Peanut Butter Cereal Bars (Gluten Free & Vegan)

Quick and healthy Peanut Butter Cereal Bars made with cereal, oats, peanut butter, honey, chia and flax seeds.

This post was sponsored by Honey Bunches of Oats Chocolate as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review and make and create this peanut butter cereal bars recipe.

Within this post, you’ll make peanut butter healthy cereal bars that are great for on the go. Plus you’ll learn how peanut butter and honey create perfect chewy texture.



 Breakfast is an important meal around here, as you can tell from my recent brunch themed posts. My easy go-to breakfast is often smoothies, however, you can’t forget classic and a family favorite, cereal as well. Sometimes I even add cereal or granola tp smoothies, but will save that for another recipe.

For this Peanut Butter Cereal Bars, I’m mixing cereal and oats into delicious, healthy, filling, nutrient-rich, vegan and gluten-free cereal bars. I wanted to include more adjectives but I think you get the point.

These cereal bars are easy to make in big batches and a wonderful option for having breakfast ready, saving you valuable time in the morning. Enjoy them with your morning tea of coffee, or take them with you to work as a healthy snack. If you’re craving a sweet snack, try these instead of vending machine packages for a balanced snack that’s not full of empty calories.




These cereal bars are simply a mixture of Honey Bunches of Oats Chocolate, old-fashioned oats, flax and chia seeds, peanut butter and honey. Mixed together into a dense and chewy breakfast cereal bar that’s vegan and gluten-free. Peanut butter is full of protein while chia and flax seeds contain fiber and healthy fats.

Honey Bunches of Oats Chocolate is a delicious option for enjoying gluten-free ingredients. The combination of crispy flakes, crunchy bunches and real cocoa compliment the chewy texture of oats and peanut butter. Try the new chocolate flavor as your morning cereal or in these Peanut Butter Cereal Bars.





Cooking Tips: Using peanut butter and honey as a binder

Peanut butter and honey not only add flavor and sweetness to these cereal bars, they’re the key ingredient that holds them together. Otherwise, it would just be cereal and dry ingredients. Simply adding these two ingredients changes the entire dynamic of the recipe.

Heating first helps combine the flavors and makes it slightly more liquid. When you mix in with the dry ingredients it evenly coats and binds everything together (just enough to moisten without being runny). After you pack down into a dish and let it cool, the mixture will firm up into perfect chewy cereal bars.



Peanut Butter Cereal Bars

Peanut Butter Cereal Bars recipe at-a-glance:

Difficulty: Super easy
Flavor profiles: Rich chocolate with nutty hazelnut and peanut butter, and just a hint of sweetness
Texture: Moist and fluffy thick waffles with a crisp outside

Peanut Butter Cereal Bars (Gluten Free & Vegan)
Peanut butter cereal bars make a protein and nutrient-rich breakfast.
Course Breakfast
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 20

Ingredients

3 cups Honey Bunches of Oats Chocolate cereal
3 cups old-fashioned oats
½ cup ground flax seed
½ cup chia seeds
2 cups creamy natural peanut butter
1 cup honey or agave syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla
Sea salt as a garnish

Instructions

In large bowl, stir together Honey Bunches of Oats Chocolate, oats, flax and chia seeds; set aside.
In small saucepan heat peanut butter and honey over medium heat, stirring often, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over cereal mixture and stir to combine well.
Transfer to a parchment lined 10x15 baking dish. Evenly press mixture to form a dense even layer, about 1-inch thick. Sprinkle with a bit of sea salt (optional). Allow to cool and set. Cut into squares and store in air-tight container. In the fridge, it will keep at least a few weeks.