The flavors of nostalgia can be found in the most mundane and familiar places, like a box of Apple Jacks cereal. Their cinnamon-kissed sweetness instantly brings to mind the hectic joy of those schoolday mornings or a carefree Sunday spent with the best breakfast cereals. Now, you can sip your way back to childhood by finding that same sugary warmth in a drink, and not just any drink — a matcha. TikTok user Ethan Rode has cracked the code, and it only requires four simple ingredients: matcha, cinnamon, agave, and milk. “It [tastes] just like Apple Jacks,” he explains.
Without apples in the ingredient list, this may seem like a strange interpretation of the cereal at first. However, anyone who’s had Apple Jacks knows all too well that apple isn’t the star of the show. That role is reserved for cinnamon and its spiced sweetness, which this drink also centers around. Meanwhile, the matcha is earthy and grassy. Put them together, and you get a flavor harmony oddly reminiscent of Apple Jacks, but with a slightly more refined depth.
This drink wouldn’t be an Apple Jacks embodiment without the saccharine undertone, and that’s what the agave syrup is for. This sweetener is smooth but not cloying, seamlessly enhancing the main ingredients’ natural flavors. Much like with the actual cereal, the milk brings everything together and seamlessly melds all the different flavors.
A caffeine fix with fun creative potential
Still a matcha latte at its core, making this drink starts with sifting the matcha powder. Only this time, add the extra step of sprinkling in a bit of ground cinnamon before whisking it with hot water. Then, add agave syrup to the glass, followed by the milk, and finally, pour in the matcha. A few quick stirs later and your Apple Jacks latte is ready.
@ethanrodecoffee I accidentally made apple jacks in matcha form… #matcha
♬ original sound – Ethan Rode
Much like any other matcha latte, you can take as much liberty as you want with the ingredients. Try soaking cereal in the milk before straining to get an even more pronounced Apple Jacks taste. Perhaps swap out the agave syrup for honey or brown sugar to play around with different sweet nuances. With a bit more time and effort, you can whip up cinnamon caramel, or even just regular caramel sauce, to give the drink a nutty, toasty twist. Or, how about a drizzle of apple syrup to impart that subtle fruity hint? Maybe even consider layering whipped cream or milk foam over the drink, then sprinkle some Apple Jacks cereal over top. You will not only have a delicious drink but also one that catches the eye with its vibrant pops of colors.
