Cinnamon Toast Crunch Streusel Cake

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Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cake begins with a tender, cereal infused vanilla cake which is filled with a rich brown sugar, cereal, and cinnamon mixture. Then a crunchy, buttery, cinnamon toast crunch streusel topping finishes it off. This cake is buttery, with soft and flavorful cake and crunchy, cinnamon layers. Each component of the cake includes cinnamon toast crunch in some way. This is the perfect cake for cinnamon lovers for Easter brunch or anytime a cinnamon craving hits! And if you love Milkbar and Christina Tosi, then you will have so much fun making this cake!

If you are anything like me, I grew up loving Cinnamon Toast Crunch. That was the “fun” cereal that my Mom let us get once in awhile between all of Corn Flakes and Raisin Bran. I have always been a cinnamon sugar obsessed Gal. As I mentioned in my Chai Cinnamon Rolls and Coconut Milk Cinnamon Rolls, I have a serious Cinnamon obsession. And there is something about Cinnamon Toast Crunch that is creamy, crunchy, sweet and toasty all at the same time And when I take a bite, to this day, I am brought back to my childhood love for this cereal.

Christina Tossi & Milkbar

I have been wanting to do a cereal infused dessert ever since I binge watched A Chef’s Table on Netflix. Christina Tosi is a girl boss in every way and she inspires budding chefs like me to the core. The passion and dedication she has for her craft is incredible. To take such an aha moment with cereal and turn it into an empire is what dreams are made of.

To give you a quick run down, Christina Tosi is the badass lady chef that founded the popular Milk Bar. She is also said to carry around cookie dough and desserts in her pocket, so of course I immediately developed a girl crush on her! She is a woman after my own sweet tooth!

Milk Bar is the sister bakery of David Chang’s Momofuku restaurant group. Christina worked at Momofuku and she challenged herself to create a standout dessert. She walked the aisles of a market and found inspiration from a box of cornflakes. Thinking of how much people love that milk leftover after eating cereal, she had that aha moment that has changed the baking world forever. She and David Chang created Milk Bar to share her cereal infused star treats. It is now an award winning bakery with several locations. Milk Bar has a serious cult following. I am sure you have seen pictures of that gorgeous Milk Bar Birthday cake.

Check out my Derby Bars for a take on her famous crack pie!

And for another recipe inspired by my other favorite female chef, the Top Chef Season 16 winner, Kelsey Barnard, check out my Top Chef Key Lime Crunch!

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Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cake

Bea and Tilly also love Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Since I was going to make a cinnamon streusel coffee cake for Spring anyway, I decided that a Cinnamon Toast Crunch Streusal Cake was in order.

When Easter nears I begin thinking of all the childhood joy that comes with the Easter activities and treats. This year will be more fun than ever with the girls since they are at the ages where the world is magical. They see the good in all things and find wonder in what surrounds them. Just like good chefs do!

Between Easter egg hunts, brunches, Easter bunny pictures, and more brunches, you will still find me eating cake. This Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cake and my Marshmallow Filled Chocolate Cupcakes are at the top of that list!

This cake is like a a cinnamon streusel or coffee cake on crack. Hey, Christina Tosi has crack pie and this is like my crack cake! There are three components of this Cinnamon Toast Crunch Streusel Cake. It begins with cereal infused cake. Then has a filling of crushed cinnamon toast crunch and dark brown sugar. Topped off with a buttery, sugary, cinnamon toast crunch topping that bakes up so crunchy and slightly sticky, you’re headed for definite food bliss!

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Infused Milk & Crumbs

To start this cinnamon toast crunch streusel cake, begin with making the cereal infused milk and having cereal crumbs ready.

The first step is to infused the milk with cinnamon toast crunch. Use extra milk since you do lose some of it after removing the cereal. Put the milk in a bowl and add in the cinnamon toast crunch. Stir it up and let it sit for at least 30 minutes, but give it a stir after 15 minutes.

Then remove the soggy cereal from the bowl. Left behind is all that delicious cinnamon toast crunch infused milk.

Use a food processor to grind up 3/4 cup of cinnamon toast crunch into crumbs. Divide as stated in recipe below for use in the filling and topping.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Infused Cake

Then preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9 inch square cake pan and set aside.

Use a hand or stand mixer to cream softened butter and sugar on medium speed for five minutes, until fluffy. Then add in eggs and vanilla and beat for another 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Turn mixer to lowest speed and incorporate half of the dry ingredients.

Then add in half cup of the cereal infused milk and a some tangy sour cream. Then finish with the dry ingredients.

Set aside for a moment while mixing your filling.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Filling

The filling for this cinnamon toast crunch streusel cake is rich with brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and cinnamon toast crunch cereal crumbs for added depth.

In a bowl, whisk together the 3 ingredients.

Then put half of the cake batter into the pan. Spread it out evenly. Then evenly Sprinkle on the cinnamon toast crunch filling. Spoon out the remaining batter on top of the filling and gently spread over to reach the edges.

Then make your streusel topping.

Cinnamon Toast Streusal Topping

Melt some butter and set aside. Then in a medium sized bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, pinch of salt, and remaining cinnamon toast crunch crumbs. Pour over melted butter and stir to combine. Then sprinkle all over the top of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Streusel Cake.

Bake cake for about 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

This Cinnamon Toast Crunch Streusel Cake may be eaten warm or served cold. Try it with my Starbucks Cloud Macchiato!

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Streusel Cake Recipe