Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Toast Crunch

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Homemade sourdough discard Cinnamon Toast Crunch is easy to make and way better than the boxed stuff. It’s crunchy, sweet, and covered in a delicious cinnamon-sugar topping. Use active starter or discard from your regular sourdough starter feeding routine. Ready in about 30 minutes!

I’ve been on a kick lately, testing and experimenting with sourdough versions of my favorite childhood treats. It started with sourdough strawberry Pop Tarts.

Sourdough Cinnamon Toast Crunch is another old-school favorite around here, and it never lasts long. My daughter and I can barely stop snacking on it.

We love a sweet weekend breakfast treat, such as my sourdough donuts recipe or sourdough cinnamon rolls recipe, but this recipe is an easy treat that comes together in just 30 minutes from start to finish.

This recipe is modestly adapted from Simplicity and a Starter.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Healthier Option: Store-bought cereals often contain a long list of ingredients. But homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch has only seven ingredients, most of which you probably have in your pantry.

Uses Extra Discard: I toss the discard into a jar each time I feed my starter. Then, when I have enough, I make sourdough discard recipes like sourdough discard crepes, sourdough carrot cake, sourdough strawberry cake with fresh berries, and, of course, cinnamon toast cereal.

No Wait: Since this recipe doesn’t require long fermentation, it takes about 30 minutes to make.

Easy: You don’t need any fancy equipment or techniques. If you can roll pie dough and use a pizza cutter, you can definitely make sourdough Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Key Ingredients

Sourdough Starter: You will need active or inactive sourdough starter. If you don’t have a starter yet, download my free sourdough starter eBook!

Butter: I used unsalted butter.

Flour: I used all-purpose flour for this recipe. You can use part whole wheat flour for added nutrition.

Sugar: Use granulated sugar.

Cinnamon: Use ground cinnamon.

Vanilla: I used homemade vanilla extract with bourbon, but any vanilla will work.

Get the full list of ingredients and measurements on the printable recipe card below.

Variations

Fresh-Milled: If you want to convert to fresh-milled flour use soft white wheat and increase it by 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons.

Maple Cinnamon: Add a small amount of maple syrup to the dough. You may need to add a little more flour to prevent the dough from being too sticky.

Cinnamon Raisin: Add diced raisins to the dough for a cinnamon raisin twist.

How to Make Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350° F. And prep the following:

Mix 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside.

Warm 1/4 cup butter in a small dish until melted. Set aside.

Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.

Grate or cube the cold butter, then work it into the dry ingredients until pea-sized.

Add the sourdough starter and vanilla and mix until a dough forms, using your hands if needed.

If the dough is dry, add cold water one tablespoon at a time until it comes together.

Step 3: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle it lightly with flour and cinnamon sugar.

Place half of the dough on the parchment and roll it into a large rectangle about 1/8 inch thick.

Step 4: Cut into 1/2 inch squares with a pizza cutter, then transfer the parchment to a baking sheet.

Step 5: Generously brush the top of the dough with melted butter. And even more generously, sprinkle with the cinnamon mixture.

Step 6: Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

The cereal will get crunchier as it cools, so let it come to room temperature before serving.

Serve with cold milk and fresh fruit, enjoy a handful as a snack, or crumble over egg-free vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of molasses syrup.

Tips for Success

• If you have two baking sheets, you can prep the dough on separate sheets and bake them simultaneously.
• If you don’t have two sheets, wrap one half of the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate it while the first half bakes. Then, repeat the same steps once your baking sheet is free.
• Cold butter is key for a crunchy sourdough Cinnamon Toast Crunch. As it bakes, the butter steams, creating air pockets that turn crisp and crunchy.
• The thinner the dough, the crunchier the cereal. Roll it to about 1/8″ thickness.
• Rolling the dough on parchment paper isn’t a deal breaker, but it makes cleanup much easier.
• The dough needs to come together into a cohesive ball. But if it’s too sticky, it will be hard to roll. I recommend adding just a tablespoon of water at a time until it comes together.

Serving Suggestions

Breakfast: Serve with your favorite breakfast foods, such as fluffy scrambled eggs, my easy cottage cheese recipe, or no-flour sourdough pancakes.

Ice Cream: Sprinkle over eggless vanilla ice cream, old-fashioned strawberry ice cream, or pumpkin spiced ice cream.

Snacks: Pack alongside other easy snacks, such as mixed nuts or sourdough discard granola.

Storing

• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Toast Crunch FAQs

More Sourdough Discard Recipes

If you tried this Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Toast Crunch recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks, y’all!