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Last year, I served this milk punch at a Mardi Gras party and it was a smash hit. A decadent mixture of milk and half-and-half flavored with sugar and vanilla, then spiked with a smoky bourbon. Sweet and smooth, this cocktail is dangerous. You can hardly tell that you’re kicking back some serious bourbon!
This year, I decided to put my own spin on Deb’s milk punch. Rather than mixing in regular milk, I used cereal milk, a staple at the Momofuku Milk Bar in New York City. Basically this milk tastes like the milk that’s leftover after eating a bowl of cereal! A jagged landscape of golden cornflakes is baked until toasty and fragrant. The flakes are then drowned in ice cold milk and heavy cream. Flavored with brown sugar and salt, the finished cereal milk is a nostalgic treat that will surely remind you of your childhood. This breakfast infusion lends a complex warmth to the milk punch with notes of corn and caramel. So, so delicious. Continue reading for the recipe.
Cereal Milk Punch
Ingredients
For the cereal milk:
- 2 3/4 cups cornflakes
- 3 cups cold whole milk
- 3/4 cup cold heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
For the punch:
- 3 oz. cereal milk
- 1 oz. bourbon (I used Woodford Reserve)
- 2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Grated nutmeg, to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300°F and place a rack in center of the oven. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.
- Spread cornflakes out in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, until lightly toasted and fragrant. Let cool completely then transfer to a large pitcher.
- Whisk together whole milk and heavy cream then pour over cornflakes, stirring until well combined. Let steep for 20 minutes at room temperature.
- Set a fine mesh basket strainer over a large bowl. Pour the cereal-milk mixture through the strainer. Gently press the cornflakes to extract as much milk as possible. Just don't press the mush through the mesh into the milk below! Discard cornflakes.
- Whisk brown sugar and salt into the infused milk until fully dissolved. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- To make the cocktail, combine 3 oz. of cereal milk, bourbon, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in a small tumbler, gently whisking to combine. Add ice and stir until well chilled. Finish with a dusting of freshly grated nutmeg.
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Jorge says
Cereal Milk is sooo good!! Definitely rushes you back to childhood mornings having your cereal while watching cartoons. Can’t think of anything better than an adult version of it!
Brandon Matzek says
Haha yes, definitely a nolstalgic treat 🙂
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Love the Tosi recipes like this one that don’t take 2 days to make 🙂 Your cereal milk is gorgeous and great job on the Gif too! Stunning pics, Brandon! Pinning!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Averie! Yes, this is definitely one of her easier recipes 😉
Sylvie says
You had me at cereal, this looks delicious!
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete} says
Cereal milk punch sounds awesome, that was always my favorite part of my morning bowl of cereal. The gif is great, I love that.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Anna :)!
Meghan says
Definitely the most creative use for cereal milk I’ve seen so far. Love it!
Brandon Matzek says
Haha, thanks Meghan!
Larrushka says
I’m making this for breakfast…. Before work
Brandon Matzek says
HA! That’ll make those morning meetings a little more bearable 🙂 Thanks Lar!
Lauren@LittleYellowKitchen says
Genius! I always loved slurpin’ the milk up after I ate the cereal as a kid. Now you’ve added booze and it’s irresistible 🙂
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Lauren!
Le Grumeau says
Brandon, cereal milk is sooo good, I don’t know why Momofuku hasn’t think about offering cereal milk cocktails…. Great idea .
Brandon Matzek says
I know right?! They’d make a killing!
Krystal R {Mrs. Regueiro's Plate} says
AWESOME. And I love the action milk shot…it makes my mouth water! I’ll be patiently waiting to have this after this pregnancy. This sounds like the perfect mommy’s milk to me!!! hehe
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Krystal 🙂 This will be a perfect post-pregnancy treat.