Save to Pinterest Create a nostalgic coffee drink that combines the warm, comforting flavors of cinnamon toast cereal with smooth, creamy coffee. This blended beverage delivers the perfect balance of sweet cinnamon spice and rich coffee notes, finished with velvety milk and cream.
The process comes together quickly—toss ice cubes, milk, brewed coffee, cereal pieces, sugar, vanilla, and ground cinnamon into your blender and whirl until smooth and frothy. For an ultra-silky texture, strain through a fine mesh sieve before pouring into tall glasses.
Customize your frappe by adjusting the thickness with extra ice, swapping in cold brew concentrate for bold coffee intensity, or using oat milk and coconut whipped cream for a dairy-free version. Top with whipped cream and scattered cereal pieces for that signature crunch in every sip.
The smell of cinnamon hitting the hot milk at my favorite coffee shop sparked this entire experiment. I stood there watching them create a cinnamon dolce latte and thought, what if we went all in and made it taste exactly like that cereal bowl from childhood? After three attempts getting the ratios right, my kitchen smelled like a cinnamon wonderland and I finally nailed it.
My sister came over last weekend looking completely exhausted after a brutal week at work. I handed her one of these frappes without saying a word, and she literally closed her eyes and made the most satisfied noise Ive ever heard. Now she texts me every Friday asking if its frappe time.
Ingredients
- Whole milk: The fat content creates that silky texture you cannot get from skim milk
- Heavy cream: This tiny amount makes all the difference between a thin drink and something luxurious
- Strong brewed coffee: Use whatever beans you love but brew it extra strong since the ice will dilute it
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal: Do not use generic here, the real stuff has that perfect coating that blends into the drink
- Granulated sugar: The cereal already brings sweetness but this balances the coffee bitterness
- Vanilla extract: Pure extract ties everything together and makes it taste like a real dessert
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and depth that hits your nose before every sip
- Ice cubes: Essential for that slushy frappe texture we are chasing
Instructions
- Blend everything together:
- Toss in your milk, cream, coffee, cereal, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and ice, then hit high speed for one to two minutes until it looks like a creamy cloud.
- Strain for smoothness:
- Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve if you want a perfectly smooth drink, though some cereal bits add fun texture.
- Pour and decorate:
- Divide between two tall glasses and go wild with whipped cream, extra cereal pieces and another pinch of cinnamon.
Save to Pinterest My daughter now requests these for weekend breakfast instead of pancakes. Watching her scoop out the soggy cereal pieces from the bottom with a spoon reminds me of being six years old at the kitchen table, except now we are both adults bonding over the same silly joy.
Getting The Right Texture
The difference between a good frappe and a great one comes down to ice ratio. Too little and you have sweet coffee soup, too much and you cannot suck it through a straw. Two cups for two servings is the sweet spot I have found through many failed attempts.
Making It Dairy Free
Oat milk is actually my favorite substitution here because it has a natural creaminess that holds up beautifully when blended. The slight oat flavor even complements the cinnamon in ways I did not expect when I first started experimenting with plant-based versions.
Serving Suggestions
These frappes are sweet enough to stand alone as dessert but pair wonderfully with something plain to balance the intensity. A simple sugar cookie or even just some fresh berries on the side keeps things from feeling too heavy.
- Use a wide straw so you do not miss out on the cereal pieces
- Make the coffee the night before and keep it in the fridge
- Blend for an extra 30 seconds if you want it thicker and frothier
Save to Pinterest These have become our go-to treat for lazy Sunday mornings, and I honestly look forward to blending them up all week long. Sometimes the simplest pleasures are the ones that stick around the longest.
Recipe FAQs
- → Can I make this ahead of time?
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For the best texture and frothiness, blend and serve immediately. However, you can prepare the coffee in advance and keep it chilled in the refrigerator until ready to blend.
- → What type of coffee works best?
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Strong brewed coffee, cold brew concentrate, or espresso all work beautifully. Cold brew will give you a smoother, less acidic taste while hot brewed coffee cooled down provides a classic coffee flavor.
- → Is the straining step necessary?
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Not strictly required—straining simply removes any remaining cereal pulp for a smoother drink. If you enjoy some texture and don't mind small cereal pieces, skip this step entirely.
- → Can I make this dairy-free?
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Absolutely. Substitute whole milk with oat, almond, or coconut milk, and use coconut whipped cream or a plant-based whipped topping for garnish.
- → How can I make it sweeter?
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Add an extra tablespoon of sugar, drizzle in some sweetened condensed milk, or top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar for extra sweetness and dimension.
- → What other cereals could I use?
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Cinnamon Toast Crunch provides the signature flavor, but other cinnamon cereals or even cinnamon chex would work. The key is choosing a cereal with that warm cinnamon-sugar profile.
