Cocoa Puffs cereal was every child’s dream: Chocolate for breakfast. Even better: Chocolate for breakfast, washed down with milk that, thanks to that crunchy sweet cereal, became chocolate milk to slurp straight out o the bowl.
Cocoa Puffs were introduced to the American breakfast table in 1956 by General Mills. The cereal is puffed corn and rice infused with real chocolate — Hershey’s cocoa to be exact. Cocoa Puffs were a cousin to Kix cereal, which was essentially a chocolate-less puff cereal, and Trix, which were fruit-flavored puffs.
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From the start, Cocoa Puffs were a hit in America, and eventually became a staple for families around the world. Cocoa Puffs were part of a strategy born during the Great Depression years before, when General Mills refocused its empire away from milling flour and to new avenues of business. General Mills debuted its first cereal, Kix, as a way of delivering a food with more Vitamin D. Kix was the brainchild of something else new at General Mills: A research team. That research team also gets credit for leading the invention of a puff gun, which gave General Mills the ability to produce a puffy cereal like Cocoa Puffs rather than the flakes that were already on the market.

Cocoa Puffs flavors
Cocoa Puffs was the flagship chocolate cereal for decades. It wasn’t until 2008, some 50 years after the cereal was created that a new flavor was put on the market. Cocoa Puffs Combos was a mix of the familiar chocolate puffs with the yellow-white vanilla puffs. The shape and texture were similar to Cocoa Puffs. One key difference for the chocolate puffs in Cocoa Puffs Combos was that the chocolate in this variety was not real like it was in the original Cocoa Puffs. The chocolate in the Combos cereal was strictly artificial.
A few years later, in 2011, General Mills released Cocoa Puffs Brownie Crunch, sticking strong with the chocolate approach. Cocoa Puffs Brownie Crunch cereal had little square brownie-style pieces billed as a combination of natural and artificial flavors. This cereal offering didn’t last forever. It was discontinued for years until it was brought back to much fanfare in 2020.
In 2017, in keeping with a dessert theme, Cocoa Puffs Ice Cream Scoops hit the shelves as a limited release. Ice cream for breakfast might seem a bit off the wall, but we are talking about a line that already included chocolate and brownies. The Cocoa Puffs Ice Cream Scoops cereal was also came ina square shape but included a combination of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. Think of it as Neapolitan breakfast treat.
For people who like their cereal a bit more cozy, General Mills recently debuted a breakfast version of a classic winter drink: Hot chocolate. Swiss Miss Cocoa Puffs Hot Cocoa cereal was released as a limited-edition seasonal breakfast treat. The cereal takes the classic Cocoa Puffs and adds fluffy miniature marshmallows. Still served cold, the cereal aims to warm the soul if not the body.
General Mills also created some products using Cocoa Puffs cereal in a different form. This included a breakfast cereal bar with a bottom made with sweetened condensed milk. The idea was that a consumer could have a bowl of Cocoa Puffs with milk without the bowl or the milk, at least in liquid form.
Cocoa Puffs mascot
Cocoa Puffs cereal has had one mascot, and a relative, for all these years. While the cereal was offered in 1958, the iconic character made his debut in 1960. Sonny the Cuckoo bird was featured on the cereal’s boxes, in print advertisements and in television commercials.

Sonny’s story remained pretty consistent over the years. He is a bird on a mission. He’s laser focused on whatever task he is working on, until Cocoa Puffs enters his consciousness. This could be via something simple that reminds him of the cereal, particular words (often “munchy, crunchy, chocolately”) or by children who aim to tease. Inevitably, Sonny caves to his cravings and proclaims, “I’m Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.” That catchphrase stuck with Sonny from the start and is still used today.
Sonny’s voices
Sonny has been voiced by just two people. Chuck McCann was Sonny from 1962 to 1978, and Larry Kenney has been the voice since 1978.
McCann had a long career in entertainment, starting in regional comedy on the East Coast and eventually moving to Los Angeles, where he found a career in television in movies. In the 1970s, he appeared in popular shows including, “Little House on the Prairie”, “Bonanza” and “The Bob Newhart Show.”
Kenney started his career in radio, getting his first disc jockey gig at the age of 15. He later was a featured performer on “The Don Imus Show” and was known for his uncanny impressions people like Andy Rooney and Ross Perot. Sonny of Cocoa Puffs fame wasn’t the animated character Kenney voiced. You might recognize him as Count Chocula.
Mascot’s name
How did General Mills name their cuckoo bird? The name actually comes from the commercials themselves. In the original ads, Sonny appeared with his grandfather. Rather than using proper names, they called each other “Gramps” and “Sonny.” Poor Gramps was dropped from the Cocoa Puffs ad campaign early on, but Sonny remained. Don’t feel too bad for Gramps, though. He made a comeback in 2010 and appeared once again with his grandson in a commercial.
Sonny’s look
Gene Cleaves, a pioneer in the field of animation, worked on the early design for Sonny and Gramps. Sonny’s original wardrobe featured in ads for Cocoa Puffs consisted of a striped pink and white shirt. In the 1990s, he got some new looks and a Disney style look. That lasted until 2004, when Sonny went back to his roots in terms of design, and he shed his clothes, going with a strictly birdie look.
Cocoa Puffs recipe change
In December 2009, after years of complaints about the sugar content in breakfast cereals, especially those marketed to children, General Mills announced that it would cut the sugar in 10 of its cereals, including in Cocoa Puffs. They cut each cereal’s sweetness to under 10 grams of sugar per seriing, which was up to 25 percent of the sugar in the original recipes. While this may have impressed some health-minded consumers, the lower-sugar variety had some people questioning what happened to their beloved breakfast cereal.
After about 10 years of making the less sugary version of Cocoa Puffs, General Mills jumped on the retro bandwagon, and In 2020, it bought back the original recipes for four of its ready-to-eat cereals: Cocoa Puffs, Golden Grahams, Cookie Crisp, and Trix.
Cocoa Puffs Cereal Logo

Buy Cocoa Puffs Online
Bestseller No. 1
Cocoa Puffs, Chocolate Cereal with Whole Grains, 18.1 oz
- CEREAL: Cocoa Puffs Chocolatey Cereal is a delicious breakfast cereal the entire family will go cuckoo for.
- GREAT KID’S BREAKFAST: A delicious chocolatey kid’s breakfast cereal with no high fructose corn syrup
- WHOLE GRAIN: At least 14gwhole grain per serving (At least 48 grams recommended daily). A perfect addition to your pantry.
Bestseller No. 2
Cocoa Puffs Breakfast Cereal, Giant Size, 25.8 oz
- CEREAL: Cocoa Puffs Chocolatey Cereal is a delicious breakfast cereal the entire family will go cuckoo for
- GREAT KID’S BREAKFAST: A delicious chocolatey kid’s breakfast cereal with no high fructose corn syrup
- WHOLE GRAIN: At least 14g whole grain per serving (at least 48 grams recommended daily)- a perfect addition to your pantry
Bestseller No. 3
General Mills Cocoa Puff Cereal Bar 1.42 Oz pack of 24
- 12 Count Cereal Bars

Cocoa Puffs Ingredients
- Whole Grain Corn
- Sugar
- Corn Meal
- Corn Syrup
- Cocoa Processed with Alkali
- Canola Oil
- Fructose
- Salt
- Caramel Color
- Refiner’s Syrup
- Baking Soda
- Natural Flavor
- May Contain Wheat Ingredients
Cocoa Puffs Nutrition
Serving Size: | 3/4 cup (27g) | % Daily Value* |
Servings Per Container: | About 16 | |
Amount Per Serving As Packaged | ||
Calories | 100 | |
Calories from Fat | 15% | |
Total Fat | 1.5g | 2% |
Saturated Fat | 0g | 0% |
Trans Fat | 0g | |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.5g | |
Monounsaturated Fat | 0.5g | |
Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
Sodium | 100mg | 4% |
Potassium | 85mg | 2% |
Total Carbohydrate | 23g | 8% |
Dietary Fiber | 1g | 6% |
Sugars | 9g | |
Other Carbohydrates | 12g | |
Protein | 1g | |
Vitamin A | 10% | |
Vitamin C | 10% | |
Calcium | 10% | |
Iron | 25% | |
Vitamin D | 10% | |
Riboflavin | 25% | |
Niacin | 25% | |
Vitamin B6 | 25% | |
Folic Acid | 25% | |
Vitamin B12 | 25% | |
Phosphorus | 6% | |
Magnesium | 4% | |
Zinc | 25% | |
Copper | 2% | |
Thiamin | 25% | |
Riboflavin | 25% | |
Niacin | 25% | |
Vitamin B6 | 25% | |
Folic Acid | 25% | |
Vitamin B12 | 25% | |
Phosphorus | 6% | |
Magnesium | 4% | |
Zinc | 25% | |
Copper | 2% |
- Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
What’s in a memory?
In around 2010, when the term “Mandela Effect” began trending all over the internet, Cocoa Puffs became a part of the craze.
The Mandela Effect is a term used to describe a memory that seems so real that large groups of people swear they remember it. The term came from a phenomenon where mass groups of people came to believe that Nelson Mandela had died in prison in the 1980s, when in fact he was very much alive. The memory was so realistic that people were adamant that they remembered seeing news clips and remembered specific details about the death and the news coverage.
Cocoa Puffs are often featured in lists of examples of the Mandela Effect. It seems people are positive that the cereal was once called “Coco Puffs” instead of “Cocoa Puffs.” Sites on the internet even purport to show boxes of the cereal with the “Coco Puffs” name. As with the death of Mandela, this collective memory is simply wrong. Cocoa Puffs have always been “Cocoa Puffs,” and people remain cuckoo for them.
Pictures of Cocoa Puffs


Cocoa Puffs Commercials
Did you know?
- Cocoa Puffs was the first cereal to include real chocolate in the recipe. Cereal boxes included reference to containing real Hershey’s chocolate as a selling point.
- Cocoa Puffs comes in a warm variety: Cocoa Puffs oatmeal. The oatmeal is packaged in individual packets of chocolatey oats, to which you can add water or milk. Each packet also comes with a crunch flavor pack to add after cooking.
- People often confuse the mascot Sonny the cuckoo bird, with the monkey that represents Coco Pops.
- A story about a failed marketing attempt got traction on the internet and became a widespread myth. The myth goes like this: General Mills wanted to capitalize on the popularity of Trix and its silly bunny, so they added Cocoa Puffs to the Trix mix. The story goes on to say that the advertising and box design immediately drew criticism because people thought the Cocoa Puffs looked like bunny droppings. Alas, none of this actually happened. It was all an April’s Fool’s joke that spread through the internet. Myth debunked!
- When General Mills wasn’t feeding Americans in its early years, the company was heavily involved in the defense industry.
- Cocoa Puffs has a couple of very famous members in its General Mills family: The Pillsbury Dough Boy and Betty Crocker.
Please leave a review or any memories of this snack in the comments below. Thank you!
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FAQs
Cocoa Puffs Cereal (History, FAQ, Pictures & Commercials) - Snack History? ›
Cocoa Puffs were introduced to the American breakfast table in 1956 by General Mills. The cereal is puffed corn and rice infused with real chocolate — Hershey's cocoa to be exact. Cocoa Puffs were a cousin to Kix cereal, which was essentially a chocolate-less puff cereal, and Trix, which were fruit-flavored puffs.
What is the history of Cocoa Puffs? ›Cocoa Puffs were introduced to the American breakfast table in 1956 by General Mills. The cereal is puffed corn and rice infused with real chocolate — Hershey's cocoa to be exact. Cocoa Puffs were a cousin to Kix cereal, which was essentially a chocolate-less puff cereal, and Trix, which were fruit-flavored puffs.
When did the Cocoa Puffs commercial come out? ›With his catch phrase, "I'm cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs", Sonny was an instant hit when he appeared in his first commercial for Cocoa Puffs in 1963.
What bird was the original Cocoa Puffs? ›Sonny the Cuckoo Bird is the cartoon mascot for Cocoa Puffs, a General Mills-produced cereal.
What does Cocoa Puffs stand for? ›(US, slang) Crazy, insane, irrational. quotations ▼
What is the oldest cereal? ›Granula wasn't much like the cereal we eat today. The first manufactured breakfast cereal, it was developed in 1863 by a doctor and health reformer named James Caleb Jackson. Jackson believed, as many did at the time, that sicknesses were based in the digestive system.
How old are Cocoa Puffs? ›Cocoa Puffs is a brand of chocolate-flavored puffed grain breakfast cereal, manufactured by General Mills. Introduced in 1956, the cereal consists of small orbs of corn, oats, and rice flavored with cocoa.
Who was the mascot for Cocoa Puffs? ›CBS News Cocoa Puffs (similar to General Mills' Kix, but with chocolate) was introduced in 1958. A few years later Sonny the Cuckoo Bird was created as its mascot ("I'm cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!").
What brand owns Coco Puffs? ›Cocoa Puffs | Chocolate Cereal | General Mills Cereal.
What is the Coco Puffs controversy? ›A former MP in Britain is accusing Cocoa Puffs of being racist. She wants to know why the chocolate-flavored breakfast cereal is promoted with a monkey while its white-colored stablemate Rice Krispies has three fair-skinned characters splashed on its box. The complaint came from Labour politician Fiona Onasanya.
What does coo coo for coco puffs mean? ›
The line "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" has entered the vernacular as a term for somebody who is irrational. Sonny's name comes from the original format of the commercials, in which he was paired with his grandfather (also voiced by McCann).
What are Cocoa Puffs called in England? ›Called Coco Pops in the UK and Ireland. The cereal was introduced in the United States in 1958.
Why are puffs called puffs? ›From Middle English puffen, from Old English pyffan (“to breathe out, blow with the mouth”).
Why do Cocoa Puffs taste different? ›You're probably asking yourself, what are the changes? Cocoa Puffs is reverting to a recipe that makes the cereal have a more "chocolatey" taste, with a similar set up for Cookie Crisp. The bigger changes, however, come with Trix and Golden Grahams.
What are Coco Pops called in America? ›You are more likely to recognise this popular Kellogg's cereal. The brand was introduced in the 1950s and initially known in the UK as 'Coco Pops'. In the late 1960s, it underwent a name change in the UK to bring it in line with the so-called 'Coco Krispies' marketed in America.
What is the #1 cereal in America? ›The largest cereal brand in the U.S. is Cheerios, with a revenue of $18.127 billion and 139.1 million boxes sold. As of 2022, the U.S. cereal industry has a market size of $20.59 billion.
What is the oldest cereal brand still sold today? ›1. Frosted Flakes, 1952. Since 1952, kids and adults have been enjoying Kellogg's Frosted Flakes (via Kellogg's).
What is the most famous cereal ever? ›Largest cereal brands
Frosted Flakes: 132.3 million boxes sold. Honey Nut Cheerios: 129.3 million boxes sold. Honey Bunches of Oats: 111.3 million boxes sold. Cinnamon Toast Crunch: 105.2 million boxes sold.
It contains 9 grams of sugar, which is lower than other popular chocolate cereals. This chocolatey cereal does not use any artificial flavor to get that delicious taste, only the natural flavor of cocoa processed with alkali.
Who made coco for Cocoa Puffs? ›Chuck McCann, Who Was 'Cuckoo For Cocoa Puffs!,' Dies At 83 : The Two-Way Chuck McCann was a household name in New York, where he hosted a children's TV show. He became a character actor in films and TV and was the bird's voice in commercials for General Mills' Cocoa Puffs.
Is Cocoa Puffs vegan? ›
Are cocoa puffs vegan? Cocoa Puffs are not vegan because the vitamins and minerals used in the cereal are derived from animals.
What do Cocoa Puffs smell like? ›Cocoa Puffs
A sweet rich combination of cocoa, vanilla, and a hint of black licorice. You'll go cuckoo for the chocolatey milk!
Ingredients Whole Grain Corn, Sugar, Marshmallows (Sugar, Corn Syrup, Dextrose, Modified Corn Starch, Gelatin, Natural Flavor), Corn Meal, Corn Syrup, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Canola Oil, Salt, Caramel Color, Fructose, Refiner's Syrup, Baking Soda, Natural Flavor.
What kind of rabbit is Cocoa Puff? ›Cocoa Puff, who is a Continental Giant rabbit, is completely house-trained just like a cat - and even goes to the bathroom in a litter tray.
What is the oldest cereal mascot? ›Sunny Jim was created in 1902 and is the first known character created to promote a cereal brand. Sunny Jim was the cartoon that graced the cover of Force Wheat Flakes, which was also the first successful wheat flake cereal.
What cereal is the bird on? ›Toucan Sam is the cartoon toucan mascot for Froot Loops breakfast cereal. The character has been featured in advertising since 1963. He exhibits the ability to smell Froot Loops from great distances and invariably locates a concealed bowl of the cereal while intoning, "Follow your nose!
Do Cocoa Puffs have GMOS? ›Examples of General Mills products that include genetically engineered ingredients include varieties of Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, Franken Berry cereal, Hamburger Helper, Kix, Nature Valley bars and Pillsbury pancake batter.
Does Coco Puffs have gelatin? ›Contains 2% Or Less Of: Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Glycerin, Calcium Carbonate, Maltodextrin, Modified Wheat Starch, Whole Corn Flour, Yellow Corn Flour, Salt, Color Added, Gelatin, Baking Soda, Artificial Flavor, Soy Lecithin. Bht And Oil Of Rosemary Added To Preserve Freshness.
What ingredients are in Cocoa Puffs? ›WHOLE GRAIN CORN, SUGAR, CORN MEAL, CORN SYRUP, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, CANOLA OIL, CARAMEL COLOR, FRUCTOSE, SALT, REFINER'S SYRUP, BAKING SODA, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Why was Cocoa Puffs banned? ›The reason for this is because the recipe includes added natural colouring that does not comply with European legislation in force in the European Economic Area. General Mills has recently informed Nathan & Olsen, its agent in Iceland, about this.
Why was Cocoa Puffs banned in Iceland? ›
The reason was said to be a changed recipe that included added natural coloring. It did not comply with European legislation, but hard work was being done to develop a solution to this problem. And subsequently, the distribution of the cereal on the Icelandic market was stopped.
What happened to Cocoa Puff Rabbit? ›Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇦 on Twitter: "Very sad news: Cocoa Puff the Giant Rabbit has died of cancer.
What was the first chocolate cereal? ›Cocoa Puffs debuted in the U.S. in 1958. At that time, it was America's only chocolate-flavored ready-to-eat cereal. It combined everybody's favorite flavor with crispy-puffed corn for a delicious taste.
What does Coco mean chocolate? ›/ˈkoʊ·koʊ/ a dark brown powder made from the crushed beans of a tree, used to make chocolate and give the taste of chocolate to food and drink. Cocoa is also a drink made from cocoa powder that is sweetened and mixed with hot water or milk.
Are Coco Pops just chocolate Rice Krispies? ›Coco Pops are a chocolate version of rice krispies or rice bubbles. You will also find varieties called 'choco rice' or 'chocolate rice' in major supermarkets.
What is hot chocolate called in Britain? ›In the United Kingdom, "hot chocolate" is a sweet chocolate drink made with hot milk or water, and powder with chocolate, sugar, and powdered milk. "Cocoa" usually means a similar drink made with just hot milk and cocoa powder, then made sweeter with sugar.
What is the British word for hot chocolate? ›But “cocoa” is the standard English word for the processed parts of the Theobroma cacao plant. It is also used to mean a hot chocolate drink in the UK and some other English-speaking parts of the world.
What is the story of the puffs? ›Puffs is the story of Wayne Hopkins: a regular boy who finds out he's a wizard and goes to school in England where he makes two best friends and has adventures. This perhaps sounds familiar. But, Wayne is sorted as a Puff, he and the other Puffs simply want to learn how to be wizards and avoid attacks by evil wizards.
When did they stop selling puffs? ›In 2020, the FDA ordered Puff Bar off the market amid lawsuits and a widening public outcry. Four states have banned the product.
What does puff mean in slang? ›1) one's breath (esp in the phrase out of puff) derogatory, slang a male homosexual.
Why is Cocoa Puffs the best cereal? ›
Cocoa Puffs has a lot to offer any cereal aficionado, with great texture and a deep, chocolate flavor. And a healthy amount of the puffs' epidermis comes off during the course of a bowl to create a serving of very good chocolate milk.
How much sugar is in a bowl of Cocoa Puffs? ›Naturally and artificially flavored frosted corn puffs. Nutrition Highlights: 100 calories (5%); 0 g saturated fat (0%), 150 mg sodium (6%), 11 g sugars, 100 mg calcium (10%), 40 IU vitamin D (10%).
Do Cocoa Puffs have peanut butter? ›INGREDIENTS: WHOLE GRAIN CORN FLOUR, SUGAR, PEANUT BUTTER (PEANUTS, DEXTROSE, MONOGLYCERIDES, SALT), DEXTROSE, DEGERMED YELLOW CORN MEAL, HIGH OLEIC CANOLA OIL, SALT, CORN SYRUP, COCOA POWDER, CARAMEL COLOR, TRISODIUM PHOSPHATE, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (ADDED TO PRESERVE ...
Are Coco Krispies the same as Coco Pops? ›The breakfast cereal giant Kelloggs' much loved 'Coco Pops' was rebranded to 'Choco Krispies' - this was in an attempt to bring the brand inline with other countries where the cereal was already marketed as Choco Krispies.
Are Coco Pops discontinued? ›The cereal manufacturer is discontinuing its Coco Pops Straws and Coco Pops Creations variants.
What animal is Coco Pops? ›Coco the Monkey (Commonly Shortened to Coco Monkey or just Coco) is the Mascot of Kellogg's Coco Pops & Chocos. He was also the Mascot of the US Cocoa Krispies starting in 1991 before being dropped in the Late 90s.
Where was Cocoa Puffs invented? ›...
Cocoa Puffs.
General Mills Cocoa Puffs – Naturally Flavored Frosted Corn Puffs, with milk | |
---|---|
Owner | General Mills |
Country | United States |
Introduced | 1956 |
History. The cacao tree is native to the Amazon rainforest. It was first domesticated 5,300 years ago, in equatorial South America, before being introduced in Central America by the Olmecs (Mexico).
Who is the owner of Coco Puffs? ›Cocoa Puffs | Chocolate Cereal | General Mills Cereal.
Why did they stop selling puffs? ›In order to ensure quality control across products, we paused sales of our old Puff Bars while producing the new ones. And then, once we were satisfied with the new products (including fresh takes on the Puff Bar, Puff Plus, and Puff Flow options), we re-entered the market.
Why are dogs not allowed in Iceland? ›
In 1924, the city of Reykjavik banned keeping dogs as pets. The city's residents aren't all cat people—rather, the measure was meant to prevent echinococcosis, a type of tapeworm that can be passed from dogs to humans.
Why is Cocoa Puffs banned in Europe? ›The reason for this is because the recipe includes added natural colouring that does not comply with European legislation in force in the European Economic Area. General Mills has recently informed Nathan & Olsen, its agent in Iceland, about this.
Who were the first people to eat cocoa? ›The Olmec, one of the earliest civilizations in Latin America, were the first to turn the cacao plant into chocolate. They drank an ancient chocolate drink during rituals and used it as medicine. Centuries later, the Mayans praised chocolate as the drink of the gods.
What is the white stuff in cocoa pods? ›What is cacao pulp? The cacao pulp, also called “baba” or “mucilage”, is a white, sticky and fleshy substance that surrounds the cacao beans inside the pod. Not only it is totally edible for both animals and humans, but it is also gifted with a unique and enchanting taste.
What are some fun facts about cocoa pods? ›Each year a tree will produce approximately 40 pods. Inside the cacao pods are seeds called cocoa beans. These seeds are the magical ingredient in chocolate. Cacao trees have blossoms and pods all year long, the white and pink flowers are pollenated by a gnat, who then carries the pollen from one flower to another.
What is a Hawaiian coco puff? ›A Coco Puff is like a pudding-filled cream puff, but a hundred times better. It is served chilled and made of three components: Choux pastry shell - softer than the classic French choux pastry but same concept. Chocolate pudding filling - it's a milk chocolate pudding, so creamy and lush.