Description
These homemade cereal bars are a quick, no-bake snack made with your choice of cereal, nut butter, and a natural sweetener like honey or agave. They’re easy to customize with protein powder and salt, and perfect for an on-the-go energy boost or a healthy treat.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups cereal of choice
- Optional: 1/2 tsp salt
- Optional: 3 tbsp protein powder
Wet Ingredients
- 2/3 cup peanut butter or nut butter of choice
- 1/2 cup agave, honey, or brown rice syrup
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Line an 8-inch pan with wax or parchment paper for easy removal of the bars. If you want more bars, double the recipe and use a 9×13-inch pan.
- Warm Nut Butter: If your nut butter is too thick, gently warm it until it’s easily stirrable. This will help mix the ingredients together smoothly.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together the cereal, nut butter, sweetener (agave, honey, or syrup), salt (if using), and protein powder (if using) until evenly mixed.
- Press Mixture into Pan: Pour the cereal mixture into the prepared pan. Place a second sheet of parchment on top and press the mixture down very firmly to compact it well—this helps keep the bars from falling apart once cut.
- Firm Up the Bars: Freeze the pressed mixture for at least 30 minutes, or until it is firm enough to slice into bars.
- Store Properly: Cover leftover bars and store them in the refrigerator, freezer, or on the counter in a cool, dry place to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use any cereal you like—granola, rice cereal, or oat cereal work well.
- For a vegan option, choose a vegan sweetener like agave or brown rice syrup instead of honey.
- Pressing the mixture firmly is key to preventing the bars from crumbling.
- Add-ins like chocolate chips, dried fruit, or nuts can be mixed in for extra flavor and texture.
- These bars are best stored in the refrigerator or freezer for longer freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
