Homemade Cereal Bars {3 Ingredients}

My homemade cereal bars need just 3 wholesome ingredients to make and taste better than anything store-bought! They make a healthy and delicious snack.

Love easy snack recipes? Try my fruit leather, peanut butter oatmeal balls, veggie chips, and kettle corn next.

It’s no secret that I love to make my family homemade snacks, especially because I know what goes in them and honestly, they are cheaper too (hello, cost of living crisis!).

My homemade cereal bars are one of our weekly staples, and they taste exactly like a packaged cereal bar, minus the laundry list of ingredients, excess calories, excess sugars (yes, plural!), and butter.

Why I love this recipe

• Just 3 ingredients. Cereal, a sticky sweetener, and nut butter are all you’ll need.
• Diet friendly. My recipe is naturally vegan and gluten-free, and can easily be made dairy-free, too.
• It’s ready in 5 minutes. All you do is mix it up, transfer it to a pan, and wait for it to set. 
• It’s easy to customize. You can change up the cereal, add flavor extracts, and use other nuts or seed butter—the possibilities are endless!

Ingredients needed

• Cereal. Any crispy cereal works, including Cheerios, special K cereal, or even rice krispies. I like to look for ones that are made with whole grains and have added vitamins and fiber to them.
• Maple syrup. Binds everything together and adds some sweetness. You can also use honey or brown rice syrup, but you’ll likely need to add a little extra cereal to prevent them from becoming soggy.
• Almond butter. Smooth almond butter with no added sugar or salt. 

How to make cereal bars

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Make the bars. Add all the ingredients into a large bowl and stir until fully combined.

Step 2- Set and slice. Transfer the cereal bar mixture to a lined pan and refrigerate it for 30 minutes or until it has firmed up. Once firm, slice them into bars. 

Arman’s recipe tips

• Use a crispy cereal. No one wants soggy or soft cereal bars, so make sure you start with fresh and crisp cereal. Check the expiration date and discard any crushed pieces.
• Avoid overmixing. Similar to the earlier point about crispy cereal, another reason why the cereal could soften is due to overmixing. Prevent this by mixing everything together slowly and just until the cereal is mixed in.
• Always use a sharp knife when cutting these into bars to prevent them from crumbling or falling apart.
• Line the pan. Even for non-stick pans, I always line them with parchment paper. It makes cleanup a breeze and keeps everything in place.
• Protein Cereal BarsIf you want some extra protein, make my protein cereal bars instead.

Storage instructions

To store: Avoid keeping these bars stored at room temperature as they are prone to becoming soggy. Instead, place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge. They will keep well for up to two weeks. 

To freeze: Place the bars in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

Frequently asked questions

More healthy snack bars

Originally updated November 2022, updated and republished July 2024