Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch Snack Recipe

A Better Way to Start the Day

I have always loved a crunchy, sweet cereal. But the store-bought kind can be too sugary. This recipe lets us control what goes in. We use real cinnamon and a little bit of love.

Making it yourself feels so good. You know every single ingredient. That matters because you are feeding your body something real. What is your favorite cereal from the store?

Let’s Make the Dough

First, mix the flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a big bowl. Doesn’t that smell amazing? Then add the milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir it all until it becomes a soft ball of dough.

This part is messy and fun. I still laugh at the time I got flour on my nose. My grandson pointed and giggled for an hour. The vanilla makes the whole kitchen smell like a bakery.

The Rolling Trick

Now, put your dough between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll it out as thin as you can. This is the secret to getting it crispy, just like the real thing.

Then, use a pizza cutter to slice little squares. It is so easy. Fun fact: The original cereal was created by a baker who wanted to use up leftover bread ends! Lift the paper and put the whole thing on a baking sheet.

Bake and Shake

Bake the squares until they are golden brown. They will get nice and crisp as they cool. While they bake, mix your cinnamon and sugar for the topping. Melt that last bit of butter, too.

As soon as the pan comes out, brush the little pieces with butter. Then shake the cinnamon-sugar over them. This makes that classic, crunchy coating we all love. Do you like your cereal super crunchy or a little soft?

Why This is Special

This is more than a snack. It is a moment you create. The smell fills your home with warmth. That matters more than we think on a busy morning.

Sharing food you made yourself is a way to show love. It connects us. I promise, everyone will ask you for the recipe. Have you ever cooked something that made your whole family happy?

Time to Enjoy

Let the cereal cool all the way. Then break apart any pieces that stuck together. Now you have your very own homemade cereal.

You can eat it with milk or just by the handful. Store what is left in a jar. It should stay crunchy for about a week. But in my house, it never lasts that long!

Ingredients:

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
All-purpose flour	1 cup
Granulated sugar	1/4 cup	For the dough
Ground cinnamon	1 teaspoon	For the dough
Salt	1/4 teaspoon
Baking powder	1/4 teaspoon
Milk	1/4 cup
Unsalted butter	2 tablespoons	Melted, for the dough
Vanilla extract	1 teaspoon
Granulated sugar	2 tablespoons	For the topping
Ground cinnamon	1 teaspoon	For the topping
Butter	1 tablespoon	Melted, for the topping

My Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Oh, the smell of cinnamon and sugar! It reminds me of Saturday mornings. My grandkids always beg for this cereal. So we make our own. It’s so much fun. You get to roll and cut the dough. It’s like playing with edible play-dough. I still laugh at the floury mess we make.

Let’s get our hands busy. First, grab a big bowl. Put the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder inside. Give it a good stir with a spoon. Now pour in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Mix it all up until it becomes a soft ball of dough. It might feel a little sticky. That’s just perfect.

Step 1: Get your oven warming up to 350°F. Now for the fun part. Put your dough between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll it out super thin. You want to see through it almost. My grandson calls it ‘dough pizza’. (A hard-learned tip: If the dough sticks, pop it in the fridge for ten minutes.)

Step 2: Peel off the top piece of paper. Use a pizza cutter to make little squares. Just cut lines across and down. Don’t worry if they aren’t perfect. Mine never are! Lift the whole paper onto a baking sheet. Those little squares are ready for their tan.

Step 3: Bake them for about 10-12 minutes. Watch them turn a lovely golden brown. They will smell amazing. While they bake, mix your cinnamon and sugar for the topping. Melt that last bit of butter too. What’s your favorite smell from the kitchen? Share below!

Step 4: Take the pan out of the oven. Be careful, it’s hot! Quickly brush the little squares with melted butter. Then shower them with the cinnamon-sugar. It sizzles a little. That’s how you know it’s working. Let everything cool completely on a rack. Then break apart any pieces that are stuck. Now you have your very own cereal!

Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
Total Time: About 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Category: Breakfast, Snack

Three Tasty Twists to Try

This recipe is like a blank canvas. You can paint it with so many flavors. I love to experiment. Here are a few ideas my family adores. They are all so simple.

Apple Pie Spice: Swap the cinnamon for apple pie spice. It tastes like a cozy fall day. We love this one.

Chocolate Drizzle: After they cool, drizzle with melted chocolate. It feels so fancy. The kids go wild for it.

Maple Nut: Use maple syrup instead of sugar in the topping. Add a pinch of chopped pecans. It’s a crunchy delight.

Which one would you try first? Comment below!

Serving Your Crunchy Creation

Of course, you can eat it with cold milk. That’s a classic. But don’t stop there. I like to sprinkle it over a bowl of vanilla yogurt. It adds a wonderful crunch. You can even pack it in a little bag for a sweet snack at school.

For a special treat, try it with a cup of hot cocoa. The marshmallows and cereal are best friends. For the grown-ups, a glass of chilled almond milk pairs nicely. It’s so refreshing. Which would you choose tonight?

Keeping Your Cinnamon Toast Crunch Crispy

Let’s keep your homemade cereal crunchy. First, let it cool completely. I cannot stress this enough. Warm pieces will create steam in a container. That steam makes everything soft.

Store your cereal in a jar or a container with a tight lid. A cookie tin works wonderfully too. This keeps the air out and the crunch in. Your treat will stay fresh for a whole week.

I once put a batch away too soon. The next day, it was sadly soggy. We learn from our little kitchen mistakes. This is why storing food properly matters. It saves your hard work and delicious treats.

You can also double the recipe. Make a big batch on the weekend. Then you have a special snack all week long. Batch cooking saves time for busy families. Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!

Easy Fixes for Common Snack-Making Hiccups

Is your dough too sticky? This happens to everyone. Just add a tiny bit more flour. Sprinkle it on your hands and the rolling surface. Your dough will become much easier to handle.

Are the pieces not crispy enough? Your dough might be too thick. Roll it out as thin as you can. I remember when my first batch was a bit doughy. Getting the thickness right matters for that perfect crunch.

Did your squares stick together after baking? Let them cool fully before you break them apart. They harden as they cool. Fixing small issues builds your cooking confidence. You learn that every problem has a simple solution. Which of these problems have you run into before?

Your Cinnamon Toast Crunch Questions, Answered

Q: Can I make this gluten-free?

A: Yes! Just use your favorite gluten-free flour blend. The result will be just as tasty.

Q: Can I make the dough ahead of time?

A: You can make the dough and keep it in the fridge. Wrap it tightly and use it the next day.

Q: What if I don’t have vanilla extract?

A: You can simply leave it out. The cinnamon flavor will still be wonderful.

Q: Can I make a bigger batch?

A: Absolutely. Double all the ingredients. Use two baking sheets to cook it.

Q: Any fun extra tips?

A: For a little sparkle, use coarse sugar for the topping. Fun fact: Cinnamon was once more valuable than gold! Which tip will you try first?

A Little Note From My Kitchen to Yours

I hope you love making this cereal. The smell of cinnamon baking is pure happiness. It reminds me of my own grandma’s kitchen.

I would be so thrilled to see your creations. It makes my day to see your kitchen adventures. Please share your photos with our community.

Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest! You can find me at Olivia’s Cozy Kitchen. Thank you for baking with me today.

Happy cooking!

—Olivia Hartwell.