Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ice Cream

I was an odd child when it came to certain types of foods.  Cereal was one of them.  I never wanted to eat  a bowl of cereal for breakfast usually opting for a nutri-grain bar or toaster streudel.  But there was one exception...Cinnamon Toast Crunch!  I would beg my Mom to buy it for me in the grocery store.  There was something about the cinnamon and sugar combination that I just loved!  She didn't always give in and buy it because afterall, it isn't the healthiest thing, but when she did it was a treat!  It reminded me of the cinnamon toast that she also made for me when I was little, which was always so comforting and had the same cinnamon sugar goodness.  I have to admit I hadn't eaten Cinnamon Toast Crunch in probably 15 years...that is until this week.  I acquired a bag of "natural" cinnamon toast crunch, which I wasn't even aware was available, but it is sold at the health food store where I work in the deli.  I was skeptical at first when I looked at the bag of what was supposedly a healthier knock off of the cereal, but when I tasted it, I was brought back to childhood.  The crunch, the sweet cinnamon sugar flavor, I hadn't realized I had missed it until now. 

I suppose I could have just eaten it, but being the type to experiment with food in odd ways, I was wondering how it would taste in ice cream.  I was making ice cream that night, and a Cinnamon Toast Crunch one was sounding rather delicious! 

If you think about it, the ice cream is a vehicle just like the milk right?  And how else could I justify eating a sugary cereal other than in a dessert?  It was wonderful! 

The cool creamy ice cream flavored like the cereal and with chunks of crunchy cinnamon sugar cereal goodness!  It got a little soggy after sitting a few days, but it was still good, and just reminded me of eating the cereal with milk, and garnished it with a few more from the bag. 

Cereal in ice cream may sound wierd, but it was one of the most delicious experiments I have tasted!  If you like something a little different, try it out for yourself!

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ice Cream 

Makes 5 cups

Ice Cream:

1 cup lite coconut milk, chilled

2 cups organic full fat coconut milk, chilled

1 cup cinnamon toast crunch cereal

3/4 cup agave nectar

1/4 tsp sea salt

1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cardamom

2 Tbsp cassia cinnamon

2 cups crushed cinnamon toast crunch cereal

more cereal for garnish, if desired

Combine all ingredients, (except for 2 cups of crushed cinnamon toast crunch) in a blender and process until well blended.  Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and process according to package directions (mine takes about an hour, and is still a little soupy like the consistency of a malt, but firms up in the freezer later). Once processed, stir in 2 cups crushed cinnamon toast crunch and pour into freezable container with a lid, and place in the freezer for at least a few hours, or overnight to firm up for best results.  Best if eaten the next day, but still wonderful after a few, the cereal just won't be as crisp.  Garnish with additional cereal if desired.