Plant frost tolerance is a complex quantitative trait, influenced by the genotype, the physiological state and the environment. The molecular aspects of the regulation of the genes involved in cold stress adaptation have been most extensively studied in Arabidopsis, but an increasing amount of data is now available in cereals. This review summarises recent results achieved on the genetics of frost tolerance in bread wheat, einkorn and barley. In particular, it focuses on the genetics, expression and regulation of the Cbf transcription factors in cereals, which are key regulators of frost tolerance. As a consequence of this work over the last decade, candidate genes (Cbf genes) for frost tolerance have been suggested for the first time. The results from our research groups are discussed in the present paper and compared to the findings of other authors working in this area.