This keto cinnamon toast dessert layers a buttery Catalina Crunch crumb with creamy sugar-free vanilla pudding in little shot glasses. It's one of my favorite Catalina Crunch recipes: easy, no-bake, and about 4g net carbs per glass!
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It's creamy and crunchy, but not too filling, which makes it just right when you want a little something sweet after dinner. You only need five ingredients and about 10 minutes of hands-on time, and the shot glass size keeps portions in check without anyone feeling short-changed.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
You'll need two key ingredients for this dessert, and if you haven't tried them before, I think you're going to love them!
- Catalina Crunch Cinnamon Toast cereal. This is the star of the show. It's a high-protein, high-fiber cereal with zero sugar, and it tastes remarkably like the cinnamon toast cereal you might remember from childhood. You can buy Catalina Crunch Cinnamon Toast cereal on Amazon. If you'd rather make your own, my Low Carb Cinnamon Cereal works well here too.
- Simply Delish vanilla pudding mix. A sugar-free instant pudding sweetened with erythritol and stevia, so it sets up thick without any cooking. You'll find Simply Delish vanilla pudding on Amazon (the brand now sells it as Simply Desserts). I have plenty more low carb recipes with Simply Delish if you end up with spare packets.
- Almond flour. Fine blanched almond flour stretches the cereal and gives the base a shortbread-like texture. You can skip it and use all cereal instead; I use a combination because the cereal is more expensive than the flour.
- Butter. Melted unsalted butter binds the crumb so it holds together in the bottom of the glass. Coconut oil works if you need a dairy-free option.
- Unsweetened almond milk. Use plain, unsweetened almond milk (a shelf-stable carton like Silk unsweetened almond milk is handy to keep in the pantry). Cashew milk or a 50/50 mix of heavy cream and water also work, but check the carbs on your carton.
Helpful Tips
Crush the cereal in a bag. Pop the cereal into a zip-top bag and bash it with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin until it looks like coarse crumbs. It's quick, there's no food processor to wash, and you can leave a few bigger pieces for extra crunch.
Save some cereal for the top. Set aside a small handful of whole cereal pieces before you start crushing. Add them just before serving so they stay crisp; if they sit on the wet pudding for hours they'll soften.
Press the base down firmly. Spoon the buttery crumb into the glasses and press it down with the back of a teaspoon. A packed base gives you a neat layer that doesn't float up into the pudding when you pour it in.
Use a little extra milk. I make the pudding following the box instructions, but with about an extra quarter cup of almond milk (1½ cups in total). It gives a softer, spoonable pudding rather than a stiff set, which suits the small glasses. If you like it thicker, use the amount on the box.
Pour, then chill. Whisk the pudding and divide it between the glasses straight away, while it's still pourable. Instant pudding thickens fast, so if you wait too long it gets lumpy. Give the desserts at least 30 minutes in the fridge before serving.
Variations
- Chocolate cinnamon. Swap the vanilla pudding for Simply Delish chocolate for a churro-style dessert. If chocolate and pudding is your thing, try my Keto Strawberry Chocolate Pudding Dessert too.
- Extra cinnamon. Stir ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon into the crumb or the pudding, or dust the tops with cinnamon just before serving.
- Different cereal. Other Catalina Crunch flavors work nicely, or use another low carb cereal such as The Cereal School. Check the carbs, since they vary between brands.
- Whipped cream layer. Top each glass with a swirl of whipped cream sweetened with a little monk fruit before adding the cereal pieces.
- Bigger portions. Make three or four larger desserts in small jars or ramekins instead of six shot glasses. The carbs per serving go up, so adjust the servings on the recipe card.
Serving Ideas
These little desserts are perfect for parties, because they're already portioned and look pretty lined up on a tray. I use 2-ounce shot glasses with a heavy base so they don't tip over, and small spoons make them easy to eat standing up.
For a family dessert night, serve them alongside a hot cup of coffee or tea. They also make a fun after-school treat that kids can help put together: crushing the cereal is a job they'll happily volunteer for!
Storing & Freezing
Keep the desserts covered in the fridge until required. They're best within 2 days, and you can make them up to a day ahead for a party. Add the whole cereal pieces on top just before serving so they stay crunchy; the base softens slightly as it sits, but it still tastes great.
I don't recommend freezing these. Instant pudding turns watery and grainy once it thaws, and the cereal base goes soggy. If you want to prep ahead, mix the butter crumb and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, then whisk up the pudding when you're ready to assemble.
More Low Carb Desserts
If you loved this recipe, here are a few more you might enjoy:
- Keto Black Forest Parfait
- Low Carb Layered Berry Dessert
- No Bake Keto Cheesecake
- Low Carb Tortilla Cinnamon Roll-Ups
📖 Recipe
Keto Cinnamon Toast Dessert
Ingredients
Equipment
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Set aside about 2 tablespoons of whole cereal pieces for the garnish. Put the ¼ cup of cereal in a zip-top bag and crush it into coarse crumbs with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin.
- Tip the crumbs into a bowl, add the almond flour and melted butter, and mix well until it looks like damp sand.
- Divide the mixture between six 2-ounce shot glasses and press it down firmly with the back of a teaspoon.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk the pudding mix with the 1½ cups of cold almond milk for about 2 minutes, until it starts to thicken. (This is a little more milk than the box calls for, which gives a softer, spoonable pudding.)
- Right away, while it's still pourable, divide the pudding between the glasses.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes, until set. Top with the reserved cereal pieces just before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is my best approximation. Net carbs are calculated as the total grams carbs minus the total grams of fiber.
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