Description
Homemade berries and cream cereal bars combine sweet nostalgia with creamy indulgence. Crisp rice cereal and luscious berry compote create a delightful treat you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (11.1 oz / 315 g) Cheerios™ Cereal Very Berry
- 1 package (1.2 oz / 34 g) freeze-dried strawberries
- 10 oz (283 g) mini marshmallows
- 1 bag (12 oz / 340 g) white chocolate chips
- ¼ cup (57 g) butter
- 2 tbsps (30 mL) butter or coconut oil, melted
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Preparation: Generously coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, ensuring complete coverage to prevent sticking.
- Butter Melting: In a large saucepan, gently melt butter over medium heat, maintaining a consistent low temperature to avoid burning.
- Marshmallow Fusion: Add mini marshmallows to melted butter, stirring continuously until the mixture transforms into a smooth, glossy consistency, then immediately remove from heat.
- Cereal Incorporation: Fold Cheerios cereal and freeze-dried strawberries into the marshmallow base, ensuring every morsel gets evenly coated with the sweet mixture.
- Pan Distribution: Transfer the cereal mixture to the prepared pan, using a spatula or clean hands to create a uniform, even layer throughout the pan.
- Cooling Phase: Allow the cereal base to set completely at room temperature for 30-45 minutes, creating a firm foundation for the bars.
- Chocolate Drizzle: Melt white chocolate chips with butter or coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl, using 30-second intervals and stirring between heating cycles until achieving a smooth, glossy consistency.
- Finishing Touch: Dip the bottom of each cooled cereal bar into the melted white chocolate, ensuring a thin, even coating, then place on a parchment paper-lined surface with the chocolate side facing upward.
- Final Setting: Let the bars rest until the chocolate solidifies completely, creating a delectable treat ready to be served and enjoyed.
Notes
- Prevent Sticking Carefully: Generously spray the baking pan to ensure easy bar removal and clean cutting.
- Master Marshmallow Melting: Stir continuously and remove from heat immediately after marshmallows become smooth to avoid burning or hardening.
- Distribute Evenly: Gently fold cereal and berries to guarantee each bite contains balanced flavors and ingredients.
- Chocolate Dipping Pro Tip: Use short microwave intervals and stir between heating to achieve perfect white chocolate consistency without scorching.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 198
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg