These cinnamon toast crunch milk and cereal bars are a healthier alternative to the traditional breakfast treat. Made with wholesome ingredients that you recognize, you’ll love meal prepping these for yourself or for your little ones this week.

WHY I MADE THESE MILK AND CEREAL BARS

Because I can’t be the only one who loved milk and cereal bars as a kid, right? My favorite cereal of all time was Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and I distinctly remember the first time I found those Cinnamon Toast Crunch Milk ‘N Cereal Bars in stores. They looked like this, and they were delicious!

They came in a pack of 6, but for a hungry kid like me, 6 was not enough! I could easily down the entire box in two days, and then happily skip to the grocery store to grab some more.

If you know a little about me and the recipes that I share, that you know that recreating my favorite childhood treats is kind of a theme around here. My Copycat Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars recipe and my Copycat Kudos Bars recipe resonated with so many of you, and I’ve received so many messages from people who shared how much they loved them.

So, I’m willing to bet that if you’re reading this right now, then you were a fan of milk and cereal bars, too. And, just as all things change, your palate may have changed, too. Do yourself a favor and do not take a look at the ingredients list in traditional milk and cereal bars, because the sugar content is absolutely crazy.

Instead, try this healthier milk and cereal bars recipe that you, your kids, and your whole family can enjoy. I like to use a high protein cereal like Catalina Crunch Cinnamon Toast Cereal because it tastes really good, and I feel better about its ingredients. This is not sponsored, by the way, I just really like it.

CINNAMON TOAST CEREAL BARS KEY INGREDIENTS

Like I said above, the ingredients in traditional Milk ‘N Cereal bars are kind of… dicey. So, in my version we use more wholesome ingredients that you can feel better about. The biggest make-or-break in whether or not this recipe is better for you will come down to the cereal you use.

Feel free to use any cereal that you like, but I really like Catalina Crunch Cinnamon Toast Cereal because it tastes really good, and I feel better about its ingredients. This is not sponsored, by the way, I just really like it.

You don’t have to use a cinnamon toast crunch cereal for this recipe, though. That just happens to be my favorite, but swap in any type of cereal that you like! It will still work for this recipe.

• Cereal: I loved Cinnamon Toast Crunch as a kid, but my adult palate just finds it too sweet and artificial tasting. There are so many great healthier cereals on the market now and I recommend using one of those for this recipe! Of course, no store bought cereal will have a better nutritional profile than the one that you make yourself at home, but we’re looking for a quick and easy breakfast prep recipe, right? So, go with store bought. Feel free to use any cereal that you like, but I really like Catalina Crunch Cinnamon Toast Cereal because it tastes really good, and I feel better about its ingredients.
• Almond butter: We’re going to make an almond butter caramel that gets poured all over the cereal to help it stick together. If you skip this almond butter caramel, then the cereal will just fall apart and you won’t be able to slice them nicely into bars.
• Maple syrup: Gets mixed in with our almond butter, and then poured over the cereal. Adds a touch of sweetness but, more importantly, it caramelizes when warmed on the stove which gives our coated cereal an even richer flavor.
• Greek yogurt: The milk layer in traditional milk and cereal bars is pretty much just glorified icing, which tastes great but probably isn’t great to eat if you’re trying to meal prep these for breakfast. Instead, we use a greek yogurt as the base of our milk layer which also makes these natural milk n cereal bars extra creamy and delicious. When frozen, the greek yogurt gives these bars an ice cream-like texture which also makes them the perfect sweet snack to munch on for a hot summer day.
• Condensed milk: Lightly sweetens our greek yogurt, and makes it even creamier. I’m really into Oat Milk Condensed Milk these days.
• Vanilla bean paste: Adds pretty vanilla flecks and flavor to our greek yogurt, but you can certainly use vanilla extra instead.

MILK N CEREAL BARS RECIPE

The full instructions on how to make these more wholesome milk and cereal bars is detailed in the recipe card below. Luckily, it’s an easy no bake breakfast recipe! Here’s the gist of it:

Cereal Layer

• Pour the cereal into a large bowl.
• In a small saucepan, bring the almond butter, maple syrup, and butter over medium heat to a gentle simmer.
• Pour the melted almond butter mixture on top of the cereal. Use a spoon or spatula to mix it all together until the cereal is coated.

“Milk” Layer

• Whisk all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl.

Cereal Bars

• To assemble, scoop half of the cereal mixture into the bottom of the loaf pan.
• Scoop the greek yogurt mixture on top of the cereal.
• Top with the remaining cereal mixture.
• Freeze until solid.
• Slice into bars, and store in an airtight container in the freezer.

HOW LONG DO THESE MILK AND CEREAL BARS TAKE TO MAKE?

The great thing about this recipe is that it comes together super fast! With a very short prep time, this is definitely one of the easiest recipes you’ll find on my website!

• Prep time: 15 mins
• Rest time: 2 hours
• Total time: 2 hours and 15 minutes.

HOW TO STORE THESE BREAKFAST CEREAL BARS?

After the cereal bars have been sliced, place them in an airtight container and keep them stored in the freezer. The bars will stay fresh for at least 2 weeks.

CINNAMON TOAST CRUNCH CEREAL BARS FAQ

1. What type of cereal works best for this recipe?
You can use almost any cereal you love, but I recommend one that’s high quality and holds its crunch well. Cinnamon toast cereals, granola clusters, honey nut cereals, or even a mix of two cereals can work beautifully. Avoid soft-textured cereals that might get soggy quickly.

2. Can I make these milk and cereal bars dairy-free?
Yes! For a dairy-free version, swap the butter for vegan butter, and use dairy-free yogurt (such as coconut or almond yogurt)..

3. Do I have to use almond butter?
Nope! Peanut butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter work just as well. Just be sure to use a natural nut or seed butter without added oil or sugar.

4. How long do these bars last?
When stored in an airtight container in the freezer, they’ll stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.

5. Do I have to freeze them?
Yes — freezing is what helps the layers set and makes the bars hold together. If you refrigerate them instead, they’ll be too soft.

6. Can I add mix-ins?
Definitely! Try adding chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, dried fruit, or even a drizzle of melted chocolate over the top before freezing for an extra-special touch.

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