Miss Bee's Frosted Flakes

Miss Bee’s Frosted Flakes
“Miss Bee, WHY would I make these when I can just buy them at the store?”  1) Why not?  2)Because then you can go rogue!
I use these as a topping when I want to add a sweet, whimsical crunch to something.  It makes a great topping for frozen custard!

2 c corn flakes

½ c + 2 T white sugar
¼ c water
¼ t salt
Extra water for brushing the sides of the pan

First do this:

In a large sauce pan over medium high heat, combine ½ c sugar, salt, and water.  Cook to soft ball stage (235°-240°).  While the sugar is cooking, occasionally “wash” the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water.  This will prevent the sugar from crystallizing too soon.

Then do this:

When the sugar has reached soft ball stage, immediately add the cornflakes and carefully toss in the hot sugar until well coated.  Once well coated, sprinkle the remaining 2 T of white sugar over the syrup coated flakes and continue to toss.  This will cause the syrup to crystallize, hence “frosted" flakes.

Now do this:

Transfer into a thin layer onto a sheet tray to cool.

Eat it like this:

Sprinkle over your favorite frozen custard.  Or maybe pair with sour Door County cherries and a little fresh cognac whipped cream?  Toss with tempered 70% bittersweet chocolate for CRAZY GOOD “hay stack” candies.  (If you’re not drooling, something is wrong with you.) 

If you’re goin’ rogue:

The cool thing about this recipe is that you can be really creative with spices.  ½ tsp ground ginger, or black pepper, or cinnamon.  Those are flavors I dig…  I bet you can come up with some pretty boss spice combos too!  Incorporate these into the sugar syrup from the beginning to allow the spices to cook.  Raw cinnamon, ginger, etc, is not the most appealing flavor.

Do you dig sweet/hot combos?  Add a dash of cayenne pepper to the sugar syrup as it’s cooking!

Keep this in mind:

You’re working with sugar syrup here… AKA napalm.  Be very careful when handling this!  I recommend having a bowl of ice water handy just in case you get hot sugar syrup on your skin and need to take the plunge.  If this happens, immediately pop your hand into the ice water and do your best to remove the sugar as quickly as possible.  The worst thing you can do is the “ow it’s hot” wave, because that sugar isn’t going anywhere.  (If you guessed I learned the hard way, you’re right.)