Reasons to love these cereal bars
These are SOO EASY to whip up with ingredients you probably already have on hand. ZERO cooking involved, just like these peanut butter bliss balls! While store-bought cereal bars are convenient, they can be quite expensive. Not to mention many of them are overly sweet with a long list of ingredients and added sugars. If you have 10 minutes to spare, you will be able to whip up a healthier, less expensive, and equally delicious version! And if you are looking for soft-baked bars for easy grab-n-go breakfast or snacking, check out these banana oatmeal bars and healthy rice krispie treats! Easy Breakfast Ideas for toddlers
Ingredients
Cheerios – Make sure to use PLAIN Cheerios. The bars are plenty sweet with just the addition of honey. Rolled oats – While you can use Cheerios alone, I find that the addition of oats makes the bars softer and chewier, which is a bonus for toddlers. Honey – Adds sweetness and helps bind the bars. You can also use maple syrup. Peanut butter – Helps bind the bars together and adds protein, fat, and a delicious nutty flavor. Smooth, natural style works best. Freeze dried strawberries – Adds flavor and color! Feel free to use other freeze-dried fruit of choice.
Step by Step Instructions
Tips for Success
Use room temperature peanut butter! You want it to be runny, not dry or thick. If you keep yours in the refrigerator, take it out at least an hour prior to making. All the peanut butter cereal bar recipes I’ve come across require heating the peanut butter with honey on the stove or in the microwave. I don’t like to heat honey and my way works just as well. Using your fingers, break up the freeze-dried strawberries into smaller pieces. I’ve found this to be the easiest and best way to avoid crushing them too much. Be sure to use a 8×8 inch pan. If you use a larger size, the bars will be too thin. Line the pan with parchment paper to make it easy to pop the bars right out of the pan. Also makes cleanup a breeze. Press the mixture FIRMLY into the lined pan. I like to use parchment paper so that it holds its shape and doesn’t end up on my hands. CHILL for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator, preferably overnight, or in the freezer for at least an hour. Use a sharp knife to cut. I like to use a serrated knife.
20+ Healthy Snacks for Toddlers Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
