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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Brown Butter Pretzel and Cereal Bar Treats

    Dec 29, 2020

    By Michelle Weiner

    These 5-ingredient no-bake Brown Butter Pretzel and Cereal Bar Treats are chewy, salty, and sweet. This kid and adult-friendly dessert has easy ingredients and is ready in just 10 minutes.
    No ratings yet
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Jump to Recipe Leave a Comment
    Cereal and pretzel bars on a black board

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    These 5-ingredient no-bake Brown Butter Pretzel and Cereal Bar Treats are chewy, salty, and sweet. This kid and adult-friendly dessert has easy ingredients and is ready in just 10 minutes.

    Jump to:
    • What are cereal bar treats?
    • Uncomplicated ingredients
    • How to make homemade cereal bars
    • Substitutes and variations
    • Recipe tips
    • Recipe

    Adult-friendly cereal bars

    Push the bowl and milk aside and let’s make some sweet and crunchy Brown Butter Pretzel and Cereal Bar Treats instead. These homemade marshmallow cereal treats are easy to make, use simple ingredients, and have the best combination of sweet and salty.

    Cereal and pretzel bars stacked on each other on a white plate

    All you have to do to make this easy recipe is brown some butter, melt the marshmallows, and then combine everything together. It’s almost like a classic rice crispy treat, but with more flare! Top them with some crunchy pretzels or any toppings you like.

    This no-bake recipe comes in handy when you get to the end of the cereal box or when you don’t know what to do with your leftover pretzels. Made without any peanut butter, you can serve these along with other handheld desserts like Cranberry White Chocolate Shortbread and Chocolate Coconut Clusters at holiday parties or small get-togethers.

    Cereal and pretzel bars on a white plate. One bar on the side on a black napkin.

    What are cereal bar treats?

    Cereal bar treats and classic rice crispy treats both have a few key components: rice or grain cereal, butter, and marshmallows. The butter and marshmallows are melted before the cereal is added. Once the bars have hardened, you end up with a sticky, sweet, and crunchy dessert or snack.

    Kellogg Company invented these marshmallow squares in the 1920s for a fundraiser. Since then, the dessert has become known around the world and sold by the square by a number of companies.

    There are lots of variations of rice crispy squares available nowadays, but I would encourage you to go outside the box and try a recipe that has a twist!

    Cereal and pretzel bars stacked on each other on a white plate

    Uncomplicated ingredients

    Don’t you just love small-batch recipes that take almost no time to make and use simple ingredients? This recipe is the total package! Here’s what you need:

    Cheerios

    We need cereal to add a crispy crunch to the bars, but don’t feel like you have to only use Honey Nut Cheerios! These bars can be made with a no-name brand or any neutral whole-grain cereal you have at home.

    Feel free to make this recipe using any kind of crunchy grain cereal you have laying around. Special K, Raisin Bran, or Rice Chex are all great options!

    Good butter

    Unsalted and good quality butter will be cooked over low heat for a few minutes to make brown butter, which will bump up the flavors of the Cheerio bars. I highly recommend using the best butter you can find because low-quality butter will contain more water which can take away from the deep flavors.

    Marshmallows and cereal in small glass bowls next to pretzels on a wood cutting board

    Marshmallows

    Mini marshmallows are the easiest to work with and will melt faster but feel free to use whatever kind you have on hand. You can use large marshmallows or your own homemade marshmallows if you want. Just make sure the weight is the same as noted in the recipe card. 

    Make sure your marshmallows aren’t stale or hard before making this recipe. Instead of throwing them away, learn how to soften stale marshmallows yourself.

    Pretzels

    For a salty crunch! Use as many or any kind of pretzels you want. You can even be fancy and use chocolate or yogurt-covered pretzels instead.

    How to make homemade cereal bars

    These no-bake cereal bars come together and are ready to eat in no time! Here’s how it’s done:

    Browned butter in a metal pot

    Step 1: Brown the butter in a saucepan over medium heat for 5 minutes.

    Marshmallows and melted butter in a metal pot

    Step 2: Add the marshmallows and vanilla into the saucepan and lower the heat.

    Melted butter and marshmallows in a metal pot

    Step 3: Melt everything completely.

    Cereal and pretzels mixed with melted marshmallows and butter in a metal pot

    Step 4: Stir in the cereal and pretzels until they're well coated.

    Pretzel and cereal mixture pressed into a metal loaf pan

    Step 5: Press the mixture into a prepared loaf pan and leave it to cool completely before cutting.

    Substitutes and variations

    • Add chocolate: Once the marshmallows have completely melted, take the pan off the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes. From there, stir in the cereal, then add either chocolate chunks or chips. Only stir a few times to prevent the chocolate from melting. You can top the bars with more chocolate chips or a drizzle of melted chocolate before putting them in the fridge to harden.
    • Add nuts: For extra crunch, either fold some salted peanuts, chopped almonds, hazelnuts, or cashews into the mixture. Feel free to add more on top if you wish.
    • Use more marshmallows: Stir an extra half cup of mini marshmallows into the mixture after you’ve already added the cereal.
    • If you like extra salt: Top the bars with a sprinkle of flake salt.

    Recipe tips

    Make this small-batch recipe in no time with these helpful tips:

    Have everything ready

    This recipe moves really fast, so have your pan prepped and the ingredients measured and waiting in individual bowls on the counter before you start making the brown butter.

    Cereal and pretzel bar torn in half on a black napkin

    Make ahead

    These bars can easily be made way ahead of time. When they’re ready to eat, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

    Equipment

    An 8.5 x 4.5 metal loaf pan is all you need to fit the cereal-marshmallow mixture and is the best size for this small batch recipe.

    Freezing

    You can freeze the bars in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic for up to 2 months. Just let them sit at room temperature for about an hour before serving.

    It's time to cook!

    Okay, friend! It's your turn to make a batch of these treats. When you do, make sure to leave a comment below so I can hear what you think!

    Recipe

    Cereal and pretzel bars on a black board

    Brown Butter Pretzel and Cereal Bar Treats

    These 5-ingredient no-bake Brown Butter Pretzel and Cereal Bar Treats are chewy, salty, and sweet. This kid and adult-friendly dessert has easy ingredients and is ready in just 10 minutes.
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    Author: Michelle Weiner
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: small batch, snack, treats
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Makes: 4 treats

    Equipment

    medium saucepan
    silicone spatula
    metal loaf pan

    Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows
    • 1 ½ cups honey nut cheerios
    • ½ cup chopped pretzels
    • ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Line a 8.5 by 4.5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
    • Brown butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is browned and has a nutty aroma, about 5 minutes.
    • Immediately add marshmallows and vanilla. Reduce heat to low and stir to melt completely, about 2 minutes.
    • Remove from heat and add in cereal and pretzels. Stir to coat.
    • Press the mixture into the loaf pan and allow to cool compltely before serving.
    Did you make this recipe?Share a pic and tag @cupofzest and use #cupofzest so I can see it!

    Notes

    • This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Watch the Video!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 188mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 522IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 3mg
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    Hi, I'm Michelle and welcome to the party!

    After of working in the culinary world for over 10 years, I'm sharing the skills I've learned with you here at Cup of Zest. I'm here to help you invite your friends over more and stress less when cooking for them. Glad you're part of the crew!

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