The 5-Minute Snack I've Been Eating Since Childhood

Comfort food looks different for everyone. For some, it’s a bowl of macaroni and cheese, for others, it’s their grandmother’s chicken soup, or Nonna’s lasagna. For me, anytime I’m sick, sad, grumpy, or just feeling like I need a hug, I turn to this five-minute snack. I've made a few upgrades that reflect my grown-up palate (not to mention my millennial pantry).

Anytime I came down with a cold (or pretended I had one to get out of school), I wanted one thing and one thing only: sweet, buttery, spicy cinnamon toast dripping with sugary butter. It was finger-licking good and could turn any bad day into a good one. When I think of this snack, I can see my mom bringing it down the stairs to me, snuggled like a burrito on the couch, feeling instantly better with every bite. 

There are no rules when it comes to this five-minute cinnamon toast; it's purely based on preference and what you have on hand. Now that I’m a little older, I like to drizzle mine with rich date syrup and creamy tahini for a grown-up version of my childhood comfort food.

Tips for Making My 5-Minute Tahini Cinnamon Toast

• The bread of my childhood was standard white Wonder Bread, but I’ve evolved since then and choose more grown-up slices, such as savory, crusty sourdough or rich, buttery brioche.
• Tahini is one of my kitchen staples, and its taste and texture can vary across brands. I like Seed + Mill and Soom tahini. Both are nutty and the perfect consistency for drizzling. Other tahini brands can be a little grainier and bitter, so find one you like!
• Date syrup—also called date honey, silan, or date molasses—is made of one thing… dates! It has a rich caramel flavor and is slightly thicker and more complex in flavor than maple syrup. I use the brand Just Date in my kitchen. If you can’t find date syrup, honey or maple syrup make good substitutes.
  

How To Make My 5-Minute Tahini Cinnamon Toast

To make 1 serving (1 piece of toast), you’ll need:

• 1 slice of bread (sourdough, brioche, or white bread work best) 
• 1 tablespoon salted butter, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon tahini
• 2 teaspoons date syrup, honey, or maple syrup

Toast the bread to your desired doneness. Spread the butter onto the toasted bread in an even layer. 

In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Sprinkle it over the buttered toast. Drizzle with tahini and date syrup. Serve immediately.

Make This Cinnamon Toast Your Own

I love adding a drizzle of tahini and date syrup—staples in my pantry—to my toast. The sweetness of the cinnamon, sugar, and dates balances the bitter tahini, and the combination of butter and tahini makes this toast taste decadent. 

If you want to switch it up a little, here are some ideas!

• Use pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon for a seasonal treat
• Spread a light layer of peanut butter on the bread before the butter
• Drizzle honey on top of the cinnamon toast
• Use coconut sugar in place of white sugar for a caramel-like flavor
• Put your toast under the broiler to caramelize the sugars