No Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars
75 Comments
Posted: 08/17/22
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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!
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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
Ooey, chewy Not Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars are the best! Loaded with cheerios, peanuts and covered in peanut butter. It's a hit every time!
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
Room Temperature: Store them in an airtight container, and they will keep well for two to three days at room temperature.
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.
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!
- 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
Serving: 1, Calories: 242kcal (12%), Carbohydrates: 35g (12%), Protein: 6g (12%), Fat: 11g (17%), Saturated Fat: 2g (13%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.002g, Sodium: 102mg (4%), Potassium: 168mg (5%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 28g (31%), Vitamin A: 208IU (4%), Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 39mg (4%), Iron: 2mg (11%)
Nancy says
I don’t want to start a “war”, but I just did this in my microwave. I watched it carefully, and stirred it after a minute, then cooked another 1 1/2 mins. I was nice syrup.
Kim says
Do you have to add peanuts to this recipe or can you make it your own? Thanks
Julie Evink says
You can totally make it your own!
Denise Miles says
It was sticky good! Used 5 c. cinnamon Cheerios and 1 c. reg. Cheerios. I also didn’t have peanuts, so Iused crunchy Peanut Butter instead. Used an 11×7 dish.
Julie Evink says
Sounds delicious Denise!
Libby says
Did not have a cup of peanuts….so I substituted Planters Nuts & Chocolate Trail Mix: 6 oz. package. Delicious!
Julie says
Sounds delicious! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Rachel A says
Delightfully simple and delicious. I feel you could use 1 cup corn syrup and still get good results. I saw some reviews stating they got hard. I believe you need to let the corn syrup and sugar get to 240°F, remove from heat, add peanut butter and vanilla and then immediately dump on your cheerio mix. Also, treat like rice Krispy treats, gently all the way through, don’t smoosh them down when you get to putting them in the pan. Highly recommend this recipe to use up Cheerios and as a fun treat.
Liz says
Why aren’t you just using marshmallows since they’re like RKB ??
Way too much sugar and corn syrup.
Julie says
Yes, there is a lot of sugar in these. You’ll have to find another recipe to try!
Christi says
These were a huge hit! I did sub honey for the corn syrup because that’s what I had on hand. Perfect snack!
Julie says
Thanks for sharing that substitution! I’m glad you loved them!
Jake says
Think ya could use Splenda
Julie says
I haven’t tried this one with Splenda but you could sure give it a try!
sue franze says
did anyone try the recipe with honey. I am a beekeeper and like to use my raw honey where I can. sue
Lillian says
I saw someone say they used honey instead of the syrup in a comment
Julie says
Yes, you can use honey instead!
niki says
Fun recipe! had to use some mixed nuts and honey nut cheerios – used 1/2 cup crunchy and 1/2 cup creamy and addd 2/3rds cup of chocolate chips to cheerios and it went quick! ty
Julie says
Glad you enjoyed them!
Tony says
Really bad. Not sure what happened but these came out hard as a rock.
Julie says
Oh no! They should be soft and chewy, my best guess is that you might have overcooked the syrup mixture. I’ve done this with other bars and they get rock hard.
Ashley says
You have to remove the corn syrup and sugar from the heat before adding the peanut butter. I know it doesnt seem like that would make a big difference but it certainly does. I’ve made the same mistake.
Julie says
Thanks for the tip, Ashley!
Denise Miles says
Yes, as a good cook knows, that combination can easily burn. I did turn to low, and removed from heat, then added peanut butter and vanilla.
Amy E Trujillo says
Super simple & my boys loved them. I only had little less than 1 cup of corn syrup & it came out delicious.
Julie says
Great! I’m glad they were a hit!
Olivia Moore says
Your recipe makes no sense in the first part you say add the peanut butter to the corn syrup then when it comes to the mixing bowl you add the peanut butter again. So is there 2 cups of peanut butter then? Just wandering
Julie says
In the second step, you add the peanut butter mixture from the first step to the mixing bowl.
Jenni says
It makes complete sense. Perhaps Olive should a) read a bit slower, or b) use his or her brain….
Kel says
She is saying to use not any kind of Cheerios but Peanut Butter Cheerios. You can find that flavor at your local Wal-Mart. I personally do not have those on hand so I am going to try it with Honey Nut and I’m sure it will be delicious!!
Krissy Morin says
Very easy recipe,Very Taste Great Treat For The Whole Family
Julie says
Glad everyone enjoyed it!
Tara says
Can I substitute honey for the corn syrup? I’m not opposed to corn syrup, I just don’t have any in the house.
Julie says
I haven’t tried this but I think it would work! If you try it let me know how it goes!
Jordan says
Just made these for the kids but I think the hubby and I might just keep them hidden LOL! They are delicious and SO easy! Thanks 🙂
Julie Evink says
I won’t tell them if you do! Glad you enjoyed them!