Cereal bars are the perfect snack when you’re on the go, but buying them can be expensive. Luckily, they’re easy to make at home, and you can customize them with your favorite seasonal fruits and chocolate to make them even tastier.

Ingredients

2 cups of rolled oats
1 cup of nuts (almonds, cashews, or pecans)
1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 cup of dried seasonal fruit (cranberries, apricots, or raisins)
1/2 cup of chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9×9 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
Spread the rolled oats and nuts evenly on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, until lightly golden.
In a medium saucepan, heat the honey, peanut butter, sea salt, and vanilla extract over low heat, stirring constantly until melted together.
Remove the oats and nuts from the oven and transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Add the dried fruit and chocolate chips and stir to combine.
Pour the melted honey mixture over the oats, nuts, fruit, and chocolate and stir until everything is well combined and coated in the mixture. Make sure everything is well coated with the melted mixture.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press it down with a spatula to make it even and compact.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and let the bars cool in the dish for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a cutting board.
Cut into 10 equal pieces and enjoy!

Customization

The great thing about these homemade cereal bars is that you can customize them with whatever seasonal fruit and chocolate you like. Here are some ideas:.

Summer: Blueberry and Dark Chocolate

Add fresh or dried blueberries and dark chocolate chips to the mix to create a sweet and tangy bar that’s perfect for a summer snack.

Fall: Apple and Cinnamon

Add chopped dried apples and a pinch of cinnamon to the mix to create a tasty fall-inspired bar that’s perfect for those crisp autumn afternoons.

Winter: Cranberry and White Chocolate

Add dried cranberries and white chocolate chips to create a festive bar that’s perfect for the holiday season.

Spring: Apricot and Milk Chocolate

Add chopped dried apricots and milk chocolate chips to the mix to create a sweet and fruity bar that’s perfect for celebrating the arrival of spring.

Conclusion

Making your own cereal bars is easy, fun, and economical, especially when you use seasonal fruits and chocolate. Experiment with different flavors to find your favorite combination and enjoy a delicious and healthy snack anytime, anywhere.