With tunnel vision, you can probably see one use for cereal: breakfast. Eating cereal for breakfast is the most straight-forward and logical use for the product. However, with creativity and an open-mind, cereal can be an asset in the kitchen; it can be more than just a breakfast soup.
Rice Krispies treats are a staple to American culture. Whether it’s a fresh-baked, homemade pan or a pre-cut piece wrapped in the metallic blue tin foil, Rice Krispies treats are a classic, delicious dessert. I’m sure you know, but what are the fundamental ingredients for these gooey yet crunchy treats? Hopefully, you’re thinking “butter, marshmallows, and Rice Krispies.” That’s right: Rice Krispies, straight from the cereal box, can be whisked together with butter and marshmallows and baked to perfection to form a very popular dessert.
Cereal can also be used as an alternative to bread crumbs for people on a gluten-free diet. Many people follow this diet for the sake of an allergy or for health benefits, but this can present challenges since many ingredients contain gluten. For instance, standard recipes for a typical breaded dish, such as breaded chicken or mozzarella sticks, are not gluten-free. However, with a creative spin, gluten-free cereals can be a cheap replacement for the bread crumbs that are listed in the recipe. A lot of cereals are gluten-free, so there are many options that can be used. In fact, my dad has a gluten allergy but loves Chex, so my mom’s go-to cereal replacement for bread crumbs is Chex. She mashes them up and then uses them in the same manner as bread crumbs to make a gluten-free version for my dad. Once baked, the Chex crumbs serve the same purpose as the bread crumbs and do so with a satisfying crunch!
Many donut shops even use cereal as a topping! Whether it’s a made-to-order donut shop or the donuts are pre-made, don’t be surprised to see cereal on top of your donut. Peace, Love, and Little Donuts is a donut shop that originated in the Strip District in Pittsburgh, PA, and has become an icon to the Pittsburgh culture. You can create your own combination or pick from one of their specialities. If you’re in the mood for a nice cereal crunch on top of your donut, you can choose from the cereals that are on toppings bar and combine them with different icing flavors to make your own. You can also choose from one of their cereal specialties on the “Funkadelic” line of donuts that are topped with Fruity Pebbles, Fruit Loops or Lucky Charms. Cereal is a clever option to make your donut more dynamic when you want something that is more complex than the simplicity of sprinkles.
Cereal can even be used as a snack. Whether it’s a bag of dry cereal or combined with other ingredients to make a snack mix, cereal provides many great options for quick and easy snacks. Chex cereal is marketed in the famous Chex Mix snack, and the combination of Chex with other crunchy snack pieces is enjoyed by many people. Chex Mix comes in single-serving packs for a to-go snack, and it also comes in large bags in which people can share this cereal-based snack mixture at group gatherings.
Outside of the cereal bowl, cereal can be used in so many ways. From desserts, gluten-free bread crumbs, donut toppings, snacks, and so much more, cereal is a versatile component of the pantry. When you think outside of the box, you can rely on cereal to function in so many ways.
I loved this blog! I eat cereal almost everyday but have never really eaten it other than the traditional way, (besides Rice Krispies). Something that is thought of so much as a food for mostly kids is used in many different ways to food for all ages, and most people probably don’t even think about it as eating cereal.
It is really interesting to hear the many ways that cereal can be used. Most people just think of eating cereal with milk and a spoon. But, your blog really emphasized all of the ways that cereal can be used for other foods.