Cereal Bars - Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe! (2024)

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byArman Liew

updated on Sep 10, 2023

106comments

5from 551 votes

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These homemade cereal bars need just 3 ingredients to make and taste better than anything store-bought! A healthy and kid-friendly snack.

Cereal Bars - Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe! (2)

Stop buying expensive pre-packaged cereal bars and make your own with this simple cereal bars recipe! It’s better than anything store-bought and so much healthier for you.

They make a healthy alternative to packaged snack bars. They take seconds to make and are seriously delicious!

Table of Contents
  1. Why this recipe works
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to make cereal bars
  4. Tips to make the best recipe
  5. Recipe variations
  6. Storage instructions
  7. More healthy snack recipes to try
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Cereal Bars (Recipe Card)

Why this recipe works

These bars may look impressive, but honestly, they are so simple to whop up.

  • 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, transfer it into a pan, and wait for it to set.
  • Easy to customize. Change up the cereal, add flavor extracts, and use other nuts or seed butter: the possibilities are endless!

Ingredients needed

These cheerio bars are so easy; besides the cereal and syrup, there isn’t much else needed to make. Here is what you’ll need:

  • Cereal. Any crispy cereal works, including Cheerios, 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

Homemade cereal bars are easy to make: just ensure you have a large enough bowl to mix everything in.

  1. Prep the ingredients: Add 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.
  2. Make the bars: Add the syrup/almond butter mixture to the mixing bowl with cereal and mix until combined.
  3. Set, slice, and serve: 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.
Cereal Bars - Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe! (3)

Tips to make the best recipe

  • Use a crispy cereal. No one wants soggy or soft cereal bars, so make sure you start with fresh and crisp cereal. Check the expiration date and discard any crushed pieces.
  • Avoid overmixing. Similar to the earlier point about crispy cereal, another reason why the cereal could soften is due to overmixing. Prevent this by mixing everything together slowly and just until the cereal is mixed in.
  • Use a sharp knife. Always use a sharp knife when cutting these into bars to prevent them from crumbling or falling apart.
  • Line the pan. Even for non-stick pans, I always line them. It makes clean up a breeze and keeps everything in place.

Recipe 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.

Cereal Bars - Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe! (4)

More healthy snack recipes to try

  • Granola bars
  • Protein bars
  • Protein balls
  • Fruit leather

Frequently asked questions

Are cereal bars healthy for you?

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.

What cereal bars are good for diabetics?

Dependant on the individual, a general rule of thumb for choosing a cereal bar for diabetics would be ones that include healthy fats, fiber, and no added sugar.

Cereal Bars - Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe! (5)

Cereal Bars

5 from 551 votes

These homemade cereal bars need just 3 ingredients to make and taste better than anything store-bought! A healthy and kid-friendly snack.

Servings: 6 Bars

Prep: 1 minute min

Cook: 5 minutes mins

Total: 6 minutes mins

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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

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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1BarCalories: 195kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 5gFat: 9gPotassium: 3mgFiber: 4gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 3mgNET CARBS: 17g

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Author: Arman Liew

Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Cereal Bars - Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How to make cereal bars stick together? ›

Honey – Along with the nut butter, it helps all these ingredients stick together! I love its warm amber flavor in this recipe. Vanilla extract – It amps up the bars' warm flavor. Sea salt – To make all the rich, sweet, and nutty flavors in this recipe pop!

What are cereal bars made of? ›

A cereal bar is a bar-shaped food product, made by pressing cereals and usually dried fruit or berries, which are in most cases held together by glucose syrup. Consumers choose cereal bars as an alternative to the less-healthy snacks, a quick source of energy before a workout, or a substitute for a meal.

Are cereal bars healthy? ›

Although breakfast bars, biscuits and milkshake drinks may have healthy ingredients like wholegrain cereals and milk, they often contain added sugar too, sometimes in large amounts. And although convenient, they can be an expensive option.

What is the difference between a cereal bar and a granola bar? ›

Don't confuse granola bars with breakfast or cereal bars. Granola bars are typically made from whole grains; breakfast bars are typically made with refined grain and look like a smooth pastry. Few granola bars are high in fiber, and some have more sugar than one serving of cereal.

What is a good binder for granola bars? ›

While there are several different sticky ingredients that you can use, we've found that the binding agent that works the best is honey! When added to your homemade granola bars, honey acts as glue that sticks all the pieces together.

How do you keep homemade granola bars from falling apart? ›

If your granola bars are falling apart or seem too crumbly, here are a few tips. Make sure you use honey or another sticky sweetener such as maple syrup in the liquid part of the recipe; this recipe calls for honey. This will help bind together the ingredients and keep that signature bar shape.

What is one of the unhealthiest cereal? ›

12 Unhealthiest Cereals — Ranked by Sugar Content
  • honey smacks cereal.
  • kelloggs smart start breakfast cereal.
  • Fruity Pebbles.
  • honey ohs! cereal.
  • Kelloggs raisin bran crunch.
  • Golden Crisp Cereal.
  • Malt-O-Meal Golden Puffs.
  • Chocolate Marshmallow Mateys.

What is the healthiest cereal of all time? ›

This article will cover the 14 healthiest cereals you can eat.
  1. Oats. Oats are a nutritious cereal choice. ...
  2. DIY muesli. ...
  3. Homemade granola. ...
  4. DIY cinnamon crunch cereal. ...
  5. Post Foods Grape Nuts. ...
  6. Bob's Red Mill Paleo-Style Muesli. ...
  7. Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Cereals. ...
  8. Nature's Path Organics Superfood Cereals.
Mar 6, 2023

Do granola bars count as junk food? ›

Often touted for their whole grain goodness, most granola bars are sticky-sweet junk food in disguise. Don't let a few oats fool you — especially when you also see marshmallows and chocolate chips. Instead: If granola bars are a must-have, choose one with 6 grams of sugar or less per bar, and hopefully some fibre.

Is granola with milk healthier than cereal? ›

While both granola and cereal may seem similar, there are significant differences between the two. Granola is a healthier, more nutrient-dense, and joyfully versatile option that will not only make your taste buds dance but also keep your body happy and healthy.

Is it OK to eat granola like cereal? ›

Are you a fan of cereals, but find yourself bored with the same old bowl of whole grains? Bring your favorite breakfast to life with a ½ cup of granola. Granola can also be its own cereal, just add milk and enjoy. For a boost of nutrients, add nuts, seeds and freeze-dried fruit.

How to get homemade granola bars to stay together? ›

While the oats and nuts bake, you can make the sticky glue that holds our bars together. You'll melt butter, honey, and brown sugar in a saucepan and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Mix this sticky mixture with the toasted oats and nuts. Allow everything to cool, and then toss in dried fruit and chocolate chips.

Why won't my granola bars stick together? ›

Don't over measure your oats, nuts, and add-in's. If you measure the dry ingredients too generously the granola bars won't stick together because they won't be enough liquid ingredients to “glue” them together.

What helps granola stick together? ›

There are other ways to achieve clumpier granola. You can add more fat (in the form of butter or oil). If you're shooting for a somewhat healthy result, you can add some other binder, like an egg white or applesauce.

What is the glue in granola bars? ›

Honey. Sweetens the granola bars and helps bind the dry ingredients together.

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