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Home By Meal Breakfast

Healthy Cereal Bars

★★★★★ 25 Reviews Recipe Print
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By: Erin8/7/20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Healthy Cereal Bars are made with fluffy cereal, peanut butter, honey, and chocolate chips. They’re chewy, delicious, and perfect for eating as a grab-and-go morning meal!

stack of cereal bars

A tasty morning bite

I’m not a huge breakfast gal, but I also have a love for chocolate that’s like no other. If I want to stay on my breakfast game and start my day feeling fueled and ready to tackle what life throws at me, having a chocolate breakfast at my disposal is key.

I was tired of the savory egg-based breakfasts and decided to go after what I really wanted – chocolate! I wound up creating these healthy cereal bars that are sort of like granola bars, but better. They don’t contain the gross ingredients present in so many granola bar brands, and they do pretty well when it comes to nutrition!

If you like chocolate, you’ll like these breakfast bars. Eat them as morning fuel or as a snack between meals for a satisfying bite! I like to whip up a batch and keep them in my freezer for enjoying in mornings or whenever a craving hits.

cereal bars in baking dish

What’s a cereal bar?

A cereal bar is just what it sounds like. It’s a yummy bar made with cereal and chocolatey ingredients that’s perfect for grabbing as a quick breakfast! It’s essentially a granola bar that’s acceptable to eat first thing in the AM when you’re running out the door. These tasty bars are totally kid friendly, but adults will definitely love them too.

Ingredients used to make healthy cereal bars

These healthy breakfast bars are made with a handful of yummy, kid (and adult)-approved ingredients. Start with a cereal, and then grab your favorite peanut butter, some honey, and a few other items. Nothing questionable here – you’re going to love everything that’s included!

  • Cereal*
  • Natural peanut butter
  • Honey
  • Coconut oil
  • Salt**
  • Vanilla
  • Chocolate chips melted with 1 tsp coconut oil

*I used One Degree Organics Sprouted Honey O’s, but you can use puffeed rice, cheerios, or any somewhat puffed cereal.

**Add salt only if peanut butter is unsalted.

cereal bars

Tools used to make this recipe

You’ll need a small list of kitchen tools for this recipe. Grab a large mixing bowl, a sauce pan, a baking dish, and a stirring utensil, and let’s get started!

For measuring, you’ll need the following sizes: 1 tsp, 1/4 tsp, 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup.

How to make healthy cereal bars

Healthy cereal bars are a no-bake treat made by melting ingredients on the stove and mixing them with the fluffy cereal. It’s an easy recipe that should require 15 minutes or less of prep time!

Pour the cereal into a large mixing bowl.

Next, add the peanut butter, honey, coconut oil, and salt to a sauce pan. Heat over medium until everything is warmed through, about two minutes.

Turn off the heat and add the vanilla.

Then, pour the mix over the top of the cereal and mix until everything is very well coated.

Press the coated cereal into an 8×8 pan VERY tightly. Wet your hand and press down until it is compacted completely.

Drizzled melted chocolate over the top and place in the freezer for at least 1 hour before eating.

Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before cutting, and enjoy!

Keep stored in the freezer.

cereal bars

A healthier granola bar alternative

After hearing the words “cereal bar,” people are often surprised that these don’t contain granola! As it turns out, cereal works quite well when mixed with ingredients like chocolate and coconut oil, much like granola itself. It mixes and binds together to create chewy pull-apart style treats.

Apart from the cereal, another thing that sets this recipe apart is the fact that it’s made with healthier ingredients. Everything was chosen to provide as much nutrition as possible. You’ll see many healthy alternatives to common granola bar ingredients!

Natural peanut butter
I keep it as natural as possible with my nut butter, always. Processed versions are filled with chemicals and preservatives, two things I like to stay away from. The more natural, the better!

Honey
Honey is a wonderful alternative to granulated sugar! It’s perfectly sweet and fulfills my all-natural guidelines. I recommend using this in any baked good that you make!

Coconut oil
Like with honey, coconut oil is a direct swap that I use in place of vegetable or canola oil. It is more nutritious and is a better healthy fat option. Plus, it helps give the chocolate in this recipe the perfect consistency!

Try these breakfast recipes next

Need more breakfast ideas? Here are some of my favorites! Try the chocolate peanut butter granola for another sweet morning meal!

  • Egg Muffin Cups Four Ways
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola
  • Healthy Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
  • Easy Roasted Breakfast Potatoes
close up of cereal with honey
stack of cereal bars
★★★★★ 5 from 25 reviews

Healthy Cereal Bars

Healthy Cereal Bars are made with fluffy cereal, peanut butter, honey, and chocolate chips. They’re chewy, delicious, and perfect for eating as a grab-and-go morning meal!

Prep: 10Cook: 30Total: 40 minutes
Yield 12 bars 1x
Print Pin it Rate

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cereal (I used One Degree Organics sprouted honey o’s but you could used puffed rice, cheerios, or any somewhat puffed cereal!)
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1/4 tsp salt if peanut butter isn’t salted
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips melted with 1 tsp coconut oil.

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, pour in cereal. 
  2. In a saucepan, add peanut butter, honey, coconut oil and salt. Heat over medium until warmed through, about two minutes.
  3. Turn off heat and add vanilla.
  4. Pour over top of cereal and mix until very well coated.
  5. Press into 8×8 pan, VERY tightly. Wet your hand and press down until compacted completely.
  6. Drizzle melted chocolate overtop and place in freezer for at least 1 hour before eating.
  7. Store in freezer. Let sit at room temp for 5 minutes before cutting.
Author: Erin MorrisseyCategory: dessertMethod: no-bakeCuisine: American
stack of cereal bars

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @erinliveswhole on social media!

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There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

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Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

  1. Gabby says

    Posted on 4/11 at 8:53 pm

    SO good I make these all the time for my family and everyone loves them! Couldn’t recommend more if you want an easy and delicious snack.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 4/12 at 8:32 pm

      Hi Gabby, so glad everyone liked the bars!

      Reply
  2. Karissa says

    Posted on 4/8 at 10:04 am

    This is hands down my favorite breakfast recipe! They are delicious. I didn’t even share them with my kids 🙂

    Question: The recipe calls for and 8×8 pan and it says it serves 12. Do you cut them that small and they’re still 334 calories?? I just want to make sure I’m logging my calories correctly!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 4/8 at 3:47 pm

      Hi Karissa, so glad you and your kids love them!! Yes!

      Reply
  3. Meg says

    Posted on 2/2 at 7:23 pm

    Outstanding and so easy to make!
    Thank you, Erin. 😋

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 2/3 at 6:48 am

      Hi Meg, so happy you liked the bars!!

      Reply
  4. Sarah says

    Posted on 2/2 at 3:52 pm

    I made these bars and they are delicious! I’ve been having them as a breakfast treat!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 2/2 at 4:00 pm

      Hi Sarah, I am so happy you liked them!

      Reply
  5. Robin Salley says

    Posted on 1/31 at 11:05 am

    So good!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/31 at 8:48 pm

      Hi Robin, glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  6. Reyhana UMERJI says

    Posted on 1/30 at 8:59 am

    Made these bars! While family enjoyed them! Yum yum.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/30 at 12:46 pm

      Hi Reyhana, so glad everyone liked the bars!!

      Reply
  7. Sabrina says

    Posted on 1/25 at 8:36 pm

    These are AMAZING!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/25 at 11:45 pm

      Hi Sabrina, so glad you liked them!

      Reply
  8. Valerie says

    Posted on 1/15 at 2:26 pm

    Woah! These are so delish!!! Loved them! Doubled the recipe and not regretting it 😂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/17 at 1:06 pm

      Hi Valerie, I’m so glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  9. Monica says

    Posted on 1/14 at 11:32 am

    These were sooooo good! Easy and everyone loved them. I can’t wait to get more cereal and make these!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/14 at 11:51 pm

      Hi Monica, so happy you enjoyed them!!

      Reply
  10. Emily says

    Posted on 1/3 at 5:42 pm

    These are seriously amazing. I used brown rice puff cereal and it was soooo good. The peanut buttery, honey bottom layer with the chocolate top layer and some flakey sea salt on top makes it so hard to put them down. One of my favorites!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/4 at 3:05 pm

      Hi Emily, I am so glad you love them!

      Reply
  11. Sarah A says

    Posted on 1/3 at 3:22 pm

    Wow so easy and so good! I made this recipe using half plain Cheerios and have cinnamon Cheerios and it turned out great! Thanks Erin 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/4 at 1:25 pm

      Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing and sounds like a great combo!

      Reply
  12. Lindsey says

    Posted on 12/7 at 5:23 pm

    Hi Erin,

    Do you think you could add protein powder to this recipe?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 12/8 at 3:02 pm

      Hi Lindsey, yes you can! I haven’t tried it yet, so let me know how your bars come out!

      Reply
  13. Abby says

    Posted on 11/15 at 8:51 am

    So easy, fun, and YUMMY! One of my favorite sweet treats to make.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 11/16 at 2:12 pm

      Hi Abby, thank you so much for your kind words! I am so glad you liked them!

      Reply
  14. Katie says

    Posted on 11/13 at 7:26 pm

    So good & so easy to make!

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 11/16 at 1:59 pm

      Hi Katie, I am so happy you liked the bars!

      Reply
  15. Danielle says

    Posted on 10/18 at 8:13 am

    Do they have to be stored in the freezer? Would the frig be ok? Or even left out but covered? Anything too hard or cold is very sensitive on my teeth…

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/20 at 11:41 am

      Hi Danielle, the refrigerator would work great! Let me know how they come out for you!

      Reply
  16. Lauren says

    Posted on 10/4 at 7:37 pm

    Would maple syrup work instead of honey?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/5 at 2:44 pm

      Hi Lauren, I haven’t tried it with that substitution, but yes that should be fine. Let me know how they come out!

      Reply
  17. Sarah Schweiker says

    Posted on 10/2 at 1:35 pm

    These are SO good! These threw me right back to childhood and they were super easy to make!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/3 at 4:21 am

      Hi Sarah, I am so glad you loved them! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Lennie Gail says

    Posted on 9/21 at 11:53 am

    Super yummy! I made these for my 1 year old. He loves them and so do I. I put mine in muffin liners to freeze to make it easier and omitted the chocolate for him. Next time I plan to reduce some of the cereal and add hemp seeds and or flax seeds to make them even more nutritious.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 9/21 at 2:25 pm

      Hi Lennie, thanks for your kind words! I am so happy you both enjoyed them and great idea!! 🙂

      Reply
  19. monika says

    Posted on 8/20 at 2:50 pm

    would NATURAL almond butter work too?
    i want to make this but the kid is allergic to peanuts.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/21 at 7:59 am

      Hi Monika, yes of course! Let me know how yours come out! 🙂

      Reply
  20. Ashley says

    Posted on 8/11 at 10:42 am

    These are so delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/12 at 7:25 am

      Hi Ashley! I am so happy you love them!

      Reply
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I’m Erin. Creator of Erin Lives Whole, a food blog with delicious and easy healthy recipes that will leave you feeling good. We’ve got everything from wholesome baked goods to comforting savory dishes. I can’t wait to see what you whip up! Read More...

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healthy peanut butter cereal bars
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