Cereal Bar Recipe Healthy: A Simple Delight
Whip up these easy, healthy cereal bars using simple pantry staples. They offer a chewy, satisfying texture and a delightful sweet and nutty flavor.
Equipment
- 9-inch square cake pan
- parchment paper
- large bowl
- small saucepan
- flat-bottomed utensil
Ingredients
- 4 cups plain unflavored dry cereal corn, rice, or wheat Chex, Cheerios, Kix, etc.
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup raw pepitas
- 3 tablespoons flax seeds optional
- ⅔ cup creamy natural nut or seed butter almond, peanut, sunflower seed, or tahini
- ½ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- flaky sea salt optional
Instructions
- Line a 9-inch square cake pan with parchment paper, ensuring a 2-inch overhang on two opposite sides.
- Combine the cereal, dried cranberries, pepitas, and flax seeds in a large bowl.
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine nut butter, honey, cinnamon, and kosher salt. Heat for 1–2 minutes until smooth, ensuring the mixture does not simmer.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the liquid mixture over the cereal mixture and stir gently until all cereal is completely coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press firmly into an even layer using a flat-bottomed utensil. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
- Cover the pan and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably 4 hours, to allow the bars to set.
- Lift the slab out of the pan using the parchment overhang and slice into 10 bars.
Notes
Do not substitute honey with maple syrup as it lacks the required binding thickness. Use plain, unflavored cereals to avoid excess sugar. Ensure nut butter is natural and creamy for best results, and press the mixture firmly to ensure bars hold together. For a nut-free option, use sunflower seed butter or tahini.