I tried the cookie cereal that's taking over TikTok, and it made me feel like a kid again

Anneta KonstantinidesMay 30, 2020, 04:54 IST

Insider

Homemade cookie cereal is the newest food craze to take over TikTok and Instagram.
So I decided to try the trend for myself, and was shocked at how easy — and quick — it was to replicate.
I talked to food bloggers Sydney Melhoff and Justin Schuble for their tips on making the best version.
The cookie cereal was delicious, and took me right back to my '90s childhood when I was obsessed with Cookie Crisp.

When I think back to my childhood in the '90s — long before the rise of kale, quinoa, and cold-pressed juices — a variety of delicious treats come to mind. The Lunchables I swapped with my friends, the Capri Suns of YMCA summer camps, and, of course, those sugar-drenched breakfast cereals.

From Reese's Puffs and Oreo O's to Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Fruity Pebbles, my family tried them all. But there was one cereal that my dad and I loved the most, always excitedly filling our bowls with tiny cookies and a pool of milk. Ah yes, Cookie Crisp.

I haven't thought about Cookie Crisp for years. But when I saw the cereal trending on Twitter earlier this month, I was immediately intrigued. The beloved '90s treat had been given a 2020 spin, with food bloggers making their own homemade versions on TikTok and Instagram.

With plenty of time on my hands, I decided to try the trend for myself — and quickly realized that making homemade cookie cereal doesn't actually take much work. Better yet? It's absolutely delicious.

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Before I tell you about my experience, let me give you some background on these homemade Cookie Crisps.

The newest TikTok trend puts a homemade twist on Cookie Crisp cereal (pictured). Paul_Brighton/Shutterstock

Sydney Melhoff has made everything from tiny eggs to miniature cinnamon rolls, but it's cookie cereal that she loves the most.

Schuble loves how accessible cookie cereal is, as it only needs a few ingredients. Justin Schuble

All you really need to make homemade cookie cereal is, well, cookie dough.

All you need for cookie cereal is cookie dough, and maybe some extra chocolate chips. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

It was time to prepare my miniature cookie pieces, and both Melhoff and Justin Schuble gave me some great tips before I started making the cereal.

I got some tips from the pros before I tried to make my own cookie cereal. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Armed with their advice, I decided to cut the dough exactly how Schuble had in his TikTok video.

I cut the dough lengthwise and crosswise to make smaller pieces. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then it was time to shape my cookie cereal, which turned out to be the most time-consuming part of the process.

First, I tried shaping the dough by flattening it with my fingers. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Flattening the edges took more time than I expected, so I also experimented with rolling the dough into a ball and then smashing my palm against it.

I rolled the dough into balls and smashed my palm against them for the second row of pieces. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Rolling the dough into balls and putting them straight onto the sheet was definitely the quickest method.

Then I just rolled my dough into balls to see what would happen. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I also wondered how different my cookie cereal would look with and without the extra chocolate chips.

I only added extra chocolate chips to the first four rows on my baking sheet. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then I popped the cookies into the oven, which I had preheated at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Then I popped my baking sheet into the oven. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

When I took the cookies out of the oven, I could instantly see how the different techniques had affected their presentation.

The extra chocolate chips definitely made the cookies look prettier. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Schuble recommended letting the cookies sit out for a few minutes so they could harden, but after five minutes I found that they were still quite soft.

The miniature cookies looked so cute in the bowl. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

One of Schuble's biggest tips? Be careful with the milk.

I was careful not to add too much milk at first. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then I took my first bite, closing my eyes as I savored the familiar and comforting taste. Milk and cookies, I realized, really are a match made in heaven.

I was in love with cookie cereal after just one bite. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

But my favorite part of homemade cookie cereal was how good it made the milk taste.

The milk was delicious. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Schuble told me he wouldn't be surprised if cookie cereal was the "next big food trend."

Schuble believes cookie cereal is the next big food trend. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

While I wouldn't eat homemade cookie cereal every day, I think the food trend should stay.

I will definitely be making cookie cereal again. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

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