Celebrate National Cereal Day

By Lauren Torrisi | ABC News Blogs – 5 hours ago

Ice cold milk and crunchy, sweet cereal was the quintessential meal of my childhood. Endless hours of my life have been spent staring at the back of cereal boxes reading every detail as I took in spoonful after spoonful, hoping to get to the bottom of the box to get that silly, small toy. The catch phrases like "Snap, Crackle, and Pop" to "They'reeeeeeee Great!" to "Breakfast of Champions" will forever be embedded in my brain.

From fond breakfast memories to bake sales, cereal has been a part of childhood nostalgia. One of the first recipes children learn to make, Rice Crispy treats, left the whole house smelling like one giant sickly-sweet marshmallow and were the hit of every birthday party or bake sale.

As childhood passed and adulthood approached, Fruit Loops were replaced with more adult brands like Kashi or Special K, targeting the health-conscious consumer who might even be willing to eat a bowl for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (I know you're out there, Special K dieters.)

In an effort to appeal to the cereal nostalgia of our youth, pastry chefs dug right in with Momofuku's Cereal Milk Ice Cream and Milkmade's Froot Loops or Lucky Charms ice cream. At Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe, Rice Crispy treats get an upscale twist with brown butter.

Celebrate today's national food holiday by digging into your favorite bowl of cereal from childhood, or try one of the recipes below for a cereal-inspired dinner or dessert recipe.

Our Favorite Cereal Recipes:

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ice Cream

Momofuku Milk Bar's Cereal Milk Ice Cream

Slow-Cooked Rice Krispies Treats

Tomato Gratin with Grape Nuts Topping

Cap'n Crunch Crab Cakes

Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats