Cinnamon Toast Crunch Tres Leches Cake
This Cinnamon Toast Crunch Tres Leches Cake is a creamy, cinnamon-sweet dessert inspired by one of the most iconic childhood cereals. A soft yellow cake is soaked with homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal milk mixed with heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and extra cinnamon. It's finished with fluffy whipped cream and crunchy Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal on top.
Every bite is cold, moist, creamy, and packed with that nostalgic cinnamon cereal milk flavor.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Made with real Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
Sweet cinnamon cereal milk in every bite
Soft and incredibly moist
Creamy without being overly sweet
Easy to make ahead
Perfect for birthdays, potlucks, and family gatherings
A fun twist on traditional tres leches cake
Ingredients
Yellow Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Milk
3 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
3 cups whole milk
Cinnamon Tres Leches Soak
2 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal milk
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whipped Cream Topping
2 cups heavy whipping cream
¼ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
2–3 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
Ground cinnamon, for dusting
Caramel sauce or dulce de leche, optional
How to Make Cinnamon Toast Crunch Tres Leches Cake
Step 1: Make the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Milk
Place 3 cups of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal in a large bowl.
Pour 3 cups of cold whole milk over the cereal and stir.
Let the cereal soak in the milk for about 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bowl or measuring cup. Gently press the cereal with the back of a spoon to release the milk.
Discard the soaked cereal and set the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal milk aside.
Step 2: Make the Cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Add the eggs, melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract.
Mix until the ingredients are combined and the batter is smooth. Avoid overmixing.
Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
Step 3: Bake
Bake for 28–35 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for about 20–30 minutes.
Step 4: Make the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Milk Soak
Measure 2 cups of the prepared Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal milk into a bowl or large measuring cup.
Add the heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Whisk until smooth and completely combined.
The mixture should be creamy, sweet, and noticeably cinnamon-flavored.
Step 5: Poke the Cake
Use a fork or wooden skewer to poke holes all over the cake.
Make sure the holes are evenly distributed so the Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk can soak throughout the entire cake.
Step 6: Soak the Cake
Slowly pour the Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk mixture over the cake.
Pour a little at a time, moving across the entire surface so the liquid is distributed evenly.
Allow the cake to absorb the milk as you pour.
Cover the baking dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
Step 7: Make the Whipped Cream
Add the cold heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl.
Beat until the cream becomes fluffy and forms stiff peaks.
Spread the whipped cream evenly over the chilled cake.
Finish with a light dusting of cinnamon.
Step 8: Add the Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Just before serving, generously cover the top of the cake with Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.
Leave most of the cereal pieces whole so the topping stays crunchy and recognizable.
If desired, finish the cake with a light drizzle of caramel sauce or dulce de leche.
What Does Cinnamon Toast Crunch Tres Leches Cake Taste Like?
If you loved the cinnamon-sweet milk left at the bottom of a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, this cake takes that flavor and turns it into dessert.
Soaking Cinnamon Toast Crunch in whole milk infuses the milk with the cereal's signature toasted cinnamon-sugar flavor. Heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk make it richer, while extra cinnamon intensifies the flavor.
That creamy mixture soaks into the cake, giving every slice a soft, milky texture and plenty of Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavor.
The whipped cream keeps the dessert light and creamy, while fresh Cinnamon Toast Crunch on top adds a crunchy contrast.
Tips for the Best Cinnamon Toast Crunch Tres Leches Cake
Let the cereal milk steep
Give the Cinnamon Toast Crunch at least 20 minutes to sit in the milk. This gives the cereal time to infuse the milk with its cinnamon-sugar flavor.
Add extra cinnamon
The additional cinnamon in the milk mixture helps the Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavor stand out after the liquid has soaked into the cake.
Pour the milk slowly
Don't pour all of the milk into one spot. Slowly work your way across the cake so every section has a chance to absorb it.
Chill before serving
Tres leches cake needs time in the refrigerator. A minimum of four hours allows the milk to soak into the cake, but chilling it overnight gives the best texture.
Add the cereal topping last
Cinnamon Toast Crunch will eventually soften when exposed to whipped cream.
For maximum crunch, add the cereal shortly before cutting and serving the cake.
Can I Use Boxed Cake Mix?
Yes. Prepare one standard box of yellow cake mix according to the package directions and bake it in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Once the cake is baked, continue with the cereal milk soak, whipped cream, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch topping.
Can I Make Cinnamon Toast Crunch Tres Leches Cake Ahead of Time?
Yes. This is an excellent make-ahead dessert because the cake needs several hours to absorb the milk.
Bake the cake and add the Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk soak the night before serving.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, spread the whipped cream over the cake. Add the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal shortly before serving so it stays crunchy.
Storage
Store leftover Cinnamon Toast Crunch Tres Leches Cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
The cake will remain moist, but the cereal topping will soften over time.
If you know you'll have leftovers, keep some of the cereal separate. Add fresh Cinnamon Toast Crunch to individual slices when serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal milk?
Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal milk is made by soaking the cereal in cold milk and then straining out the cereal. The milk absorbs the cereal's cinnamon-sugar flavor.
Do I need to use whole milk?
Whole milk works best because its higher fat content creates a richer cereal milk. However, 2% milk can be substituted if necessary.
Can I make the cake with only cereal milk?
The cereal milk provides the main flavor, but adding heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk gives the cake a richer, creamier tres leches-style texture.
Can I add more cinnamon?
Yes. If you love a strong cinnamon flavor, add another ¼ to ½ teaspoon to the milk mixture or sprinkle additional cinnamon over the whipped cream.
Why did my Cinnamon Toast Crunch topping get soft?
The cereal absorbs moisture from the whipped cream. Add the cereal shortly before serving to keep it crunchy.
Can I use whipped topping instead of homemade whipped cream?
Yes. An 8-ounce container of thawed whipped topping can be used for an easier version.
Final Thoughts
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Tres Leches Cake combines creamy milk-soaked cake with the unmistakable cinnamon-sugar flavor of a childhood favorite.
Real Cinnamon Toast Crunch is soaked in milk to create the base for a rich mixture of cereal milk, heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Once that mixture has soaked into the cake, everything is topped with whipped cream and a generous layer of crunchy cereal.
It's sweet, creamy, cinnamon-filled, and tastes like the best part of a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch turned into cake.