Mother Butter Cereal Bars

It’s that time of year again: BACK TO SCHOOL! If you’re a parent who is looking for simple but fun ways to keep your kiddo nourished, this series of MB recipes is for you. We’ve put together Mother Butter snacks that are low stress, no mess, and even interactive to make you and your little ones feel ready to pack those lunchboxes. 

When talking about back to school time, it’s not only packing lunch boxes that needs to be considered. Let us not forget about after school time, when kids come home and need a little something before dinner—and fast. That’s where Mother Butter cereal bars are going to come in handy! O shaped cereal is held together with other pantry staples like nourishing Mother Butter, honey, and a bit of coconut oil to make a chewy, sweet pull-apart bar that can rival the blue-wrapper squares (you know the ones). The ingredients list is just as short as the time needed to make them, which is around 15 minutes, making them an optimal choice. Store cut bars wrapped in parchment or cling wrap in a gallon bag in the freezer or refrigerator to save space and time in your busy week. 

Equipment: parchment paper, 8x8 baking pan, measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatula, bowl, small pot or microwave safe bowl/cup

Ingredients: 

Method:

• Lightly spray an 8x8 dish with cooking spray. Line with an oversized piece of parchment. It should be tall enough to come out of the pan, almost like “handles” to use to remove the bars when they’re set!
• In a microwave safe bowl or a small pot on the stovetop, melt together Mother Butter, coconut oil, and honey until combined.
• Measure cereal into a medium size or large bowl.
• Pour Mother Butter mixture over the cereal and stir until evenly coated.
• Add the coated cereal mix to the parchment lined pan and press firmly into an even, compacted layer. It’s okay if a few cereal pieces break in this process!
• Set for 1 hour in the refrigerator or 30 minutes in the freezer. This is also where the bars will be stored.
• Cut into bars and enjoy!

Tips/Swaps

• Make a double batch in a 9x13 pan and keep cut bars on hand in the freezer.
• The cereal bars are not at their best kept at room temperature for long. If packing in a lunchbox, a freezer pack will help, but these should be pulled from the refrigerator. 
• This wasn’t tested with other cereals, but others should work fine as well. 
• For an even sweeter treat, drizzle melted chocolate over the top of the bars after cutting.
• Looking to add a bit more nutrition? Choose a protein-style cereal off the shelves that can add a few extra grams to these bars, or something higher in fiber. 

About The Author: Olivia Portelli

Olivia is a Certified Master Level Nutrition Consultant through American Fitness Professionals & Associates. A graduate of the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College and former Philadelphia pastry chef for Starr Restaurant Group, she decided to help people with health and wellness after spending a decade working in professional kitchens preventing her own burnout through lifestyle, nutrition and movement. She is passionate about the fact that healthy food can taste great and loves to blend her cooking and nutrition knowledge!