Marshmallow cereal bars
Marshmallow cereal bars are a popular no-bake treat made by binding crispy rice cereal or other cereals with melted marshmallows and butter. They are a staple of American home kitchens and convenience stores, often customized with add-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit. The recipe is famously simple, requiring minimal equipment and no oven.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
These bars are very high in carbohydrates, primarily from sugar and refined grains, with moderate fat from butter and marshmallows, and negligible protein. A typical 50-gram bar provides roughly 200-250 calories, offering quick energy but little in the way of essential vitamins or fiber.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 200 kcal |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbs | 38 g |
| Fat | 4 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 20 g |
| Sodium | 150 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Potassium | 80 mg |
| Calcium | 20 mg |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 0.15 mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.18 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 2 mg |
| Folate | 50 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 40 mg |
Per 1 bar (50 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, they represent a quintessential 'kid-friendly' snack and a symbol of easy, nostalgic American comfort food. Nutritionally, their unique texture—a crisp cereal matrix held together by a sticky, gelatin-based marshmallow binder—makes them a fascinating study in food science, though they are best enjoyed as an occasional treat.
