No Bake Caramel Apple Cider Cereal Bars Recipe

Here in Iowa, the fall season is just too short. Just as I’m relishing in the warmth of the pumpkin coffees, the desserts baked with freshly picked apples and the scented candles, there’s snow on the ground and I’m forced to get ready for the Holiday season a little too soon! I love apple cider and all fall I have been thinking of different ways I can use it in recipes other than drinks. I’ve seen apple cider syrup sold in stores, but after a little experimenting, it turns out it’s easy enough to make at home!

Here in Iowa, the fall season is just too short. Just as I’m relishing in the warmth of the pumpkin coffees, the desserts baked with freshly picked apples and the scented candles, there’s snow on the ground and I’m forced to get ready for the Holiday season a little too soon! I love apple cider and all fall I have been thinking of different ways I can use it in recipes other than drinks. I’ve seen apple cider syrup sold in stores, but after a little experimenting, it turns out it’s easy enough to make at home!

The cider syrup is simple to make, but it can take up to four hours to reduce down to a syrup consistency. Since it takes several hours to make, I would recommend using a full bottle of any apple cider to make a large batch of the syrup. This recipe for no bake caramel apple cider cereal bars only calls for ¼ cup of the sweet syrup, but you can keep the leftovers in the fridge for several weeks to use in other desserts, cocktails or to use as a natural sweetener.

This apple cider syrup adds a sweet fall flavor to this treat that has been a favorite for generations. Most commonly made with rice cereal, you can use practically any cereal you have on hand. Although you don’t want to use a sugary cereal because the combination of marshmallows, apple cider syrup and Litehouse Old Fashioned Caramel is sweet enough!

I’m ecstatic that two of my favorite fall flavors are wrapped up into one bar! If you want to take it a step further, I have heard talk that there are pumpkin marshmallows somewhere out there, although I haven’t seen any at my local grocery store. Now that would be an ultimate fall-flavored bar, although I’m not sure how it would taste!

Have you made apple cider syrup before?