Name: Homemade Cookie Cereal Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/3 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour; 3/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon espresso powder (optional); 2 large eggs; 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted; 1/2 cup (110 g) packed light brown sugar; 1/3 cup (67 g) granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1 1/4 cups mini chocolate chips

If you’re on the hunt for a fun and absolutely delicious breakfast twist (or anytime snack), this Homemade Cookie Cereal Recipe is pure magic. Trust me, I’ve tried all sorts of cereal hacks, but this one takes the cake—tiny, crunchy cookies you can pour into a bowl of milk and munch away like your favorite childhood treat. Stick around because I’m about to share everything you need to know to nail this recipe and enjoy your very own sweet, nostalgic breakfast cereal at home.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Unique & Fun Breakfast: Turns classic cookies into a crunchy cereal that’ll bring a smile to your face first thing in the morning.
Easy Ingredients: Uses pantry staples you probably already have, with no complicated steps or weird add-ons.
Customizable Flavor: You can swap chocolate chips for your favorite mix-ins to make it truly yours.
Kid-Approved: My family goes crazy for this—perfect for picky eaters and cookie lovers alike.

Two white bowls sit on a white marbled surface filled with small round chocolate chip cookies partially soaked in milk. The cookies are light brown with visible chocolate chips and have a soft, slightly puffed texture. One bowl has a silver spoon resting inside, lifting some cookies from the milk. Around the bowls, a few cookies are casually placed on the marbled surface. The milk creates a creamy white liquid background that contrasts with the cookies. The overall scene looks warm and inviting, with a soft natural light. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Homemade Cookie Cereal, cookie cereal recipe, breakfast cereal hack, easy cookie cereal, homemade breakfast ideas

Ingredients You’ll Need

The beauty of this Homemade Cookie Cereal Recipe is how simple the ingredients are, yet they come together to create these deliciously small crispy cookies that stay crunchy in milk. A few quick tips: be sure to use quality butter for that rich flavor and don’t skip chilling the dough to help keep the shape perfectly tiny and crisp.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl with baking soda, a small white ceramic bowl with kosher salt, a small white ceramic bowl with espresso powder, two whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white ceramic bowl of melted unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl holding packed light brown sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of golden vanilla extract, and a small white ceramic bowl filled with mini chocolate chips, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Homemade Cookie Cereal, cookie cereal recipe, breakfast cereal hack, easy cookie cereal, homemade breakfast ideas

All-purpose flour: The base of your cookie cereal; simple and versatile.
Baking soda: Provides just enough lift so the cookies aren’t too flat.
Kosher salt: Balances sweetness and brings out flavors.
Espresso powder (optional): Enhances the chocolate flavor with a subtle depth—don’t worry, you won’t taste coffee.
Large eggs: Bind the dough and add richness.
Unsalted butter, melted: Using melted butter keeps the cookies tender yet crisp.
Light brown sugar: Adds moisture and a mild caramel note.
Granulated sugar: For that classic cookie crunch.
Pure vanilla extract: Infuses the dough with warm sweetness.
Mini chocolate chips: The star that adds gooey, melty bits in every tiny bite.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love how flexible this Homemade Cookie Cereal Recipe is—you can mix it up depending on what you’re craving or what you have on hand. Tweaking it a bit keeps things exciting and lets you put your own spin on this crazy fun snack.

Nut-Free: Skip the chocolate chips and try mini butterscotch chips or dried cranberries, which are great if you have allergies in the house—I’ve done this for my niece and it was a hit!
Vegan Version: Sub in flax eggs and vegan butter; the texture changes slightly but still delivers that crunchy cookie cereal vibe.
Spiced Up: Add a pinch of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice for subtle warmth—perfect in fall mornings.
Flavor Swaps: Swap mini chocolate chips for white chocolate or even mini peanut butter chips if you want something a little different.

How to Make Homemade Cookie Cereal Recipe

Step 1: Whisk Together the Dry and Wet Ingredients

Start by mixing your dry ingredients—flour, baking soda, salt, and espresso powder if you’re using it—in a large bowl. I like to whisk them together well because it really helps everything blend evenly. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, melted butter, both sugars, and vanilla extract until smooth. When you combine the wet and dry ingredients, stir gently—you want everything just combined so your cookie cereal has the perfect tender-crisp texture.

Step 2: Fold in the Mini Chocolate Chips and Chill

Now fold in those adorable mini chocolate chips. Tiny chips are key here—they distribute more evenly so every bite has chocolate. Cover the dough and pop it into the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes. Chilling helps the dough firm up so your little cookie balls don’t spread too much during baking. This was a game-changer for me; I used to end up with one giant cookie blob instead of cute cereal bites!

Step 3: Form Tiny Balls and Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F and set racks on the upper and lower thirds. Scoop tiny 1/2-tsp portions of dough—you’ll probably want to use a measuring spoon to keep them consistent for even baking. Roll each portion into a small ball with your hands, then place them spaced about 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. A little trick I learned: gently tapping each dough ball with your fingertip flattens them slightly, which helps them bake into those perfect crispy cookie cereal pieces.

Step 4: Bake and Cool

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, rotating your sheets from top to bottom halfway through to get an even bake. You want them lightly golden but not dark—watch closely as every oven is a little different! Let them cool on the baking sheets to crisp up completely. When cool, these tiny cookie cereals are ready to be poured into your favorite bowl with milk, or just enjoyed by the handful.

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Pro Tips for Making Homemade Cookie Cereal Recipe

Use Mini Chocolate Chips: Larger chips don’t work as well here because they overpower the tiny cookies and can melt into a mess.
Chill the Dough: This is crucial to prevent spreading and keep your cookie cereal bite-sized and crunchy.
Watch the Bake Time: Timings may vary, so start checking at 8 minutes to avoid overbaking and losing that crispness.
Gentle Mixing: Overmixing the dough can make your cookie cereal tough rather than light and crunchy—stir just until combined.

How to Serve Homemade Cookie Cereal Recipe

A close-up view of many small, round chocolate chip cookies spread out closely, each cookie showing a light golden brown color with a slightly crisp edge and a soft, pale beige center. The chocolate chips are scattered unevenly on the surface of the cookies, varying in size and embedded into the dough, creating small pockets of melted chocolate texture. The cookies lie flat on a white marbled surface, filling the frame with their warm tones and rough textures of dough and chips. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Homemade Cookie Cereal, cookie cereal recipe, breakfast cereal hack, easy cookie cereal, homemade breakfast ideas

Garnishes

I love topping my bowl of cookie cereal with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a few extra mini chips right before pouring milk for that extra chocolate boost. Sometimes fresh berries like sliced strawberries or raspberries add a bright contrast to the sweetness, making breakfast feel a bit more special.

Side Dishes

Since this cookie cereal is quite sweet, I usually pair it with a side of fresh fruit or a simple yogurt to balance things out. A hot cup of coffee or tea also complements the cozy chocolate flavor beautifully.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I like to serve the cookie cereal in cute mini mason jars with a little spoon tied on the side. It makes a whimsical gift or surprise breakfast in bed. I’ve also layered it in parfait glasses with whipped cream and fresh fruit—instantly impressive and tasty!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once baked and thoroughly cooled, I store my cookie cereal in an airtight container at room temperature. It stays crisp for up to two weeks—perfect for having a ready snack all week long.

Freezing

If you want to keep these fresh even longer, freezing works great! Just place cooled cookie cereal in a sealed freezer-safe bag or container, and it will keep for a couple of months. When you want some, just thaw at room temperature—no reheating needed.

Reheating

I usually don’t reheat since I love that crisp crunch straight from the container, but if you prefer warm cookie cereal, a quick 2-3 minute toast in the oven at 300°F works wonders without losing crunchiness.

FAQs

Can I make this Homemade Cookie Cereal Recipe gluten-free?

Yes! You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend designed for baking. Just make sure it’s a 1:1 replacement for best results. The texture will be very similar, and you won’t miss out on any of that crunch.
How long does homemade cookie cereal stay fresh?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, it stays fresh and crunchy for up to two weeks. For longer storage, freezing is a great option and keeps it fresh for months.
Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of mini chips?

Mini chocolate chips are best for this recipe because they distribute evenly and bake with the tiny cookies without overpowering. Regular-sized chips can be too bulky and might melt in a way that alters the texture.
Is it necessary to chill the dough?

Chilling is key to keep the dough firm so your tiny cookie balls hold their shape and bake crisp without spreading into one large cookie slab. Fifteen to twenty minutes makes a big difference.
Can I add nuts or dried fruit to the cookie cereal?

You absolutely can! Small chopped nuts or finely chopped dried fruit work great and add extra texture and flavor. Just be mindful of the size so your cookie cereal stays bite-sized.

Final Thoughts

Making this Homemade Cookie Cereal Recipe has been such a fun adventure in my kitchen. It reminds me of those simple joys of childhood, but with the grown-up twist of homemade goodness and fresh ingredients. You’ll enjoy how easy it is to whip up a batch, and how addictive it is to snack on these crispy little cookies by the handful or in a bowl of cold milk. Give it a try—you might just find yourself making this a pantry staple.