No Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Ooey, chewy, No Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars are the best! Once you start munching on these easy no bake bars, you won’t be able to stop. Loaded with cheerios and peanuts and covered in peanut butter.
If you love cereal bars like rice krispie treats, these cheerio bars need to be next on your list. Easy and loaded with peanut butter, they’re a hit every time!
You Will Love These Cheerio Bars!
I am all about the no bake dessert bars, and these peanut butter cheerio bars are a go-to at our house. They’re perfect for after-school snacks, a lunch box sweet treat, or for sharing at potlucks and parties.
They’re inspired by another cereal bar that my family loves: scotcheroos! Except we’re skipping the chocolate and making these cheerio bars all about the peanut butter.
You will love having this easy recipe up your sleeve the next time you need a quick treat to share! It’s a long-time family favorite recipe, and I can’t wait for you to try it.
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars
- Granulated sugar – This makes the bars nice and sweet!
- Light corn syrup – This also adds sweetness but also ensures your bars are soft and chewy and not too hard.
- Peanut butter – I love to use creamy peanut butter, but you can use crunchy peanut butter to give the bars more texture.
- Vanilla extract
- Peanuts – For a salty-sweet combo, use salted roasted peanuts.
- Cheerios – You’ll need about half of a 12-ounce box of cereal.
Can you use flavored Cheerios?
I use original Cheerios for this recipe, but there are other flavors you can try. Try Honey Vanilla Cheerios, Multi-Grain Cheerios, Honey Nut, or Frosted Cheerios!
Products Needed
How to Make Cheerio Dessert Bars
Melt: Combine the granulated sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then take the pan off the heat. Add the peanut butter and vanilla to the sugar mixture. Stir until smooth.
Mix: Place the cereal and peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the top and stir until the Cheerios and nuts are evenly coated.
Spread: Press the mixture into a prepared pan. Let it cool at room temperature before slicing and serving.
Tips for Storing Cheerio Bars
Room Temperature: Store them in an airtight container, and they will keep well for two to three days at room temperature.
Refrigerator: They will keep in the fridge for up to a week in an airtight container. Let them sit at room temperature to warm up before serving them.
Freezer: Cheerio bars are freezer friendly! I like to individually wrap the bars and keep them in a large freezer bag. They will keep well for up to two months, and you can thaw them at room temperature.
Variations
Want to dress up these peanut butter cheerio bars? There are a few things you can add to put a spin on them:
- Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars with Chocolate: You can mix in some chocolate chips or drizzle the bars with melted chocolate. Semi-sweet, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate would be great. Or try some white chocolate!
- Add Some Sprinkles: Mix in or sprinkle some fun sprinkles over the top!
- Mix In Reese’s Pieces: Stir some peanut butter candy into the mixture to add a fun treat in every bite.
- Other Candy: Or, mix in chopped peanut butter cups or M&Ms!
Tips for the Best Bars
- Use a large mixing bowl to make it easy to mix the cereal with the peanut butter mixture.
- Don’t forget to grease the pan! This will ensure your bars don’t stick when you try to remove them. To make it even easier, line the pan with parchment paper and use it to lift the bars out in one piece to make it easy to slice them.
- Be sure to store them in an airtight container – If the cheerio bars are exposed to air they will dry out and not be soft and chewy.
Have you added a box of Cheerios to your shopping list yet? You’ll want to make a batch of these easy dessert bars this week – have fun making them and enjoy!
Looking for More No Bake Bars?
- Frito Bars are a super simple sweet and salty dessert bar that you will love, too!
- Caramel Rice Krispie Treats are an upgrade on the classic marshmallow bar with ooey-gooey caramel.
- Or try my Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars!
- These Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are delicious too!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
No Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 ¼ cups light corn syrup
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup peanuts
- 6 cups Cheerios
Instructions
- Spray a 9×13 inch baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan mix together white sugar and light corn syrup. Bring to a boil.
- Remove pan from heat and add peanut butter and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
- Pour Cheerios and peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Pour peanut butter mixture over Cheerios and peanuts. Stir until combined.
- Spread Cheerio mixture in prepared 9×13 inch pan. Let cool and cut into bars
Tips
- Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars with Chocolate: You can mix in some chocolate chips or drizzle the bars with melted chocolate. Semi-sweet, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate would be great. Or try some white chocolate!
- Add Some Sprinkles: Mix in or sprinkle some fun sprinkles over the top!
- Mix In Reese’s Pieces: Stir some peanut butter candy into the mixture to add a fun treat in every bite.
- Other Candy: Or, mix in chopped peanut butter cups or M&Ms!
- Use a large mixing bowl to make it easy to mix the cereal with the peanut butter mixture.
- Don’t forget to grease the pan! This will ensure your bars don’t stick when you try to remove them. To make it even easier, line the pan with parchment paper and use it to lift the bars out in one piece to make it easy to slice them.
- Be sure to store them in an airtight container – If the cheerio bars are exposed to air they will dry out and not be soft and chewy.
Video
Nutrition Information
Gayle says
Just made these substituted brown sugar and added chocolate chip and left over pretzel fish crackers. Soo good!
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed them!
Shannon says
Can these be frozen?
Julie Evink says
I’ve never did it before but I think that would work fine!
Debbie Worthington says
I made these Cheerio peanut butter bars. But they don’t stick together in a bar. However the recipe I used called for 1/2 cup corn syrup. How can I fix my crumbly mess?
Julie Evink says
I’m sorry I don’t think you can. Try my recipe next time. Total bummer!
Valentina @Valentina's Corner says
What a FUN treat to make with kids. LOVE kid-friendly recipes. 🙂
Julie Evink says
They will love these!
Melissa Howell says
I haven’t had these for YEARS! They are a kid favorite, for sure! So yummy!
Julie Evink says
Sometimes the old recipes are the best!
Malinda says
I love these kinds of treats! They remind me of my childhood!! And I agree need to spend more time with friends!
Julie Evink says
Mine too! Can I go back there?
Danielle Green says
These are a great idea to have on hand for snack – kids and adults!
Julie Evink says
Neither of them turn them down!
Linda says
Going to make the peanut butter bars today! Just happened to have everything on hand!
Julie Evink says
Hope you enjoyed them Linda!
Nadine says
Do you need to refrigerate them after you put them in the pan or leave them on the counter to cool? Thanks!
Julie Evink says
I just let them cool on the counter then stored them in an air tight container on the counter!
Chris+Greek says
We do not get Peanut Butter Cheerios where I live. I am thinking regular or honey-nut Cheerios would work. What do you think? I KNOW my grandbabies would love these bars!
Julie Evink says
Yup they would work or even just plain Cheerios will too!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
These are so darn smart!
Julie Evink says
And soooo darn easy!
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says
Sometimes I crave cereal out of nowhere. These are looking pretty good right about now!
Julie Evink says
Sometimes for supper all I want is cereal but then I quickly realize my family probably wouldn’t support that. BUMMER!
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! says
Thanks for the reminder to concentrate on what’s really important :). I might just have to invite some friends over and make your fabulous bars this week! Wish I could grab one through my screen!
Julie Evink says
It sounds so easy to make more time for friends, but yet it’s so hard to actually do it!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
What a fun cereal bar, Julie! I love how easy this is and how tasty it looks! I love peanut butter cheerios, so I’m definitely trying this out. Pinned!
Julie Evink says
Thanks Gayle!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
Caleb eats Cheerios EVERYDAY. NO LIE. I’ll be like “do you want some of this amazing steak dinner?” And then he will eat cheerios. WHAT?!
Anyway. These bars? He will die. Pinned!
Julie Evink says
Haha he’s my kind of guy! My cereal choices are SO BORING!