Looking for an easy sweet treat or after school snack? Try these four-ingredient peanut butter honey cheerios bars! You’ve probably already got everything you need to make them lying around your house, and they take just a couple minutes of effort to prepare.
Side note: It makes me giggle when people assume that dietitians don’t eat dessert (or burgers, or pizza, or insert any other food here). Ya’ll, we are real people who enjoy variety in our eating habits too! 😉 I’m a firm believer in the 80/20 rule when it comes to nutrition – 80% nutritious choices, and 20% flexibility for some treats. And these are one of my favorite ways to satisfy my sweet tooth!
Note: This post was originally created in 2018 and has been updated in 2025.
Ingredients
As mentioned, you only need 4 ingredients to make this recipe:
- Peanut butter – I recommend natural peanut butter for this, but conventional should work too.
- Cheerios – I use plain ‘ol Cheerios, but you can use whatever variety you prefer. If you’re gluten-free, feel free to use another brand of cereal if you prefer. You can also sub in other types of cereal too.
- Honey – This is necessary for the sticky texture and to hold the bars together. Don’t try to substitute with another sweetener.
- Coconut oil – I find this helps the bars firm up and hold their shape. I recommend refined coconut oil so it doesn’t impart a coconut taste.
Instructions
This recipe is so simple! You’ll find the full recipe amounts and instructions in the recipe card but here’s a quick overview with photos.
Start by melting the coconut oil in a large pot over medium-low heat, then add in the honey and peanut butter and continue heating and stirring until they’re well combined together.
When it’s combined, remove the pot from heat and stir in the Cheerios.
Pour those out into a parchment-lined or wax-paper-lined 8×8 baking dish. Press the mixture down firmly using the back of a wooden spoon or another sheet of parchment paper. This is key, as it will help the bars hold their shape. If you don’t press it, they’ll crumble.
Pop that in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours, then cut into squares! Store the squares in the fridge and enjoy for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Highlight
One thing I love about these for active women and kids: they’re a good source of iron! A lot of female athletes and kids fall short on iron intake – the former due to their monthly cycle, and the latter due to sometimes picky eating habits. Since many breakfast cereals are enriched with iron, they can be a great way to add some extra iron to your diet.
More Peanut Butter Treats
If you’re looking for more peanut butter snacks and desserts, be sure to give one of these a try:
- Healthy peanut butter eggs (like Reese’s!)
- Chocolate peanut butter protein granola
- Peanut butter banana mini muffins
- Chocolate peanut butter protein whoopie pies
- Healthy peanut butter cookie dough bites
I hope you enjoy this recipe! If you get a chance to try it, feel free to leave a recipe rating or comment below.
Peanut Butter Honey Cheerio Bars
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- 3 cups Cheerios (or any type of cereal)
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 square baking dish with wax paper or parchment paper. Set aside for now.
- In a large pot, melt the coconut oil over medium-low heat.
- Add honey and peanut butter and continue heating, stirring often, until everything is well combined.
- Remove from heat and mix in Cheerios.
- Pour into your baking dish and press down firmly using the back of a wooden spoon or another sheet of wax paper/parchment paper.
- Refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours, then cut into squares. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
- I recommend using natural peanut butter for this recipe (one where the only ingredients are peanuts and salt), but conventional will work if that’s all you have on hand.
- Be sure to firmly press down the mixture into the 8×8 dish. If you don’t, the bars will crumble.
Nutrition
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Ooh these do look like a fun snack. i know I would eat them all before my son even got his hands on them
Haha, I maaaay have eaten quite a few before my son was able to try one.
Wow, these look amazing! Everything with peanut butter is good. I like that it is a simple recipe that doesn’t take a lot of time.
Right?! Peanut butter is by far one of the most amazing food innovations of our time, haha.
These bars look super addictive! Love how easy these are to make and I already have the ingredients in my pantry!
Thanks Abbey! Aren’t recipes great when you already have everything you need?!
OMG – these look so good. Is there anything more delicious than peanut butter and honey?
Thanks Jessica! And yes, I agree with you on the PB & honey!
I bet my girls would love these, actually I know they would and I would too! Maybe I’ll have A whip some up this weekend with daddy while I’m at an event.
Woohoo, hope you guys enjoy them.
These are like all of my favorite things combined into one! I definitely have to make these!
Yay!! Enjoy my friend.
Yes I’m always in need of iron, espcecially because I don’t eat red meat! These look so yummy and great for pre-workout 😀
Yes! I love cereal as a fortified iron source. It’s so convenient!
These look delicious! Great for one the go breakfast or afternoon snack!
Thanks Jessica!
Yum, these look so delicious! I love that they are so quick & easy to make too, my kids will LOVE these!!
Perfect for kids and adults alike 🙂
love this idea for a treat..only 4 ingredients count me in.
I know, the fact that it only has 4 ingredients is so nice.
Ooh these look goooood. My kiddos would love them for sure!
Hope you get a chance to make them with the kiddos!
Why the coconut oil?
Not school-friendly, unfortunately. (Allergy risk)
I find that the coconut oil helps to better smooth out the mixture when heating it – but you can definitely try without.
Not all schools prohibit nuts, but totally understand the limitations of those that do! (My son’s school also doesn’t allow nuts). I’ve never tried it before, but you could certainly see if it worked with sunbutter instead of PB for an allergy-friendly version 🙂
How long can these be stored in an airtight container??
You can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Hey these look so good do u think I can use only oil and honey or butter and honey cause the thing is we don’t use peanut butter