55 Better Ways to Enjoy Cereal

March 01, 2017
Break open the pantry, it's time to make some delicious cereal recipes. If you thought recipes should hide away after the breakfast hour or be enjoyed only with milk, think again. We've gathered our best recipes for main dishes, casseroles, muffins, cakes, and snacks that make the most of that oh-so amazing cereal crunch. You now have zero reasons to let that box go stale.
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Strawberry Yogurt Cream Pie with Cereal Crust

Sara Tane
Strawberry Yogurt Cream Pie with Cereal Crust Recipe

Made with a fiber cereal-crusted pie shell, this strawberry yogurt cream pie is the ultimate no-bake dessert. With a fruity, rich filling (made even more digestive-friendly with the addition of Greek yogurt and berries *you’re welcome*), this breakfast-inspired treat is everything you want in a (somewhat) guilt-free dessert. It’s ultra-satisfying with just the right amount of sweetness, without sending you over the edge.

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Cereal-Crusted Mozzarella Sticks

PHOTO BY KELSEY HANSEN
Cereal-Crusted Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
If your go-to appetizer is an order those infamous sticks of deep-fried cheese, please direct your attention here. To make the ultimate breakfast mozzarella stick, we covered thick, gooey cheese with cereal—don’t freak out, it’s only cornflakes. The impossibly crisp cereal forms a crust around creamy mozzarella before taking a bath in hot oil. The result? A crunchy golden brown exterior, warm melting cheese on the inside

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Mocha Puppy Chow

Photo: Emma Crist; Styling: Emma Crist
Mocha Puppy Chow Recipe

A teaspoon of instant espresso powder and rich dark chocolate morsels are all that's needed to add depth and a slight coffee-flavoring to classic puppy chow. You can use chocolate cereal in place of plain cereal for extra-chocolatey flavor. This delicious homemade chocolate-cereal treat comes together in less than 10 minutes for an easy, sweet, and portable snack. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

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This Orange Cream Pie Tastes Just Like a Dreamsicle

Photo: Darcy Lenz
This Orange Cream Pie Tastes Just Like a Dreamsicle

The story of how a random childhood memory inspired one dreamy Pi Day creation. 

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Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats

Quentin Bacon
Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats Recipe
This healthy version of crispy rice cereal bars uses brown rice cereal, natural peanut butter, honey instead of corn syrup, and dried cherries.   With 2 grams of fiber per bar, you don’t have to feel guilty about indulging. 

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Master Turkey Meatloaf

Photo: Daniel Agee, Styling: Rishon Hanners and Audrey Davis
Master Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

This is the ultimate, foolproof, turkey meatloaf that is every kind of comforting that you would want a meatloaf to be. This just may be the only meatloaf recipe you'll ever need. Not only is this dish absolutely delicious, but it's also gluten-free. This flavorful meatloaf features bacon for added flavor and richness, and includes a special factor with a trio of tomato sauces and condiments to create an updated version of the traditional meatloaf topper. To make this meal even better, try enjoying it on a sandwich the next day. 

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Clara Cakes' Breakfast Cake 

All Photos by Alex Tepper
Clara Cakes' Breakfast Cake  Recipe
Teen chef Clara Cakes proves that dessert can be breakfast, too

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Cornflake-Crusted Chicken

Cornflake-Crusted Chicken Recipe
Use your kids’ favorite breakfast cereal to make a crispy coating for chicken tenders. Decrease or omit the red pepper if your kids don’t care for the heat.

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Whole Grain Marshmallow Crispy Bars

Van Chaplin
Whole Grain Marshmallow Crispy Bars Recipe
Make traditional Rice Krispies Treats a little more nutritious by using multi-grain cereal and dried cranberries. 
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Shiitake-Stuffed Butternut with Quinoa Streusel

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Ginny Branch 
Shiitake-Stuffed Butternut with Quinoa Streusel Recipe
Look for quinoa flakes on the hot cereals aisle. If you can't find them, use all panko for the topping.

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Ice Cream Treasures

Lee Harrelson
Ice Cream Treasures Recipe
Use any combination of cereals you like. This frozen dessert would also be delicious with chocolate ice cream and chopped walnuts instead of almonds.

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Swag Bars

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Swag Bars Recipe
These no-bake bars come together quickly with common pantry ingredients. Make sure the cereal is well crushed (try packing it in a sealed zip-top plastic bag and using a rolling pin) so it incorporates into the peanut butter mixture.
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Rice Brittle Crunch

Photo: © Quentin Bacon
Rice Brittle Crunch Recipe
Invite friends to make the toppings for an indulgent ice-cream potluck party—peanut brittle mixed with crispy rice cereal, fresh blueberry sauce and an over-the-top mix of crushed chocolate-covered pretzels, cookie crumbs and more.

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Peanut Butter-Chocolate-Oatmeal Cereal Bars

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell
Peanut Butter-Chocolate-Oatmeal Cereal Bars Recipe
The microwave keeps preparation for these peanut butter-chocolate bar cookies short and simple.  Briefly bake the oatmeal crust in the oven, then top with the cereal and peanut butter-chocolate fillings and let cool for 45 minutes. 

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Triple-Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Puppy Chow

Photo: Emma Crist; Styling: Emma Crist
Triple-Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Puppy Chow Recipe

This recipe is a staff favorite. Sweet, creamy, and slightly salty, Triple-Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Puppy Chow will become your new, go-to way to make the classic chocolate-cereal treat.

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Crispy Chicken and Garlicky Collards

Photo: Maria Robledo; Styling: Anna Last
Crispy Chicken and Garlicky Collards Recipe
Improve on the cornflake-coating trick by using multigrain cereal to increase the fiber. Baking rather than frying the chicken eliminates a whopping 24 grams of fat per serving.

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Guess-Again Cookies

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro
Guess-Again Cookies Recipe
These crispy oatmeal cookies may keep everyone guessing about the ingredients. The crispiness comes from toasted rice cereal instead of nuts and the sweetness comes from brown sugar and raisins.

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Coconut Dates

Jim Bathie
Coconut Dates Recipe
You’ll only need 3 ingredients—dates, puffed wheat cereal, and shredded coconut—for these super-easy, totally no-cook treats.
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S'mores Chewy Crispy Bars

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Blakeslee Wright Giles
S'mores Chewy Crispy Bars Recipe
We take two childhood favorites—s'mores and crispy rice cereal bars—and combine to make delicious S'mores Chewy Crispy Bars.

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Cornflake, Pecan, and Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Amy Burke
Cornflake, Pecan, and Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Adding cornflakes cereal to the pecan-brown sugar topping gives the casserole extra crispiness and crunch.

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Asian Snack Mix with Nori

Photo: Quentin Bacon
Asian Snack Mix with Nori Recipe
Rice-flake cereal, seasoned nori (seaweed flavored with sesame oil and salt), miso and wasabi come together in this light, munchable, Asian-inspired riff on Chex Mix.
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Oven "Fried" Chicken Fingers with Honey-Mustard Dipping Sauce

Photo: Oxmoor House
Oven "Fried" Chicken Fingers with Honey-Mustard Dipping Sauce Recipe
There's no need to feel guilty about feeding your kids chicken fingers several times a week with this low-fat version featuring chicken tenders coated in a mixture of cereal and breadcrumbs and baked in the oven for perfect tenderness and crispiness.

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Sesame-Soy Nut and Pretzel Mix

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Thom Driver
Sesame-Soy Nut and Pretzel Mix Recipe

Full of salty nuts, pretzels, and cereal and doused with a butter- and Worcestershire-based glaze, the classic snack mix racks up sodium quickly (and who honestly stops at the barely 1/2 cup serving suggestion?). Our Asian-inspired mix saves 160mg sodium per serving with plenty of crunch and bold, salty flavor in a more generous 3/4 cup portion.

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Double-Chocolate Cereal Treats

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Double-Chocolate Cereal Treats Recipe

Skip your boring breakfast and opt for these decadent chocolate-on-chocolate cookies that boast full satisfaction and a dose of whole-grain goodness. Rich, decadent, and ultra-crispy, these healthy, bite-size snacks are the perfect start to the day. And they're ready to eat in a fraction of the time needed to prepare typical sweet treats.

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Cookies and Cream Puppy Chow

Photo: Emma Crist; Styling: Emma Crist
Cookies and Cream Puppy Chow Recipe
4 ingredients are all that's standing between you and this delicious treat made with white chocolate morsels and plenty of Oreo cookies. We cut back on the powdered sugar here because the white chocolate adds plenty of sweetness. If you're feeling Parent Trap vibes--add 1/2 cup of melted creamy peanut butter to the melted white chocolate.

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Layered Peeps Crispy Treats

Photo: Ryan Moriarty
Layered Peeps Crispy Treats Recipe

Why make boring Rice Krispie treats when you can make colorful and festive bar treats using Peeps and Rice Krispie cereal? You can use any 4 colors of Peeps that you prefer--or even double up on two colors for a half-and-half treat. To make pops: Cut 1-inch think slices widthwise, and then cut the slices in half. Insert a cake pop stick into the bottom of each treat, dip in melted chocolate, and decorate with sprinkles or crushed candy pieces. Display pops in a jar or candle votive holder stuffed with Styrofoam.

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Birthday Cake Puppy Chow

Photo: Emma Crist; Styling: Emma Crist
Birthday Cake Puppy Chow Recipe

Sprinkles and white chocolate are the only mix-ins you need to create this birthday cake-inspired treat. Sugary-sweet, colorful, and fun, it makes an easy, portable snack for a birthday party or holiday celebration. Pro tip: For a festive July 4 treat, use red, white, and blue sprinkles instead. You can change up the colors for any holiday.

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Au Gratin Potato Casserole

Au Gratin Potato Casserole Recipe

Make a cheesy, creamy potato casserole for your next family gathering or holiday meal. Make it easy with frozen hash browns, cream of mushroom soup and cornflakes cereal. You can also make it ahead and refrigerate until you are ready to bake.

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Snickerdoodle Puppy Chow

Photo: Emma Crist; Styling: Emma Crist
Snickerdoodle Puppy Chow Recipe

A simple cinnamon-sugar mixture tops this variation on Classic Puppy Chow for a treat reminiscent of freshly-baked cookies. Add to Mason jars with a tag and bow, and you've got a giftable Holiday snack.

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Orange Dreamsicle Crispy Treats

Photo: Melina Hammer; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell
Orange Dreamsicle Crispy Treats Recipe
From the Kitchen of Robin Wilson, simplysouthernbaking.com, Altamonte Springs, FL

"You can also use yellow and pink food coloring gel to make peach. Practice on a piece of wax paper, adding a little at a time to achieve your perfect shade. I serve these to family and friends, and there's never a square left."

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Browned Butter-Pecan Chewy Crispy Bars

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Blakeslee Wright Giles
Browned Butter-Pecan Chewy Crispy Bars Recipe

We love the grown-up flavor of Browned Butter-Pecan Chewy Crispy Bars. They're reminiscent of the treasured childhood treat but have an adult twist.

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Baked Smokin' Macaroni and Cheese

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Baked Smokin' Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

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Crispy Chocolate Hearts

Crispy Chocolate Hearts Recipe

Surprise your family, neighbors and even coworkers with a thoughtful Valentine's Day gift. Fill heart-shaped chocolate boxes or pretty tins with homemade goodies and give them away with a smile. It takes less than an hour to prepare each of these treats, but it'll look like you worked all day.

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Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish Recipe
Cornflakes are the secret to a crisp baked coating. Serve with sautéed mixed veggies, such as squash, zucchini, and carrots, and a green salad. Test Kitchen secret: For an extra touch of heat, add a few drops of your favorite hot sauce to the buttermilk before chilling the fillets.

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Sugarplum Fairy Wands

Photo: Charles Walton
Sugarplum Fairy Wands Recipe
Attention all dreamers, princesses, and lovers of fairies: Your magic wands have arrived! Crisp rice cereal is light, making these wands more stable and wave-friendly than the stadard variety, often made with sugar cookies. Wave away, fairies!

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Whole-Grain Cereal Party Mix

Whole-Grain Cereal Party Mix Recipe
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No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars Recipe

These bars are a perfectly portable snack you can prep on Sunday and enjoy throughout the week. Wrap leftovers tightly in plastic wrap, and store in the fridge. The bars will continue to firm up as they chill.

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Cornflake-Coated Pork Chops

Cornflake-Coated Pork Chops Recipe
Elevate easy pork chops to something memorable as you plan this week's meals.

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Pistachio-Apple Bars with Chia Seeds

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Kira Corbin
Pistachio-Apple Bars with Chia Seeds Recipe

These homemade bars combine fruit and nut flavors to make a tasty snack. 

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Pumpkin Cake with Little Ghosts

Oxmoor House
Pumpkin Cake with Little Ghosts Recipe

Don't let this creepy cake fool you, it's infused with hauntingly-good spices, rich pumpkin flavor, and a decadent chocolate drizzle. Even the little ghosts are edible!

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Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish

Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish Recipe

Using a salt-free seasoning allows you to control the amount of salt in this fried catfish dish while adding flavor at the same time.

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Peach-Oat Muffins

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Tyler Asbury
Peach-Oat Muffins Recipe
These muffins are loaded with many of the components of a well-rounded breakfast: fiber and whole grains from oats and bran cereal, good fats from pecans and canola oil, dairy from nonfat buttermilk, and fruit from dried peaches.
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Lemon-White Chocolate Bars

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Blakeslee Wright Giles 
Lemon-White Chocolate Bars Recipe
Grated lemon rind and premium white chocolate elevate the favorite childhood treat of crispy rice cereal bars into Lemon-White Chocolate Chewy Crispy Bars. These treats  will have adults asking for more.

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Crispy Oven-fried Drumsticks

Photo: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Rose Nguyen
Crispy Oven-fried Drumsticks Recipe
These oven-fried chicken drumsticks have a satisfyingly crunchy texture. We loved the flavor results when we used 1/2 tsp. red pepper. Use 1/4 tsp. for kids.

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Cheese Snappy Wafers