These 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cereal Bites are gluten-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free. This simple snack is easy and utterly delicious!
A 3-ingredient sweet treat you can feel good about can't be beat. Made with pantry staples and your favorite toasted oat cereal, these peanut butter bites are the perfect after-school snack, easy breakfast idea, or dessert the whole family will love!
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Simple ingredients
- No bake recipe
- Minimal prep time
- Perfect snack and healthy dessert
Ingredients and substitutions
Here are a few quick notes about the ingredients in this recipe. You can see a complete list of ingredients and instructions in the recipe card below.
Peanut butter - Natural peanut butter is best for this 3-ingredient recipe. Creamy is recommended. To make this peanut-free for those with a peanut allergy, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, or almond butter can be substituted. This will alter the flavor profile.
Cheerios - Plain Cheerios (gluten-free) or similar gluten-free toasted oat cereal is best. It also adds a healthy dose of whole grains, protein, and fiber.
Maple syrup - Real maple syrup (not pancake syrup) acts as a natural binder and is an unrefined sugar. If you are not vegan, honey can be substituted.
Chocolate chips (optional) - Use semi-sweet or dark chocolate vegan chocolate chips if you'd like to have a chocolate drizzle.
Gluten-free toasted oat cereal brands
The following brands are labeled GF and are similar to Cheerios:
- Love Grown Power O's
- Nature's Path Whole O's
- Seven Sundays Oat Protein Cereal
- Three Wishes Grain-Free Cereal
- Forager Project Grain-Free O's
You can find many brands at your local grocery store or online retailers. If you have Celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or sensitivity, choose a brand that is certified gluten-free.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: In a small saucepan, combine maple syrup and peanut butter, over low heat stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula until the mixture is completely incorporated and smooth.
Step 2: Place cereal in a medium bowl and pour the warm peanut butter mixture on top. Stir the mixture until the cereal is completely coated.
Step 3: Scoop the cereal mixture and place it into little mounds onto the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 4: Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for two hours. If desired, drizzle melted chocolate chips on top and place them back in the fridge to harden.
Recipe tips
- The Cheerio mixture will be a little sticky. Use a cookie scoop to create the mounds for the snack bites.
- The longer the treats chill, the more set and less delicate the cereal treats will be.
- To serve these little bites in a packed lunch, there should be an ice pack or cool pack in the lunchbox. At warmer temperatures, these basic ingredients will melt.
How to store
Store the treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
More gluten-free cereal treats
Love this recipe? Please consider leaving a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating on the recipe card below and let me know what you think in the comments!
📖 Recipe
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cereal Bites
Ingredients
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- 2 cups Cheerios or other gluten-free oat cereal
Optional topping
- ¼ cup vegan chocolate chips
Instructions
- Place a piece of parchment paper on a large baking sheet and set aside.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, combine maple syrup and peanut butter, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula until the mixture is completely incorporated and smooth.
- Place cereal in a medium bowl and pour the warm peanut butter mixture on top. Stir the mixture until the cereal is completely coated.
- Scoop the cereal mixture with a #40 cookie scoop or tablespoon (heaping) and place it into little mounds onto the baking sheet.
- Place baking sheet in the refrigerator for at least two hours. The longer the snack bites chill, the more set they will become.If desired, melt chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl and drizzle melted chocolate on top. Place them back in the fridge to set.
C.h
Hi Tessa! Great blog! May I know how long can I keep these tiny bites of heavenly goodness for? ?
Tessa
Hi Candice! Thank you so much! :) I think they are best in the first couple days of making. After a couple days, the rice cereal tends to starts to lose it's crispness.
Aysegul
My Goodness Tessa! These look amazing. Seriously, that last photo with chocolate is amazing. I want to reach into my computer screen and grab it. :)
BTW Have your ears been ringing? Your name came up a few times last week when I was talking to Katherine (Cookie and Kate). I had no idea that you guys knew each other.. Anyhow, I sent a lot of hellos and hugs to you. <3
Cheers!
traci | VanillaAndBean
These are absolutely quick little bites to sooth a sweet, salty and chocolate tooth! FTW! Having these little bites on the ready would make me look forward to after work snackin! Gorgeous work, Tessa!
rebecca | DisplacedHousewife
Oh these look sooooo delicious!!! Yes...these are definitely just like eating a vitamin... ;) xoxo
Tessa
Hahaha, I am glad you are with me on that one!!! xoxo
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
And I just happen to have all these ingredients in my pantry Tessa! It's my lucky night! YAY!!
Tessa
Yay!!! I love it when that happens! Have a great weekend, Mary Ann!
Emily | Gather & Dine
Look at us both posting chocolate-y peanut buttery treats today- I love it! I love the simplicity of yours and how you shaped them into adorable mini-squares. Hope the school year is going well for you. (How do you do it all?!)
Tessa
We are most certainly on the same wavelength - I love it too! :) Thank you! School has been going well and I cannot believe we have been back in a session for a month already. Not sure where all the time goes. I hope all the back to school activities for you and your kiddos are going well too! xoxo
Katie Walker
Yum.
Tessa
Between me and Heath, these didn't stand a chance. <3
Abby @ Heart of a Baker
Um yes I'll be right over to have a few of these please and thank you! xo
Tessa
Bahaha. For real though, next week?! (I'm sorry, I'll stop). ;) Thank you, dear! <3