Back-to-school season is officially upon us. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if we’re talking kindergarten or grad school—there’s just something about sharpened pencils, fresh notebooks, and overpriced planners that makes me think about after-school snacks.

Now, if I’m being real (and when am I not?), I’m basically always thinking about snacks. The kids heading back to campus is just an excuse to justify it. I mean, I can’t exactly tell them, “Hey, you’re adults now, hit the pantry 'because you're on your own.” The mom in me refuses. So of course, now that the kiddos are doing their college thang while still living under our roof (because have you seen rent in Colorado lately?!), I’m over here scheming up ways to feed them like they’re still six years old.

Enter: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Milk Baked Donuts.

Yes, donuts. For after school. For after anything, really.

See, Ivy LOVES Cinnamon Toast Crunch. She will defend it to the death as the superior cereal, and honestly, I kind of agree. (Sorry, Lucky Charms. Your marshmallows are fun but we all know they’re basically just freeze-dried sugar cubes wearing pastel.) Anyway, the other day I was flipping through one of my cookbooks—aka what I do when I don't like what the hubby is watching on tv—and I stumbled across cereal milk donuts.

Cereal. Milk. Donuts.

I mean, how could I not? Immediately my brain went: Ivy. Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Donuts. Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

So here we are. Donuts inspired by everyone’s favorite cinnamon-sugar crunchy goodness, made in baked form because (a) deep-frying stresses me out, (b) I don’t need a pot of hot oil trying to end me in my own kitchen, and (c) baked donuts are basically muffins with a glow-up. And I am here for that energy.

And guess what? These things are ridiculously good. Soft, fluffy, spiced just right, topped with a creamy glaze and a shower of crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Honestly, they taste like childhood nostalgia wrapped in a warm hug.

And if CTC isn’t your thing? (It’s okay, we can still be friends.) Swap in your favorite cereal and make it your own! Froot Loops, Cocoa Puffs, Frosted Flakes—go wild. Just maybe don’t try Grape Nuts. I feel like that would be… a choice.

The Recipe: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Milk Baked Donuts

Step One: Make the Cereal Milk

Yes, we’re making cereal milk. This is where the magic happens.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal

• 1 cup whole milk (2% works too, but whole milk = more flavor)

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, combine the cereal and milk. Let it sit for 20–30 minutes so the milk can soak up all that sweet cinnamon flavor.

2. Strain out the cereal (and try not to eat the soggy bits straight out of the strainer, because that’s a slippery slope).

3. Boom. You’ve got cereal milk.

Step Two: The Donuts

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• ¼ tsp salt

• 1 large egg

• ⅓ cup granulated sugar

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• ¼ cup vegetable oil (or melted butter, but oil keeps them moist longer)

• ½ cup cereal milk (from above)

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a donut pan like your life depends on it (because there is no sadder sight than half a donut stuck to the pan).

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

3. In another bowl, whisk the egg, both sugars, oil, cereal milk, and vanilla until smooth.

4. Stir the wet into the dry just until combined. (Don’t overmix unless you want tough donuts that double as paperweights.)

5. Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each about ¾ full.

6. Bake 10–12 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when lightly touched.

7. Let cool in the pan for a couple of minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Try not to eat one immediately. (Spoiler: you will.)

Step Three: The Glaze + Topping

Ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 2–3 tbsp cereal milk (yep, more of that liquid gold)

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch (just throw some in a zip-top bag and whack it with a rolling pin—it’s therapeutic)

Instructions:

1. Whisk powdered sugar, cereal milk, and vanilla until smooth. If it’s too thick, add a splash more cereal milk. Too thin? More sugar.

2. Dip each cooled donut into the glaze, then sprinkle generously with crushed cereal.

3. Admire your work like you’re on The Great British Bake Off, then devour.

Why You Need These Donuts in Your Life

• They’re baked, not fried, which makes them health food (don’t argue, just let me have this).

• They double as breakfast, snack, or dessert—basically, an all-day food group.

• They’re customizable with whatever cereal makes your inner child sing.

• They make you look like a culinary genius when really you just soaked cereal in milk and called it a day.

Final Thoughts (a.k.a. Me Trying to Justify My Snack Obsession)

Look, back-to-school season comes with a lot of emotions. Pride that your kids are growing up. Nostalgia for when they were tiny. Existential dread about how old you are now. (Just me? Cool.)

But snacks make it better. Snacks always make it better. And these Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Milk Baked Donuts? They’re basically edible therapy. Ivy loved them, the rest of the family devoured them, and I may or may not have hidden one in the back of the fridge for “later” (a.k.a. 10 minutes after everyone went to bed).

So the next time you’re feeling all the feelings about back-to-school—or you’re just hungry, which is my permanent state—whip up a batch of these donuts. Because honestly? You deserve a snack too.