This Cereal Bar recipe is perfect for anybody.
Whether you are new to cooking or you are experienced, this cereal bar is so easy to prepare that anyone could make this.
We have all been there I am sure, having leftover cereal in the pantry that is going to go stale soon.
As a mom of 4 children, I always have leftover cereal in my pantry.
My kids change their minds daily on which cereal they like to eat, so I typically buy two or three different brands of cereal when I do my grocery shopping.
Sometimes, a box or two doesn't get finished. I don't like to waste food so I try to find new ways to use it.
This recipe was created in my kitchen on my first attempt and they came out so incredibly good that they did not last two days.
I even had company visit the day after I made these and they were raving about how good these were and wanted me to make more for them. Yes, they are THAT GOOD!
Give this recipe a try the next time you are deciding what to do with that leftover cereal.
Should you use Butter or Margarine? Though both are used for the same purpose, butter is a must.
Although both are alright to use in many recipes, they are not made from the same things.
I never really knew them the difference between butter and margarine, I assumed they were pretty much the same thing.
I remember the first time I used actual butter in a recipe. I was amazed at the difference in taste and texture.
You see, Margarine is a non-dairy substitute for butter. Its main component is vegetable oil.
Butter is made from animal fat. It is simply churned cow's milk. The fat is separated from the liquid during the process.
Since butter is made from one ingredient, it can be made at home.
This is why I choose Butter for all my recipes. It is going to make the flavor so much better and it's healthier for you.
Pretty much everyone in the world knows what a Marshmallow is.
Those soft and sweet pillows of yummy goodness.
Growing up in the bluegrass hills of Kentucky, bonfires were an every weekend event.
We go out and find a small branch, snap it off a tree and trim the end so we have a perfect marshmallow roasting stick.
I will never forget the first time I had a roasted marshmallow.
The flavor was sinful! But what are marshmallows and how do they melt so easily?
Marshmallows are made from dissolved sugar and water which is then whipped to create air pockets in the sugary solution.
Kind of the same technique you would use to make whipped cream from scratch.
But what makes them hold together and make them so spongy soft and melt perfectly when applied to heat.
One simple ingredient. Corn Syrup.
Now you know what makes these puffy edible pillows come to be.
If you have kids, chances are they sometimes will have cereal for breakfast.
I have four children, so cereal is a must have in my home.
Being a full-time mom and recipe developer and blogger, cereal is a quick alternative on those busy mornings when I don't have time to make pancakes or eggs.
My kids also don't share the same likes when it comes to cereal.
So when grocery shopping, I have one asking for Cheerios while another is asking for Froot Loops.
I always go through my pantry to make a list before I go shopping to see exactly what I need to buy.
I find one to two boxes of opened cereal that are going to go stale soon so I am figuring in my head how I can reuse what is left so nothing goes to waste.
This is a perfect and easy way to use that leftover cereal and your kids will eat it.
So it's kind of a win-win.
Almost any cereal would work for this recipe.
I made this delicious treat on my first attempt and they came out fantastic.
There is nothing to it and it is not time-consuming to prepare.
When it comes to making this delicious treat, there really is no wrong way to make it.
In this recipe, I chose to use a 9x13 baking dish to press my cereal bars into.
But any dish would work.
A square dish, a round dish, or even using a mold would work.
For instance, if I made this around Christmas, I would use a Christmas Tree mold pan and press my cereal bars into it and shape it like a tree.
Or a Star Mold.
Simply spray your mold with a little non-stick baking spray and it should be easy to remove from the mold.
If you do plan to use a mold to shape your treats, I do not recommend using an olive oil non-stick spray.
This is going to give your treats an olive oil taste, and you don't want that.
Instead, try using just a butter flavored non-stick spray or one that is not flavored at all.
You don't need much just enough that it will not stick to the mold and will come out easily.
Having a recipe like this, it is easy to turn it into your own. A fun project to do with your kids or grandkids, press this onto a cookie sheet and let them use cookie cutters and make their own shapes.
No baking required makes it a fun and safe way to get them involved.
Like a Peanut Butter lover, I chose to use peanut butter morsels for the topping in this recipe.
It compliments the cereal very well and adds a salty coating.
Cheerios and Peanut Butter, you can't go wrong.
What I mean by this is that you don't have to use peanut butter topping.
If you are making this for a child that is allergic to peanuts, you will need to find a substitute.
Try using white chocolate morsels instead and spreading that over the top.
Or you could use frosting or whipped topping.
A thin layer is all you need and would compliment this recipe very well.
Just remember that if you do choose to substitute actual frostings such as cream cheese frosting or whipped topping, you will need to refrigerate this.
Sure you could use a double boiler which works just fine.
Bottom pan has a little bit of boiling water and the top pan you use milk or cream to blend with the morsels, which would give you more of a ganache.
But it isn't necessary.
There is another way that is very simple. The microwave.
Place your morsels in a microwave-safe dish and you will heat them on high for intervals of 10 seconds each.
After every 10 seconds, give it a little stir and microwave for another 10 seconds.
You will repeat this process until the morsels are melted.
Simple as that.
Just make sure you apply it immediately to your cereal bars because as it cools it will harden again.
In this recipe, I used melted chocolate and drizzled it all over the top giving it a nice finish.
You can change this up depending on who you are making this for or what time of the year it is.
If you are making these with your kids or grandkids, let them decide what they want to top it with.
Crushed candy bar, sprinkles, or chocolate chips.
For Easter, you can add pink and white sprinkles or add some miniature chocolate eggs to the top.
For Christmas, a light dusting of red or green sugar sprinkles would be perfect or green and red sprinkles.
This recipe is going to be a hit and will be requested again. I hope you try this one and share it with your family or friends.
Yield: 10 to 12 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
1. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat and add marshmallows.
2. Stir until marshmallows are melted. Remove from heat.
3. Add cereal and fold into the melted butter and marshmallow until completely coated.
4. Transfer to a buttered 9 x 13 dish. Press with a buttered spatula to form to the dish.
5. Melt Peanut Butter chips. Spread evenly over the top. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it is set.
6. Melt Chocolate chips and drizzle over the top. Refrigerate 5 minutes before cutting into squares.
Whether you are new to cooking or you are experienced, this cereal bar is so easy to prepare that anyone could make this.
We have all been there I am sure, having leftover cereal in the pantry that is going to go stale soon.
As a mom of 4 children, I always have leftover cereal in my pantry.
My kids change their minds daily on which cereal they like to eat, so I typically buy two or three different brands of cereal when I do my grocery shopping.
Sometimes, a box or two doesn't get finished. I don't like to waste food so I try to find new ways to use it.
This recipe was created in my kitchen on my first attempt and they came out so incredibly good that they did not last two days.
I even had company visit the day after I made these and they were raving about how good these were and wanted me to make more for them. Yes, they are THAT GOOD!
Give this recipe a try the next time you are deciding what to do with that leftover cereal.
Butter Is Essential, Skip The Margarine
Should you use Butter or Margarine? Though both are used for the same purpose, butter is a must.
Although both are alright to use in many recipes, they are not made from the same things.
Growing up my family always used margarine.
I never really knew them the difference between butter and margarine, I assumed they were pretty much the same thing.
I remember the first time I used actual butter in a recipe. I was amazed at the difference in taste and texture.
You see, Margarine is a non-dairy substitute for butter. Its main component is vegetable oil.
Butter is Better
Butter is made from animal fat. It is simply churned cow's milk. The fat is separated from the liquid during the process.
Since butter is made from one ingredient, it can be made at home.
This is why I choose Butter for all my recipes. It is going to make the flavor so much better and it's healthier for you.
Melted Marshmallows, YUM
Pretty much everyone in the world knows what a Marshmallow is.
Those soft and sweet pillows of yummy goodness.
Growing up in the bluegrass hills of Kentucky, bonfires were an every weekend event.
We go out and find a small branch, snap it off a tree and trim the end so we have a perfect marshmallow roasting stick.
Do You Love Marshmallow
I will never forget the first time I had a roasted marshmallow.
The flavor was sinful! But what are marshmallows and how do they melt so easily?
Marshmallows are made from dissolved sugar and water which is then whipped to create air pockets in the sugary solution.
Kind of the same technique you would use to make whipped cream from scratch.
But what makes them hold together and make them so spongy soft and melt perfectly when applied to heat.
One simple ingredient. Corn Syrup.
Now you know what makes these puffy edible pillows come to be.
A Perfect Treat For Kids
If you have kids, chances are they sometimes will have cereal for breakfast.
I have four children, so cereal is a must have in my home.
Being a full-time mom and recipe developer and blogger, cereal is a quick alternative on those busy mornings when I don't have time to make pancakes or eggs.
The Kids Love These
My kids also don't share the same likes when it comes to cereal.
So when grocery shopping, I have one asking for Cheerios while another is asking for Froot Loops.
I always go through my pantry to make a list before I go shopping to see exactly what I need to buy.
I find one to two boxes of opened cereal that are going to go stale soon so I am figuring in my head how I can reuse what is left so nothing goes to waste.
This is a perfect and easy way to use that leftover cereal and your kids will eat it.
Get Creative with Cereal
So it's kind of a win-win.
Almost any cereal would work for this recipe.
I made this delicious treat on my first attempt and they came out fantastic.
There is nothing to it and it is not time-consuming to prepare.
Any Dish Would Work
When it comes to making this delicious treat, there really is no wrong way to make it.
In this recipe, I chose to use a 9x13 baking dish to press my cereal bars into.
But any dish would work.
A square dish, a round dish, or even using a mold would work.
For instance, if I made this around Christmas, I would use a Christmas Tree mold pan and press my cereal bars into it and shape it like a tree.
Or a Star Mold.
Simply spray your mold with a little non-stick baking spray and it should be easy to remove from the mold.
Shapes and Other Fun Ideas
If you do plan to use a mold to shape your treats, I do not recommend using an olive oil non-stick spray.
This is going to give your treats an olive oil taste, and you don't want that.
Instead, try using just a butter flavored non-stick spray or one that is not flavored at all.
You don't need much just enough that it will not stick to the mold and will come out easily.
Having a recipe like this, it is easy to turn it into your own. A fun project to do with your kids or grandkids, press this onto a cookie sheet and let them use cookie cutters and make their own shapes.
No baking required makes it a fun and safe way to get them involved.
Make It Your Own
Like a Peanut Butter lover, I chose to use peanut butter morsels for the topping in this recipe.
It compliments the cereal very well and adds a salty coating.
Cheerios and Peanut Butter, you can't go wrong.
This recipe is very easy to be creative and make it your own way.
What I mean by this is that you don't have to use peanut butter topping.
If you are making this for a child that is allergic to peanuts, you will need to find a substitute.
Try using white chocolate morsels instead and spreading that over the top.
Or you could use frosting or whipped topping.
A thin layer is all you need and would compliment this recipe very well.
Just remember that if you do choose to substitute actual frostings such as cream cheese frosting or whipped topping, you will need to refrigerate this.
Melting morsels is very easy.
Sure you could use a double boiler which works just fine.
Bottom pan has a little bit of boiling water and the top pan you use milk or cream to blend with the morsels, which would give you more of a ganache.
But it isn't necessary.
There is another way that is very simple. The microwave.
Place your morsels in a microwave-safe dish and you will heat them on high for intervals of 10 seconds each.
After every 10 seconds, give it a little stir and microwave for another 10 seconds.
You will repeat this process until the morsels are melted.
Easy Peasy
Simple as that.
Just make sure you apply it immediately to your cereal bars because as it cools it will harden again.
Add The Finishing Touches
In this recipe, I used melted chocolate and drizzled it all over the top giving it a nice finish.
You can change this up depending on who you are making this for or what time of the year it is.
If you are making these with your kids or grandkids, let them decide what they want to top it with.
Crushed candy bar, sprinkles, or chocolate chips.
Festive for any Holiday
For Easter, you can add pink and white sprinkles or add some miniature chocolate eggs to the top.
For Christmas, a light dusting of red or green sugar sprinkles would be perfect or green and red sprinkles.
This recipe is going to be a hit and will be requested again. I hope you try this one and share it with your family or friends.
Pin For Later
Yield: 10 to 12 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp of Salted Butter
- 4 Cups of Mini Marshmallows
- 5 Cups of Cheerios
- 2 Cups of Peanut Butter Baking Chips
- 1 Cup of Chocolate Chips
Instructions
1. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat and add marshmallows.
2. Stir until marshmallows are melted. Remove from heat.
3. Add cereal and fold into the melted butter and marshmallow until completely coated.
4. Transfer to a buttered 9 x 13 dish. Press with a buttered spatula to form to the dish.
5. Melt Peanut Butter chips. Spread evenly over the top. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it is set.
6. Melt Chocolate chips and drizzle over the top. Refrigerate 5 minutes before cutting into squares.
Pin For Later
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