Cereal Milk Punch Recipes

CINNAMON CEREAL COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Place the milk and 2 cups of the cinnamon cereal in a pitcher or large liquid measuring cup. Let steep in the refrigerator for 1 hour, and then strain, pressing out the milk with a wooden spoon.
• Crush the remaining 1/2 cup cereal and place in a shallow dish. Place a little of the cereal milk in a second shallow dish. Coat the rims of 2 rocks glasses by first dipping in the milk and then in the cereal. Fill each glass with ice.
• Fill a shaker halfway with ice and add the cinnamon whiskey, rum cream liqueur and 6 ounces cereal milk. Shake vigorously and divide between the prepared glasses. Use the leftover milk for additional cocktails or serve it without the liquor as a mocktail.

CLARIFIED MILK PUNCH

Steps:

• Heat 2 1/4 cups of water to 208 degrees F. If you have an electric kettle with a temperature setting, great. If not, bring the water to a boil in a saucepan, kill the heat and count to 20. Pour the water over the teabags into a quart vessel and steep 3 minutes before removing the bags. (Do not wring out or squeeze the bags.)
• Add the sugar to the hot tea and stir to dissolve. Then add the port, rum, Allspice Dram, and lemon juice. Cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• Pour the milk into a glass pitcher and then follow with the tea mixture. (Yes, it will curdle.) Park on counter for 1 hour. Do not shake, stir or molest in any way. Just let the magic happen. Oh, and make sure the tea goes into the milk, not the other way around.
• Line a large, fine-mesh sieve with a commercial-sized coffee filter (we like those made for 1.5-gallon machines) and strain the mixture into a wide, 4-quart container. Once completely filtered, typically about 1 hour, transfer to a quart jar or pitcher and chill to serve. (See Cook's Note.)
• Store tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
• Heat a heavy skillet over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Toast the allspice berries until fragrant, about 1 minute, then roughly crush.
• Combine the rum and crushed allspice berries in a quart-sized glass jar, seal the lid tightly and give it a good shake. Steep for 10 days.
• Strain the allspice-infused rum through a fine-mesh sieve into a small saucepan and add the sugar. Heat over low, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature before storing in a glass jar or bottle.
• Note: Any overproof rum will work here, meaning any rum over 50 percent ABV. But navy-strength rum, typically bottled at 57 percent ABV, is my favorite. Just remember: The higher the ABV of the rum, the higher the ABV of your resulting dram.

CEREAL MILK PUDDING

Steps:

• Add the milk and 3 cups of the cereal to a large bowl and stir to combine. Let the mixture steep for 1 hour in the refrigerator, then strain out the cereal and discard it, reserving the milk (there should be 4 1/2 cups).
• Add 4 cups of the cereal milk to a large saucepan and warm over medium heat until steaming (do not let boil), about 6 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1/2 cup cereal milk in a medium bowl.
• Slowly incorporate the warm cereal milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to keep the eggs from scrambling. Once combined, pour the mixture back into the pan and turn the heat to medium. Cook, whisking continually, until the mixture thickens up to the consistency of pudding, about 7 minutes.
• Remove the pudding from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Transfer to a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap pressed against the top of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Chill the pudding completely, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spread the remaining 1 cup cereal evenly on a baking sheet and drizzle with the agave. Bake until the agave melts and the cereal sticks when pinched, about 5 minutes. Let cool. (The cereal garnish will harden as it cools.)
• Spoon the pudding into bowls and top with the candied cereal pieces and sprinkles.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT FRENCH TOAST WITH CINNAMON CEREAL

Steps:

• Slice the brioche into 1 1/2-inch-thick slices (6 to 8 slices). Lay each slice on its side and cut a 2-inch slit into the bottom of each. Fill the slit with about 1 tablespoon of the chocolate-hazelnut spread.
• Whisk together the milk, vanilla, salt and eggs in a shallow bowl or baking dish. Place the crushed cereal in another baking dish. Dip a slice of the filled brioche into the egg mixture on both sides a few times, making sure the mixture has soaked in, then transfer to the cereal dish and coat with cereal on both sides. Place the bread on a cutting board or plate while finishing dredging the rest. Repeat with the remaining slices, egg mix and cereal.
• Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of the butter. Place as many slices as will fit in the skillet. Cook on one side until the coating is crisp and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, then flip and cook another 2 to 3 minutes on the other side. Transfer to a platter. Add 2 more tablespoons of butter to the skillet and then more slices. Repeat the process with the remaining butter and slices, reserving 2 tablespoons of butter for the bananas.
• Add the remaining butter to the skillet, let it melt and place the bananas in a single layer in the melted butter. Cook until caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Top the toast with the bananas and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Serve immediately.

MILK PUNCH

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, 1/2 cup water, vanilla seeds and pod. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Let steep for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture and discard the vanilla pod.
• Pour 1 cup milk, 3/4 cup brandy and half of the vanilla syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake the cocktail until ice cold, and then carefully pour into 4 rocks glasses. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Garnish with nutmeg and enjoy!
• What Really Makes This Recipe Sing: This is the classic hair of the dog in New Orleans. Most bartenders have their own version, but any of them will do the trick.
• BYOC: Want to really indulge? Whip some cream up with a little superfine sugar and dollop on top. Want to cut some calories? Try making this with almond milk.