Cheerios are a classic cereal that have been enjoyed by children and adults alike for decades. On their own, Cheerios have a mild, slightly sweet flavor and pleasing crunch. But Cheerios really shine when paired with other ingredients that complement and enhance their simple goodness. In this article, we’ll explore all the delicious ways you can dress up and customize your bowl of Cheerios for breakfast, snack time, or anytime.
Fruits
Adding fresh fruit to your Cheerios bowl gives you a boost of extra flavor and nutrients. Here are some top fruit pairings:
Bananas
Sliced bananas are one of the most popular and classic Cheerios toppers. The sweetness of ripe bananas pairs perfectly with the cereal’s mildness. For extra flavor, use overripe bananas that are speckled brown. The banana slices will get a little mushy in the milk, resulting in a tropically-flavored cereal cream.
Strawberries
For a fresh, antioxidant-packed start to your day, top your Cheerios with sliced fresh strawberries. The sweet tanginess and bright red color liven up any bowl of cereal. For juicier bites, let the strawberries macerate in the milk for a few minutes before digging in.
Blueberries
Plump, popped blueberries add just the right amount of sweet-tart flavor to Cheerios. The contrast of the crunchy oat rings and little bursts of berries is highly addicting. The blueberries also create a fun colorful confetti effect.
Banana slices + blueberries
For the best of both worlds, combine sliced bananas and blueberries on your Cheerios. You get double the flavor and an appealing mix of yellow and blue. The creaminess of the bananas and pop of the blueberries play off each other perfectly.
Other fruits
Don’t limit yourself to just bananas, strawberries and blueberries! Other fresh fruits that pair well with Cheerios include raspberries, blackberries, mango, pineapple, peaches, apples, pears, kiwi, and melon. Go with whatever you have on hand or what’s in season.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds make a crunchy, protein-packed topping for cereal. They add some nice contrasting texture and flavors. Try these winning combinations:
Almonds
Sliced or slivered almonds are one of the most complementary nuts to add to a bowl of Cheerios. Their mild, nutty flavor doesn’t overpower the cereal. Add them for some extra protein and crunch.
Walnuts
Chopped walnuts bring a pleasantly bitter, earthy flavor to Cheerios. If you like a little more complexity, walnuts are a great choice. Their crunch also balances nicely with the oat rings.
Pecans
For a touch of buttery richness, top your Cheerios with rough chopped pecans. Pecans have a sweeter, almost caramelized flavor that enhances the cereal’s malty notes.
Peanuts
You can’t go wrong with chopped roasted peanuts on Cheerios. Peanuts have more protein than tree nuts, so you get an extra nutritional boost. Their familiar flavor blends right in too.
Pumpkin seeds
For a savory, crunchy addition try sprinkling roasted pumpkin seeds over your cereal. Pumpkin seeds contain fiber and iron. Their green color also livens up the bowl.
Granola
Instead of plain nuts, you can opt for gluten-free granola with nuts, seeds and dried fruit mixed in. The granola clusters add nice variation in flavor and texture.
Nut Butters
Slathering your Cheerios with nut butter is an easy way to add a layer of creaminess plus protein. Here are the best nut butters to stir into your cereal:
Peanut butter
You really can’t go wrong drizzling and swirling peanut butter into a bowl of Cheerios. The classic pairing is comforting and tastes like a peanut butter cookie in cereal form. Opt for creamy or crunchy based on your texture preference.
Almond butter
For a nuttier, less sweet option try almond butter in your Cheerios. Almond butter has a milder flavor that plays well with the oat cereal.
Cashew butter
Like almond butter, cashew butter has a subdued nutty sweetness and creamy texture that blends seamlessly into Cheerios.
Sunflower seed butter
Sunflower seed butter is great for anyone with nut allergies. It provides the rich, creamy nut butter experience with a mild sunflower seed flavor.
Yogurt
Mixing yogurt into a bowl of Cheerios yields a thinned out, cereal “parfait” effect. Yogurt also amps up the protein and calcium. Go for these yogurts:
Greek yogurt
The thick consistency and tangy flavor of Greek yogurt complements Cheerios wonderfully. The contrast of creamy yogurt and crunchy cereal in each bite is delicious.
Vanilla yogurt
For a touch of sweetness, use vanilla flavored yogurt. Vanilla yogurt has a milder, sweeter flavor that highlights the cereal’s natural sweet oat taste.
Fruit yogurt
To double up on fruit flavor, use strawberry, blueberry or other fruit flavored yogurt. The yogurt provides extra creamy fruitiness in each spoonful.
Milk and Milk Alternatives
While regular dairy milk is the standard for wetting Cheerios, you have options for customizing the liquid element too.
Whole milk
Whole milk has higher fat content, making it richer and creamier. The extra fat coats the Cheerios nicely and gives a more indulgent texture.
2% milk
The moderate fat content and mild flavor of 2% milk allows the inherent flavors of the Cheerios to shine. This lighter milk prevents the bowl from feeling too heavy.
Non-dairy milks
Non-dairy milks like almond, oat, soy or coconut work well with Cheerios too. Opt for unsweetened varieties to let the cereal flavor come through.
Cold brew coffee
For an eye-opening twist, use cold brew coffee instead of milk. The smooth, low-acidity coffee complements the malty cereal. Sweeten to taste with sugar or syrup.
Fruit juice
Any fruit juice from orange juice to apple juice can lend its bright flavor to Cheerios too. For a tropical twist, try pineapple or mango juice.
Mix-ins
You can incorporate all kinds of mix-ins to make your bowl of Cheerios uniquely your own. Get creative with any of these fun additions:
Chocolate chips or shavings
Semi-sweet chocolate chips or shaved chocolate add little bursts of chocolate to the cereal. Use just a sprinkling so the chocolate doesn’t overwhelm the Cheerios.
Coconut
Dried coconut flakes lend tropical flavor and puffy texture to the mix. You can find unsweetened coconut flakes or lightly sweetened.
Cinnamon
A dash of cinnamon brings warming spice flavor to the cereal bowl. It enhances any fruit toppings too.
Vanilla
A few drops of vanilla extract gives the cereal a cookie-like aroma. Especially good with bananas or berries.
Honey or maple syrup
Drizzle a bit of honey or maple syrup over your Cheerios for extra sweetness. Warm the syrup first for an intensified flavor.
Peanut butter chips
Mini peanut butter chips melt a bit in the milk, adding pockets of chocolate-peanut butter flavor.
Crunchy Toppings
For fun layers of crunch, sprinkle these on top:
– Crushed graham crackers
– Crumbled biscotti
– Crushed pretzels
– Granola clusters
– Chopped nuts
– Toasted coconut
– Crumbled rice cereal treats
Conclusion
As you can see, there are endless ways to customize and enhance a simple bowl of Cheerios. The mild corn flavor serves as a perfect blank canvas for fruits, nuts, spices and other mix-ins. So don’t limit yourself to plain cereal and milk. Try out different flavor combinations and come up with your own signature cereal creation. A fun, tasty breakfast bowl can be a great way to start your day on the right note.