These easy cereal bars are way better than anything you can buy at the grocery store. Plus, you can customize the simple ingredients to fit any preference. They're a delicious snack and a great on-the-go quick breakfast.
Cereal Bars Recipe
Breakfast has a special place in my heart. I love the mornings that I can sit down and enjoy a homemade breakfast casserole and muffin and start my day at a slow pace.
But let's be honest, some days are too jam packed for that. On days that are too busy, I love eating a bowl of cereal. There's something nostalgic about cereal, it brings back happy memories!
So, I set out to make homemade cereal bars to bring that nostalgia into snack time...or even an easy breakfast.
This cereal bar recipe is about as simple as it gets in the kitchen. You don't have to bake anything and you won't make too much of a mess either. They're a sweet treat with easy basic ingredients.
I love making this easy snack and having it available to the whole family during the week. They're great to make ahead and store at room temperature or in the fridge. Cereal bars are freezer friendly too!
Simple homemade snacks like cereal bars and mixed berry muffins keep my grocery bill down, and all the tummies in my house happy. So thankful for easy recipes that make fun treats!
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Cereal bars are a great school snack to pack in lunches or send as a special class treat.
- This recipe is a great way to use up any leftover cereal that is just sitting in your pantry. You can use multiple different types of cereal if you want!
- You only need a little time to prep these bars, then they can chill in the fridge. Got 10 minutes? That's all you need!
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:
- cheerios
- peanut butter
- honey
- mini chocolate chips
Substitutions and Variations
You can use your favorite cereal in place of the Cheerios! This recipe would be great with cinnamon toast crunch, lucky charms, golden grahams, or even rice krispies. Use plain Cheerios, honey nut cheerios, or any of your other favorite flavors.
Swap the honey for maple syrup for a little different flavor! You can also mix in a little vanilla extract to the peanut butter to add a slight vanilla flavor.
If you don't have mini chocolate chips, melt some chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second increments. Then drizzle it over the top of these cereal bars.
Peanut butter cheerio bars call for creamy peanut butter, but you could use crunchy peanut butter to change up the texture of things. If you're allergic to peanuts, substitute almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or your favorite nut butter.
Make this recipe gluten free by subbing in your favorite gluten free cereal. There are tons of great options at the grocery store now, so just choose one!
How to Make Cereal Bars
Here's how to make this cereal bar recipe:
In a microwave-safe bowl or glass measuring cup, mix together the honey and peanut butter until combined.
Hot Tip: Pop the peanut butter into the microwave for 10-second intervals if it won't mix with the honey.
Pour 4 cups of cheerios into a large bowl. Then, pour the peanut butter-honey mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until it is all evenly incorporated.
Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper. Pour the cereal bar mixture into the prepare baking dish and smooth it out with a silicone spatula.
Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the top of the cereal bars, then press them down gently so that they adhere to the sticky peanut butter and honey.
Place the dish into the refrigerator and chill for about 30 minutes. Take the bars out of the fridge and remove them from the dish, keeping them on the parchment paper.
With a sharp knife, cut the homemade cereal bars into rectangles or squares and enjoy!
How to Store Leftover Cereal Bars
Place leftover homemade cereal bars in an airtight container or plastic storage bag and keep at room temperature for up to 3 days. To extend the life of this snack, store them in the fridge for a week.
You can also wrap the bars in plastic wrap, or place them in an airtight container, and store them in the freezer for up to a month. Take one out and let it thaw before eating!
Tips for Success
- If you're using a natural peanut butter where the oils separate, be sure to mix it very well before using the peanut butter in this recipe. Otherwise, your bars could turn out oily.
- Allow the bars to set before cutting into them. I know, it's so hard to resist such a great snack. But if you cut them too early, they'll fall apart.
- Try them with flavored Cheerios to make up your own flavors.
FAQ
If you end up with a sticky mess, it could be one of two things. You could have added too much honey to the mixture, or you may not have let the bars set in the fridge long enough. Pop them back in the fridge and if they're still sticky after that, just make sure you carefully measure the honey next time.
Cereal bars are a popular snack item. These delicious bars are sold in stores in the cereal aisle, but making them at home is so much better. The ingredients are better, making them a more healthy bar and you can adapt the recipe however you want!
More No Bake Recipes
- No Bake Buckeye Bars
- No Bake Granola Bars
- Stained Glass Cookies with Marshmallows
- No Bake Whipped Cream Pies
No Bake Cereal Bars
Homemade cereal bars are a game changer when it comes to quick breakfasts and tasty snacks!
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup + 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- ⅔ cup + 2 tablespoons honey
- 4 cups Cheerios cereal
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Mix together honey and peanut butter in a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup. Microwave peanut butter and honey for 30 seconds if it is too firm to mix with honey.
- Measure 4 cups of Cheerios into a large bowl.
- Pour the peanut butter honey mixture over Cheerios and stir to coat completely.
- Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper. Pour Cheerios mixture into pan and smooth top of bars as much as possible.
- Gently press chocolate chips into the tops of the bars
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Then remove from fridge, take bars out of dish using parchment paper.
- Cut bars into rectangles or squares and serve!
Notes
I used Banana Nut Cheerios, but you could use plain, honey nut, chocolate or peanut butter-flavored O-shaped cereal.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 147Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 38mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 3gSugar: 15gProtein: 3g
Janice Cooper says
I like the Cheerios Caramel Crisp Cereal Bars recipe. Who knew you could do so much with Cheerios!
Thomas Murphy says
I like the
Cheerios Applesauce Muffins recipe.
Starla says
Those look so good and what a simple recipe! I would also really love to try
Hungry Girl Double Chocolate Cereal Balls!
Laurajj says
I love the recipe for the Roly Poly PB-Chocolate Balls! Carter would love those!
HS kraftmaking says
I love Roly Poly PB-Chocolate Balls recipe.
Erin says
Yum! These sound delicious!!
K. Elizabeth @ YUMMommy says
Honey Nut Cheerios will always be my favorite Cheerios product. Love them!!
Jessica Slaughter says
Cheerios have always been one of my favorites, especially since I've started avoiding all those sugary cereals out there! These bars look delicious!!
Stacia says
I love this idea! My husband and I were just discussing how it's hard to get a healthy breakfast in the morning and how expensive grocery store cereal bars are. I think you've inspired a new breakfast for us!
Lindsay Eidahl says
Love your recipe. I want to try this one!
Prototype Mama says
Cheerios have always been a staple in my house with my kids. The eat it out the box (boys) and I love to add it to trail mix. These bars would be perfect to make ahead of time and have on hand.
Jenna Griffin says
Yummmm, these look so good! I love cereal bars, but I've never made any before. I will have to try these!
Gennie says
These sound great!! I usually have a bagel and banana for breakfast (and orange juice), but I may have to try these! And I want to try Marshmallow bars. 🙂
Holly E says
The Roly Poly PB-Chocolate Balls look delicious and fun to make.
redheadbabymama says
I love using Cheerios as an ingredient in trail mix - it's a great neutral crunch, or sometimes we opt for the yogurt kind!
Megan Spiker says
Wow, so easy and healthier than other alternatives!! I would take mine with a glass of milk though, not oj!!
House of Faucis says
We LOVE General Mills! It is actually the recommended cereal that our food program in our state allow in home daycares!
divasrunforbling says
These look so yummy. I love using Cheerios in many of my breakfast recipes. They are my go-to when it comes to recipes with cereal 🙂
Chelsea Jacobs says
These look so fun!
Julie Hood says
these look so good! i've been getting REALLY tired of store-bought granola bars, so this easy breakfast idea would be a great substitute. the nuts and bolts snack mix looks really good--and i already have the ingredients on hand, so that'll be a new fave!
Julia Strong says
Oh yummy, these sound so good!
Anna @ SheIsJoyful says
Cheerios are my favorite! 😀 These look really good!
Anna | sheisjoyful.com
Caroline @ In Due Time says
Marshmallow bars! Not in the diet, but could make for someone else 🙂
Amanda | Life With Grace says
Yum!! I use to love cereal bars as a kid and now I really want to try this homemade version! I love all the different things you can do with Cheerios!
Jenna Owens (@aSavoryFeast) says
Who knew there were so many fun recipes with Cheerios? I just check out their website and want to try the Marshmallow Bars. Your cereal bars sound so tasty, too!