Cereal Milk
19
For generations bleary eyed people have stared at the bottom of their cereal bowl, eyes still glazed with sleep as they shove bits of cereal and milk in their mouths as if on automaton. Then along comes a genius who has a spark of imagination as her eyes peruse the leftover milk at the bottom of the bowl. "Why don’t I bottle this and sell it?" she muses "It will work!" And it did.
One fine day, Momofuku founder David Chang asked Christina Tosi to prepare dessert and just like that the pastry program at Momofuku began. Christina’s quirky and playful vision about giving a fun modern twist to childhood flavours earned rave reviews and led to the opening of the Momofuku Milk Bar that has garnered hordes of fans around the world. Cereal Milk is the brainchild of Christina Tosi’s playful take on breakfast. Who would’ve thought that the milk in the bottom of your cereal bowl could taste so luscious once it was tweaked and bottled up in delightful packaging.
The Momofuku Milk Bar is one of my favourite cookbooks, mainly because of the quirk factor and the immense creativity that is Christina Tosi. I love a concept that allows adults to become little children and indulge. It is what the world needs. It is what I need! On occasion. You see, feeding my inner child also unleashes my creativity.
One of the first things that is tackled in the Milk Bar cookbook is Cereal Milk. Building on the concept of steeping your favourite cereal in cold milk, the book encourages you to use your favourite cereal. Once you have a bottle of your cereal milk, you can use that milk to make cereal milk ice cream (which I did and enjoyed the strange feeling of having an ice cream that tasted like my leftover cereal milk! A bit fiddly and dragged out to make and I will probably not make it again because I like my ice cream to be simple with 3 to 5 ingredients), cereal milk panna cotta or maybe custard?
Cornflake was my favourite cereal growing up. It was the only cereal that was available in my part of the world till I was in my teens. So, I have very fond memories of crunchy, golden flakes swirling in creamy cold milk. I also remember that cornflakes used to be not commercially packaged and had zero to none sugar. Ah I miss that version of my breakfast! You guessed right! I used cornflakes and the beige coloured milk that resulted from an afternoon’s worth of experimentation will now become a regular fixture in my fridge, especially in the warmer months. The candy and beakers are from my gleeful splurging spree at The Happy Lab in Sydney. I felt they went well with the chemical nature of the Momofuku Milk Bar’s fantastical creations.
CEREAL MILK
adapted from The Momofuku Milk Bar by Christina Tosi cookbook
A beige coloured milk obtained from steeping cornflakes in cold milk is a delicious morning treat.
Preparation Time – 45 Minutes
Makes – Serves 4
Ingredients
100g (2 and 3/4 cups) cornflakes
900ml (4 cups) cold milk
30g (2 tablespoons) light brown sugar
1g (1/4 teaspoon) salt
Method
Heat oven to 150C (300F). Spread cornflakes on a baking paper lined sheet pan. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly toasted. Remove from oven and cool completely.
Transfer the cooled cornflakes to a large jug. Pour milk onto the cornflakes and stir well. Let steep for 20 minutes.
Strain mixture through a fine sieve mesh, collecting the milk in a bowl. Once the initial milk drains through quickly, use the back of a ladle to gently press the cornflakes to release more milk. Take care to not force the mushy cornflakes through the sieve as this will discolour the milk and leave you with a residue in it.
Whisk brown sugar and salt until fully dissolved. Store in a glass bottle or jug in the fridge for upto 1 week.
My Notes
Try adding a smidgeon of pure vanilla extract in the last step while whisking the milk.
Try experimenting with your favourite low-sugar cereals.
These are great to have in little retro milk glasses for the kids after school or for a retro themed party.
If you want it sweeter, add some more brown sugar.
You know what I did this morning Sneh? I finished the 10 year old’s Cheerios breakfast – he left the best bit and I took it and indulged. Without knowing it, I had cereal milk! And now that I know… I’ll make it from scratch! Thanks!
Martyna @ WholesomeCook´s last [type] ..{Free e-cookbook + iPad 3 Giveaway} Introducing… My Whole Food Philosophy
HAHAHA! I love this! I have been to Milk Mar and really had a blast. It does bring the kid out in you!
Brian @ A Thought For Food´s last [type] ..Silent Sunday: Sweet Basil
Where did you get the adorable milk glasses?
I’d love to get my hands on a copy of that cookbook, it sounds fab! Love your photos too, beautifully styled.
thelittleloaf´s last [type] ..White Peach Bellini (and a Proposal)
A quirky recipe indeed! I think that I’ll have to add that book to my list of cookbooks to buy…
Goregous pics!
Cheers,
Rosa
Such a FUN recipe! After you shared this photo on FB earlier, I kept wondering how you made cereal milk! lol…
chinmayie @ love food eat´s last [type] ..What I am Eating Right Now – July
Sneh, you are so adorable! I love your creative ideas. Why not flavour your own milk? And what better flavouring than cereal?
What a great idea. Such lateral thinking to bottle what is a great flavour experience.
Suzanne Perazzini´s last [type] ..Green Curry, Crispy Chicken, Kimchee Slaw & Rice Noodles – Jamie’s 30-minute meal
This is beyond brilliant! would never have thought to do this, but so agree that cereal flavored milk is the best part of breakfast!
Rose from Magpie’s Recipes´s last [type] ..blueberry coconut vegan scones – no butter, no eggs
Are you kidding me??!! This is the BEST post I have seen in a while, LOVE the idea!!! I might as well mix in a couple of Marie biscuits in it!
Ambika´s last [type] ..If you haven’t already noticed, I am on a break
What a sweet idea! I love those little bottles and the pretty straws.
SarahKate (Mi Casa-Su Casa)´s last [type] ..Mulled wine memories
What fun! I end up drinking my son’s leftover cereal milk. Those conical flasks with a cork is reminding me days in mol bio lab.
Vijitha´s last [type] ..Sweet peaches in almond minto pesto
Love how you used the bottles from Happy Lab, photos look great.
This is incredible and I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of this before. I am so happy someone has found a way to not only make a business out of this but make a cult following. I say that because I believe I will become a member!
Julia
jkpatt´s last [type] ..Blue Bunny Cookies-n-Cream Sandwich. National Ice Cream Sandwich Day… SHOULD be a celebration.
Sneh, love your styling and sense of style, always!
A creative and genius experiment!
marla´s last [type] ..Back to School Bucks! Win $100 Gift Card to Pottery Barn Kids
I made her cereal milk – but with Cap’n Crunch! Oh, so fun and good
Averie @ Averie Cooks´s last [type] ..Coconut Cream Pie Smoothie
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