Valentine’s Day Very Berry Cheerios Treats

This tasty Valentine’s Day Very Berry Cheerio’s Treats recipe is loaded with marshmallows and festive Cheerios for a sweet and fruity treat kids love to eat!

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You’ve probably heard of Rice Krispies Treats and Valentine’s Day Special K Cereal Bars but what about a heartwarming Very Berry Cheerios Treat?

The iconic brand behind the fruity little “O” ring-shaped breakfast cereal, is a creation of General Mills. And while the gluten content of Cheerios may vary depending on your location, fear not! We’ve included a handy list of gluten-free alternatives to Cheerios, to ensure that you can seamlessly incorporate them into this festive Valentine’s Day recipe. Let the holiday baking begin!

Can’t eat Cheerios? No problem. You can also try EnviroKidz Cheetah Chomps Berry Blast cereal or this NutriWise – Mixed Berry Cereal for the same berry flavor.

These Valentine’s Day Very Berry Cheerios cereal bars make the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert. They use a childhood favorite classic marshmallow recipe to create a tasty treat the kids will love.

It’s the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s this time of year.

Gluten-free flavored Cheerios are fun to use when creating these easy Valentine’s Day treats. It’s so simple to make festive cereal bars by adding a bit of butter and gooey marshmallows!

What are Cheerios Cereal treats?

Cheerios cereal treats or bars are primarily made of cereal, melted marshmallows, and butter. If you’re dairy-free, it’s easy to replace traditional marshmallows and butter with vegan alternatives.

These holiday treats are great for kids of all ages to make and take to a Valentine’s Day Party. They also work wonders for love-filled events such as weddings or showers!

Want a healthier Valentine’s Day treat? Try these Chocolate Almond Flour Zucchini Muffins.

I love how pretty this treat looks with the fruity cereal! The color can easily be enhanced for a Valentine’s Day theme by adding a bit of gluten-free pink or red food coloring to the marshmallow mix.

Make these Valentine’s Cheerios treats:

Ingredients:

• 8 cups Very Berry Cheerios Breakfast Cereal, Gluten Free (see notes for alternatives)
• 2 10-ounce bags (283 g) of marshmallows (gluten-free)
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• red food coloring gluten-free (optional)
• icing (optional)

Tip: plant-based butter and vegan marshmallows work just as well as regular butter and marshmallows. I used Dandies Vegan Marshmallows but any gluten-free dairy-free marshmallow will work.

Directions:

1. Line a 9*13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Measure cereal into a large bowl.

3. In a large pot, melt butter and marshmallows over medium heat. Stir constantly until the marshmallows are mostly melted.

4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and food coloring (if using).

5. Then pour in cereal and fold using a large spatula until well coated.

6. Transfer to parchment paper lined baking pan. Press down evenly with the spatula or your hands.

7. Allow the treats to cool for at least an hour before cutting them into squares or adding icing.

8. Add icing as desired.

9. Chill until icing is set then cut into squares and decorate.

Tips for making these easy Valentine’s treats:

• Use Very Berry Cheerios for the best results, the strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry fruit flavors perfectly complement the gooiness of the marshmallows.
• Don’t have mini marshmallows? Just measure the equivalent weight of large marshmallows then cut them into pieces before adding to the large pot with the butter.
• Vegan marshmallows can be substituted for regular marshmallows in this recipe. They won’t melt as well and will leave chunks of marshmallow in the mixture but they will still taste great!
• Add a drop of gluten-free red gel food coloring to the marshmallow mixture for extra holiday color. I used the Ann Clark food coloring gel I had on hand, but you could also use these gluten-free U.S. Cake Supply gel-based food colors.
• Lightly spray the parchment paper with non-stick spray before adding the cereal treats for easy removal.
• Store these yummy treats in a covered container for up to three days. They can also be refrigerated.

Variations:

• Can’t eat Cheerios? No problem. You can also try EnviroKidz Cheetah Chomps Berry Blast cereal or this NutriWise – Mixed Berry Cereal for the same berry flavor.
• Need celiac-friendly marshmallows that are dairy-free as well? I use Dandies Vegan Marshmallows but any gluten-free dairy-free marshmallow will work for this recipe.
• Plant-based butter can easily replace butter in this recipe.
• Use homemade icing or a pre-made gluten-free icing like this Betty Crocker Cherry frosting.

Some of my kitchen essentials:

• Measuring cups and spoons – these are essentials in every kitchen.
• Baking pan
• Parchment paper -to line the baking pan.
• Large pot for melting the marshmallows and butter.
• Knives – these J. A. Henckels knives are the ones that I use. I’ve had them for years and love them!
• Spatula
• These large Rubbermaid food storage containers are great for keeping leftover treats covered.