Eighteen Plus Treats Kids Can Make From Favorite Cereals

Chex Muddy Buddies aka Kid's Puppy Chow

Do you need something for children to do while out of school for the summer?  How about putting them to work in the kitchen making their own treats?  I noticed that cereals have become toppings on cupcakes, cookies (more cookies), or ice cream and remembered when I used to make bars of Rice Krispies with my son.  He loved the homemade version much better than the stale store-bought.  He also liked shaking up the bag for Chex Muddy Buddies.   With this thought in mind, I decide to look for recipes using assorted cereals that children could make on their own or help with making.  I think he would have also loved the idea of a faux crumble on his morning muffins simply done by sprinkling cereal on top of the muffins before that are put in the oven to bake.

I searched the web for recipes and have included the links below along with personal tips, ingredient hints, or warnings.  The recipes are divided into different groups.  Younger children recipes contain no-cook recipes or ones where microwave is used to melt ingredients by parent or caregiver. Older children recipes may require cooking on the stove or in the oven, also may contain no-cook recipes that are more difficult and time-consuming than younger children have the patience or attention span to do.  However, there are no recipes below where cereal is simply used as a topping; I think most kids can figure that one out on their own.  You should decide which age and skill category your children fall into by checking out the recipe beforehand.

Younger Children Recipes:

1.       Traditional Rice Krispies Treat  (while it is ok to substitute Fruity Pebbles for Rice Krispies for a more colorful treat, it would be yucky rather than yummy if you substitute fruit-flavored marshmallows for plain)

2.       Avalanche Cookies – no-bake made with Rice Krispies, marshmallows, peanut butter, and chocolate

3.       Traditional Chex Muddy Buddies (aka Puppy Chow – I used only corn flavor as it was the most sweet flavor so they seemed more like candy to my many nieces and nephews.)

4.       Chex Reindeer Bait (supper easy and M&Ms’ make it very colorful)

5.       Trix Krispies  (colorful easy variation on traditional Krispies Treat)

6.       Gooey Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars (includes chocolate chips so after the first time, try it with other chip flavors as well)

7.       Golden Grahams S’mores (requires lots of stirring power)

8.       Corn on the Cob Kix Treats (this is so cute - it is like making popcorn balls so may want to consider it will be hot mix made with hands)

9.       Alton Brown’s White Trash - made with Cheerios and Chex

Older Children Recipes:

1.       Reece’s Puffs & Pieces Bars (similar to Rice Krispies Treats but with a peanut butter flavor cereal)

2.       Butterscotch Fluffernutter Krispy Bars – made with Rice Krispies, cookie dough, and butterscotch chips

3.       Rainbow Muddy Buddies – made with Chex and Lucky Charms cereals

4.       Alton Brown’s White Trash – made with Cheerios and Chex

5.       Samoa Peanut Butter Bars – made with Rice Krispies and Golden Grahams

6.       Honey-Nut Cheerios Bars (ends up looking like a trail mix bar if you put in all the optional ingredients)

7.       Peanut Butter Cereal Bars – this version is made with Rice Krispies and Corn Flakes, includes Chocolate Chips

8.       Peanut Butter Cereal Bars – this version is made with Rice Krispies and Cheerios using chunky peanut butter

9.       Cocoa Puffs Fudge ( that is correct  Cocoa Puffs in chocolate)

See also Fancy Rice Krispies Desserts multitude of baking or special decorating ideas from fans of the cereal for more ideas.