As a traveler, I’m not usually the person that seeks out the best shopping spots in a given area. I’m not huge into shopping and my husband absolutely loathes it, so shopping is never on our vacation checklist. While I prefer making memories, taking photos, and going on adventures while traveling, I do enjoy nabbing a souvenir that reminds me of the trip and is unique to the area.
For instance, I picked up coasters in New Orleans that have the city’s symbolic fleur-de-lis design on them. When I put my drink on one, memories from my time there come to mind.
The last time I was in Italy, I bought a bracelet from a street vendor. Every time I wear it, I think of the magic of Venice.
During my trip to Ireland a few months ago, the souvenir that I took home was a jar of locally made honey. I nabbed it at a health food store during my excursion to the Cliffs of Moher, and every time I use some of that honey, I think of the rolling hills of Ireland. Now I wish I had bought more of it!
Recently while I was spooning my Irish honey into my green tea, I got the idea to make pumpkin spice cereal bars that are glued together with the goodness that is honey.
I’ve always been a big cereal lover. I eat it with protein powder mixed in & with banana or blueberries; sprinkle it on top of my smoothie bowls; and sometimes I eat it dry with a handful of dried cherries & chocolate chips for a healthy dessert. There’s something about chocolate with oat cereals like Cheerios that is just so yummy!
These 6-ingredient bars (including salt!) take an autumn twist with a flavor pop of pumpkin spice. The chocolate gets all gooey when mixed in with the honey/almond butter/pumpkin spice cereal mixture, and then you simply refrigerate it until it’s hardened and ready to be cut into bars.
These cereal bars are a great idea for a snack or dessert, and I hope that you enjoy them as much as we do in my house!
Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Cereal Bars [gluten free]
Ingredients
- 6 cups of Cheerios or other oat cereal
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1/2 cup creamy almond butter
- 1 TBSP pumpkin spice
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- In a small pot over low heat, combine honey, almond butter, pumpkin spice and sea salt. Heat until smooth and warm, stirring a few times.
- Place cereal in a large bowl. Pour honey mixture over top, and stir well with a wooden spoon.
- Line an 8x11 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Add the chocolate chips into the cereal bowl, and stir to combine. Pour the cereal into the baking dish, using the wooden spoon to press the mixture down into the pan.
- Refrigerate until the bars are cooled, at least an hour, before cutting into squares.
Notes
Nutrition
Tell me… What’s your favorite cereal? What’s one trip souvenir that you own and love?
I’m the same way with shopping while traveling. I don’t seek it out but I randomly gather things here and there. I would probably seek out that honey if I go to Ireland though, haha! It looks so delicious in these bars. I love the idea to use Cheerios. I’m not sure I could be trusted with these!
I’m just like you… most of what I buy is food or wine-related (obv). I did buy a pair or shoes in Italy – that was really unusual for me!
These look amazing. We actually have a thing of Cheerio’s in our cabinet. Hmmmmm…
I totally love cereal, too, Nicole! And I hear ya on shopping. We aren’t huge shoppers either. We already have so much stuff in our house that there’s just no reason to keep on getting more stuff. I get it! But I do love some souvenirs (as long as they aren’t cheesy). And fleur-de-lis? Obsessed with it! I love Louisiana (you probably know that by now), and I have a bunch of fleur-de-lis stuff around the house. Anyways, Robbie just tried Cheerio’s for the first time last night…and he loved them! Next up: Cheerio cereal bars! 🙂
These sound delicious.
And I always like to grab a little something from my trips to.
Recently it was a ornament for my tree from NYC.
I love that you used honey to bind these together! They sound sooo good! I’m not a big shopper while on vacation either … but I do love picking up local food type things! That honey from Ireland is totally what I would buy!
I’m with you! I’m not a big shopping person. Even in NYC where people visit to shop, I would order stuff online! Haha. But I do like bringing home a meaningful souvenir from someplace!