These homemade cereal bars need just 3 ingredients to make and taste better than anything store-bought! A healthy and kid-friendly snack.
If you’ve made our homemade protein bars or peanut butter protein balls before, you’ll love this cereal bar recipe. It’s better than anything store-bought and so much healthier for you!
Why this recipe works
- Just 3 ingredients. Cereal, a sticky sweetener, and nut butter are all you’ll need.
- Diet friendly. Easily make this gluten-free, vegan, and/or lower sugar.
- Ready in 5 minutes. All you do is mix it up and transfer it into a pan and wait for it to set.
What I love about this recipe is just how easy it is to customize. I can easily change up the flavor, use other nut butter, or even cut the sugar completely!
Ingredients needed
As mentioned earlier, this recipe calls for three simple pantry staple ingredients. Here is what you’ll need:
- Cereal. Any crispy cereal works, including whole-O’s, special K cereal, or even rice crispies.
- Maple syrup. Binds everything together and adds some sweetness.
- Almond butter. Smooth almond butter with no added sugar or salt.
How to make cereal bars
Start by adding the cereal into a large mixing bowl. Next, add the maple syrup and almond butter into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it for 20-seconds, or until the peanut butter has melted.
Now, add the syrup/almond butter mixture to the mixing bowl with cereal and mix until combined. Transfer the cereal bar mixture to a lined pan and refrigerate it for 30 minutes, or until it has firmed up. Once firm, slice them into bars.
Variations
The beauty of this cereal bar recipe is just how easy it is to customize with other ingredients or even add some fun ones into them. Here is what we’ve tried:
- Make it almond-free. If you can’t tolerate almonds or are allergic, switch it out for peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, or tahini.
- Lower the sugar. Swap out the maple syrup for sugar free maple syrup or sugar free honey.
- Keep it gluten-free. Use a celiac-friendly cereal like Gluten Free Cheerios.
- Add mix-ins. Chocolate chips, raisins, and toasted coconut flakes are all great additions.
Storage instructions
To store: Avoid keeping these bars stored at room temperature as they are prone to becoming soggy. Instead, place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They will keep well for up to two weeks.
To freeze: Place the bars in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
More healthy snack recipes to try
Frequently asked questions
Homemade cereal bars are much healthier than store-bought or packaged bars. They contain considerably less sugar, less fat, and fewer ingredients. They are also more cost-effective, too.
On its own, a cereal bar isn’t a very satisfying breakfast and would leave you hungry a few hours later. These work well as a satisfying snack between meals.
Cereal Bars With 3 Ingredients | No Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups cereal gluten free, if needed
- 6 tablespoons almond butter can substitute for peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
- 6 tablespoon maple syrup can substitute for honey or agave nectar
Instructions
- Line a baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add your dry cereal and set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl or stovetop, melt almond butter with your maple syrup and then pour the mixture into the crispy rice cereal and mix well.
- Pour mixture into the lined baking tray and press firmly into place. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
Notes
Nutrition
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LOVE simple recipes like these! Well done mate!
I love that you say ‘mate’. Please come to Australia!
Hey! I really want to make a batch for my dad but we live in a super humid and hot area. Do these get super gooey and sticky? Or are they pretty sturdy like a granola bar?
Hi they should be fine refrigerated! 🙂
Easy recipes are the best! I start wondering how to recreate it with my favorite Cinnamon Squares 😀
🙂 Stay tuned 🙂
If my kids saw these they would surely beg to adopt you, lol, they are bottom of the bag hoarders as well 🙂
PLEASE. Seriously, next time I’m in NYC I’m ‘accidentally’ popping over.
Yup yup yup simplicity at its finest. These would be perfect stored in the freezer. Then I may combine the new use of the cheerios into your marble rice crispy bars from a while back.
Please do- I regret sending Alexis a huge batch of those, now I want one!
Wasting food droves me crazy – I definitely try to find ways to use the very last of everything to the best use
Right? My mother taught me well! 🙂
These remind me of rice Krispy treats. I used to be obsessed with them!
YES! I based it off my rice crispy recipe! 🙂
Oh mannn. I used to love buying cereal bars (with alllll the ingredients and sugar), and now look at you, making it so simple and healthy. You da man, Arman. YUM
🙂 Thank you, Sarah!
Yuuummm. I don’t do creative things with cereal. I just eat it in a bowl. I think I could manage these, though 😉
I think you underestimate yourself, m’dear!
Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids. Oh wait. You didn’t use Trix. Ok then, maybe you aren’t so silly, mate. In fact, maybe you’re a genius! I love me a good cereal bar in the morning. Quick, easy and portable…what’s not to love there?? Can I top mine with colored sparkling sugar, though? 🙂
Wait, I just googled TRIX.
Also, what is with you guys having cereals with marshmallows in them? Lucky Charms! I would pluck them out.
I definitely don’t like to waste food! I love cereal. I add it to cookies for a little extra crunch, or add it to a mixture of nuts and dried fruit for some trail mix snack.
Oh that’s a great idea! 🙂
What a neat recipe—these would be fun to bring to a party or something. I may or may not take it one step into the “are you f—ing kidding me” zone and make this with Cinnamon Toast Crunch…
Stay tuned 😀 I’ve got something in the works called the Sl*tty cinnamon toast crunch bar.
These would be great for party when I am in a hurry. And probably my picky niece too! I never have cereal as a meal b/c I find it so un-satisfying, but I love it as a snack!
Right? 4 bowls later and I’m still not satisfied!
Omg I love putting cereal on my ice cream. There is just something about that combo of sweet, creamy and crunchy! Imagine if I put these crumbled cereal bars on my ice cream, now that’s what Im talking about!
omg. How about ice cream sandwiched between two of them?!
I HATE wasting food and I usually don’t. Probably because I’m Italian so I love to eat…and I’m that friend who always brings extra food to classes/rehearsals to make sure her friends are fed! LOL
Oh I love Italian people, especially their Nonna’s cooking 😉
These sound amazing! I love how quick and simple they are to make. Plus they uses GF cheerios, which is basically like my favorite cereal, simply because it goes with any flavor and any food!
Oh no! I didn’t use gluten free cheerios because of the shenanigans surrounding them- I used Nature’s Path Power O’s 🙂