Easy No-Bake Cereal Bars Recipe (4 Ingredients, Kid-Friendly Treat)

I didn't start eating store-bought cereal bars until I was older, but they still bring a hint of nostalgia every time I eat them.

These marshmallow cereal bars are ooey, gooey, sticky, sugary, and so nostalgic. Join me as I make a simple, 4-ingredient dessert or breakfast recipe that your entire family will love. Simple ingredients, a little time consuming, but worth it in every bite.

Chewy homemade cereal bars made with marshmallows, butter, and your favorite cereal. Easy, nostalgic, and ready in minutes — perfect for breakfast or dessert!

Easy No-Bake Cereal Bars in a container, ready to serve.

• Difficulty Level: Easy/Intermediate
• Serving size: Makes 8 bars
• Family friendly: YES! They were the perfect sweet treat
• Rating: 10/10
• Total cook time: 15-20 minutes
• Nutrition information: Calorie estimate per bar: 170, Carbs estimate per bar: 32

Why These Cereal Bars are a Family Favorite

Whether you have these bars as a breakfast, snack or dessert, you will not be disappointed! If you or your kids are looking for a treat, this is it. Use your favorite cereal and add it to a bar form, brought together by sticky and sweet marshmallows and melty and soft butter. While we used Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Lucky Charms, you can adapt the cereal to your taste and preferences. 

Compare this recipe to the ingredient list of Lucky Charms Cereal Bars listed below

Ingredients for store-bought cereal bars

Pro Tip

• It took awhile for the butter to melt for me. It has to foam and turn a slight brown before you add the marshmallow and it just wasn't doing that on a low temperature. My son is taking a cooking class in school and watches cooking on YouTube. He learned that you can turn the heat to medium-low and it will cook faster without burning - as long as you keep an eye on it. I did it and it worked - full directions below
• I toasted the cereal on medium heat for 4 minutes before it started burning - if it starts to burn, take it off the heat or lower the temperature

Inspired By

Last night, Kevin wanted a dessert but we could only use what we had in our cabinet. We didn't have rice krispies cereal but he wanted a marshmallow treat - so I substituted out the rice cereal with lucky charms and cinnamon toast crunch. 

If You Enjoy Breakfast Recipes, You May Want to Try

FAQs

Feel free to use your favorite cereals for these cereal bars - Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Puffs, or Rice Krispies will work. You also don't have to refrigerate the bars but they do stay more fresh if you keep them in the fridge. 

Ingredients for Cereal Bars

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Note: Use mini marshmallows instead of the large ones for faster melting. You can mix half Cinnamon Toast Crunch and half Lucky Charms for extra crunch or try Fruity Pebbles for color. Salted butter balances the sweetness perfectly, but unsalted works if that’s what you have.

How to Make No-Bake Cereal Bars

✓ Step #1: Toast the cereal - Spray a medium skillet with PAM or cooking spray and set it to medium heat. Add both cereal and cook for 5-7 minutes. If it starts to burn, you can take it off the heat or lower the temperature. Once it's toasted, you can take it off the heat. 

✓ Step #2: Brown the butter - Add butter to another skillet over low heat. Let the butter melt and form peaks, or foam. This was the longest process for me and when it wasn't foaming, I turned the heat to medium-low and after a a minute or so, I could see the foam forming. I turned the heat to low and started adding the marshmallows. 

✓ Step #3: Add marshmallows – Start adding the marshmallows, six at a time, to the pan. It took awhile for them to melt as well so I let some melt all the way and others melt about halfway so there would be marshmallow chunks in the cereal bars. 

✓ Step #4: Add the cereal to the mixture – Add the toasted cereal to the butter and marshmallow mixture. Combine so it all blends together. Slowly remove the mixture and add it to a PAM or cooking-sprayed bread pan. It's okay if you have marshmallow chunks, or you can continue melting together in the pan, whatever you prefer.

✓ Step #5: Transfer to the bread pan – Once all cereal mixture is added to the bread pan, wait a few minutes so it can start to harden and then flatten it with a fork. Let it sit out or you can refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. 

Cereal Bars in a bread pan, right off the stovetop.

No-Bake Cereal Bars, ready to be cut and served.

✓ Step #6: Cut into bars and serve – Cut into bars and place into a container for the fridge or serve immediately. 
Easy No-Bake Cereal Bars in a container, ready to eat.

Storage Tips

I let the bread pan sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes before I cut them into bars. I added them to an airtight plastic container and they are in the fridge. Keep in the fridge for up to 5 days (but I doubt they will last that long!). If you want to freeze the bars, just wrap them individually in wax paper and thaw for 10 minutes before eating.

About the Author

Abbie Guerrero is the creator of Savvy with Abbie and has been blogging since 2009. She has developed over 800 original recipes and shares thoughtful book reviews and personal reflections. Writing has been a lifelong passion and a meaningful form of self-expression. Recipe and photos by Abbie Guerrero. All photos are original.

What Did You Think?
Did you love these cereal bars? Were they so nostalgic?

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