If you love nostalgic morning flavors, you might also enjoy these Cinnamon Roll Chaffles or this cozy Cinnamon Dolce Latte to go alongside.
Remember the sound of Cinnamon Toast Crunch hitting a cold bowl of milk? That crunch, that cinnamon-sugar smell, the way the milk turned a little sweet at the bottom — this recipe brings all of it back. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal (Pork Rind Cereal) is made with pork rinds coated in a quick brown butter caramel and a dusting of cinnamon, then chilled until crispy and scoopable. It comes together in about 40 minutes, most of which is hands-off fridge time.
The flavor is warm, buttery, and deeply nostalgic — and the texture is genuinely crunchy, which is the whole point. Pour unsweetened coconut milk over the top and you have a bowl that feels indulgent but is only a handful of real ingredients. It makes two servings, so it’s perfect for a lazy weekend morning or an afternoon snack when you want something a little fun.
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💛 Why you’ll love this recipe
- That signature crunch. Pork rinds hold up beautifully when coated in caramel and chilled — no sogginess, just satisfying snap.
- Brown butter caramel in minutes. The sauce comes together in one saucepan in under 10 minutes, and the nutty depth from browning the butter makes all the difference.
- Just five ingredients. Butter, cream, monk fruit sweetener, pork rinds, and cinnamon — that’s your cereal, no specialty flours or complicated prep.
- Naturally dairy-free serving option. Unsweetened coconut milk from a carton keeps the bowl light and lets the cinnamon-caramel flavor shine.
- Ready in about 40 minutes. Most of that is chilling time in the fridge — active cook time is only around 10 minutes.
- Two servings, totally customizable. Scale it up easily for more bowls, or swap in different sweeteners or milk options to make it your own.
⏲ How to make this recipe
👉 Easy ingredient swaps
- Sweetener: Golden monk fruit sweetener is called for here, but another granulated sweetener you like can be used in its place — just note that Sara hasn’t tested other substitutions, so results may vary.
- Milk: The recipe uses unsweetened coconut milk from a carton. Any milk you prefer to pour over cereal will work the same way.
- Heavy cream: A reader asked about a dairy-free swap for the cream in the caramel. Sara hasn’t tested this substitution but thinks it should work — if you try it, a full-fat dairy-free cream alternative is your best bet.
✨ Variations
- Spice it up: A tiny pinch of cayenne or cardamom stirred in with the cinnamon gives the caramel a warm, unexpected edge.
- Double batch: The recipe makes two servings, but it scales up easily — just use a larger saucepan so all the pork rinds get evenly coated.
- Snack bowl: Skip the milk entirely and serve the caramel-coated pork rinds as a standalone sweet-and-salty snack — they’re great straight from the bowl.
〰️ How to serve
- Pour cold unsweetened coconut milk right over the top — that contrast of cold milk and crunchy caramel cereal is the whole experience.
- Serve immediately after pulling from the fridge for maximum crunch.
- Pair with a warm mug of this Cinnamon Dolce Latte for a full cozy-morning moment.
- Keep any leftovers in the fridge in a covered bowl and add fresh milk when you’re ready to eat — the cereal holds its texture well when chilled.
💬 FAQs
What are pork rinds and will they stay crunchy?
Pork rinds are fried pork skin — light, airy, and naturally very crispy. When you coat them in the caramel mixture and chill them, they hold their crunch really well. They won’t last forever once milk is added (just like any cereal), so serve right away after pouring.
Can I use a different sweetener?
The recipe calls for golden monk fruit sweetener. Sara hasn’t tested other swaps, but another granulated sweetener you’d normally use in a caramel-style recipe should work similarly. Results may vary depending on the sweetener.
Can I make the heavy cream dairy-free?
A reader asked this and Sara’s take is that it should work, though she hasn’t tested a dairy-free cream sub herself. A full-fat canned coconut cream would be the most likely candidate to mimic the richness of heavy cream in the caramel.
How do I know when the caramel is ready?
After you add the cream and sweetener to the browned butter, you’re cooking it for about 2–3 minutes until it reaches your desired caramel consistency — it should look thick and glossy. Keep stirring and watch it closely so it doesn’t over-reduce.
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Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal (Pork Rind Cereal)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup 2 oz unsalted butter
- ¼ cup 60 mL heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons 24g golden monk fruit sweetener
- 60 grams pork rinds, broken into ½”-1” pieces
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cups 480 mL unsweetened coconut milk (from carton)
Equipment
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt and brown butter, which should take about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula. Pour in heavy cream and monk fruit sweetener, stir ingredients together, and continue to cook until desired caramel consistency is reached, about 2-3 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.
- To saucepan, add pork rinds and cinnamon and mix until fully coated in caramel. Pour caramel-coated pork rinds into a mixing bowl and transfer bowl to refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
- Divide cereal amongst 2 bowls and serve with 1 cup (240 mL) coconut milk per bowl.
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