, "so much cinnamon, you actually kind of choke on it."
12
Life
Amazon
I will never understand what makes these weird little boxes of grains taste so delicious. There is something about the way the milk gets trapped inside each one that makes them stand out.
11
Cinnamon Life
Amazon
Ditto that last thing, but plus cinnamon.
10
Froot Loops
Amazon
Still the best cereal to make a necklace out of, ever.
9
Apple Jacks
Amazon
Like Froot Loops, just better-tasting.
8
Kix
Amazon
These somehow managed to be a perennial favorite in my house, despite the fact that they weren't loaded with sugar. Plus, they are basically the anti-Cocoa Puff, which earns them extra points in my book.
7
Lucky Charms
Amazon
Lucky Charms is tricky because it's one half best cereal of all time, and one half worst. Those marshmallows are ethereal, but could they possibly find a way to make the wheat shapes less delicious?
6
Golden Grahams
Amazon
These taste like eating a bowl of graham crackers in milk. You really can't go wrong. They are also one of the only foods on earth I would ever describe as "slimy in a good way."
5
Crispix
Amazon
This is a total Chex rip-off, but somehow they did it better. Did anyone else eat these by trying to bite them rice half clean off the corn half?
4
Honey Graham Oh's
Amazon
Questionable apostrophe usage aside, this is one of the most delicious cereals of all time. I have not eaten this cereal in probably a decade, which is going to change asap. How can they stuff so much magic inside those tiny Os?
3
Quisp
Amazon
If you have never eaten Quisp, you need to get on it. It's basically a kinder, gentler Cap'n Crunch that doesn't cut the roof of your mouth to shreds. Plus that is the best mascot for any product I can think of.
2
Honey Nut Clusters
Amazon
Rumor has it that the modern iteration of this cereal has removed actual nuts from the equation. That is not cool, guys. This almost holds the top spot in my heart for the way we used to be. Clusters: I am still carrying a torch for you, if you can get your act together.
1
Frosted Flakes
Amazon
Around here, we like to say that classics are classics for a reason. When I think of breakfast cereal, this is what I think of.

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