Like the classic breakfast but in bar form! Crunchy cereal layers sandwich a creamy milk-like filling making for a delicious breakfast or snack on-the-go. This healthy snack recipe is so easy to make, super kids friendly, infinitely adaptable, and made with only 8 real, simple ingredients. These no-bake Cereal & Milk Bars are paleo-friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), refined sugar free, nut-free, oil-free, and vegan!
What Do These Healthy Snack Bars Taste Like?
It’s like milk in cereal that you can eat with your hands! Yep, no spoon, no bowl, all the cereal and milk goodness. Cereal is mixed with a maple syrup sweetened mixture to create a crunchy but chewy base and layered with a creamy coconut butter “milk” filling. As if breakfast couldn’t get any better, these bars are proof, that yes. it. can! This recipe is inspired by these cereal bars I used to LOVE as a kid. If you ever had that chance to enjoy them before they were discontinued they taste very similar to those, but made with real ingredients and no weird stuff!
Here’s why you will LOVE these Cereal & Milk Bars!
- Classic breakfast but in convenient bar form.
- Infinitely adaptable! Use any cereal or nut/seed butter you like!
- Made with real, simple ingredients.
- Kid-friendly!
- No-bake and super easy to make!
What Ingredients Are Used to Make This Healthy Cereal Bar Recipe?
This Paleo breakfast bars recipe is made healthier as it uses no refined sugars, flours, or oils. These Cereal and Milk Bars are paleo-friendly meaning they are gluten free, grain free, and dairy free. They also happen to be nut free, vegan, and oil free! This recipe is infinitely adaptable to best suit your preferences or dietary requirements!
Here’s a look at the ingredients you’ll need and some possible variations:
- Cereal – Use any cereal you like! It’s so fun that there are now delicious grain-free cereals available today. The new Seven Sundays cereal comes in 3 different flavors, which are all made with conscientious ingredients, and tastes great! It’s wonderfully crunchy and just perfectly sweet. Another good grain-free cereal option is Three Wishes which comes in an unsweetened version if you’re looking to reduce the sugar content.
- Tahini – Creates the chewy mixture that acts as a glue for the cereal layer. Use any drippy nut/seed butter you like that contains only 1 ingredient. I love this tahini for baking.
- Maple Syrup – The sweetener in the cereal layer. Sub with honey, agave, or coconut nectar.
- Vanilla – Adds flavor to the cereal and milk layers.
- Coconut Butter – The creamy element that makes the “milk” layer. I like the Artisana brand.
- Powdered Sugar – Adds sweetness and thickens the milk filling. I use organic cane sugar to make my own powdered sugar (scroll down in this post to see how to make your own powdered sugar). To keep this refined sugar free sub with finely blended coconut or maple sugar, or use powdered Lakanto to keep these snack bars low sugar.
- Milk – Use any non-dairy milk of choice to make the filling milky and smooth.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness.
How Do You Make Cereal Bars From Scratch?
These cereal bars are SO quick and easy to make. All you need is a small pot, two bowls, and a loaf pan! No special equipment required! Here’s a look at the steps:
- Prepare the milk layer by mixing all the ingredients together.
- Make the cereal mixture. Heat nut/seed butter with maple syrup until thick and glossy. Then, add to the cereal and stir to coat.
- Create the bar layers. Press half the cereal mixture into a loaf pan. Any loaf pan will do, I like to use this Pullman loaf pan to get straight edges along the sides. Add the milk filling then top with remaining cereal.
- Chill! Let it firm up in the freezer, for about an hour until solid. Then slice and enjoy!
These Cereal and Milk Bars are the ultimate, and very convenient, way to enjoy your favorite breakfast cereal. Made with only 8 real, simple ingredients and infinitely adaptable these are next level snack bars and I can’t wait to see your cereal creations!
paleo friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), vegan, oil free, nut free
More Healthy Snack Recipes!
- Cherry Cacao Nib Cookies (paleo)
- No Bake Strawberry Shortcake Bites (paleo & vegan)
- Healthier Homemade Kudos Bars (gluten free & vegan)
SHARE THE LOVE!
If you make this recipe, please spread the love by leaving a review or rating down below. And I’d LOVE to see and share your creation! Take a picture and tag me on Instagram @freshlydafna in your feed or stories and I will share on my account!
Healthy Cereal and Milk Bars
Like the classic breakfast but in bar form! Crunchy cereal layers sandwich a creamy milk-like layer making for a delicious breakfast or snack on-the-go.
paleo friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), vegan, oil free, nut free
Ingredients
Milk Filling
- 1 cup (208 grams) coconut butter softened
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered sugar*
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp nut/seed milk of choice
Cereal Mixture
- 4 cups cereal of choice
- 1/4 cup (65 grams) tahini, well stirred before measuring sub other nut/seed butter
- 1/4 cup (96 grams) maple syrup agave, coconut syrup, or honey
- 1 tsp vanilla
- dash sea salt
Instructions
Prepare a loaf pan by lining with parchment paper and leaving short overhangs over the edges.
Prepare the milk filling. In a medium bowl soften the coconut butter in short 10 second bursts in the microwave. Stir in remaining ingredients until everything is well combined. Set aside.
Prepare the cereal mixture. Place cereal in a large bowl and set aside. Add the tahini and maple syrup to a small pot and heat over medium low heat. Stir often and cook until it just starts to bubble slightly, about 2-3 minutes. Continue to stir until mixture is smooth, slightly thick, and becomes a slight golden brown. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and sea salt.
Carefully pour the tahini mixture over the rice cereal and, using a rubber stapula, stir gently to coat.
Create the bar layers. Pour half the cereal mixture into the prepared loaf pan and spread out towards edges of the pan. Use a rubber spatula or cover with a piece of parchment paper and use the palm of your hand to press down firmly. The most tightly packed down the better. Add the milk layer over the base cereal and spread into an even layer. Top with remaining cereal and press down slightly to create the top.
Let chill in the freezer for at least an hour. Once firm, remove from loaf pan, slice, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Helpful Kitchen Tools (affiliate links): loaf pan, silicone spatula, kitchen scale
Storage: Store in an airtight container in the freezer.
Ingredient Subs/Variations:
Cereal - Use any cereal you like! Some great grain-free options are Seven Sundays or Three Wishes which both have good ingredients and come in multiple flavors.
Powdered Sugar - Sub with powdered Lakanto to make this low sugar and paleo-friendly. Or sub with coconut sugar blended until fine in a DRY blender to make paleo-friendly and refined sugar free, keep in mind this will make the milk layer a bit brown. I used organic cane sugar blended into a powder.
Tahini - Use any nut/seed butter you like, ideally with a thinner consistency and only 1 ingredient. I love the neutral flavor of tahini for these cereal bars. Some good alternatives are sunflower seed butter, almond butter, or peanut butter. My tahini of choice for baking is Whole Food's 365 Brand.
Maple Syrup - Any liquid sweetener will do. Honey, agave, or coconut syrup are all good options.
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Product Disclaimer: I received Seven Sundays Sunflower cereal for free to use but all opinions are my own.
This post may contain affiliate links. Any product I include in a post is one that I’m currently using and loving. If you do choose to purchase these products, I may earn a commission, which helps support my site and the free content I provide.
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