This past weekend I flew back to the Bay Area to attend a good friend's baby shower. We were asked to bring a dish that reminded us of childhood. I thought long and hard and kept coming up with Rice Krispy Treats. I hadn't made them in a really long time and forgot how easy (and fantastic) they are. It left me wanting to experiment more with morning cereals in desserts, and cornflakes seemed as good a starting point as any.
What I love about baking with cornflakes is the almost savory quality they bring to the dessert table. They're not an overly sweet cereal and add a special light crunch that's difficult to achieve from add-ins like nuts or seeds which, while delicious, are more substantial. I find that cornflakes desserts satisfy that 3pm craving for a little something sweet without going overboard into decadent brownie territory (which I certainly do tread in from time to time). From cookies to bars to caneles, there's a little something for every kind of baker here.
• Cornflakes Canele - Ideas in Food
• Coconut Cashew Cornflake Bars - A Crafty Lass
• Cornflake Almond Crunch - Epicurious
• Momofuku's Cornflake, Chocolate Chip, Marshmallow Cookies - The Cookbook Chronicles
• Crunchy Chocolate Cookies - Not Without Salt
Related: Christina Tosi's Corn Cookies from Momofuku Milk Bar
(Image: A Crafty Lass)
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ALSO! If you're adventurous: vanilla or sweet-cream ice cream with cornflakes and a soft-boiled egg. Discovered this magical dessert at hot-springs town Gero in Japan a few years back. Particularly fantastic paired with hot springs on a rainy day (the exact conditions of my experience). Mmm.
Never had it with the egg, but corn flakes are a long time favorite ice cream topping for me. Also, in the decadence category, my mother made what we just called syrup bars - corn flakes, peanut butter, and Karo syrup - that were, hands down, my favorite after school snack. Chewy AND crunchy - can't be beat.
My mother always added peanut butter to rice crispy treats -- and when they were still cooling put chocolate chips over the top and spread it after the melted so there was a layer of chocolate on top. Oh my that makes me want to go home and make some now!
I like haystacks made with corn flakes instead of chow mein noodles.
@YOURLITTLEVOICE that sounds totally weird and absolutely intriguing. how did they serve it? scoop of ice cream topped with cornflakes and break a soft boiled egg over it? do you mush it up into a crunchy sweet savory slurry before you start eating it? omg.. i must try this!!
I did this once to use up a bunch of excess cupboard stuff: cornflakes, marshmallows, cranberries and coconut. Add a little salt, a little vanilla and it's a great snack.
Also from a Japanese restaurant... sweet coffee jello topped with whipped cream and cornflakes. Yummy!
Not technically a dessert, but I've had corn-flake dipped French toast before. Gives it a delicious crunch.
I make "haystacks" with corn flakes, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, PB, and peanuts! So delicious! And I made a cookie version for the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap last year.
@IRRY, everything was piled into a tall glass (cup? my memory is vague on the vessel). 2-3 scoops of ice cream, egg slopped in on the side, and cornflakes sprinkled on top. you get sweet and savory, soft and crunchy, hot and cold. so good!!! might have to go make some this week x)
Haha I tried it.. overpoached the egg, but it was still disgustingly delicious.. my husband thinks I'm nuts though..