No Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars (2024)

Ooey, chewy, No Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars are the best! Once you start munching on these easy no bake bars, you won’t be able to stop. Loaded with cheerios and peanuts and covered in peanut butter.

If you love cereal bars like rice krispie treats, these cheerio bars need to be next on your list. Easy and loaded with peanut butter, they’re a hit every time!

You Will Love These Cheerio Bars!

I am all about the no bake dessert bars, and these peanut butter cheerio bars are a go-to at our house. They’re perfect for after-school snacks, a lunch box sweet treat, or for sharing at potlucks and parties.

They’re inspired by another cereal bar that my family loves: scotcheroos! Except we’re skipping the chocolate and making these cheerio bars all about the peanut butter.

You will love having this easy recipe up your sleeve the next time you need a quick treat to share! It’s a long-time family favorite recipe, and I can’t wait for you to try it.

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars

• Granulated sugar – This makes the bars nice and sweet!
• Light corn syrup – This also adds sweetness but also ensures your bars are soft and chewy and not too hard.
• Peanut butter – I love to use creamy peanut butter, but you can use crunchy peanut butter to give the bars more texture.
• Vanilla extract
• Peanuts – For a salty-sweet combo, use salted roasted peanuts.
• Cheerios – You’ll need about half of a 12-ounce box of cereal.

Can you use flavored Cheerios?

I use original Cheerios for this recipe, but there are other flavors you can try. Try Honey Vanilla Cheerios, Multi-Grain Cheerios, Honey Nut, or Frosted Cheerios!

How to Make Cheerio Dessert Bars

Melt: Combine the granulated sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then take the pan off the heat. Add the peanut butter and vanilla to the sugar mixture. Stir until smooth.

Mix: Place the cereal and peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the top and stir until the Cheerios and nuts are evenly coated.

Spread: Press the mixture into a prepared pan. Let it cool at room temperature before slicing and serving.

Tips for Storing Cheerio Bars

Room Temperature: Store them in an airtight container, and they will keep well for two to three days at room temperature.

Refrigerator: They will keep in the fridge for up to a week in an airtight container. Let them sit at room temperature to warm up before serving them.

Freezer: Cheerio bars are freezer friendly! I like to individually wrap the bars and keep them in a large freezer bag. They will keep well for up to two months, and you can thaw them at room temperature.

Variations

Want to dress up these peanut butter cheerio bars? There are a few things you can add to put a spin on them:

• Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars with Chocolate: You can mix in some chocolate chips or drizzle the bars with melted chocolate. Semi-sweet, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate would be great. Or try some white chocolate!
• Add Some Sprinkles: Mix in or sprinkle some fun sprinkles over the top!
• Mix In Reese’s Pieces: Stir some peanut butter candy into the mixture to add a fun treat in every bite.
• Other Candy: Or, mix in chopped peanut butter cups or M&Ms!

Tips for the Best Bars

• Use a large mixing bowl to make it easy to mix the cereal with the peanut butter mixture.
• Don’t forget to grease the pan! This will ensure your bars don’t stick when you try to remove them. To make it even easier, line the pan with parchment paper and use it to lift the bars out in one piece to make it easy to slice them.
• Be sure to store them in an airtight container – If the cheerio bars are exposed to air they will dry out and not be soft and chewy.

Have you added a box of Cheerios to your shopping list yet? You’ll want to make a batch of these easy dessert bars this week – have fun making them and enjoy!

Looking for More No Bake Bars?

• Frito Bars are a super simple sweet and salty dessert bar that you will love, too!
• Caramel Rice Krispie Treats are an upgrade on the classic marshmallow bar with ooey-gooey caramel.
• Or try my Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars!
• These Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are delicious too!