Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars
Treat yourself to a sweet snack with these delicious 3-ingredient Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars. Perfect for breakfast, coffee time, or as an afternoon snack, these ooey gooey bars are easy to make with Cheerios, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract.
Easy Cheerio Bars
Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars are a delicious and easy-to-make treat. They start with classic Cheerios breakfast cereal, which is then combined with creamy peanut butter and honey to create a sweet and crunchy snack.
These bars are delicious as-is or topped with chocolate for an extra special treat. They make a great after-school snack, a quick dessert for parties, or even just an anytime indulgence!
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Cheerios: Make up the crunchy cereal base to these treats. We like to use Plain or Honey Nut Cheerios. Avoid using flavored Cheerios like Cinnamon, Frosted, etc. because the flavors won’t mix.
- Peanut Butter: Choose creamy peanut butter. It creates a sticky binder that helps hold these cereal bars together.
- Honey: Adds sweetness and a bit of gloss to the appearance of the bars.
- Vanilla: While optional, it adds a hint of flavor. We prefer to use pure vanilla extract but imitation works in a pinch.
How to Make Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars:
These no-bake bars make the perfect easy breakfast or a great lunch box snack! The longest part is waiting for them to set.
Scroll to the recipe card below for full instructions and ingredient amounts!
- Spray an 8×8-inch pan with cooking spray, grease with butter, or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Place the honey and peanut butter in a medium saucepan over low-medium heat. Stir until the mixture is melted and smooth and just beginning to bubble slightly. Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine.
- Remove from heat and carefully stir in the Cheerios cereal. Make sure to completely coat the cereal.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, and use a spatula sprayed with cooking spray to press the mixture into an even layer. Press firmly so the cereal sticks together.
- Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours to set, then cut and serve.
Tips for Success:
- Mix in some chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or other dried fruits for extra texture and sweetness.
- Let the bars cool before cutting them into pieces – this will ensure that they hold together better when served.
- Freeze the bars to help them set up.
- Drizzle the bars with melted chocolate!
- Use the microwave to melt the peanut butter and honey until smooth and creamy.
- Use Honey Nut Cheerios for even more honey flavor.
- Omit the vanilla if you’d prefer not to use it.
How to Store Your Cheerio Bars:
Room Temperature: Cheerio bars can stay at room temperature for up to 4 days. If they get too warm, they may start to break apart, so it’s better to keep them in the refrigerator.
Refrigerator: Store leftover bars in the fridge between pieces of parchment or wax paper for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Cut the bars into individual servings then wrap them in freezer paper followed by a layer of foil. The Cheerio bars stay fresh for about 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before enjoying!
Is there an alternative for honey in this recipe?
Yes, honey can be replaced with another sticky sweetener such as maple syrup or agave nectar. Although flavors may vary slightly, the bars should still maintain their gooey texture, and delicious taste.
Honey makes the best option in regards to binding the ingredients together. Maple syrup and agave don’t hold them together quite as well.
Do I have to refrigerate the bars before cutting them?
Yes; otherwise, the bars aren’t cohesive. They’ll just fall apart into several sticky pieces.
Other Snack Recipes to Try:
Ingredients
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, optional
- 3 cups plain Cheerios cereal
Instructions
- Spray an 8×8-inch pan with cooking spray, grease with butter, or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Place the honey and peanut butter in a medium saucepan over low-medium heat. Stir until the mixture is melted and smooth. Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine.½ cup honey½ cup creamy peanut butter½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Remove from heat and carefully stir in the Cheerios.3 cups plain Cheerios cereal
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, and use a spatula sprayed with cooking spray to press the mixture into an even layer.
- Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours to set, then cut and serve.
- Scroll up and see the post for tips, FAQs, and storage information.
