No Oven Needed: Sweet Morning Almond Joy Bars

The Perfect Snack: Homemade Cereal Bars

Cereal bars are an ideal snack to keep on hand for various occasions. Whether it’s a quick breakfast while rushing out the door, a sweet treat in the afternoon, or a burst of energy before a workout, nothing beats a cereal bar for convenience and flavor. And when made at home, they offer even more benefits—using simple ingredients and customizing them to suit your personal taste.

A delightful blend of almond butter, honey, and puffed rice cereal forms the base of these bars, which is already a treat on its own. However, adding in dried coconut, semisweet chocolate chips, and chopped almonds creates a flavor profile reminiscent of Almond Joy candy. These additions transform the bars into a snack that you’ll be thinking about all day, especially after packing them in your lunch.

While it’s easy to grab a box of cereal bars from the grocery store, many people have never considered making their own. Once you try this recipe, you might wonder why you ever paid for pre-packaged versions wrapped in excessive plastic. With just a few minutes of mixing and an hour in the fridge, you can create 10 delicious cereal bars tailored exactly to your preferences—far superior to the unhealthy options often found on store shelves.

Gathering the Ingredients

To make these no-bake cereal bars, you’ll need the following:

Almond butter
Honey
Puffed rice cereal
Dried coconut
Semisweet chocolate chips
Chopped roasted almonds

Once you have these items, you’re just a few minutes away from creating a batch of tasty, homemade cereal bars.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Combine the Almond Butter and Honey

Add the almond butter and honey to a mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
Add the Cereal

Pour in the puffed rice cereal and mix until everything is evenly distributed.
Incorporate the Mix-Ins

Add the dried coconut, chocolate chips, and almonds. Stir until the mixture is uniform.
Prepare the Baking Dish

Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with waxed paper.
Spread the Mixture

Spoon the cereal mixture into the dish and spread it out evenly.
Chill to Set

Place the dish in the refrigerator or freezer for about an hour to allow the mixture to firm up.
Slice Into Bars

After chilling, remove the waxed paper and cut the mixture into 10 equal bars.
Enjoy

Serve immediately, or store the bars in the refrigerator for later consumption.

Pairing Ideas

These cereal bars pair well with a variety of other dishes and drinks. Some great options include:

An at-home mango citrus acai bowl
A kefir blueberry peach smoothie
A tropical smoothie
A vegan mango smoothie
A cinnamon cereal milk latte
A creamy horchata-inspired latte

Exploring Other Mix-Ins

The classic combination of dried coconut, chocolate, and almonds gives these bars a unique flavor, but there are endless possibilities for customization. For example, omitting the almonds would give you something similar to a Mounds bar. Replacing almond butter with peanut butter and removing the almonds and coconut could give the bars a Reese’s-like flavor.

The base of the bar—cereal, nut butter, and honey—provides a solid foundation. Beyond that, you can experiment with different ingredients. Stick to around ¾ cups of mix-ins total, and choose items that won’t add excess moisture, such as nuts, seeds, dried fruits, or various types of chocolate. Start with the original recipe to get a feel for the process, then let your creativity shine.

Can I Use Other Nut Butters?

While almond butter is the best choice for this recipe due to its flavor profile, you can certainly use other nut butters if desired. Peanut butter is a popular alternative and works well with honey. The consistency may vary slightly depending on the type of nut butter used, but the overall result will still be satisfying.

If you’re looking for more ideas, consider exploring different types of nut butters to find what suits your taste best.