These no-bake, homemade cereal bars are perfect for toddlers and are an easy breakfast or snack to make together. The recipe only require 5 ingredients!
Since when did cereal bars (or breakfast bars...what do you call them?) get so expensive and terrible tasting? They're too sweet for my own liking and just taste like garbage.
These homemade cereal bars are a much healthier version without all the sugar. The peanut butter gets melted with the honey to make the most deliciously sweet glue to hold the cereal together. This cereal bar recipe is easy as my pumpkin donut hole recipe, which is crazy easy!
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My kids love these cereal bars -- and the best part is that they can practically make them themselves, minus the whole stove top thing.
And did you know there's so many cool things to learn about Cheerios, too?! They have a fascinating history. I digress.
Ingredients You'll Need to Make Homemade Cereal Bars
- oat-based "O's" cereal (like Cheerios)
- puffed rice cereal (like rice krispies)
- peanut butter (creamy)
- honey
- mini chocolate chips
How to Make healthy Homemade Cereal Bars
- In a small sauce pan over medium-low heat, melt your peanut butter and honey together until well combined (picture #1).
- Pour peanut butter mixture into a larger bowl that has your oat-based and puffed rice cereals (picture#2).
- Mix until combined.
4. Then gently fold in mini chocolate chips (#3). Spread into a 9" square pan that's lined with parchment paper. Use a measuring cup to flatten the mixture out (#4). Don't forget the corners!
5. Stick the entire pan in the freezer for about 20 minutes then take them out to cut them into rectangles or squares.
Gluten Free Cereal Bars
Want to make these gluten free? Use all Cheerios instead of the puffed rice cereal if you want to make these gluten free or be sure to buy gluten free rice cereal.
Tips to Keep in Mind
Here are some tips that are important when making this homemade cereal bars recipe:
- Mini chocolate chips work best because they're smaller and stick better to the cereals.
- Stick the cereal bars in the freezer before cutting them. That makes them much easier to cut in whatever shape you want. Speaking of that -- these would be adorable using whatever cut cookie cutters you have at home.
Freezing cereal bars
You can absolutely freeze cereal bars. I prefer these cereal bars be kept in the freezer actually. They keep their shape and don't get as sticky as when they're stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator. You can also eat them out of the freezer after 3 minutes -- they don't need a lot of "defrost" time.
Storage
In the freezer, these bars will be good for 2-3 months, so it's a great idea to double or even triple the recipe to keep a large amount in the freezer ready to go.
Other No Bake Treats for Kids
- No Bake Chocolate oatmeal cookies
- No Bake Chocolate Raspberry Tart
- No Bake Chocolate Pomegranate Tart
- No Bake Cherry Cheesecake Parfaits
- No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
Other Recipes You'll Love
xox,
kathryn
As always, if you make anything from the blog, be sure to let me know! I love hearing from you in the comments on this post below or find Worn Slap Out on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
5 Ingredient Homemade Cereal Bars
Ingredients
- 3 cups oat-based cereal (like Cheerios)
- 1 cup puffed rice cereal
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Line 9" square pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a small sauce pan, melt peanut butter and honey. Add to large bowl with Cheerios and puffed rice cereals and stir until combined. Add chocolate chips (if desired) and gently stir one more time.
- Spread cereal mixture evenly into pan, pressing down slightly to make bars flat and even on top. Don't forget about the corner. Stick in the freezer for 20 minutes before cutting.
Notes
Nutrition
Pavani says
100% agree that the store bought cereal bars are not worth the money. Your version sounds easy enough to make at home with pantry ingredient. Will definitely try it for my family.
Kathryn says
Yeah...they're pretty gross, especially after looking at the ingredients list!
Jack says
Great recipe to make with the kids! Everyone loved them 🙂
Kathryn says
So glad. Thanks, Jack!
Dannii says
Oh these look delicious, and so many ways that you could adapt them too.
Kathryn says
Yes, they're great for adding whatever you/your kids love!
Marlynn says
YUM!! These are so great to make with the kids, and I love that we can make this ahead of time and grab-and-go when we've got busy mornings.
Kathryn says
Perfect! Love that you love them.
Saif says
I love cereal bar. They are healthy and delicious. Homemade bar is much better than buying in a store.
Kathryn says
Agreed!