Embellishmints

When I think comfort food milk is definitely on that list. Is it on yours? Let me tell you why it’s on mine.

Each one of my three boys and I spent a lot of time cuddling while they drank their milk. Either as soon as they woke up, or while we were getting ready for a nap or bed time. Some of my most treasured memories include milk!

Now, since they’re older, we have chosen to teach our boys to drink milk at dinner time. Dairy foods provide a powerful nutrient package. Three of the nutrients found in dairy –vitamin A, vitamin D and protein –are essential for a healthy immune function. 

We also choose milk because dairy foods are linked to health benefits like reduced inflammation, improved digestive health and healthy immune systems. We want our kids to choose healthy habits while they’re young.

There’s nothing more comforting than cuddling with my boys, and of course big bowls of cereal first thing in the morning. Our boys are absolutely obsessed with cereal. Anytime of day if I offer them cereal they will take it. So I decided to combine their favorite: cereal, with my favorite: cake! So I’m sharing my delicious Cinnamon Crunch Cake recipe with you today. 

What are some ways your family bonds over milk? Especially over the holiday season! Even though I’ve shared several ways we bond over our beloved milk I’ll share one more:

We add milk to our hot chocolate. I always make it extra rich so when it’s piping hot we can cool it off a bit with milk. That way my boys can drink it right away, they have no interest in waiting for it to cool down. Let’s be honest, neither do I!

Did you know cake also goes with hot chocolate? It goes withe everything, let’s be honest.

If you love this recipe as much as I do be sure to click the badge right below here, where it says “Add My Recipe To Your Cart” It’s a quick and easy way to get all the ingredients you need to make my Cinnamon Crunch Cake, at one of your favorite retailers, Target! That’s where I bought the ingredients for this cake.

Cinnamon Crunch Cake Recipe

Tender cinnamon cake layers topped with a cinnamon crunch crumble, and covered with cream cheese frosting.
Please note, this makes three small layers, if you’d like a larger cake just double these recipes.

INGREDIENTS

Cake:

• 2 cups cereal milk, at room temperature (recipe below)
  • Combine 4 cups milk, and 4 cups cinnamon cereal in a medium bowl. Let sit for 20 minutes at room temperature.
  • Strain the milk through a fine mesh sieve, collecting the milk in a small bowl.
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Crunch Crumble:

• 3 cups cinnamon cereal, crushed
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 6 oz cream cheese room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 Tbsp clear vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp milk
• pinch salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Cake:

• Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour three 6″ cake rounds.
• In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
• Beat butter until smooth. Add sugar and beat on med-high until fluffy (2-3mins).
• Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla.
• Alternate adding flour mixture and cereal milk, beginning and ending with flour. Fully incorporating after each addition. Mix until just combined
• Spread batter evenly into prepared pans and smooth the top with a spatula.
• Bake for 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
• Place cakes on wire rack to cool for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.

Crumble:

• Preheat oven to 275F and line a sheet pan with parchment or a silicone mat.
• Pour the cereal into a medium bowl and crush them a little with your hands. Add sugar, salt, and toss the mix. Add the melted butter and toss to coat. As you toss, the butter will bind the dry ingredients to the cereal and create clusters.
• Spread evenly and bake for 20 minutes. Cool completely before using on cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• Beat butter and cream cheese on med-high until smooth. About 2 minutes.
• Reduce speed to low and add sugar 1 cup at a time. Add vanilla and pinch of salt. Increase speed to high and beat for 5 minutes. Beat by hadn’t with a wooden spoon to push out any air pockets before frosting your cake.

Assembly:

• Place one layer of the cake onto a cake stand or serving plate. Top with 1 cup of frosting and spread evenly. Sprinkle with crumble as desired. Repeat with remaining layers. Frost outside of cake and top with cereal, crumble, or sprinkles.