Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars (No Bake)

These super simple peanut butter cheerio bars have a smooth chocolate base, and are sweetened naturally with honey. They’re packed with peanut buttery flavor, and take less than 15 minutes to prepare.

It’s official: you need this 4-ingredient no bake snack in your life! They’re perfect for kids and adults alike, and great for afternoon (or late-night) snacking.

4-Ingredient No Bake Cheerio Bars

I love having homemade snacks ready for when I need a boost of energy, and the peanut butter here packs a good amount of protein!

These bring back the nostalgia of childhood, too. Cheerios are such a classic cereal – they’ll always be in style. 🙂

A lot of cereal bars use marshmallows as a binding agent, but I opted to use a combination of peanut butter and honey instead, for a more wholesome treat. (If you are craving marshmallows, though, you might want to check out these easy s’mores truffles!).

Recipe Ingredients

You only need 4 ingredients to whip up these no bake cheerio bars:

• cheerios: I recommend using plain cheerios, so there’s less added sugar. But, you can definitely use honey nut cheerios if you prefer. (Or another flavor, as long as you think it would taste good with peanut butter!).
• chocolate chips: The base of our cheerio bars is made of melted chocolate, which cools into a nice chocolate layer (and helps hold the bars together). I used a combination of semisweet and dark chocolate chips, but you can use milk chocolate, or even a chopped chocolate bar. Better quality chocolate will melt easier.
• peanut butter: Smooth melted peanut butter adds delicious flavor to the bars, and helps the cheerios stick together when it cools. (Unfortunately, natural peanut butter won’t work here at it doesn’t have the right texture for holding the bars together.)
• honey: This naturally sweetens the bars, and works to bind them together (alongside the peanut butter).

For another tasty cereal bar recipe, try these chocolate coconut Rice Krispie treats! If you love peanut butter, try these peanut butter banana brownies or these flourless coconut peanut butter cookies.

How to Make Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars

This easy recipe just involves melting some ingredients (in the microwave and on the stovetop), and pressing them into a pan. The rest is just chill time in the fridge!

Step 1: Melt Chocolate

First, melt your chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate) in the microwave. Heat at 50% power in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until just melted.

Line a 9x13in baking pan with parchment paper. Pour in the melted chocolate, then use a spatula to spread it until it fully covers the bottom of the pan.

Cover loosely with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill while you make the cereal mixture (next step).

Step 2: Make Peanut Butter Cheerio Mixture

Next, combine most of the peanut butter and honey in a medium saucepan (exact measurements are in the recipe card at the end of this post). Cook over low heat, stirring, until melted.

Mix in cheerios until evenly coated, then pour the mixture over the chocolate in the baking pan. With a spatula, press the mixture firmly into the pan. The more compressed the mixture is, the better the bars will stick together.

Set aside.

Step 3: Add Peanut Butter Honey Topping

Then, you’re going to make a quick peanut butter honey topping. Combine the rest of the peanut butter and honey in the same saucepan you used before. Cook over low heat, stirring continuously, until melted.

Pour over the top of the cheerio bars, then spread into an even layer with a spatula.

Step 4: Chill & Slice Cheerio Bars

Let the bars cool completely to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes (or until the peanut butter has hardened enough to slice into bars).

Lastly, use a large knife to cut into bars, then enjoy!

Pro tip: cutting these bars is a lot easier if you line your pan with parchment paper. You can just lift out the bars using the parchment paper, then slice them.

Storage Tips

Store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They may soften too much if left on the counter long-term, but they’re best enjoyed at room temperature, so feel free to set them out for a little bit before digging in!

Can I use natural peanut butter for these cereal bars?

I don’t recommend using natural peanut butter here. Its drippy texture wouldn’t hold the bars together as well.

Cheerio Bar Toppings & Recipe Variations

What else can you add to these peanut butter cheerio bars? Here are some ideas!

While the peanut butter topping is still melty, sprinkle on:

• shredded coconut
• chocolate chips/chopped chocolate
• chopped nuts (peanuts, walnuts, pecans, etc.)
• seeds (sunflower, chia, flax, etc.)
• dried fruit (raisins, raspberries, strawberries, apricots, bananas, etc.)
• sprinkles

Or, add an extra drizzle on top of:

• nutella
• melted chocolate
• cookie butter

It’s time to get your snack on! Make a batch of these peanut-buttery, chocolatey bars to enjoy all week. 🙂

For more no bake snacks and desserts:

• Dark Chocolate Filled Raspberries
• Mini Biscoff Cheesecakes
• Frozen Yogurt Bark with Almond Butter
• Banana Biscoff Smoothie
• Chocolate Avocado Truffles with Pecans

If you make these peanut butter cheerio bars, I’d love if you shared your thoughts with a rating and comment below!