Hot Buttered Cheerios, aka Fried Cheerios, are a nostalgic snack featuring Cheerios toasted in butter and tossed with cinnamon sugar. Sweet and savory, they’re definitely a snack to enjoy by the handful!
Anyone who grew up in the ‘80s probably remembers hot buttered Cheerios. They were a popular snack featured in many commercials, like the “definitely not gourmet” commercial that often played during Monday Night Football. I used to devour them as an after-school snack and during movie nights with my friends. Now, they’re a nostalgic treat that I love to share with my boys! They were a bit wary the first time they saw Cheerios in the frying pan, but now they’re officially on board.
Looking for more savory snacks? Be sure to check out my Chex Mix recipe!
Why These Hot Buttered Cheerios Are A Family Favorite
- Sweet & savory. The combination of rich butter and cinnamon sugar gives these fried Cheerios the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.
- Better than popcorn. I grew up eating hot buttered Cheerios on movie night, and my kids have done the same. It has the same “eat it by the handful” vibe as popcorn plus the fun novelty factor. As a bonus, it’s great for little kids because there’s no need to worry about unpopped kernels.
- Customize to your cravings. I kept this recipe pretty close to the OG hot buttered Cheerios I ate growing up. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try something new! This recipe also works with flavored Cheerios and other seasonings. I’ve included some suggestions below in the “Tips & Variations” section.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s an overview of the six ingredients needed to make this treat. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Butter – I used unsalted butter so I could add salt to taste separately. If using salted butter, you probably won’t need to add extra salt.
- Vanilla extract
- Cheerios – I used regular Cheerios for my fried Cheerios. Feel free to experiment with different flavors.
- Sugar & cinnamon – Combined to make the cinnamon sugar that the fried cereal is coated with.
- Salt – Balances the sweet flavors.
How To Make Hot Buttered Cheerios
This treat takes just a few minutes and a few easy steps to prepare. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Make the cinnamon sugar. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl.
- Melt the butter. Melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the vanilla.
- Toast the cereal. Add the Cheerios to the melted butter. Increase the heat to medium-high. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently to toast the Cheerios.
- Add the cinnamon sugar. Remove the Cheerios from the heat. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top and stir to coat.
- Enjoy! Let the fried Cheerios cool, then enjoy!
Tips & Variations
Fried Cheerios are so easy to make that I don’t have many tips to share, but there are a few things I’ve found helpful. I’ve included a few variations, too.
- Don’t brown the butter. I recommend melting the butter over medium because any higher heat is likely to brown it. The goal is not browned butter but simply melted butter to coat the Cheerios.
- Stir frequently. Once the Cheerios are coated in butter, stir them often. This ensures none of them burn and that all sides end up equally toasty.
- Skip the cinnamon sugar. If you’re craving salty and savory instead of sweet and savory, you can go ahead and omit the cinnamon sugar.
- Try flavored Cheerios. These can be made with any flavor of Cheerios, like honey nut Cheerios, pumpkin flavored or multigrain, or other similar cereals. The flavor will just be a bit different. It’s fun to experiment!
- Try different seasonings. Feel free to get creative with the flavor of these hot buttered Cheerios! Instead of cinnamon sugar, try ranch seasoning, garlic salt, everything bagel seasoning, or any other favorite seasoning mix.
Proper Storage
Fried Cheerios can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They’re best enjoyed within 5 days.
Hot Buttered Cheerios
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter one stick or 8 Tablespoons
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- 6 cups Cheerios
- 1/3 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add the sugar, cinnamon and salt to a small bowl. Stir to mix and set aside.
- Add the butter to a large skillet and heat over medium until melted.
- Add the vanilla and stir.
- Add the Cheerios and toss to fully coat.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and continue to stir and toast the Cheerios for 4-5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the Cheerios and stir to fully coat them in the mixture.
- Let cool and serve!
Last Step:
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