Sweet and Salty Cereal Bars
Get ready to satisfy every craving with these irresistible Sweet and Salty Cereal Bars—a quick and easy no-bake treat perfect for snack lovers of all ages! Combining the crunch of rice cereal and pretzels with the decadent sweetness of honey, brown sugar, and chocolate chips, these bars deliver the perfect balance of flavors and textures. With just 10 minutes of prep time and simple pantry ingredients like butter and vanilla extract, this recipe is as convenient as it is delicious. The optional addition of peanut butter chips makes them even more indulgent. Perfect for lunchboxes, hiking snacks, or a grab-and-go energy boost, these homemade cereal bars are sure to become a family favorite. Enjoy them fresh for up to two weeks with proper storage—if they last that long!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 0.5 cup honey
- 0.25 cup light brown sugar
- 0.25 cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups rice cereal
- 1 cup pretzels (roughly chopped)
- 0.5 cup mini chocolate chips
- 0.5 cup peanut butter chips (optional)
Instructions
Line a 9x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides for easy removal later. Lightly grease the parchment with cooking spray or butter.
In a medium saucepan, combine the honey, light brown sugar, and unsalted butter over medium heat. Stir constantly until the mixture begins to bubble and the sugar is fully dissolved, about 3–4 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the rice cereal and chopped pretzels. Pour the warm honey mixture over the dry ingredients and stir quickly until everything is evenly coated.
Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips and peanut butter chips (if using). The mixture will be sticky, so work quickly to avoid melting the chips.
Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish, pressing it firmly into an even layer using the back of a spatula or your hands (lightly greased to prevent sticking).
Refrigerate the mixture for 1 hour or until it is set and firm.
Once set, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment overhang and transfer them to a cutting board. Slice into 12 bars or your preferred serving size.
Store the Sweet and Salty Cereal Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2435 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 81.7 g | 105% | |
| Saturated Fat | 41.9 g | 209% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 62 mg | 21% | |
| Sodium | 3389 mg | 147% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 414.0 g | 151% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 9.6 g | 34% | |
| Total Sugars | 233.1 g | ||
| Protein | 35.9 g | 72% | |
| Vitamin D | 2.8 mcg | 14% | |
| Calcium | 195 mg | 15% | |
| Iron | 59.2 mg | 329% | |
| Potassium | 893 mg | 19% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
