Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars Easy Recipe

But be warned: they’re also pretty addictive. Besides being one of the most addictive snacks known to man, these babies are also incredibly easy to make. Check the recipe’s ingredients, and you’ll see what I mean! You’ll only need three things, and I’m sure you already have them in your pantry. There’s also no baking necessary. Just melt, mix, refrigerate, and boom! You’re done! So, if you’re looking for a fool-proof snack or sweet treat your family will rave about for days, these peanut butter Cheerio bars are the answer.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars with Honey

Like Rice Krispie treats, peanut butter Cheerio bars are a heavenly mix of something sticky and sweet with a popular breakfast cereal. In this case, you’ll need honey and peanut butter to hold the Cheerios together. This trio creates a crunchy, ooey-gooey, and sweet-n-salty treat you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or dessert. Or, if you’re obsessed like me, you’ll probably munch on them at midnight when no one’s watching.

Ingredients

As mentioned, this recipe calls for just three pantry staples:

Cheerios – Any brand alternative works, but the plain ones are best. Anything flavored will affect the taste and might not pair well with honey and peanut butter. That said, I’ve tried the recipe with plain Cheerios, Honey Nut, and Multi-Grain, and they all turned out amazing.Peanut Butter – For best results, use creamy peanut butter. All-natural peanut butter is too oily and won’t firm up your cereal bars.Honey – Aside from the sweetness, you’ll also need honey’s stickiness to serve as a glue to hold the Cheerios together. If you’re vegan, use maple syrup or agave.

How to Make Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars

Prepare the pan. Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil and grease it with non-stick spray or butter. It’s important to use this pan size to yield perfectly thick cereal bars. While you’re at it, grease your hands and all the tools you’ll use to keep the honey from sticking.
Melt the peanut butter and honey. You can do this in a saucepan over the stovetop or in the microwave. The two key things are to heat the mixture on low and to use a container large enough that you can liberally toss the Cheerios in.
Add the Cheerios to the peanut butter and honey mixture. Add the Cheerios and toss until they’re well coated with the peanut butter and honey.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish and refrigerate to set. Firmly pack the cereal mixture into the pan and cover it with plastic wrap or foil. Let it set in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
Slice with a sharp serrated knife into squares. Serve and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

Spray your hands, spatulas, measuring cups, and baking pan with non-stick spray. This will keep you and the tools you’ll use from getting sticky from the honey.Aside from lining the pan with parchment paper or foil, spray it with oil, too. This will allow the cereal bars to lift right out of the pan once you’re ready to slice.Use room temperature peanut butter to help melt it faster. And as mentioned, go for smooth peanut butter.Melt the honey and peanut butter on low heat. If you heat the mixture too quickly, it’ll burn. You can also perform this step in the microwave. Put the bowl in for 20 seconds, stir, and repeat until smooth.Use a large saucepan or bowl so you can easily toss and coat the Cheerios in the peanut butter and honey mixture. If you use a small bowl, you’ll probably miss some pieces of cereal.For best results, use an 8×8-inch pan. Any bigger than that, and you’ll get thin bars (though still tasty).Press the cereal mixture firmly into the pan, but not too much, or it’ll crush the Cheerios. Instead, just use a spatula and press down gently until it looks level.Use a silicone spatula. This will keep the mix from sticking. Use a sharp serrated knife to make clean slices. If you use a Chef’s knife, you risk breaking the squares.

Add-Ins and Variations

Even with just three ingredients, these bars are one of the most delectable snacks I’ve ever had. Care to make them even more scrummy? Easy! There are tons of add-ins and variations you can make to shake things up. Experiment with these suggestions and let me know how yours turns out:

Chopped Candy – Reese’s Pieces, M&M’s, crushed Heath bar, sprinkles, etc.Melted Chocolate or Chocolate Chips – dark, milk, white, butterscotch, peanut butter – take your pick.Other Breakfast Cereals – Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, Froot Loops, Cocoa Puffs, etc.Mini Marshmallows – I like to use colorful marshmallows.Nuts and Seeds – almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, coconut, or flax seeds.Dried Fruit – cherries, cranberries, blueberries – the list goes on.

How to Store Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars

Once they’ve set, store the bars in an airtight container and keep them at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the fridge for a week. If coming from the fridge, let them thaw to room temperature before serving.

Can You Freeze Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars?

For sure! Just double wrap each individual bar tightly in plastic wrap and foil and pop them in the freezer. Let them come to room temperature overnight before serving. Frozen peanut butter Cheerio bars will keep well for up to 3 months.