Giving cereal crumbs a new purpose in life

When it comes to cold cereals, you might remember that I like mine CRUNCHY vs. soggy. Those crumbs that invariably collect at the bottom of the cereal package definitely do not hold up to the crunchy texture I will enjoy. Mixing the crumbs in with the whole pieces of cereal just creates a sludgier feel on my palate that destroys my enjoyment of the entire bowl of cereal.

I hate to throw good food away, and especially when it can be a substantial enough portion of a high-priced box of organic cereal.  So what to do with all those cereal crumbs?

I’d been saving the crumbs in sealed mason jars with the intent of incorporating some now and then into homemade bread etc. But I am just not using them up fast enough. Then, when I was about to buy some more cereal, it occurred to me that I could make my own flakes! And what better ingredients to start with than to use up the crumbs I already had.

I’m sharing what I did to make cereal flakes out of cereal crumbs because this crazy idea turned out so good. Sorry – I didn’t start taking photographs in the process until I realized this crazy idea might actually work.

Cereal Crumbs Flakes Recipe

Ingredients:

1 quart cereal crumbs

Filtered water

1 tsp vanilla extract or other favorite flavorings such as cinnamon or nutmeg

Instructions:

Pour 1 – 2 cups water into blender container, then add cereal crumbs on top. Blend on low to begin with, then raising to medium while  adding more water as needed and scraping down sides of container until you have a spreadable, relatively smooth batter that is just thick enough to hold its shape. I probably ended up using a little more than 3 cups of water. Add the vanilla or other flavorings and blend to mix well.

Divide the batter into 5 portions. Place each portion in center of a paraflexx sheet on a dehydrator tray.

Spread the dough very thinly with a rubber spatula, working from center outwards toward edges. Basically you are just making 5 huge “flakes” at this point. 🙂 Get the dough as thin and even as possible. Your patience and attention in this step will be rewarded.

Dehydrate at 115 degrees F. for 4 hours or until almost dry and firm enough to peel off paraflexx sheets and place back onto the mesh drying trays.

Continue dehydrating until thoroughly dry – about 2 more hours.

Let the dried sheets of cereal flake dough cool, them break them up  by hand into cereal-sized flakes. Store in an air-tight container.

Now you have crispy, delicious flakes to enjoy. Plus the satisfaction of knowing you have given all those cereal crumbs a new purpose in life.

 

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