Cheerio Cereal Bars

Only 4 ingredients create these easy no-bake Cheerio Cereal Bars with peanut butter to make a great snack.

Cereal bars are perfect for breakfast and after school snacks with a little extra protein.  I like to make them for soccer team snacks! This recipe is made in the microwave which saves time.

Cheerio Bars made of cereal coated in a mixture of melted marshmallows and peanut butter resting on a wooden cutting board on a red and white plaid napkin.

Cereal Bar Recipe

The rich nutty peanut butter flavor enhances this classic whole grain cereal and mixes with marshmallows to sweeten these Cheerio Bars. Sometimes we like to mix a few M&Ms into the bars or sprinkle them on top.

The kids eat cereal for breakfast, after school and bedtime snacks.  My husband eats granola bars.  We all look forward to a good cereal bar because it’s a cross between a bowl of cereal and a granola bar. The first time we made was when we had a toddler which meant plenty of Cheerios in the cupboard.

We take cereal seriously in our house, so we have several recipes we make on repeat.  Our favorites with crispy rice cereal are Chocolate & Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats and Oreo Cookie Treats 

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Overhead view of cheerios cereal bars in a 9 x 13" pan cut into squares on a red and white napkin.

This is the first cereal bar recipe that I’ve ever made in the microwave and I love how much time this method saves. These Cheerio Peanut Butter Bars are ready in ten minutes!

Ingredients Needed

  • Cheerios – use a new, unopened box for best results.
  • Mini Marshmallows – fresh soft marshmallows will melt and coat the cereal the best.
  • Butter – margarine works fine too, but we prefer the richer flavor of butter.
  • Peanut Butter – creamy is the best option and most kid friendly.
Ingredients to make Cheerio bars are a box of cheerios, mini marshmallows, butter and peanut butter on a wooden counter top.

How to Make Cheerio Bars in the Microwave

Place butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave for one minute.

Large white bowl just out of the microwave with mostly melted mini marshmallows and butter.

Quickly stir in peanut butter and remaining ingredients in the order listed.

Peanut butter being stirred into melted marshmallow with a red spatula.

Add Cheerios and mix.

Use clean, wet fingers to press into a greased 9 x 13 pan.

Allow the bars to set up for 20 to 30 minutes.

Hand using a board scraper to cut cheerio bars into smaller pieces.

We find that using a board scraper to cut the bars is much easier than using a butter knife.

Store in an airtight bag or container. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Have all ingredients measured out before starting and be prepared to work quickly because the marshmallows will set up fairly quickly.
  • Regular or Honey Nut Cheerios can be used.
  • Make sure cereal is fresh, I may have used slightly stale cereal before which makes the bars taste stale.
  • Store in an airtight container on the counter top for 2 to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Cereal bar with creamy peanut butter being lifted on a metal spatula above a dish full.

A Fun Variation

To transform to a kid-friendly dessert stir in and sprinkle some M&Ms into the cheerio bars.

Candy must be added and pressed down quickly before the marshmallows set up to stick together.

Square Cheerio cereal bar with M&Ms on a white plate with a fork and the full pan in the background.

Other Easy No-Bake Recipes

Four ingredient Cheerio Breakfast Bars sitting on a wooden board on a red and white plaid napkin.

Cheerio Cereal Bars

Servings 20 cereal bars
Author: Jennifer
Only 4 ingredients create these easy no-bake Cheerio Cereal Bars with peanut butter to make a great snack.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 11 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 10 ounces mini marshmallows
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 5 cups Cheerios

Instructions
 

  • Place butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave for one minute.
  • Quickly stir in peanut butter and remaining ingredients in the order listed.
  • Add Cheerios and mix well.
  • Use wet clean, fingers to press into a 9 x 13 pan lightly coated with butter or non-stick cooking spray..

Notes

  • Have all ingredients measured out before starting the microwave because the marshmallows will set up fairly quickly
  • We like to reserve a few M&Ms to sprinkle on top, but they must be added and pressed down quickly to stick
  • Regular or Honey Nut Cheerios work well in this recipe
  • Make sure cereal is fresh, I may have used slightly stale cereal before which makes the bars taste stale
  • All cooking appliances and conditions are different, so you should test these times and guidelines first in your own appliance to determine what adjustments may be needed!

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 79mgPotassium: 71mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 226IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

“Plowing Through Life” is not a dietitian or nutrition professional. Any nutritional information shared is an estimate and can vary greatly depending on specific products are used. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator of your choice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @PlowingThroughLife or tag #PlowingThroughLife!

Recipe originally shared on November 13, 2019 with updates made on September 5, 2024.

Collage of cheerio cereal bars made with Cheerios, marshmallows, peanut butter and m&ms

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