The perfect sweet and salty treat that you can feel good about feeding your entire family: Cereal Cake Pops! Filled with good-for-you wholesome ingredients like peanut butter and whole grains, and lightly sweetened with dates, you can rest easy knowing these healthy Cereal Cake Pops are a great snack that adults and toddlers alike will enjoy!
Continuing on my quest to make nutritious and delicious treats that both Mr.CEO and my toddler will enjoy (just like that Strawberry Nice Cream), I came up with these Cereal Cake Pops! I hope you enjoy these as much as they did!
What You Need to Make this Recipe
- You can use any whole grain cereal of choice, but we like Cheerios because not only are they fortified with important nutrients like iron and vitamin D, but they’re also gluten-free too!
How to Make this Recipe
Step 1:
Microwave dates and water for 75 seconds.
Step 2 – 4:
Place the cereal into a food processor or high powered blender and pulse for 10 seconds, or until cereal resembles a coarse like consistency (see #4.) Do not over pulse! You do not want a flour! Set cereal in a large bowl.
Steps 5 – 7:
Place the dates, water, vanilla, and nut butter in the blender. Pulse until smooth.
Step 8:
Combine the date paste with the cereal. You may need to use your hands to get the cereal thoroughly combined with the date paste! This is a great way to get your kiddos involved in the kitchen too.
Steps 9 + 10:
Once the cereal and date paste is combined, portion into 1-ounce cake pops. While traditionally I would put these on sticks for older kids and adults, for toddler I find the sticks more of a chocking hazard so omit them!
Steps 11 + 12:
Melt the chocolate in 10 to 15-second intervals in the microwave, then drizzle over the cereal cake pops! Top the chocolate with the sprinkles before it dries. I recommend settimg them in the fridge to harden and keep cool.
When ready to eat, you have the perfect, right sized snack!
Recipe Notes
- This recipe is the perfect recipe to make with kids! Plus, it’s a good for you snack that isn’t filled with added sugar (they’re actually added sugar free without the chocolate icing!)
- I like to store these in the freezer and pull then out about 5 minutes before my toddler is ready for snack time for a healthy, fun treat!
- Make these your own by topping with your favorite crushed nuts (I love a a dark chocolate and crushed almonds) or a holiday themed sprinkle!
Clearly my toddler approved of these!
And she had a blast decorating them for “heart day!”
Other Kid-Friendly Snacks You May Enjoy
- Chickpea Cookie Dough
- Strawberry Nice Cream
- Green Smoothie for Kids
- Fruit Salsa Dessert Nachos
- Healthy Unicorn Toast
Cereal Cake Pops
Ingredients
- 20 each pitted dates
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 2/3 cups whole grain cereal
- 1/3 cup nut or seed butter
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips optional
- 1/4 cup sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Add dates to a microwave safe dish and place water on top. Microwave for 75 seconds.
- While dates are cooking, pulse whole grain cereal in a food processor or high powered blender for 10 seconds. This will allow part of the cereal to be a flour-like consistency and part to be a little more coarse. You want this!
- Remove and place in a bowl, set aside.
- Add the dates, water, and vanilla to a food processor or high powered blender. Pulse until a jelly-like consistency forms. You may need to scrape down the sides of the container with a spatula between pulses.
- Add the nut butter into the blender with the dates, and continue to pulse until smooth.
- Add the date-nut butter mixture to the bowl with the cereal, mix together with a spatula. You may need to use your hands (be sure they're clean!) to combine the ingredients thoroughly.
- The consistency should be coarse and a ball should be able to be formed without crumbling. If difficult to form, add a tablespoon more of melted nut butter.
- Use a 1-ounce scoop and form into small round cake pop balls (this recipe yields about 12.) Repeat until all dough is used.
- If you want to add a chocolate coating, melt 1/4 cup of chocolate chips (or other chocolate) in the microwave at 10 second intervals, stir, and continue to heat until melted.
- Remove and stir with a spoon. Drizzle the outer surface of the pop with the chocolate and sprinkle preferred topping over the top (like holiday sprinkles.)
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 14 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Swap in a seed butter (like sunflower seed) for a nut allergy.
- I like to use a cereal like Cheerios (it’s naturally gluten free and filled with whole grains). I’ve also used a slightly sweet option like Honey Bunches of Oats too!
Serena Ball says
Ummm, how did I miss this? I can FINALLY make cake pops with my kids. I just couldn’t stomach the cake plus frosting plus more frosting combo. Thanks for the fruity alternative!
Elizabeth Shaw says
Oh yay! I hope they enjoying 🙂
EA-The Spicy RD says
I’m totally crashing your party Liz, so don’t be surprised when I show up! Love your spread, and DIY toast sounds like so much fun. Thanks so much for sharing my sparkling water bar 🙂
Elizabeth Shaw says
You are welcome anytime EA! Thanks for letting me include it- such a brilliant idea!
Renee says
Those cake pops sound like fun. I’d love to make them but the instructions are a little unclear. In step 2, is the intent to put the dried fruit in the food processor and pulse it? To what consistency? Also you say dates work well but the ingredients list prunes. Will they work the same?
What do you mean by “melted nut butter?” Should the nut butter be heated on the stovetop or in the microwave? To what consistency?
Thanks!
Elizabeth Shaw says
Great catches- super embarrassed and obvious I didn’t proof that! Thanks for catching and updated now! Enjoy!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician says
What a phenomenal spread- going to an Oscar’s party with you would be so much fun! I’m totally all about the red carpet show and Monday night’s Fashion Police 🙂
Elizabeth Shaw says
OMG- love that! Can’t wait to see who wore what! 🙂
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says
those cereal cake pops are adorable and so easy to put together. Love this Oscar party spread too! So much fun!
Elizabeth Shaw says
Thanks Jessica- I hope you enjoy those cake pops!
Anne|Craving Something Healthy says
Love all of these healthier party spread options – and those cake pops – What a great idea!
Elizabeth Shaw says
Thanks Anne!