Cheerios Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies
Crispy-chewy jumbo cookies studded with whole grain oats, raisins, and crunchy Cheerios cereal. Packed with peanut butter flavor and wholesome ingredients, these are perfect for grab-and-go breakfasts or lunchbox treats. The combination of old-fashioned oats and toasted cereal creates appealing texture contrast, while raisins add natural sweetness. Ideal for families seeking a less-refined breakfast option or casual weekday snacking.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup sugar
- ½ cup butter or margarine
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup raisins
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 4 cup Cheerios toasted oat cereal
Instructions
- 1
Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
- 2
Stir together sugar, butter, peanut butter, water, vanilla, and egg in large bowl.
- 3
Stir in flour, oats, raisins, salt, and baking soda.
- 4
Gently stir in cereal until just combined.
- 5
Drop dough by rounded 1/3 cupfuls 4 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
- 6
Flatten dough to about 1 inch thick.
- 7
Bake 13 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
- 8
Let stand 5 minutes on sheet before removing.
Tips
Use butter stick margarine with over 65% vegetable oil if substituting for butter; avoid spreads with lower oil content that affect texture.
Space dough portions 4 inches apart to allow for spreading; flattening to 1 inch ensures even browning and crispy edges.
Good to Know
Store loosely covered at room temperature up to 5 days.
Dough can be refrigerated up to 2 days; scoop and bake as needed. Baked cookies freeze up to 3 months.
Serve warm or at room temperature with milk, yogurt, or as a portable breakfast.
Common Mistakes
Use stick margarine with adequate oil content to avoid dense, greasy texture.
Do not overmix after adding cereal to avoid crushing it into powder.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
Nut-Free Alternatives
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I use quick-cooking oats instead of old-fashioned?
Yes, quick-cooking oats work fine and may produce slightly softer cookies. Texture difference is minimal. Avoid instant oatmeal packets with added sugar.
What if I want smaller cookies?
Drop dough by tablespoon instead of 1/3 cupful and reduce bake time to 10-12 minutes. Watch carefully as smaller cookies brown faster.
How long do baked cookies keep, and can I freeze them?
Stored loosely covered, cookies stay fresh 5 days at room temperature. Freeze in airtight container up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.