Jennifer Garner’s Favorite 5-Minute, Fiber-Rich Cinnamon Toast Recipe Will Make You Dance Around the Kitchen, Too

IMO, there are a some childhood snacks that always hit the spot, no matter the occasion—or your age. Toasted Pop-Tarts or Eggo waffles for breakfast, a warm bowl of mac and cheese on a rainy day, pizza rolls as an after school (ahem, after work) snack… you say “comfort food,” and we’re there.

The convenience factor of these foods is also a key selling point. When you’ve made your hundredth trip back and forth between the couch and the kitchen and finally conclude that there’s absolutely nothing in the fridge to appease your appetite, all you need is a simple childhood classic recipe that can satisfy your every need. Most recently, we can thank one of our favorite celebs, Jennifer Garner, for bringing us back to the days when Lisa Frank folders, gel pens, and Fruit-Rolls Ups were at the top of our shopping list.

In a very 13 Going on 30 moment, Garner shared her go-to cinnamon toast recipe on Instagram, which now has over 13.6 million views. Best part? Her four-ingredient cozy breakfast recipe features all staple pantry ingredients you definitely already have on hand. Trust us when we say it’s even better than we remembered.

In Garner’s unofficial Instagram cooking series #PretendCookingShow, the actress demonstrates her five-step, four-ingredient recipe for making cinnamon toast that instantly will grant you what she calls “Mom Hero Status.” She starts by cranking up the stove to medium-low and heating up a cast iron skillet. Then, while the pan gets hot, Garner spreads room-temperature butter on a slice of toast, coats it with a cinnamon sugar mixture, and places it facedown on the hot pan. She subsequently repeats the process on the other side and cooks the bread until it’s golden and slightly toasted on both sides.

The result is a delicious creation that’s basically the lovechild between Cinnamon Toast Crunch and a brunch-worthy French toast. And if you can’t take our word for it, Garner’s happy dance around the kitchen as she takes a bite definitely says it all.

BTW, if you want to spare yourself the need to wash any dishes at all, you can always throw the bread into the toaster for a few minutes and slather it with butter and cinnamon sugar *after* it’s been toasted for equally great results (zero pans involved = major time saver).

This recipe has its health perks, too

First things first: Contrary to popular belief, butter doesn’t deserve to be demonized by the nutrition community. Like everything in life, consuming this ingredient in moderation is key, but it can provide a few health benefits. “High-quality butter—preferably organic, grass-fed—is incredibly nutrient-dense, providing vitamins A, D, and E. Vitamin A is essential to a healthy cardiovascular system,” Elyse Kopecky, a marathoner and the co-author of the breakfast-centric cookbook, Rise and Run, previously told Well+Good. Butter is also high in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid that helps your muscles repair after strenuous exercise, making this cinnamon toast a solid post-gym snack.

And from the looks of it, Garner uses one of our favorite nutrient-dense breads, Dave’s Killer 100% Whole Wheat Organic Bread, to make this recipe. This organic loaf packs four grams of protein, three grams of fiber, 90 milligrams of ALA omega-3s, and 25 grams of whole grains in a single slice. Not too shabby, eh? And aside from the good amount of protein and fiber in the bread, we can’t ignore that one of the main ingredients in the toast’s topping is one of the best anti-inflammatory, gut-friendly spices: cinnamon.

TL;DR? When making omelets or pancakes feels like a big, messy undertaking and you’re in the mood for something sweet, spicy, and incredibly comforting, this five-minute cinnamon toast will save the day.

Jennifer Garner’s cinnamon toast recipe

Yields 1 serving

Ingredients3 Tbsp granulated or brown sugar2 tsp ground cinnamonPinch of saltUnsalted butter for cooking4 slices of bread

1. In a small bowl, stir together sugar, cinnamon, and salt.

2. Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low; enough to lightly coat the bottom of the skillet when melted. When bubbling, add as many bread slices as will fit—swirl bread around to absorb the butter, adding more if the pan is dry. Cook until light golden brown, two to three minutes. Adjust heat as necessary to avoid burning.

3. Add another pat of butter, flip the bread and swirl to coat the other side in butter, gently pressing the bread to pick up browned bits. Sprinkle the toasted top(s) with a thin layer of cinnamon sugar. Cook the underside until golden brown, one to two minutes, adding more butter and adjusting temp if the pan is dry or toast is burning.

4. Flip and cook until the sugar sizzles and starts to melt, 30 seconds to one minute.

5. Transfer to a plate, sugar side up. Sprinkle toast(s) with more cinnamon sugar. Wipe skillet and repeat with any remaining bread.

6. YUM.

An herbalist shares the benefits of cinnamon. After all, ’tis the season of sugar, spice, and everything nice: