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

I first saw Cookie Crisp trending on Twitter after Justin Schuble posted his cookie cereal video on social media.

##duet with @justinmschuble oops I did it again! I think this batch turned out even better ##MakeBakeShake ##cookiecereal ##learnfromme ##pancakecereal

Schuble, who is behind the popular Instagram account @dcfoodporn, was inspired to make homemade cookie cereal by Sydney Melhoff — who also launched the pancake cereal trend.

So I reached out to both of the food bloggers, hoping to learn more about this new cereal trend that was already dominating TikTok and Instagram.

"Cookies and milk are a conventional duo, so why not turn it into a cereal!" she told me. "Its been extremely fun to see everyone re-create cookie cereal and add their own spin to it. Especially at a time like this, cooking or baking can be a diverting or enjoyable outlet for so many people."

Schuble told me he loves how accessible cookie cereal is, as the recipe only requires a few simple ingredients.

"Most of my recipes are simple, easy to replicate, and use ingredients that you probably have in your pantry because I want to provide my audience with ideas for what they can make at home," he said. "Most people either have cookie dough in their fridge, or have the ingredients necessary to make it."

I also bought a bag of chocolate chips, which was one of Schuble's tips. Schuble added an extra chocolate chip on top of each of his miniature cookies when he baked them the second time around, and said it made for an even more beautiful presentation.

Plus, who can say no to more chocolate?

"I learned a lot on my first go-around, so when I remade the cookie cereal for the second time it was way better," Schuble told me. "I would recommend making sure all of the cookie dough pieces are the same size so that they cook evenly."

Melhoff also learned some essential lessons when she first tried to create cookie cereal.

"I tested a few cookies beforehand and they came out too big," she said. "I really wanted to replicate the size of normal cereal, so it was surprising how small you have to shape the cookie batter before baking. In the oven they double — if not triple — in size, so that's definitely something to keep in mind."

I first cut the dough lengthwise, slicing through the middle of each square to try and ensure that the pieces would be even. Then I cut the dough crosswise — once again through the middle — to make even smaller pieces.

I had seen a few techniques for shaping the cereal pieces. During their first cookie cereal attempts, both Melhoff and Schuble had rolled the dough into small balls and placed them directly onto a baking sheet.

But Schuble now recommends rolling the dough and then flattening it slightly, a trick he had picked up from his second attempt. I decided to try both methods so I could see which one I liked best.

This created a similar effect, although it definitely wasn't as pretty as the pieces I had shaped with my fingers.

I was excited to see just how different my three dough shapes would look when it was time to take them out of the oven.

So I decided not to add any to the pieces on the last two rows of my baking sheet.

I set a timer for seven minutes, the amount of baking time that Schuble recommends.

I had slightly struggled to make all my cookies the same size, but I was happy to see that they still looked quite similar to those in Schuble's video. And I found that adding extra chocolate chips, plus flattening the dough with my fingers, made the cookies look prettier.

But I was surprised to discover that the pieces I just rolled into balls also came out great, and were probably closer in size to actual Cookie Crisps.

I had been warned that cookie cereal gets soggy fast, so I decided to let them sit out for another 10 minutes.

As I carefully put the pieces into a bowl, I couldn't help but feel like a little kid again. The cookies looked beautiful, and I was about to eat them for breakfast!

"The cookies can get soggy," he told me. "I'd recommend adding some cookies and milk and trying it before adding more milk."

I followed Schuble's advice, gingerly pouring some vanilla soy milk into my bowl of cookies.

I don't think homemade cookie cereal tastes much like Cookie Crisp, but that isn't a bad thing. I loved how fresh the cookies tasted, and eating them with a bowl and spoon — rather than just dunking them in milk — felt really fun and playful.

Letting the cookies sit for 15 minutes definitely helped. They didn't get soggy fast, even when I added more milk, and held their shape for far longer than I expected.

I didn't let myself finish the entire bowl of cookie cereal, but I couldn't resist drinking all of the milk. It brought back childhood memories of bringing the bowl straight to my mouth, slurping up the technicolor milk left behind by Fruity Pebbles or the last chocolaty sips from Cococa Puffs.

"There is something so cute and Insta-worthy about mini cookies," he said. "And baking them is a great way to pass the time at home. I see this homemade cookie cereal as a new and fresh version of Cookie Crisp that you can make without going shopping."

"There are certain ingredients that we all have at home — like eggs and flour — and I think a lot of the trends are coming from people adding their own twist to what they can find in their kitchen," he added. "It's definitely more time-consuming than opening a box of cereal, but a lot of us have extra time on our hands these days. And nothing beats warm cookies and milk."

I'm not surprised that homemade cookie cereal has become such a hit. In times like these, so many people are diverting back to everything from music to food that reminds them of their childhood. I've been in lockdown across the country from my family for months, and this cereal brought back wonderful memories of sugary breakfasts in a sun-drenched California kitchen.

I also love that cookie cereal is among the easier quarantine food trends. And, much like with dalgona coffee, I plan to whip it up again when I need a sweet treat — or a blast from the past.

• Read more:
• People are making tiny chocolate chip cookies into cereal, and it's the hottest new food trend on TikTok
• I tried making dalgona coffee, the newest TikTok craze, and it was definitely worth the hype
• I lived like Ina Garten in lockdown for a day and it was the most fun I've had in quarantine
• People are making tiny foods on TikTok so they can eat dessert for breakfast, including cookies and doughnuts