Introduction
Hey there, snack lovers! Do you ever get that sudden craving for something sweet, something maybe a little bit nostalgic, but you just don’t have the time (or energy!) to whip up a whole batch of cookies or bake a cake? Yeah, me too. Sometimes you just need that instant gratification, that little bit of sugary comfort that takes you back to simpler times. Well, get ready, because I’m about to share a little secret with you – a ridiculously easy, incredibly fast recipe for what I like to call “Mini Doughnut Hot Buttered Cheerios.”
Seriously, it sounds simple, and it is, but the flavor combo? It’s pure magic! It tastes surprisingly like a warm, cinnamon-sugar doughnut hole, but in a super crispy, snackable form. And the best part? You can have this delightful treat ready in literally 5 minutes. Perfect for a movie night, an after-school snack, or just because it’s Tuesday and you deserve something yummy.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: We’re talking minutes, not hours. From zero to delicious in no time!
- Easy: If you can melt butter, you can make this. No fancy equipment or skills needed.
- Giftable: Pack these up in a cute jar or bag, and you’ve got a sweet little homemade gift for a friend or neighbor.
- Crowd-pleasing: Kids and adults alike absolutely devour these. Make a batch for your next gathering, and watch them disappear!
Ingredients
You probably have most of these staples in your pantry right now!
- 4 cups Cheerios or Cinnamon Cheerios cereal: The humble base! Regular Cheerios work great, soaking up that buttery cinnamon goodness. If you use Cinnamon Cheerios, you’ll get an extra punch of cinnamon flavor, which is also delicious!
- 1/4 cup Butter: The essential fat that carries all that lovely flavor and coats the cereal. Use unsalted butter so you can control the saltiness, but honestly, salted works fine too if that’s what you have.
- 1/4 cup White sugar: For that classic sweet coating. It melts into the butter mixture beautifully.
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon: This is where the “mini doughnut” magic really happens. That warm, cozy spice is key!
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla: A little splash of vanilla extract just rounds out all the flavors and adds another layer of deliciousness.
How to Make It
Alright, let’s get cooking! Grab your ingredients and let’s do this.
- First things first, measure out your 4 cups of Cheerios and put them in a really big bowl. Trust me, you’ll want plenty of room to stir without making a mess.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, or in a microwave-safe bowl, melt your 1/4 cup of butter. If using the microwave, heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted.
- Once the butter is melted, remove it from the heat (or microwave). Stir in the 1/4 cup of white sugar and the 1 tsp of ground cinnamon. Stir it really well until the sugar starts to dissolve a bit and the cinnamon is fully incorporated. It will smell amazing already!
- Now, stir in the 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract. Give it one more quick stir to make sure everything is mixed.
- Immediately pour this warm buttery, sugary, cinnamon-vanilla mixture all over the Cheerios in the big bowl.
- Grab a spoon or a rubber spatula and gently but quickly start stirring and tossing the cereal. You want to get every single Cheerio coated in that delicious glaze. Keep stirring until they look nicely coated.
- Now comes the hardest part: letting them cool slightly! Spread the coated Cheerios out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper, or just on a plate. This helps them cool and get that lovely crispy texture.
- Once they’ve cooled for about 5-10 minutes, dig in! They’ll be slightly sticky, wonderfully crunchy, and taste just like little bites of cinnamon-sugar heaven.
Substitutions & Additions
Want to mix things up? Here are a few ideas:
- Other Cereal: While Cheerios work best because of their shape and texture, you could experiment with other plain, O-shaped cereals.
- Different Sugar: You could try using brown sugar for a slightly deeper, caramelly flavor, or even a sugar substitute if you’re watching your sugar intake (though results may vary on coating).
- Add a Pinch of Salt: A tiny pinch of salt (like 1/8 tsp) in the butter mixture can really enhance the sweet and cinnamon flavors.
- Extra Spices: Add a tiny pinch of nutmeg or cardamom along with the cinnamon for more complex spice notes.
- Mix-Ins: Once the cereal has cooled, you could toss in some mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried cranberries for extra flavor and texture.
Tips for Success
Making these is super simple, but here are a couple of pointers to make them perfect:
- Use a Big Bowl: Seriously, don’t skimp on bowl size. It makes coating the cereal so much easier and less messy.
- Stir Quickly: The warm butter mixture will start to cool and thicken, so pour it over the cereal right away and stir quickly to get an even coating.
- Cooling is Key: Don’t skip the cooling step! Spreading them out helps them set up and prevents them from clumping together too much, giving you that perfect snackable texture.
How to Store It
These Mini Doughnut Hot Buttered Cheerios are best enjoyed fresh, but they store pretty well too!
Once completely cooled, transfer them to an airtight container or a resealable bag. Store at room temperature. They should stay fresh and crispy for about 3-4 days, if they last that long!
FAQs
Got questions? I’ve got answers!
- Q: Can I use less sugar? A: You can try, but the sugar mixed with the butter is what creates the coating. Reducing it significantly might result in a less uniform or less sweet coating.
- Q: Can I make a double batch? A: Absolutely! Just double all the ingredients and make sure you use an even bigger bowl! You might need to melt the butter mixture in a slightly larger pan or in two batches if using the microwave.
- Q: Why do you call them “mini doughnut”? A: It’s all about the flavor profile! The combination of butter, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla mimics the taste of a warm, classic cinnamon-sugar doughnut or doughnut hole. The texture is different (crispy!), but the flavor is spot on!
- Q: Is it supposed to be sticky? A: They will be slightly sticky when warm and immediately after coating. As they cool, the coating sets up, and they become less sticky, resulting in a crunchy texture with a slight tackiness from the sugar glaze.
Easy Mini Doughnut Hot Buttered Cheerios
A ridiculously easy, incredibly fast recipe for crispy, snackable Cheerios that taste surprisingly like warm, cinnamon-sugar doughnut holes. Ready in literally 5 minutes.
Equipment
- Big bowl
- Small saucepan Over medium heat
- Microwave-safe bowl Alternative to saucepan
- Spoon For stirring
- Rubber spatula For stirring and tossing
- Baking Sheet For cooling
- Parchment paper Optional, for lining baking sheet
- Wax paper Optional, for lining baking sheet
- Plate Alternative for cooling
- Airtight container For storing
- Resealable bag For storing
Ingredients
Hauptzutaten
- 4 cup Cheerios or Cinnamon Cheerios cereal Regular Cheerios work great, soaking up that buttery cinnamon goodness. If you use Cinnamon Cheerios, you'll get an extra punch of cinnamon flavor.
- 0.25 cup Butter Use unsalted butter so you can control the saltiness, but honestly, salted works fine too.
- 0.25 cup White sugar
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 0.25 tsp Vanilla Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Measure out your 4 cups of Cheerios and put them in a really big bowl.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, or in a microwave-safe bowl, melt your 1/4 cup of butter. If using the microwave, heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted.
- Once the butter is melted, remove it from the heat (or microwave). Stir in the 1/4 cup of white sugar and the 1 tsp of ground cinnamon. Stir it really well until the sugar starts to dissolve a bit and the cinnamon is fully incorporated.
- Now, stir in the 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract. Give it one more quick stir to make sure everything is mixed.
- Immediately pour this warm buttery, sugary, cinnamon-vanilla mixture all over the Cheerios in the big bowl.
- Grab a spoon or a rubber spatula and gently but quickly start stirring and tossing the cereal. You want to get every single Cheerio coated in that delicious glaze. Keep stirring until they look nicely coated.
- Now comes the hardest part: letting them cool slightly! Spread the coated Cheerios out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper, or just on a plate. This helps them cool and get that lovely crispy texture.
- Once they've cooled for about 5-10 minutes, dig in! They'll be slightly sticky, wonderfully crunchy, and taste just like little bites of cinnamon-sugar heaven.
Notes
Tips for Success:
- Use a Big Bowl: It makes coating the cereal so much easier and less messy.
- Stir Quickly: The warm butter mixture will start to cool and thicken, so pour it over the cereal right away and stir quickly to get an even coating.
- Cooling is Key: Spreading them out helps them set up and prevents them from clumping together too much. Storage:
Once completely cooled, transfer to an airtight container or resealable bag. Store at room temperature. They should stay fresh and crispy for about 3-4 days.
- Use a Big Bowl: It makes coating the cereal so much easier and less messy.
- Stir Quickly: The warm butter mixture will start to cool and thicken, so pour it over the cereal right away and stir quickly to get an even coating.
- Cooling is Key: Spreading them out helps them set up and prevents them from clumping together too much. Storage:
Once completely cooled, transfer to an airtight container or resealable bag. Store at room temperature. They should stay fresh and crispy for about 3-4 days.