What Are the Ingredients in Honey Nut Cheerios?

December 27, 2025 •

2 min read

According to General Mills, the primary ingredient in Honey Nut Cheerios is whole grain oats, providing a significant portion of the cereal's base. This popular cereal combines a variety of ingredients to achieve its distinctive sweet and nutty flavor, including real honey and a natural almond flavor.

Quick Summary

Honey Nut Cheerios' ingredients include whole grain oats, sugar, honey, brown sugar syrup, salt, and canola oil, along with natural almond flavor and a fortified vitamin and mineral blend.

Key Points

Whole Grain Oats are the Foundation: The primary ingredient in Honey Nut Cheerios is whole grain oats, which provide a good source of fiber and contribute to heart health.
Multiple Sources of Sweetness: The cereal's sweet flavor comes from a combination of sugar, real honey, and brown sugar syrup, which is a key differentiator from original Cheerios.
Natural Almond Flavor: The nutty taste is derived from a 'Natural Almond Flavor' rather than actual nuts, though General Mills warns of almond ingredients being present.
Gluten-Free Certification: Honey Nut Cheerios is certified gluten-free, making it a suitable option for individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.
Fortified with Vitamins and Minerals: The cereal is fortified with 12 essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, and various B vitamins, to enhance its nutritional value.
Contains Canola and/or Sunflower Oil: Unlike original Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios includes canola and/or sunflower oil to aid in the coating and flavoring process.

Honey Nut Cheerios is a popular breakfast cereal known for its sweet, honey-flavored, and nutty taste. A closer look at the ingredients reveals a blend of whole grains, sweeteners, and flavorings, all fortified with vitamins and minerals. Understanding the complete ingredients list provides clarity on what contributes to its nutritional profile and distinctive flavor.

The Core Grain: Whole Grain Oats

At the foundation of Honey Nut Cheerios are whole grain oats. Whole grains contain the bran, endosperm, and germ, offering more nutrients and fiber than refined grains. This contributes to the cereal's ability to help lower cholesterol as part of a heart-healthy diet. The oats are processed and formed into the signature toasted 'O' shapes, giving the cereal its characteristic texture.

Sweeteners: A Blend for Distinctive Flavor

The sweetness in Honey Nut Cheerios comes from a combination of different ingredients. These include sugar, listed as the second ingredient, real honey, and brown sugar syrup. This blend creates a sweeter profile compared to original Cheerios.

Flavorings and Oil

The nutty taste is from 'Natural Almond Flavor'. General Mills notes the presence of almond ingredients. Canola and/or sunflower oil are also included, which help create the cereal's texture and bind the sweeteners and flavorings.

Fortification with Vitamins and Minerals

Honey Nut Cheerios is fortified with a range of vitamins and minerals. These include Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Zinc, Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate), Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols), Vitamin A (Palmitate), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, and various B Vitamins such as Niacinamide (B3), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (B6), Thiamin Mononitrate (B1), Riboflavin (B2), and Folic Acid.

Comparison: Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Original Cheerios

A comparison highlights the differences in ingredients, particularly regarding sweetness and flavor.


Ingredient Category	Honey Nut Cheerios	Original Cheerios
Primary Grain	Whole Grain Oats	Whole Grain Oats
Sweeteners	Sugar, Honey, Brown Sugar Syrup	Sugar (1g/serving)
Flavorings	Natural Almond Flavor	None (contains salt)
Oil Content	Canola and/or Sunflower Oil	None listed in core ingredients
Fortification	Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins C, A, E, D, and various B Vitamins	Similar fortification profile
Sugar Content (per cup)	Approx. 12g (based on 3/4 cup serving)	1g

Conclusion

Honey Nut and Original Cheerios share a whole grain oat base and similar vitamin fortification, but differ in added sweeteners and flavorings. Honey Nut Cheerios contains sugar, honey, brown sugar syrup, and natural almond flavor, as well as canola and/or sunflower oil. It is certified gluten-free. The higher sugar content in Honey Nut Cheerios is a notable difference compared to the original version. Overall, Honey Nut Cheerios offers a gluten-free, whole-grain option with added sweetness and flavor while retaining nutritional benefits.

For more information on the product, you can visit the official Cheerios.com website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Honey Nut Cheerios adds more sugar, real honey, brown sugar syrup, and a natural almond flavor to the base whole grain oat recipe. Original Cheerios has a single gram of sugar per serving, lacks the added oils, and contains no almond flavor.

Yes, Honey Nut Cheerios is certified gluten-free. General Mills uses dedicated processes to ensure that their whole grain oats are processed without gluten contamination.

Yes, the product is made with real honey. However, honey is not the only source of sweetness, as sugar and brown sugar syrup are also included, with sugar being the second most prominent ingredient.

Honey Nut Cheerios contains significantly more sugar than original Cheerios. A 3/4-cup serving contains approximately 9-12 grams of sugar, which is a key nutritional difference between the two varieties.

The nut flavor comes from a 'Natural Almond Flavor' and not from whole or chopped nuts. However, General Mills states that the product does 'contain almond ingredients,' so individuals with severe nut allergies should exercise caution.

Honey Nut Cheerios is fortified with 12 essential vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, C, D3, E, Iron, Zinc, Calcium, and several B vitamins (Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, B12, and Folic Acid).

The product uses canola and/or sunflower oil. The use of oil helps to bind the sweeteners and flavorings to the toasted whole grain oat 'O's'.