Cereal Sundays: Baking Without Flour, Sugar and Eggs

As grocery shelves are depleted during the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m finding solace in my kitchen on the weekends, even when baking without flour, sugar, and eggs. Recipes containing cereal typically don’t require those ingredients because they are already in the cereal. And they are usually no-bake.

When I was growing up, our weekly Sunday supper regimen consisted of a choice between cereal with milk, or heating up frozen leftover pizza, usually from Pizza Patrol on Sixth Street or Godfather’s Pizza on Medary Avenue.

My kids still, and always have, liked cereal all times of day.

child eating Lucky Charms cereal with Mountain Dew bottle with straw — Sajen eating Lucky Charms cereal.

And just think—baking with cereal is one of the first ways we learn to make and share sweet treats. Rice Krispy bars for a big-hair, neon earrings sleepover? Special K bars for a church basement bake sale raising money for church camp where the cute boy from another congregation goes?

So, save your flour to make homemade bread. I compiled some of our favorite recipes using boxed cereal, which doesn’t seem to be as affected by the food shortage.

Baking cereal treats when you don’t have flour, sugar, or eggs

Puppy Chow snack mix – no matter which cereals are in your cupboard, you can assemble Hodgepodge Puppy Chow.

tray of puppy chow snack mix — People puppy chow snack mix

Corn Pops Clusters taste similar to Special K bars because they are a mix of butterscotch, peanut butter, and chocolate.

muffin tin with Corn Pops clusters — Corn Pops Clusters

No-bake S’mores Bars have been part of my mom’s baking arsenal for as long as I can remember.

s'mores bar with marshmallows on top — No-bake S’mores Bars

For a while, General Mills had a cereal called Cocoa Puffs Brownie Crunch. I don’t see that on the shelf anymore, but you can make Cocoa Crunch Mint Crispy Bars anyway using classic Cocoa Puffs and Andes Mint baking pieces.

Cocoa Puffs cereal treats — Brownie Crunch Mint Crispy Bars

For a spin on classic Rice Krispy bars, make Rice Krispy Caramel Bars but don’t use more caramel than the recipe calls for like I did or you’ll be eating them with a knife and fork.

rice Krispy bar with lots of caramel oozing out of the middle — Rice Krispy Caramel Bars with too much caramel

Special K bars. Is there really anything more I need to say? I’m sorry I can’t tell you my sister’s secret, so here’s our basic recipe. The Real Housewives of Pipestone and Lincoln Counties Special K Bars.

Special K bars butterscotch peanut butter chocolate — Special K Bars have peanut butter, butterscotch, and chocolate.

Of course, Lucky Charms already has its colorful marshmallows, but that only adds to the charm of these cereal treats! Charming Lucky Bites

plate of Lucky Charms Krispy treats — Charming Lucky Bites

Proof you can melt butter and marshmallows and mix with any cereal you want are Special K Blueberry Krispies Bars. Oh how I wish Kellogg’s still made the blueberry cereal.