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Home » Breakfast » Cereal Bars Recipe

Published: June 26, 2019 Last Modified: June 26, 2019 By Sara 26 Comments

Cereal Bars Recipe

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Cereal Bars Recipe | No Bake Bars | Peanut Butter Bars #cereal #breakfast #mealprep #peanutbutter #oatmeal #dinneratthezoo

These no bake breakfast cereal bars are made with cereal and peanut butter with a fun chocolate chip topping. It’s a quick and easy breakfast option that the kids will love!

I’m always looking for grab and go breakfast options to keep the kids well fueled in the morning such as egg muffins and breakfast burritos. Cereal bars are one of their favorites, these bars make a great after school snack too!

Cereal Bars Recipe | No Bake Bars | Peanut Butter Bars #cereal #breakfast #mealprep #peanutbutter #oatmeal #dinneratthezoo Cereal Bars Recipe | No Bake Bars | Peanut Butter Bars #cereal #breakfast #mealprep #peanutbutter #oatmeal #dinneratthezoo

Cereal bars stacked on a sheet pan topped with colorful sprinkles.

Trying to get three kids out the door in the mornings is no easy task. I try and be as organized as possible so that no time is wasted, and part of that means preparing breakfast in advance. I created these cereal bars as a grab-and-go option for the days when there’s just no time to sit around the table and have a leisurely meal.

How do you make cereal bars?

These no-bake cereal bars start with a blend of old fashioned oats, crispy rice cereal, and wheat germ. Peanut butter, brown sugar and corn syrup are added to the mix for sweetness and to help bind everything together. The cereal mixture is pressed into a pan, then topped with candy coated chocolate chips for a fun finishing touch. Chill your bars, then slice and serve!

Cereal, oats, wheat germ and brown sugar in a bowl.

Tips for cereal bars

  • Wheat germ can be found in the breakfast or baking aisles of most grocery stores. It’s also often available in the bulk bins.
  • Be sure to use rolled old fashioned oats, not quick oats in this recipe.
  • You can use smooth or crunchy peanut butter, I typically use smooth.
  • The candy coated chocolate chips are sold in little bottles in the baking aisle with the sprinkles. If your store doesn’t carry them, feel free to substitute miniature chocolate chips or a different type of sprinkles.

Peanut butter, brown sugar and corn syrup in a bowl.

Are cereal bars healthy?

These bars contain oatmeal, wheat germ and peanut butter, which are all nutritious foods. The bars do contain sugar to add some sweetness. If you’re looking to make the bars a little healthier, you can reduce the amount of sugar to 1/3 cup, and substitute honey or brown rice syrup in lieu of the corn syrup.

A square pan filled with a peanut butter and cereal mixture.

How long do cereal bars stay fresh?

These cereal bars will stay fresh for up to one week. I prefer to store my bars in the fridge, as they may soften at room temperature if it’s a warm day. You can also freeze your bars. Wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap, then store in a resealable freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature, then enjoy.

Cereal bars on a plate with colorful candy coated chocolates on top.

Breakfast bar variations

This is a basic bar recipe, and you can add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.

  • Raisins
  • Toasted Coconut
  • Chopped Nuts
  • Protein Powder
  • Cinnamon
  • Freeze Dried Fruit

These no-bake breakfast bars are a great way to feed your family in a hurry. The peanut butter adds a nice dose of protein and healthy fat to keep everyone full all morning long and the cereal is full of vitamins and minerals, making this a breakfast choice you can feel good about giving your kids. These bars are not just for the kids, my husband also likes to grab one on his way to work!

More easy breakfast ideas

  • Baked Oatmeal Cups
  • Ham and Egg Cups
  • Breakfast Sundaes
  • Breakfast Egg Muffins
  • Healthy Blueberry Muffins
Cereal bars stacked on a sheet pan topped with colorful sprinkles.
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5 from 4 votes

Cereal Bars

These homemade cereal bars are made with peanut butter, oats, wheat germ and rice cereal for a wholesome snack or breakfast option.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 12 bars
Calories 251kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 2 cups rolled old fashioned oats
  • 2 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
  • 1/4 cup wheat germ toasted in a pan for 1-2 minutes until golden brown and fragrant
  • 3/4 cup light corn syrup can also use honey
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup candy coated chocolate chips or miniature chocolate chips
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  • Line a 9 inch square pan with parchment paper, then coat the pan and parchment with cooking spray.
  • Place the oats, rice cereal and wheat germ in a large bowl. Stir to combine.
  • Place the corn syrup, peanut butter and brown sugar in a pot on the stove over medium heat.
  • Cook for 2-4 minutes or until peanut butter has melted, stirring occasionally.
  • Pour the peanut butter mixture into the oat mixture. Stir until well combined.
  • Press the cereal bar mixture firmly into the prepared pan. Gently press chocolate chips into the top of the bars.
  • Chill for 60 minutes or until firm. Cut into 12 pieces, then serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 166mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!

This post was originally published September 10, 2015 and was updated on June 26, 2019 with new content.

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Snacks

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    Comments

    1. Jacque Hooper says

      June 27, 2019 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      Breakfast bars are the BEST go-to meal for busy mornings! I can’t tell you how many times they have come in handy! This recipe is going to save my mornings; delish!

      Reply
    2. Alain Gauthier says

      March 11, 2019 at 12:11 pm

      Where did you get those gorgeous bags with the ruler printed on the side???

      LOVE the recipe but have not made it yet…

      Reply
      • Sara says

        March 11, 2019 at 2:16 pm

        I got them at a local party goods store but this was a few years ago! You may be able to find something similar from Amazon or Oriental Trading Company.

        Reply
    3. Jack says

      June 30, 2018 at 12:57 am

      5 stars
      These are great grab and go breakfast bars. I used almond butter in mine. Super tasty!

      Reply
    4. Sara says

      April 2, 2017 at 10:20 pm

      That’s odd, did you chill them?

      Reply
    5. Debra says

      September 24, 2015 at 2:14 pm

      I used smooth Peter Pan. They stuck together but I was thinking more like rice Krispy bars. My 22 yr old son loved them and said make them again. I will measure more closely next time. After 1 minute in microwave the honey was about to boil over and it did mix nice. I also used special K very berry and Rasin brand crunch. As I said my son loved them.

      Reply
    6. Debra says

      September 23, 2015 at 8:14 pm

      Is there a reason for microwaving the honey so long? My bars didn’t want to stay together but were good.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 23, 2015 at 10:29 pm

        Hi Debra, the reason for heating the honey is that you want it to be hot enough to thoroughly mix with the peanut butter. The honey/peanut butter mixture should be thin enough to coat all of the cereal and should firm back up as it cools. I’m sorry your bars didn’t hold together – what kind of peanut butter did you use?

        Reply
    7. marlene gershman says

      September 19, 2015 at 6:57 pm

      need to know total carbohydrates. Diabetic Looks good .

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 20, 2015 at 11:59 pm

        Hi Marlene, it’s 35 grams of carbs per serving.

        Reply
    8. Jackie says

      September 16, 2015 at 11:49 am

      do you know the amt of sugar per serving?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 16, 2015 at 9:29 pm

        Hi Jackie it’s 15 grams per serving, mostly from the honey and dried fruit.

        Reply
    9. Cathy Trochelman says

      September 15, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      I LOVE the crunch of these! My kids would adore them!

      Reply
    10. Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella) says

      September 12, 2015 at 4:56 am

      I am all for grab and go breakfasts. These sound delightful.

      Reply
    11. Maryanne @ the little epicurean says

      September 11, 2015 at 9:43 am

      What a great snack! I love that it’s no bake and super customizable! 🙂

      Reply
    12. David @ Spiced says

      September 11, 2015 at 8:35 am

      What a great way to keep weekday mornings under control! Heck, I think I might make a double-batch and use it for the adults in the house, too. Thanks for sharing! #client

      Reply
    13. Yvonne [Tried and Tasty] says

      September 11, 2015 at 6:19 am

      Oh yum! Talk about EASY! These look great!

      Reply
    14. Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says

      September 10, 2015 at 10:40 pm

      Very clever. Do you think I could sneak in some sunflower seeds or maybe a nut?

      Reply
    15. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

      September 10, 2015 at 7:48 pm

      Mmm yes please. I would LOVE one of these for breakfast!

      Reply
    16. Dana @ Foodie Goes Healthy says

      September 10, 2015 at 1:40 pm

      I love that these utilize the microwave so there’s no large pot to clean. My family loves bars, so these will be a winner in my house.

      Reply
    17. Stephanie says

      September 10, 2015 at 9:37 am

      Mmmmm. Simple and delicious! A perfect snack for kids!

      Reply
    18. Annie @Maebells says

      September 10, 2015 at 9:27 am

      My mom used to make brownies on Sunday mornings, she said the only way to get four kids out the door on time for church was to give us chocolate for breakfast. I was an adult before I really realized it is a dessert not a breakfast food! haha! I’m glad you found a yummy bar to get your crew going! It looks great!

      Reply
    19. Nutmeg Nanny says

      September 10, 2015 at 8:30 am

      What a delicious looking breakfast bar! They look easy to make (no-bake is the best!) and even easier to devour 🙂

      Reply
    20. Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says

      September 10, 2015 at 4:46 am

      These would be such an easy grab-and-go snack, especially for busy mornings!

      Reply
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