The Shocking Truth About The Apple Jacks "Cinnamon Stick": 5 Secrets Cereal Fans Need To Know

Is there an actual cinnamon stick in your Apple Jacks box? For decades, the image of a spirited, carefree cinnamon stick has been central to the Kellogg’s brand identity, promising a warm, spicy counterpoint to the cereal’s apple flavor. As of late 2025, the reality is far more complex than the cartoon mascot suggests, involving a surprising ingredient truth, a controversial character evolution, and a flavor history that famously states the cereal “doesn’t taste like apples.”

The "Apple Jacks Cinnamon Stick" refers less to a physical ingredient and more to the iconic character, CinnaMon, who has been the face of the brand’s cinnamon component since his introduction. This deep dive uncovers the freshest facts, the ingredient reality, and the recent changes to the beloved—and sometimes criticized—cereal icon.

The CinnaMon Mascot: Biography, History, and Recent Controversy

The character known as the "Cinnamon Stick" in Apple Jacks advertising is officially named CinnaMon. He is one half of the iconic duo responsible for promoting the sweetened multi-grain cereal, known for its distinctive apple and cinnamon taste. His history is tied to a major marketing shift for the Kellogg's brand.

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• Name: CinnaMon
• Debut Year: 2004 (alongside Bad Apple)
• Role: The carefree, laid-back, and good-natured counter-character to the grumpy, accident-prone Bad Apple.
• Original Concept: CinnaMon was depicted as a Jamaican-inspired cinnamon stick, often wearing a Rastacap and speaking with a distinct accent, embodying a "cool" and "casual" persona.
• Catchphrase Theme: The commercials often centered on CinnaMon prevailing over Bad Apple, with a voiceover famously proclaiming, "Apple Jacks don’t taste like apples, because the cinnamon is what CinnaMon is all about!"
• Recent Changes (2023–2025): In recent years, the mascot’s design has been subtly but significantly altered. Reports and social media discussions indicate that CinnaMon no longer sports the Rastacap or dreadlocks. This change is widely speculated to be a response to growing cultural sensitivity concerns and criticism of the character's original design being a cultural stereotype.
• Current Status: As of 2024, CinnaMon remains an active component of Apple Jacks marketing, though his appearances reflect the updated, less stereotypical design.

Secret #1: There Is No Actual Cinnamon Stick in the Box

The most common misconception about the Apple Jacks "Cinnamon Stick" is that it refers to a physical piece of cinnamon bark or a uniquely shaped cereal piece. This is definitively false.

The truth lies in food safety and flavor distribution. Kellogg's does not include actual, physical cinnamon sticks in the cereal. The primary reasons are twofold: choking hazards and the need to ensure uniform flavor distribution in every serving.

Instead, the signature cinnamon flavor is achieved through a combination of ingredients:

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• Real Ground Cinnamon: The ingredient list confirms the presence of real ground cinnamon powder.
• Flavoring Compounds: This is supplemented with natural flavor and artificial flavor compounds to enhance and stabilize the warm, spicy taste.
• Modified Corn Starch: This ingredient, along with others, helps to bind the flavorings and colors (like Yellow 6) to the corn, wheat, and oat flour blend used to create the crunchy, multi-grain rings.

The "Cinnamon Stick" is purely a marketing and thematic device, personified by the CinnaMon mascot, to represent the crucial cinnamon component of the cereal's taste profile.

Secret #2: The Mascot’s Design Was Quietly Changed Due to Controversy

The evolution of the CinnaMon mascot is a fascinating case study in modern cereal marketing and cultural sensitivity. His original 2004 design, which included the Rastacap and dreadlocks, drew criticism over the years for potentially perpetuating a cultural stereotype.

In a move that mirrors other brand adjustments for classic mascots, Kellogg's quietly updated CinnaMon's appearance. The most noticeable change is the removal of the Rastacap and the dreadlock-like texture, resulting in a more generalized, less culturally specific cinnamon stick character.

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This subtle shift highlights the challenge major food brands face in balancing nostalgia with contemporary social standards. While some fans lament the change, viewing it as an unnecessary capitulation to "internet whining," others see it as a necessary step toward inclusive marketing.

Secret #3: The Cinnamon Flavor Was Always the Star, Not the Apple

Despite the name "Apple Jacks," the cereal’s flavor has always been dominated by the warm, sweet, and complex profile of the cinnamon. This is the core message of the CinnaMon and Bad Apple advertising campaign.

The famous slogan, "Apple Jacks don't taste like apples," is a direct reference to this flavor balance. While the cereal contains an apple component, the cinnamon adds depth and complexity that defines the overall taste, preventing it from being a simple, one-note apple flavor.

The cinnamon is the reason the cereal has maintained its popularity since its introduction in 1965 (originally as "Apple O's"). The combination of the sweet, slightly fruity notes with the powerful, comforting spice is what makes the multi-grain rings so addictive for many consumers. This dynamic flavor profile is a testament to the power of the cinnamon stick—even if it's only a flavor compound.

Secret #4: CinnaMon and Bad Apple Were Once Fused

A lesser-known piece of Apple Jacks lore involves a brief, bizarre period in the mid-2000s when the two mascots physically merged. In 2007, an advertising campaign introduced a unique cereal piece called New Apple Jacks "Crashers."

This campaign featured the characters Apple and CinnaMon literally fusing together, with the cinnamon stick seemingly piercing the center of the apple. The "Crashers" piece was a physical manifestation of this merger, representing the perfect blend of the two flavors. While the "Crashers" piece was a temporary addition, it represents a high-point of the mascot’s importance in the brand’s marketing strategy.

Secret #5: The Cereal’s Core Ingredients Remain a Multi-Grain Blend

While the focus is often on the apple and cinnamon flavors, the foundation of Apple Jacks is its multi-grain composition. The cereal is described by WK Kellogg Co as a "crunchy, sweetened multi-grain cereal with apple and cinnamon."

The core ingredients that give the cereal its characteristic crunch and texture include a blend of:

• Whole Grain Yellow Corn Flour
• Degerminated Yellow Corn Flour
• Wheat Flour
• Whole Grain Oat Flour

This blend ensures that the cereal maintains a satisfying texture that holds up in milk, making it one of the top four cereal brands in its category. The cinnamon stick flavor is simply the delicious coating that makes this multi-grain base a nostalgic favorite for millions.