Are you tired of the same old breakfast routine but don’t have the time or energy for a complicated recipe? Maybe you are looking for breakfast on-the-go ideas.
Your answer is to make these cheap homemade cereal bars! Not only are these bars quick and easy to make, but they’re also perfect for busy moms on a budget.
If you have tweens or teens, these are easy recipes for them after school. Most recipes can be made in the microwave!
These recipes are a great starting point for teaching kids to use a saucepan. My kids, who are now 11 and 13, love making these.
They’ll use it in a cereal bar recipe when they don’t want to finish up the cereal we have ( now that we switched to all-clear containers) and know I won’t buy more cereal unless those are gone.
We like to buy bagged cereal at Walmart because it’s the cheapest price. Rarely do I find super good coupon deals on cereal anymore. Once in a while, I can still score cereal for $1.50 a box with a Tops sale and Ibotta offer.
Otherwise, the bagged cereal options at Walmart are pretty good. We use these clear cereal containers and they are my favorite. I shared a video on TikTok about them.
Keep in mind you can tweak these to your family’s preference. If you can’t do peanut butter, switch it to the substitute you use for peanut butter. I shared the video of one of the peanut butter bars on Tiktok or you can watch that video play right here on the blog.
I find wholesale clubs to have the best prices on different nut or seed butter. Make sure you substitute something for the peanut butter to hold the bars together.
To store your cereal bars, use an airtight container. They are easier to chew when left at room temperature after the initial refrigeration, but you could also keep them in an airtight container in the fridge.
Pin these 33 Cheap Pantry Staple Meals for easier recipes for your family.
Here are 15 Homemade cereal bars that the whole family will love.
In many of these cereal bars recipes, you will need peanut butter and honey. Again, you can substitute a sticky liquid your family prefers with different nut butter.
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cereal Bars Recipe
This is the first one my youngest daughter and I made. The recipe we made we started with 1/2 cup honey. We brought it to a party and everyone else said it didn’t taste too sweet, but my daughter and I thought too much honey. So when we make this recipe now we use a 1/4 cup honey.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup peanut butter or nut butter of your choice
- 1/4 cup honey- 1/2 cup honey, depending on your preferred sweetness
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 4 cups cereal of choice ( use your favorite or whatever was on sale)
Instructions: In a large microwavable bowl, combine peanut butter and honey. Microwave for 30 seconds or until the mixture is melted.
Stir in cereal and chocolate chips until well combined.
Pour the mixture over the cereal and stir until the cereal is coated. Press the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch pan. If you have parchment paper, you can use that.
In the video, I got a great deal on the precut parchment paper at BJ’s, so I’m using that because clean-up is a breeze.
But use what you have; if you don’t have parchment paper, that’s okay.
Fruity Pebbles Bars Cereal Bars Recipe
Ingredients:
- 5 cups Fruity Pebbles cereal
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 1/2 cup peanut butter or almond butter
Instructions: Mix corn syrup, sugar, and peanut butter in a large saucepan and cook over low heat until smooth.
Pour the mixture over the cereal and stir until the cereal is coated. Push the mixture into a 9×13 inch baking prepared pan.
Place the pan in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Cut into bars and enjoy!
Chocolate Chips and Cranberry Cereal Bar Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups rice cereal
- 1 cup dried cranberries– or use any dried fruit you have or on sale
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1/2 cup peanut butter ( or almond butter, sunflower seed butter)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips ( white chocolate chips are so good with cranberry too if you like it sweet)
Instructions: In a large mixing bowl, mix the oats, cereal, and dried cranberries. In a small saucepan, heat honey, peanut butter and vanilla extract over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
Pour the mixture over the oat mixture and stir well. Add chocolate chips and stir again. Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking pan and press firmly.
Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before slicing into bars.
Almond Joy Cereal Bar Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 cups chocolate rice cereal
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
Instructions: In a large bowl, mix rice cereal and coconut. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine honey and peanut butter.
Pour the mixture over the cereal mixture and stir until everything is coated. Add sliced almonds and stir again.
Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch pan and press firmly. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
Apple Cinnamon Cereal Bar Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 cups cinnamon cereal
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
Instructions: Combine applesauce, honey, and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook until smooth and melted.
Pour the mixture over the cinnamon cereal and mix well. Add the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch pan and chill for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
S’mores Cereal Bar Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 cups graham cereal
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
- 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions: Combine honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Or you can microwave for 30 seconds in a microwave safe dish.
Pour the mixture over the graham cereal and mix well. Add mini marshmallows and stir again.
Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch pan and chill for 30 minutes. Melt chocolate chips in a small saucepan over low heat and drizzle over the bars.
Chill for another 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
Trail Mix Cereal Bar Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups rice cereal
- 1 cup trail mix
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
Instructions: In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, cereal, and trail mix. In a small saucepan, heat honey and peanut butter over low heat until smooth.
Pour the mixture over the cereal mixture and mix until everything is coated. Add the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch pan and chill for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
Ingredients:
- 4 cups chocolate rice cereal
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
Instructions: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine honey and peanut butter. Pour the mixture over the chocolate rice cereal and stir until everything is coated.
Add the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch pan and chill for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Rice Krispie Cereal Bars
Ingredients:
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 bag mini marshmallows
Instructions: Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add mini marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat and add Rice Krispies.
Mix well. Pour mixture into a greased 9×13 inch pan and press firmly. Let cool before slicing and serving.
Golden Grahams S’mores Cereal Bars
Ingredients:
- 4 cups Golden Graham cereal
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
- 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions: Heat applesauce, honey, and peanut butter in a saucepan over low heat until melted. Pour the mixture over the cereal and mix well. Add mini marshmallows and stir again.
Add the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch pan and chill for 30 minutes. Melt chocolate chips in a small saucepan and drizzle over the bars. Chill for another 30 minutes before cutting and serving.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Bars
Ingredients:
- 4 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup peanut butter or cashew butter – again whatever nut butter you have
Instructions: Mix honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat until melted.
Pour the mixture over the cereal and mix well. Add the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch pan and chill for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Rice Krispie Toffee Cereal Bars
Ingredients:
- 6 cups Rice Krispies
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 bag of toffee bits
- 1 bag of mini marshmallows
Instructions: In a large saucepan over low heat, melt butter and add marshmallows.
Stir until melted. Take off heat and mix in the Rice Krispies and toffee bits.
Addvthe mixture into the prepared baking pan, a 9×13 inch pan again works great, and refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing.
Lemon Poppyseed Cereal Bars
Ingredients:
- 3 cups crispy rice cereal
- 3 cups honey nut cheerios
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
Instructions: Combine crispy rice cereal and Cheerios in a large mixing bowl. Combine honey, coconut oil, and lemon juice in a small saucepan over low heat and stir until smooth.
Pour the mixture over the cereal and stir well. Add poppy seeds and stir again. Addvthe mixture into a greased 9×13-inch pan and chill for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Oatmeal Raisin Cereal Bars
Ingredients:
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups Rice Krispies
- 1 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
Instructions: In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, Rice Krispies, and raisins. Mix honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat until melted.
Pour the mixture over the cereal mixture and mix well. Press the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch pan and chill for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cereal Bars
Ingredients:
- 6 cups Cheerios cereal
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup jelly
Instructions: Mix honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat until melted. Pour the mixture over the cereal and mix well. Press half of the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch pan.
Spread jelly over the top and sprinkle the rest of the cereal mixture over the jelly. Press firmly before chilling in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
I hope you find at least one homemade cereal bar recipe that has you gathering all the ingredients as you finish reading this.
Don’t forget to pin it for later so you can keep coming back.
We’ve got your back with these 15 cereal bars that’ll have your taste buds doing a happy dance. Whether you’re craving a sugary treat or a savory snack, we have the perfect recipe to satisfy your cravings.
Say goodbye to boring boxed cereal and hello to mouthwatering bars that the whole family will devour. No more rushing – whip up one of these delicious treats instead!