These sweet macaroni are super easy to make and come together in less than 15 minutes.
They’re loaded with sugar, grated lemon zest and loads of cinnamon. You can serve them for breakfast or eat them as a snack whenever you’re craving something sweet.
Sweet Macaroni with Feta and Cinnamon
I’m willing to bet that this is probably the first time you’re hearing about a sweet macaroni recipe that can be served for breakfast.
The closest thing that comes to this recipe is a sweet macaroni salad.
However, unlike sweet macaroni salad, this recipe is made without any vegetables or mayonnaise.
Instead of the vegetables and mayo, it includes a sweet and savory combination of cinnamon, Feta cheese and lemon zest.
As a result, it’s more of a dessert than an actual salad.
Ingredients
- Macaroni – This recipe works best when it’s made with short macaroni such as Elbow macaroni or Cavatappi.
- Cheese – I usually make this recipe using Feta cheese. If you can’t find Feta, you can substitute it with white Bulgarian cheese.
- Sugar – Sugar is what turns these simple macaroni into a dessert.
- Cinnamon – If sugar makes these macaroni a dessert, then cinnamon is the cherry on top which gives them a ton of flavor.
- Butter – I am using unsalted butter since the cheese has plenty of salt on its own.
How to make
Check out the recipe card at the end of this article for detailed, step-by-step instructions.
Start by boiling the macaroni according to the package’s instructions. This usually takes no more than ten minutes.
While the macaroni is cooking, combine the cinnamon, sugar and grated lemon zest in a cup.
Set the sugar mixture aside and crush the cheese with a fork.
Continue by melting the butter in a large pot or a sauce pan.
Transfer the cooked macaroni into a large bowl and mix them with melted butter, crumbled cheese and sugar mixture.
Serve the macaroni while they’re still warm and sprinkle them with some cinnamon on top.
Storage
If you have any leftover sweet macaroni, you can safely store them in the fridge for about 3 to 5 days.
Make sure you store the macaroni in an airtight container to minimize the exposure to bacteria.
If you notice any odd smells or signs of discoloration, you should toss them out.
Try these out next
If you’re in the mood for more pasta dishes, then be sure to check out these protein pasta recipes or these crockpot chicken pasta ideas.
For something more sweet, head out to this page where you’ll find a number of different phyllo dough desserts.
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Sweet Macaroni with Feta and Cinnamon
Ingredients
- 9 oz macaroni Cavatappi or Elbow
- 2 tbsp butter unsalted
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 5.3 oz feta cheese
- 5 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 lemon for the zest
- 1/4 tbsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Boil the macaroni in salted water following the instructions on the package.
- In the meantime, mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small cup and add the grated lemon zest.
- Crush the Feta cheese in a separate bowl using a fork.
- Melt the butter in the olive oil over low heat.
- Strain the cooked macaroni, then transfer them into a large bowl and pour over the melted butter and crumbled cheese.
- Stir in the sugar and cinnamon.
- Divide the macaroni into portions and sprinkle some cinnamon on top.
- Serve while warm.
Notes
- Don't wash the boiled macaroni after straining them. This will remove some of the starches and make the macaroni less creamy.
- Use the package instructions for the macaroni only as a guideline. There's a high chance the macaroni will take less or more time to fully cook. You can test if they're ready by checking the texture of the macaroni. Fully cooked macaroni should be mostly chewy with a slight resistance in the center.
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Nutrition
I do my best to provide you with the nutritional information for recipes but I'm not a certified nutritionist. The nutritional information provided should only be treated as an estimate since it will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.