Elf on the Shelf Cereal Cookies

Elf on the Shelf Cereal Cookies are prepared with a delicious sugar cookie base which has finely crushed cereal incorporated into the batter. Next, the cookies are glazed and topped with lots of broken cereal bits. These cookies are super crunchy and super flavourful!

I was shopping for a few things on Amazon a couple of weeks and saw colourful boxes of Elf on the Shelf Cereal. We’re not cereal people, especially when it comes to sugary cereals. But, I couldn’t resist buying a box, because it happens to be sugar cookie flavour. I immediately thought that incorporating and topping a sugar cookie with the cereal would be a great idea. And, as it turns out, I was right! These were so good!

This recipe consists of a melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookie base, topped with a thin, sugary glaze, and festive crumbled cereal. The cookies are brightly and vividly coloured with red and green crushed, star-shaped Elf on the Shelf Cereal and will appeal to both the little kids and the big kids in your life!

SUGAR COOKIES

I have shared a sugar cookie recipe once or twice before. It is one of those cookies that lends itself to many holidays and special occasions. When you really think about it, the sugar cookie base is not specific to one occasion or instance at all. You have probably seen them in grocery stores, sitting close to the checkout lines. They are whimsical and brightly coloured so that they catch your eye.

More importantly, they’re most often set on a lower shelf so that they catch the eye of children. Did you know that marketers will often strategically place items at the same height as the little seated area of your grocery buggy? Yes, they want your kids to not only see it but reach for it as well! Store-bought sugar cookies are fine, but I prefer to make my own. That way, I know they’re fresh!

I made these exact same cookies for Canada Day, but used only red and white frosting. They were also a great treat for Easter, especially with drizzled candy melts! But, I’ve tried versions of icing and sprinkles. How about a topping? How about completely changing the taste and texture too? Elf on the Shelf Cereal Cookies practically invented themselves!

LORD BYRON’S 24 COOKIES OF CHRISTMAS – VOLUME 5

I’m so excited about this year’s cookie countdown! This is the fifth consecutive year; can you believe that? Each of the previous years has included 24 cookies and this year will not be any different. I’ll share a new Christmas cookie recipe each and every single day for the next 24 days – even on Saturday and Sunday!

You might be asking yourself, how many Christmas cookie recipes could one possibly have or need? Well, I say you can never have too much of a good thing. And, I love having lots of choices. Who wants to bake the same holiday cookies year after year?

So, welcome, Dear Reader, to Volume 5 of Lord Byron’s 24 Cookies of Christmas! Fresh off of my 12 Edible Wreaths of Christmas and my 12 Bars and Squares of Christmas series, I’m ready to plow through the next 24 days with you!

You really don’t want to miss one of these recipes, so if you have not yet subscribed to Lord Byron’s Kitchen, I encourage you to do so. That way, a new recipe will be emailed to you every day. You won’t have to bother to come looking for it! Like in previous holiday baking countdowns, I like to mix up the recipes in the series so that there is something for everyone. Are you ready!!??

WHAT IS ELF ON THE SHELF CEREAL?

There are actually a series of Elf on the Shelf Cereals out there. Kellogg’s is the brand behind the series, which features a new flavour which was introduced this year and is only available at Walmart. I’m not sure if it is Walmart US or Canada, but it’s called The Elf on the Shelf North Pole Snow Creme Cereal with Marshmallows – that’s quite the long title! The website states that “with a touch of frosty chill, it’s unlike any cereal you have ever tasted!”

Two other flavours exist too. The first of which is Hot Cocoa Cereal with Marshmallows, and the second, is the one I’m using in this recipe, Sugar Cookie Cereal with Marshmallows. I know for a fact that the the Sugar Cookie flavour is available in Canada. It was an easy decision to pair that particular flavour with my sugar cookie recipe.

Elf on the Shelf Sugar Cookie Cereal has sugar cookie-flavoured red and green star pieces and mini marshmallows dusted with edible glitter. Sugary cereals are not normally my thing, but I’ll gladly make an exception at Christmastime.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO PREPARE THIS RECIPE

The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.

Ingredients For the Cookies:

• Flour – No need for anything special. Just use regular all-purpose flour. I have not tried this recipe with any other type of flour.
• Baking Powder – This is used to increase the volume of the batter and to add texture as well.
• Elf on the Shelf Cereal – For the cookie dough, you will need to pulverize the cereal to the point of it being very finely ground like dust! A food processor is the best way to achieve this.
• Salt – In baking, it helps to enhance and balance the sweetness. 
• Butter – Make sure your butter is at room temperature!
• Sugar – Sugar will caramelize when baked, which will help to brown cookies and cakes.  In cookies, the sugar will help the dough to spread and will create a crispness at the bottom of the cookie.
• Eggs – Whenever you set out to bake, make sure your eggs are at room temperature too – just like your butter!
• Vanilla Extract – Probably the most common extract and the most common flavouring used in cakes and cookies. 

Ingredients For the Glaze:

• Confectioner’s Sugar – This superfine sugar is sometimes called powdered sugar.  It is used in frostings quite often.  When dusted lightly onto cakes and cookies, it adds just a touch of sweetness, but more importantly, it looks very visually appealing!
• Milk – When a baking recipe requires milk, I always use whole milk, unless otherwise stated. 
• Elf on the Shelf Cereal – This is used to top the cookie. The glaze helps it to stick to the cookie.

CEREAL CRUMB AND DUST

You will need a half cup of cereal dust and two cups of cereal crumbs for this recipe. The easiest way to get both is with a food processor. Add three cups of cereal to your food processor and pop on the lid. Pulse just twice – two very short pulses! Transfer the cereal to a fine mesh colander with a large bowl underneath.

Tap the colander against the bowl, allowing the cereal dust to fall through. Essentially, you are separating the larger crumbs from the smaller, dust-like crumbs. Once done, you should have a half cup of dust, or at least very close to it. If you don’t have a full half cup, don’t worry about it. Whatever you do, do not exceed half cup. It will make the cookie dough too soft and it will spread very flat when baked.

HOW TO MAKE ELF ON THE SHELF CEREAL COOKIES

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside. In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat together the butter and sugar until creamy and light yellow in colour. (About 4-5 minutes.) Add the eggs one at a time and beat into the butter and sugar mixture. Finally, beat in the vanilla extract.

Next, add in the flour, salt, baking powder, and cereal dust. Beat into the wet mixture until well combined. Portion the cookie dough into heaping tablespoons. Roll into a ball and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Press down on each ball until ball is flattened to just over 1/4 inch thick. (I used the bottom of a drinking glass.)

Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling. Once completely cooled, stir the milk into the confectioner’s sugar until a thin, smooth frosting is formed.

Lay the cookies face up onto a wire cooling rack with a baking sheet underneath to catch any dripping frosting. You can use a fork to drizzle the frosting over the cookies, but I like to transfer the frosting to a small Ziploc bag and cut off a little bit of one of the lower corners of the bag. Then, working in a zigzag motion, drizzle the frosting over the cookies. Once the cookies are frosted, sprinkle over the cereal crumbs. Allow frosting to fully dry before packaging cookies.

STORING, PACKAGING, & FREEZING

When it comes to most cookies, they taste best at room temperature, but they don’t hold up well to being left out on your countertop for long periods of time. Cookies will stay fresh in a cookie jar or food-safe container with a lid for 3-5 days if left to sit on your kitchen countertop. You can store them in a food-safe container in your fridge. When you want one, two, or half a dozen, take them out of the container and place them in a single layer on a plate. Let them sit at room temperature for 5 minutes and they’re ready!

If you plan to freeze your Elf on the Shelf Cereal Cookies, you certainly can! Once completely cooled, pile them into a clean, food-safe container. The container must be freezer friendly! You’ll want to ensure a very tight-fitting lid too. I use these quite often when freezing baked goods. I like to place a sheet of plastic wrap over the top of the container before pushing the lid on. This helps to create a better seal. The goal is to keep all of that freshness locked in!  

You can freeze these cookies for up to three months. If you plan to give previously frozen cookies as a gift, I would lay them out on a wire cooling rack to thaw completely. If packaging, wait until the condensation has evaporated. Once thawed, pile into cellophane bags and tie with a ribbon, or stack in a cookie tin/box.

QUESTIONS?

If I have not answered all of your questions in the text above, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! You can contact me by sending me a message in the comments section further down the page. I will try my best to answer as soon as possible! You might reach me even faster by following me on Facebook and sending me a private message. Scroll down to follow me and never miss another recipe!

Finally, as I stated previously, every day I will be posting a new recipe. If you miss one, don’t fret. You can find my entire collection of Christmas Recipes right here! There are over 200 Christmas recipes and counting. There’s something for everyone! Cheers!