This is a baking activity for your children in the school-age range. Making Fruit Loop cereal bars will engage your child’s receptive and expressive language skills as well as social skills as they turn a usual Fruit Loop cereal box and marshmallows into cereal bars. School-aged children will need additional assistance due to the use of the stove and heating up the butter may cause these children to get burned. Direct adult supervision is recommended at all times. As a parent, you can assist your child by stirring the marshmallows and Fruit Loops in the pot with the use of the hand-over-hand technique. This will help the child to enhance their fine motor skills. These Fruit Loop cereal bars are the perfect treat for breakfast or an afternoon snack!
Materials
Measuring spoons
10 oz. of miniature marshmallows
1 box of Fruit Loops cereal
Cooking spray
Butter
Spatula
A large pot
9x13 baking pan
Step 1: Cooking spray on pan
First, grab the cooking spray and spray the 9x13 baking pan. You can use a paper towel to evenly spread the cooking spray on the pan. Then, put aside.
Step 2: Heating butter
In a large pot, over medium low heat, add 3 table spoons of butter and melt completely. You can use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® or any brand of butter you’d like.
Step 3: Add marshmallows
Next, add marshmallows to the pot with melted butter and stir constantly until melted. It is recommended to not use a plastic cooking spoon to stir because it might melt or get damaged.
Step 4: Mix Fruit Loops cereal
Then, take off pot from the stove and quickly stir in the Fruit Loops cereal.
Step 5: Prep time
Afterwards, pour cereal mixture into prepared pan and smooth out with a spatula. You can also spray the child’s hands with cooking spray to have him push down the cereal on the pan for that tactile touch!
Step 6: Last step
Lastly, cool completely for approximately 3 hours before cutting into cereal bars. You can let them cool on top of the stove, kitchen counter, or kitchen table. 1, 2, 3, and dig in!
What other types of cereal can you use to make cereal bars? Fruity Pebbles, Trix, Lucky Charms? You choose!
