Description
Homemade cereal bars blend wholesome oats, honey, and nuts into a delightful snack perfect for morning energy or afternoon cravings. Packed with nutrition and simple ingredients, these bars offer a quick and satisfying treat for busy individuals seeking a convenient breakfast or snack option.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (75 g) cereal (Cheerios, puffed rice, or granola)
- ½ cup (120 g) nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter for nut-free)
- ½ cup (120 ml) honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup (40 g) mini chocolate chips
- ¼ cup (30 g) dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, or chopped apricots)
- 2 tbsps (20 g) chia seeds or flaxseeds for extra nutrition
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Workspace Prep: Line a rectangular baking dish with parchment paper, extending edges for simple removal.
- Binding Liquid Creation: Melt nut butter, honey, vanilla extract, and salt in a saucepan, stirring until fully liquid and smooth.
- Cereal Coating: Combine warm liquid mixture with cereal in a large mixing bowl, ensuring complete and even coverage; optionally incorporate dried fruits, seeds, or nuts for enhanced texture.
- Pan Compression: Transfer coated cereal mixture into prepared pan, firmly pressing and smoothing to create an uniform layer using a spatula or hands.
- Chilling Process: Refrigerate for 60-75 minutes, allowing bars to solidify and develop a structured consistency.
- Portioning: Remove chilled block using parchment paper overhang, then slice into consistent rectangular or square servings on a cutting surface.
- Storage and Serving: Enjoy immediately or preserve in a sealed container within the refrigerator, maintaining optimal freshness for up to one week.
Notes
- Manage Sticky Mixture: Lightly coat your hands or spatula with cooking spray to prevent the binding liquid from sticking and make mixing easier.
- Control Binding Consistency: Maintain low-medium heat when melting ingredients to avoid burning or separating the nut butter and honey mixture, which could impact texture and taste.
- Customize Nutritional Profile: Experiment with different cereal types like gluten-free, high-protein, or low-sugar options to accommodate dietary restrictions and personal health goals.
- Optimize Storage Technique: Separate individual bars with parchment paper when storing to prevent them from sticking together and preserve their crisp texture in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Snacks, Breakfast
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 175
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg