Looking for an easy sweet treat or after school snack? Try these four-ingredient peanut butter honey cheerios bars! You’ve probably already got everything you need to make them lying around your house, and they take just a couple minutes of effort to prepare. A great dairy-free snack option!
Ingredients
As mentioned, you only need 4 ingredients to make this recipe:
- Peanut butter – I recommend natural peanut butter for this, but conventional should work too.
- Cheerios – I use plain ‘ol Cheerios, but you can use whatever variety you prefer. If you’re gluten-free, feel free to use another brand of cereal if you prefer. You can also sub in other types of cereal too.
- Honey – This is necessary for the sticky texture and to hold the bars together. Don’t try to substitute with another sweetener.
- Coconut oil – I find this helps the bars firm up and hold their shape. I recommend refined coconut oil so it doesn’t impart a coconut taste.
Instructions
This recipe is so simple! You’ll find the full recipe amounts and instructions in the recipe card but here’s a quick overview with photos.
Start by melting the coconut oil in a large pot over medium-low heat, then add in the honey and peanut butter and continue heating and stirring until they’re well combined together.
When it’s combined, remove the pot from heat and stir in the Cheerios.
Pour those out into a parchment-lined or wax-paper-lined 8×8 baking dish. Press the mixture down firmly using the back of a wooden spoon or another sheet of parchment paper. This is key, as it will help the bars hold their shape. If you don’t press it, they’ll crumble.
Pop that in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours, then cut into squares! Store the squares in the fridge and enjoy for up to 5 days.
Allergens in This Recipe
Disclaimer: Always double check ingredients and labels yourself prior to making a recipe. While I try to check all ingredients for allergens, there’s always the chance I may miss something, or manufacturer formulations can change.
As written, this recipe is dairy free, egg free, and soy free.
This recipe does contain nuts (in the peanut butter). In addition, while Cheerios does note on the box that they are “gluten-free”, many folks with celiac disease do not eat Cheerios because they use sorted oats rather than certified gluten-free oats for production. If you are concerned and need a gluten-free option, just look for a certified gluten-free cereal that you enjoy and use it in this recipe instead of the Cheerios.
More Healthy(ish) Snack Ideas
If you want more yummy dairy free snacks that are also on the healthier side, try one of these options:
I hope you enjoy this recipe. If you get a chance to try it, feel free to leave a recipe rating or comment below!
Peanut Butter Honey Cheerios Bars
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- 3 cups Cheerios (or any type of cereal)
Instructions
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Line an 8×8 square baking dish with wax paper or parchment paper. Set aside for now.
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In a large pot, melt the coconut oil over medium-low heat.
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Add honey and peanut butter and continue heating, stirring often, until everything is well combined.
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Remove from heat and mix in Cheerios.
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Pour into your baking dish and press down firmly using the back of a wooden spoon or another sheet of wax paper/parchment paper.
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Refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours, then cut into squares. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Recipe Notes
- I recommend using natural peanut butter for this recipe (one where the only ingredients are peanuts and salt), but conventional will work if that’s all you have on hand.
- Be sure to firmly press down the mixture into the 8×8 dish. If you don’t, the bars will crumble.
Nutrition analysis (approximate per serving): 189 calories, 9 g fat, 2.5 g saturated fat, 90 mg sodium, 25 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 17 g sugar, 5 g protein, Vitamin D: 2%, Calcium: 3%, Iron: 17%, Potassium: 3%
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