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We seem to have moved waaaaaay beyond the whole “A is for Apple… J is for Jacks” jingle. I'm not even going to link to the website for Kellogg's Apple Jacks. It's suuuuuuper annoying. And not really at all cute. Or nostalgic. And it turns out—Apple Jacks are now red and green.
Not cool, Jack.
These little beauties taste just like I remember old school Apple Jacks to taste. I haven't had them in years, so I really don't know what in the world they have done with the cereal. But if they've done anything with the taste, it's not what I'd call a brilliant move.
No Toucan Sam, like in Froot Loops. Which reminds me: If you haven't yet, you should totally see my recipe for Gluten-Free “Froot Loops.” That's some good stuff.
Speaking of good stuff, these “cinnamon toasty apple jacks” are, indeed, good stuff. They're sweet and tasty, and almost taste like crunchy little apple pies. But they're for your milk!
And part … of this complete breakfast.
Firstly, you'll need some freeze-dried apples.
So, yeah. I also added some ground freeze-dried strawberries. I did it for the color! It didn't add any real strawberry taste. It just kinda brought out the taste of the apples.
Freeze-dried fruit is such a happy mystery. If I were a better person, I'd buy some sort of freeze-drying contraption and freeze-dry everything.
I really really really really really want to make gluten-free freeze-dried astronaut food. If I win the lottery (which is highly unlikely since I don't actually play the lottery and any darn fool knows you gotta be in it to win it), that's the very first thing I'm going to do. Buy a freeze-dry-inator.
Moving right along, you cut out the shapes, and then create holes in the centers.
Then sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top.
Toss in some chopped freeze-dried (read: astronaut) apples. And bake. This time, we bake it low (250 degrees F) and slow (about 20 minutes).
Gluten Free Apple Jacks Cereal
Ingredients
- 1 cup (140 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend (I used Better Batter; please click thru for full info on appropriate blends)
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
- 2 tablespoons (18 g) cornstarch (replace with more Cup4Cup if that is your all purpose gluten free flour blend)
- 2 tablespoons (12 g) cultured buttermilk blend (I use Saco brand; you can replace it with nonfat dry milk powder)
- 40 g finely ground freeze-dried apples (ground in a blender until a fine powder results)
- 7 g finely ground freeze-dried strawberries (ground in a blender until a fine powder results)
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 7 tablespoons (50 g) confectioner's sugar (plus more for dusting, if necessary)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 ⅓ tablespoons (40 g) vegetable shortening melted and cooled
- ¼ cup (2 fluid ounces) cream or milk at room temperature
- 30 g freeze-dried apples chopped into small pieces – divided
- Cinnamon-sugar mixture for sprinkling, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 250 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, cornstarch, buttermilk blend, finely ground apples, finely ground strawberries, salt, baking powder, baking soda, 100 grams granulated sugar, 50 grams confectioner's sugar and ground cinnamon. Whisk to combine well. Add the melted vegetable shortening (no need to let it cool after melting in the microwave) and cream or milk, plus 10 grams of the chopped freeze-dried apples, and mix to combine. The dough should come together. Once it begins to come together, knead it with your hands until it forms a smooth but stiff dough.
- Place the dough between two pieces of unbleached parchment paper, and roll until is no less than 1/4 inch thick. With the small end of a large, plain piping tip, cut rounds out of the dough (see photo). Press the round out of the tip through the top onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the dough, and place less than an inch apart on the baking sheet (they won't spread during baking). Gather scraps and reroll as necessary.
- With either a toothpick or a plain #2 piping tip, press a small hole in the center of each round of dough. If using a toothpick, move it in a tight circular motion to widen the hole or it will seal up during baking.
- In a small bowl, combine the remaining 20 grams chopped freeze-dried apples and the cinnamon sugar mixture. Sprinkle the mixture generously over the top of the dough on the baking sheet.
- Place the baking sheet in the center of the preheated oven, and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the pieces are puffed and pale golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. If any of the centers have closed during baking, gently prod them back open with a toothpick.
- Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet. They will crisp further as they cool.
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Hi, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that aren’t good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” just isn’t good enough! Come visit my bio!
tammy says
Can I hug you? Thank you! I made your fruit loops this week and my celiac 3 yr old declaired I was a cereal rock star! We live in Panama and cannot buy gf or gf ingrediants. I used a smooched banana as my flavor base will apple babyfood in these! I dreampt of peanut butter bases and cocoa powder for my next try.
Nicole says
Hi, Tammy,
You’re gonna need some long arms, but we’ll make it happen. Let’s hug! You are a cereal rock star! I can’t believe you were able to make do with a banana and apple babyfood. What did you use for flour??
Way to go rock star mom!
xoxo Nicole
Tammy says
My GF flour blend is rice flour from local Chinese market, corn starch and yucca starch/flour and smuggledtee hee (read imported) X gum. Works for most baking, but is crumbly due to the rice flour. FYI – our Panama Pueblo has 100,00 and only 8 (yes eight) celiacs. I “heart” your site for inspiration!
Nicole says
Hi, Tammy,
So glad I’ve been useful. Rice flour shouldn’t be gritty, by the way, if it’s superfine. Is there any chance you could find yourself some finer grain rice flour? It’s actually not even easy to come by in the States (there’s only one source I know of, and it’s not cheap), but if you can’t find it finely milled, I would suggest giving it a turn in a blender or food processor before adding it to your blend. That might make a difference.
xoxo Nicole
Javelin Warrior says
I love that you made these from scratch AND that you managed to make them entirely gluten free! What an accomplishment and they turned out amazing… I am featuring this post in today’s Friday Food Fetish roundup (with a link-back and attribution), but please let me know if you have any objections. It’s a pleasure following your creations…
Marie says
My boys would love it if I made this cereal! I am going to have to try it out on them. I also wanted to share where I buy freeze dried apple chips and banana chips. They come in handy 10 can sizes, and it’s so nice to have on hand when I decide to whip up muffins!
http://www.shelfreliance.com/apple-chips.html
Nicole says
Hi, Marie,
Thanks so much for sharing that resource! I’ve been using a lot of freeze-dried fruit, and that looks like a great place to get it. Love it. Cheers to that!
xoxo Nicole
Pamela G says
astro-NUT, maybe…
thanks for the recipe! Scott loves to eat as ‘normal’ as possible, and these cereal recipies help!
Nicole says
I know, Pam. You’re so right. And the space program, well, isn’t … any longer. So I’ll just have to eat my freeze-dried gluten-free ice cream sandwiches right here on earth. :)
So glad Scott likes the cereals!
xoxo Nicole
Karen says
Nicole,
Our 10yo daughter LOVES your cinnamon toast crunch recipe so much that I think I’ll try this one as well. They look great. CTC is her fav cereal prior to being GF and now that I can make it she’s in heaven! She’ll probably love this one as well. Thanks for all your hard work.
Karen
Nicole says
Hi, Karen,
How great! CTC is a favorite of mine, too. I love hearing about how a great mom making her kid a recipe made the kid so happy. Thanks for telling me!
xoxo Nicole
Margaret Penhorwood on Facebook says
I have made the cinnamon toast crunch a couple times now…..they are soooooo good. My youngest (who doesn’t need to be GF) keeps eating it all on me though…..lol.
Krista Barber says
Just Tomatoes is a company that specializes in freeze-dried fruit and vegetables. They carry sizes up to 4 lbs (at least for apples). Here is a link to their apples. http://www.justtomatoes.com/jtstore/pc/Just-Apples-4p52.htm
Jannyjo says
LOL Krista, I posted an Amazon link for the same brand!
Nicole says
Thanks, Krista.
I love that brand. I hadn’t seen that they had freeze dried apples, though. Thanks!
xoxo Nicole
Barb Minutillo on Facebook says
My sister brought me some Cinnamon Toast Crunch back from Canada and I loved it! My son wanted to try it so badly. I just looked at your recipe and want to try it but I am not sure we have the same ingredients as you guys!
Jannyjo says
Never understood the appeal of Apple Jacks, but I may try them anyway for the kids.
But I do have a link to some freeze-dried apples that come in larger packaging. ;) These are made from Granny Smith apples rather than Fuji.
http://www.amazon.com/Just-Tomatoes-Apples-8-Ounce-Large/dp/B001E5E010/ref=sr_1_23?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1332420839&sr=1-23
Nicole says
Hi, Jannyjo,
I haven’t had Apple Jacks in, like, 100 years, but I remember them very fondly.
Thanks so much for the link to Just Tomatoes freeze-dried apples! I hadn’t seen those on amazon, and I love that brand. Much better!
xoxo Nicole