The kids are back in school and it's always a challenge to come up with some great snacks. These cereal bars are easy to make and handy to have around when they get home! Of course they are great to have around for anybody who comes in hungry! Pile them on a platter on the table and sit around to talk about the day with friends or family and watch them disappear.

You can alter just about anything in these cereal bar recipes. For instance if you don't want nuts or peanut butter in them.. substitute raisins or marshmallow creme. For a sweet and salty snack add some pretzels to the mix! Try varieties of dried fruits if you like different tastes. I love dried mango myself but peaches, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, any easy to find dry fruit will work well as a substitute.
Chips can be chocolate or toffee, peppermint bits, caramel anything you want.
Experiment and have fun with it but you'll always hit a home run with cereal bars! Happy Cooking!


No bake Choco-Flake Cereal Bars

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
5 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup peanut butter
5 cups corn flakes
1 c. chocolate chips

Butter a 9 x 13 “ pan. Heat sugar, syrup and cocoa powder just to boiling. Remove from heat, stir in peanut butter, pour over corn flakes, stir, quickly mix in chocolate chips and rapidly put into pan to cool.

Nutty Cereal Mix Bars

3 cups toasty-o’s or similar cereal
2 cups crispy rice cereal
2 cups dry-roasted nuts of your choice
2 cups candy-coated milk chocolate pieces
1 c. small pretzel sticks
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large bowl, toss together the toasted oat cereal, rice cereal, pretzels, nuts and chocolate pieces; set aside.

Butter a 9 x 13 “ pan.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the corn syrup and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and quickly stir in the peanut butter and vanilla.

Pour the mixture into the bowl with the cereal mixture and mix well. Press into the prepared pan. Let stand until set. Cut into bars and serve.

Granola Trail Mix Bars

2-½ c. crispy rice cereal
2 c. quick-cooking oats
½ c. raisins,
½ c. chocolate chips, white chocolate chips,
½ c. pecans (or your favorite nuts)
½ c. packed brown sugar
½ c. light corn syrup
½ c. crunchy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a large bowl combine cereals, raisins, and nuts.
Butter a 9x13 pan.
Combine the brown sugar and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat just until boiling, then remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth. Pour over the cereal and oat mixture, and mix well. Add the Chocolate chips in just before pressing into pan or they will melt in the mixture.
Press mixture into prepared 9x13 pan. Cool then cut into bars and serve.