• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Get my FREE Meal Prep Lunches eBook!

New? Start Here
  • About
  • โ˜… Popular โ˜…
  • Printables
  • Videos
  • Shop

Project Meal Plan

Project Meal Plan is a food blog dedicated to make-ahead recipes, meal planning and preparing ahead.

  • Recipes
    • Recipe Filter
    • Popular
    • Meal Prep
    • Latest
    • Videos
  • Course
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Sweets
  • Season
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
  • Method
    • Baked
    • Stovetop
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • No Heat
  • Meal Prep
    • Freezer Friendly
    • Lunches
    • Breakfasts
    • Chicken
    • Beef & Pork
    • Tips & Tricks
    • All Meal Prep
Home Recipes Ingredients 5 Ingredients or Less
GF Gluten Free DF Dairy Free V Vegetarian 5 5 Ingredients or Less

Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars

Jump to Recipe
By: DanielleLeave a Comment Posted: 04/25/2024 Updated: 08/20/2024

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

pin image with text for strawberry peanut butter cheerios bars.
pin image with text for strawberry peanut butter cheerios bars.
pin image with text for strawberry peanut butter cheerios bars.

Enjoy a nostalgic, family-approved treat with these No-Bake Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars! Make-ahead friendly, these crunchy bars take just 5 ingredients and taste like PB&J thanks to the freeze-dried fruit mixed right in!

Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars cut into squares on parchment paper.
pin image with text for strawberry peanut butter cheerios bars.
pin image with text for strawberry peanut butter cheerios bars.
pin image with text for strawberry peanut butter cheerios bars.

Note from Danielle

Sometimes, the simplest treats are the most loved in my house. With only 5 ingredients (or even just 4 if needed), these Cheerios bars are no exception.

I know Cheerios bars are nothing new, but the freeze-dried fruit in this version takes it up a notch! Imagine PB&J flavors combined with crunchy honey-sweetened cheerios, in bar form. That’s these bars!

Since we’re not doing any baking, you’ll need a bit of arm power to press them into the pan so they stick together. But I promise, the work is worth it! Slice ’em up and enjoy chilled or frozen!

By the way – here in the post content, youโ€™ll find detailed information on the ingredients used, possible substitutions, and helpful tips for successful results based on my experience with this recipe.

For theย printable recipe card with a list of ingredients followed by concise instructions, please keep scrolling down or hit the โ€˜Jump to Recipeโ€™ button at the top of the page. Frequently asked questions are located below the recipe card.

signature.

Recipe Overview

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Difficulty:ย Easy
Method: No Heat
Prep: Make-Ahead Friendly

What are the ingredients in these Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars?

You only five ingredients to make these incredible crunchy Cheerios bars. These ingredients should be easy to find, with the exception of the freeze-dried strawberries. More on that below!

Here’s a list of everything I used in this recipe and some tips for each one:

  • creamy natural peanut butter – Look for PB with peanuts and salt as the only two ingredients. You could use a sweetened PB like JIF but the bars will be a bit sweeter than intended. I prefer Costco brand Natural PB.
  • honey – Any kind of honey you like should work for this recipe. Do not swap with maple syrup; the bars will go soggy.
  • vanilla extract – Adding a bit of vanilla brings some additional flavor to the bars, but honestly, you could leave this out if you don’t have any.
  • Cheerios – I used plain Cheerios for this recipe, but there’s no reason you couldn’t use Honey Nut! Look for the 8.9 ounce size box. This is the exact amount you need with zero leftovers and no measuring out cups of cereal.
  • freeze-dried strawberries – You can find the 1.2 ounce bags of freeze-dried fruit at Trader Joe’s, which is what I used. Any kind of freeze-dried fruit you would normally use as a jam (like blueberry or raspberries) would also work really well.
ingredients required to make the strawberry peanut butter cheerios bars.

Equipment youโ€™ll need to make this recipe:

For this recipe, I have a few recommended items that will help make these bars come together easily.

  • 9×13 size casserole dish – The exact brand doesn’t really matter, and we aren’t baking in it, so definitely use whatever you already have on hand!
  • large mixing bowl – Again, the brand doesn’t matter, but you do need a relatively large mixing bowl, probably the largest one you have. I have this 8-Piece Pyrex Sculptured Mixing Bowl Set (affiliate link!) and the largest one is pictured in this post.
  • something hard to press bars – If you don’t just want to use your palms, I recommend a metal water bottle or something with a flat bottom that you can use to press the bars down.

How do you make these Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars?

These Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars are easy to make as long as you’re able to put in a little bit of arm strength to press them together. Honestly, it’s kinda fun!!

mixing peanut butter and honey together in a large glass bowl.
close up of mixing honey and peanut butter together.

Start by combining the wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey and vanilla extract until completely smooth. If your honey or PB is particularly thick, feel free to combine them in a small saucepan and heat over medium low. Stir constantly until warmed and combined.

Once the wet ingredients are smooth, add the Cheerios to the bowl. Next, take the bag of freeze-dried strawberries and crush the bottom half of the bag. You want to create some crumbs while leaving some of the pieces larger. I’ve found that freeze-dried fruit can be like garlic: smaller pieces = more flavor added.

Open the bag and reserve about 1/4 cup of whole pieces for the top, then dump the rest of the freeze-dried strawberries into the bowl. Use a large spoon to mix everything together until all the Cheerios and strawberries are coated in the PB honey mixture.

pouring cheerios and freeze-dried strawberries into a large mixing bowl.
a big bowl of cheerios mixed with honey and peanut butter for the cheerios bars.
cereal mixture poured into the casserole dish before pressing.

Next, line a 9×13 casserole dish with parchment paper, using chip clips on the sides of the dish to secure the paper. You can see how I’ve clipped the paper in the photo above! Pour the coated cereal mixture into the dish and spread it out into an even layer.

Take another piece of parchment paper, place it over the top of the cereal and use your hands or another hard flat surface to press the mixture firmly into the pan. You want to hear the Cheerios crunching! This process can take a couple minutes, so be patient. You want a nice flat layer.

Take a break from pressing and place the reserved freeze-dried strawberries on top, then continue to press everything down. Pay special attention to the sides and press them down with your fingertips.

pressing the cereal into the pan with a piece of parchment paper on top.
strawberry peanut butter cheerios bars in a white casserole dish.

After the mixture if firmly pressed into the pan, leave the top parchment paper on as a cover and put the pan in the fridge so the bars can chill for at least 1 hour before cutting. This will harden them a bit and help them stick together. Once chilled, transfer the whole thing from the dish to a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut into 15 bars.

Best tips for making these Cheerios Bars:

Here are my best tips for making these Cheerios bars in your own kitchen:

  • Press the bars as hard as you can! You want to hear some crunching. This helps them stay completely together when you cut them and eat them.
  • Let the bars chill before cutting. This helps them firm up and stay together when you cut them.
  • Use the biggest bowl you have for mixing. Sounds like a dumb tip, but it will help you mix everything up really well if you have a large bowl. And it all needs to be well mixed in order to stick together.

More like this:

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

Cranberry Pretzel Oat Crumble Bars

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Breakfast Bars

All snacks
strawberry peanut butter cheerios bars cut on parchment paper.

Ways to customize these Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars:

Here are a couple of ways to customize these Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars and make them your own:

  • Swap the dried fruit. Trader Joe’s sells a few different freeze-dried fruits, and I think most of them would work well in this recipe (blueberries and raspberries sound good too!)
  • Use a different nut butter. I haven’t tested it, but I do think these bars would be delicious with almond butter or cashew butter as well.
  • Try a different kind of Cheerios. They make all different kinds these days, and you don’t have to stick to plain if you don’t want to. I bet this would be delicious with the strawberry banana Cheerios!

Ways to meal prep this recipe:

To prep ahead, simply make the recipe as directed and store in an airtight container with lid in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Refrigeration is not required, but it helps keep the bars solid. You can also wrap each tightly and store in the freezer for up to 3 months for best quality.

strawberry peanut butter cheerios bars cut on parchment paper.

How to store Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars:

Store leftover bars covered in the fridge for up to 5 days for best quality. They don’t need to be refrigerated but they will hold together better if chilled.

How to freeze Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars:

To freeze, wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap or a combination or parchment paper and foil. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months for best quality.

Email Me This Recipe

Email this recipe to yourself to save it in your inbox! Plus, enjoy weekly emails with tons of recipe inspiration. Opt out anytime.

Loading

Did you make this? I want to see how it turned out! Tag me in your social media post @projectmealplan and use #projectmealplan when you share!

Recipe
Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars cut into squares on parchment paper.
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews

Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars

Yield: 15 bars 1x
Print Save Rate it
Prep: 15 minutesTotal: 1 hour 15 minutes

Enjoy a nostalgic, family-approved treat with these No-Bake Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars! Make-ahead friendly, these crunchy bars take just 5 ingredients and taste like PB&J thanks to the freeze-dried fruit mixed right in!

Units:
Scale:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup creamy natural peanut butter
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (8.9 ounce) box Cheerios
  • 1 (1.2 ounce) bag unsweetened freeze-dried strawberries

Instructions

  1. Combine wet ingredients:ย In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter (1 cup), honey (1 cup) and vanilla extractย (1/2 teaspoon) until completely smooth. If you’re having trouble mixing, add these ingredients to a small saucepan and heat over medium low. Stir constantly until warmed and combined.
  2. Add dry ingredients:ย Once the wet ingredients are smooth, add the Cheeriosย (1 8.9 ounce box) to the bowl. Next, take the bag of freeze-dried strawberriesย (1 1.2-ounce bag) and crush the bottom half. You want to create some crumbs while leaving some of the pieces larger. Open the bag and reserve about 1/4 cup for the top, then dump the rest into the bowl. Use a large spoon to mix everything together until all the Cheerios are coated in the PB honey mixture.
  3. Press into pan:ย Line a 9×13 casserole dish with parchment paper, using chip clips on the sides of the dish to secure the paper. Pour the coated cereal mixture into the dish and spread it out into an even layer. Next, place another piece of parchment paper over the top of the cereal and use your hands or another hard flat surface to press the mixture firmly into the pan. You want to hear the Cheerios crunching! Take a break and place the reserved freeze-dried strawberries on top, then continue to press everything down. Pay special attention to the sides and press them down with your fingertips.
  4. Chill and serve:ย After the mixture if firmly pressed into the pan, leave the top parchment paper on as a cover and put the pan in the fridge so the bars can chill for at least 1 hour before cutting. This will harden them a bit and help them stick together. Once chilled, transfer the whole thing from the casserole dish to a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut into 15 bars (2 cuts lengthwise and 4 cuts widthwise). Store leftover bars covered in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer tightly wrapped for up to 3 months for best quality.

Equipment

pyrex glass bowls set with lids.

8-Piece Pyrex Sculptured Mixing Bowl Set

Buy Now โ†’
sharp knife and cutting board.

Misen Chef’s Knife

Buy Now โ†’

(affiliate link!)

Notes

Sweetener: Do not swap maple syrup for honey in this recipe. Maple syrup has higher water content than honey, and moisture from the maple syrup will absorb into the Cheerios, leaving them soggy. Nutrition information estimated with My Fitness Pal.

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 1 bar
  • Calories: 238
  • Sugar: 22g
  • Fat: 10g
  • Carbohydrates: 37g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 7g
© Author: Danielle
Cuisine: American Method: No Heat
Strawberry Peanut Butter Cheerios Bars cut into squares on parchment paper.

Did You Make This?

I love seeing what you made! Leave a review below, and be sure to tag me at @ProjectMealPlan when you share a photo!

Tag me on Instagram Rate recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use maple syrup instead of honey?

No, do not substitute maple syrup for honey in this recipe! I tested this and the bars turned out soggy. I think this is due to the higher water content of maple syrup (33%) vs honey (15-18%).

Is this recipe freezer-friendly?

Yes, these bars are freezer-friendly. If you want to make one extra crunchy before eating, store it in the freezer for a couple hours. For long term storage, wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap or a combination or parchment paper and foil. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months for best quality.

  • Share
  • Threads
  • Save
  • Email

About Danielle

Hi, Iโ€™m Danielle! I'm a PNW gal on a mission to help you reduce food waste, and save both time and money with meal planning and make-ahead recipe ideas! I've got weekly meal plan templates and recipes waiting for you!

Read more...

You May Also Like...

  • peanut butter rice krispie breakfast bars
    Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Breakfast Bars
  • peanut butter banana oatmeal breakfast bars with sliced bananas on top.
    Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
  • 2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie Balls
  • peanut butter powder blueberry cinnamon smoothie with fresh blueberries.
    Peanut Butter Powder Blueberry Cinnamon Smoothie
10 Meal Prep Lunches cover.

Get my FREE Meal Prep Lunches eBook!

Subscribe and receive my FREE Top 10 Meal Prep Lunches eBook PLUS recipes and meal prep tips weekly!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

bio
Follow Danielle on Instagram for more meal planning inspiration!

Popular

Thin Sliced Stovetop Chicken Breast just cooked in a nonstick pan.

Thin Sliced Stovetop Chicken Breasts

meal prep unstuffed pepper bowls in glass 2 compartment containers.

Meal Prep Unstuffed Pepper Bowls

peanut butter powder blueberry cinnamon smoothie with fresh blueberries.

Peanut Butter Powder Blueberry Cinnamon Smoothie

air fryer tuna melt cut in half stacked on a cutting board.

Air Fryer Tuna Melt

Get my FREE Meal Prep Lunches eBook!

In Season

Herby lemon chicken pasta salad in a white bowl.

Herby Lemon Chicken Pasta Salad

No Bake Pecan Pie Date Balls stacked on a plate.

No-Bake Pecan Pie Date Balls

tuna egg salad meal prep with berries and crackers in glass meal prep containers.

Tuna Egg Salad Meal Prep

meal prep soy chorizo breakfast burritos cut in half and zoomed in on inside fillings.

Meal Prep Soy Chorizo Breakfast Burritos

caesar chicken salad lunch wraps cut in half stacked on a cutting board.

Caesar Chicken Salad Lunch Wraps

no-bake cheesecake Greek yogurt cups in mason jars.

No-Bake Cheesecake Greek Yogurt Cups

explore

Free Meal Planning Resources

Weekly meal planner.
free downloads

Meal Planning Templates

Project meal plan
meal plan inspo

Join the Facebook Group

Favorite Cooking Tools
shop

Favorite Cooking Tools

10 Helpful Tips For Beginners
tips & tricks

10 Helpful Tips for Beginners

Explore Meal Prep

Breakfasts

Main Dishes

Tips & Tricks

Snacks

Lunches

Air Fryer

Instant Pot

Freezer Friendly

Get My FREE Meal Prep Lunches eBook!

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Disclaimers

Contact

© 2025 Project Meal Plan
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top