In just about 10 minutes, you can make seriously delicious Cereal Bars made with just three super simple ingredients. They’re crispy, flavorful, and a perfect snack for kids.
Cereal Bars
I recently had a box of cereal that my kids completely lost interest in, and in an effort to avoid wasting food, I turned it into these delicious bars. They were so much better than I expected, they stayed crisp for days and days, and they are so fast to pull together.
I love making snacks from pantry staples and transforming basic ingredients into super yummy recipes like this one.
This is a nutritious kids snack that can double as an easy breakfast bar, too!
Ingredients You Need
To make this recipe you’ll need the following ingredients:
- O cereal (like Cheerios or a store-brand O cereal)
- Honey: Alternatively, you can use brown rice syrup, which is a little less sweet but similarly sticky.
- Peanut butter: I used smooth natural style. Any creamy style of nut or seed butter should work similarly as long as it’s not too runny.
TIP: You can make this nut-free with sunflower seed butter. You can also add a little vanilla extract for additional flavor if you like.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to make this recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full recipe.
- Stir the peanut butter and honey together in a big bowl.
- Add the cereal. Mix thoroughly, but gently, with a spatula or big spoon. Take your time to get each piece of cereal coated with the mixture.
- Add to a parchment-lined baking pan. Press down so the batter goes to the edges of the pan and is an even thickness. Chill in the fridge—this is key for helping the bars hold together!
- Cut and serve.
TIP: These hold together best when stored in the fridge, so keepe them in the fridge and serve while still cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve made these with both Cheerios and Trader Joe’s Joe’s O’s. The Cheerios hold up longer (they stay crisper), but both work. You can explore other options, too.
These will store for up to 5-7 days in the fridge if wrapped well. They hold up best when stored in the fridge and served cold. They soften at room temperature a little, so I recommend serving them cold if possible. You can also freeze them.
You can make them with almond butter or sunflower seed butter. They should work exactly the same with a gluten-free O cereal, though there may be some variation in how long they stay crispy.
How Do You Get Cereal Bars to Stick Together?
The mixture of nut or seed butter and honey (or brown rice syrup) in this recipe helps to hold the bars together. And when you store them in the fridge and serve them cold, they hold together even better.
If taking them out of the house or packing for lunch, tuck in an ice pack. They hold together better with brown rice syrup than honey, but both can work if they are kept cold.
How to Store
I like to wrap each bar in plastic wrap, then store in a storage bag or airtight container in the fridge. You can skip the plastic wrap, but do store them in an airtight container in the fridge so they hold together well. You can also wrap and freeze in the freezer.
Best Tips for Success
- You can make this nut-free with sunflower seed butter.
- You can add a little vanilla extract for additional flavor.
- Trade in brown rice syrup for the honey—which is a little stickier than honey, so the bars hold together a little better, and less sweet tasting.
- These hold their shape best when stored in the fridge and served cold. They soften a little at room temperature.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe if you try it, so please comment below to share!
3-Ingredient Cereal Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup smooth natural peanut butter (like Smucker's Natural)
- ½ cup honey (or brown rice syrup)
- 3½ cups O cereal (like Cheerios)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
Instructions
- Line an 8×8-inch baking sheet with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides (which will make it easy to lift the bars out when it's time to slice them).
- Add the peanut butter and honey to a large heat-safe bowl. Warm in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, or until easy to stir. (This may not be necessary if you keep your peanut butter and honey at room temperature.) Stir together to combine.
- Add the cereal and vanilla, if using, to the bowl. Stir gently, but thoroughly, using a wooden spoon or spatula. It may take a minute or two to get the mixture evenly coated.
- Press mixture into the prepared baking pan, gently pressing evenly and into the corners.
- Chill for at least 20 minutes. Remove from the fridge, lift out using the parchment paper, and slice on a cutting board.
- Wrap each bar in plastic wrap (optional) and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Serve cold.
Equipment
Notes
- I like to wrap each bar, then store in a storage bag or airtight container in the fridge. You can skip the plastic wrap, but do store them in an airtight container.
- Store in the fridge for up to two weeks. (Ones made with Cheerios are likely going to be fine in the fridge if tightly wrapped for up to a month. Other brands may start to taste stale after 1-2 weeks.) You can also wrap and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter.
- You can add a little vanilla extract for additional flavor.
- These hold their shape best when stored in the fridge and served cold. They soften a little at room temperature.
- Brown rice syrup is an alternative to honey that is a little less sweet tasting and stickier, so it helps the bars hold together a little better. You should still plan to serve them cold for best results.
Nutrition
This post was first published June 2021.
Hello, I made these today and they have glued together properly to stay in shape. Did I do something wrong ?
Hi- Do you mean they haven’t glued together properly? Stick them in the fridge if so.
These are so yummy! We sprinkled chocolate chips on top because I wanted my three year old to help make them, and if “baking” doesn’t include sampling chocolate chips, he’s not interested. They do seem to fall apart but that’s no big deal. Can’t wait to stick these in his lunchbox!
Hey! Trying to lower the carbs in this for a diabetic little one. Do you think I could sub some of the honey for coconut oil?
Thanks!
I don’t think I’d add oil but you could maybe use more peanut butter in place of some of the honey.
Has anyone one tried it with almond butter?
It should work similarly as long as the almond butter isn’t super runny.
Love this slice, I make it with a nut free spread. A regular in our household. Thankyou.
I liked this recipe because it had only 3 ingredients that are common in my house! I want to try the brown rice syrup (not a typical pantry food for us), because the bars kind of fell apart and were really messy..tasted great, just super messy. I did keep them in the freezer which helped some. There was peanut butter all over hands and face and clothes when my smalls ate them…my twins also seem able to create messes my oldest never did. 🙂
These are so yummy! Easy to make & definitely going to make them again & again!
Another great recipe!
Wondering how to serve when kept in freezer? How long expect to defrost before serving?
It might take an hour at room temp or you can stick them in the fridge overnight.
This is so easy and so yummy! I’ve made it twice in the last 2 weeks. The first time with cheerios and the second with rice krispies. Loved both (and so did my kiddos), but do prefer the rice krispies. I found everything stuck together better with rice krispies and the bars are nice and crunchy! 5 stars either way 🙂
Hi there
Can you use maple syrup instead of honey?
No, it’s not sticky enough. Brown rice syrup or honey are best.
Hi Amy! Could this work with any leftover cereal? I have a bag of kamut wheat puffs that aren’t exciting- but would be tastier as cereal bars..
Hi, yes it should!
I only have chunky peanut butter, will it work?
Yes, you’ll just have that texture in the mix too
This was so good!! My 3 year old and I made it together. So easy and he enjoyed making them! I added a little bit of date syrup! Can’t wait to make it again!
This was so easy to make and my little one loves it 🙂
Great recipe for the kids! I’m vegan, so I replaced the honey with maple syrup. I think it made them a little more wet, which was my fault because I wasn’t thinking about the syrup being less sticky and runnier than honey. (If anyone is making that substitution, I’d add just a little less than a 1/2 cup.) But this one’s a keeper, for sure. I wonder, has anyone tried other cereals? Captain Crunch? Life? Maybe even Rice Krispies? I’m seeing nothing but peanut-buttery possibilities!
Super easy! I like that. A little too sweet for me though. So I would try rice syrup or less honey next time, maybe more peanut butter to keep it a cup of sticky content.