One of the first recipes I tried from John Currence’s Big Bad Breakfast: The Most Important Book of the Day was homemade frosted corn flakes. The idea of making cereal from scratch immediately grabbed me — and it did not disappoint. The flavor is far more pronounced than boxed cereal: genuinely corn-forward and satisfying. I could not believe how much I enjoyed a simple bowl; it felt like rediscovering cereal all over again.

Crunchy Until The Last Spoonful
These homemade frosted corn flakes stay crisp far longer than the typical store-bought variety. Where boxed flakes often turn into a bowl of soggy cereal within minutes, these hold up to milk and remain crunchy to the very last flake.
The recipe uses real sugar; I didn’t test sugar substitutes. For the best texture and classic flavor, I recommend using regular sugar.
Homemade Frosted Corn Flakes
Equipment
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Baking Sheet
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Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 1/12 cups cornmeal
- ½ cup masa
- 6 tablespoons sugar divided
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2-4 cups water brought to a boil
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 250°F.
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray the paper with non-stick spray.
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Combine the cornmeal, masa, 3 tablespoons of the sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl.
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Add 2 cups of boiling water and stir until blended. Add more water as needed to reach a batter slightly thinner than pancake batter.
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Pour the batter onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it as thinly as possible (aim for about 1/8″ when you can).
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Sprinkle the surface with the remaining sugar.
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Bake for 45 minutes, turning the sheet every 15 minutes. The batter will dry and begin to crack; thicker batter may require extra time.
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Remove from the oven and let cool, then break the sheet into bite-sized pieces (similar to breaking brittle).
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Return the pieces to the oven and bake another hour, or until completely dried.
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Let cool completely; the flakes will crisp up further as they cool. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
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Carbohydrates: 90g
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Protein: 9g
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Fat: 5g
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Sodium: 150mg
Nutritional values are approximate.