Quick Answer
Yes, you can absolutely add peanut butter to cereal. Peanut butter is a popular spread that can be enjoyed with many breakfast foods, including cereal. Stirring a dollop or two of creamy or crunchy peanut butter into your morning bowl of cereal adds extra protein, healthy fats, and flavor. The nutty taste of peanut butter goes well with both sweet and savory cereals. Some fun cereal and peanut butter combinations to try are peanut butter on corn flakes, granola, grape nuts, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Special K, and more. As long as you enjoy the taste of peanut butter and the particular cereal together, feel free to get creative and customize your breakfast bowl with this protein-packed spread.
Examining the Benefits of Adding Peanut Butter to Cereal
Adding peanut butter to your cereal bowl provides some excellent nutritional perks. Here’s an overview of the key benefits you can gain:
Extra Protein
Peanut butter delivers a solid dose of plant-based protein to help you power through your morning. Two tablespoons of smooth peanut butter contains 7 grams of protein. Meanwhile, crunchy style peanut butter provides you with 6 grams of protein for the same serving size. This protein boost is particularly beneficial if your cereal itself is lower in protein. Mixing the two foods allows you to enjoy the carb-based cereal you love while increasing the protein content of your breakfast.
Healthy Fats
In addition to protein, peanut butter contributes heart-healthy monounsaturated fats to your cereal bowl. Monounsaturated fats may help lower bad LDL cholesterol levels and reduce heart disease risk when eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Two tablespoons of natural peanut butter have 16 grams of fat, most of which comes from monounsaturated fat.
Vitamins and Minerals
Peanut butter contains an array of important vitamins and minerals, including:
- Niacin
- Vitamin E
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Manganese
- Copper
Stirring it into cereal allows you to obtain more of these vital micronutrients that can benefit your health.
Fiber
Peanut butter is also a source of natural plant-based fiber. Two tablespoons provide 2 grams of fiber. This fiber aids digestion, helps you feel full, and promotes regularity. Combining fiber-rich peanut butter with cereal can give your morning meal extra staying power while keeping your digestive system happy.
Antioxidants
Research shows that peanuts contain high levels of antioxidant compounds like resveratrol, phytosterols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. These antioxidants help combat inflammation and oxidative stress that could otherwise damage cells. Maximize your antioxidant intake by enjoying antioxidant-rich peanut butter with your cereal.
Flavor and Texture Appeal
Beyond its nutritional assets, peanut butter also makes cereal tastier and more interesting from a texture standpoint. Peanut butter introduces creaminess, nuttiness, and body to an otherwise light, crispy, and crunchy cereal base. The contrast of flavors and textures can make your breakfast more satisfying and irresistible.
Best Cereals to Pair with Peanut Butter
While peanut butter can complement just about any cereal, some cereal varieties pair especially well with this nutty spread. Here are some of the top cereals to enjoy with peanut butter:
Granola
Crunchy, clustered granola and smooth peanut butter create cereal perfection together. The oats, nuts, dried fruit, and seeds found in most granola recipes beautifully balance out the rich, creamy peanut butter. Feel free to drizzle or swirl peanut butter over your bowl of granola.
Grape Nuts
The distinctive crunch and grainy texture of Grape Nuts melds wonderfully with velvety peanut butter. Grape Nuts offer a neutral, not overly sweet flavor that allows the peanutty notes to shine through.
Corn Flakes
Another winning combo is peanut butter over crisp, golden corn flakes. The light sweetness and fragile flakes provide the ideal backdrop for peanut butter’s hearty flavor. After stirring in the peanut butter, the corn flakes soften slightly while still maintaining some crunch.
Rice Krispies
The classic Snap! Crackle! Pop! of Rice Krispies plays off of thick, creamy peanut butter magnificently. Letting peanut butter melt over this crispy rice cereal makes for sheer breakfast perfection.
Special K
For a gluten-free option, top your bowl of Special K with peanut butter. The nuts and flakes in this wheat-free cereal mingle nicely with nutty peanut butter. You can enjoy this pairing with any Special K variety.
Cheerios
Basic old-fashioned Cheerios lend themselves particularly well to peanut butter too. The mini plain donut-shaped o’s soak up just the right amount of peanut butter. The subtle sweetness of Cheerios allows the peanut butter flavor to take center stage.
How to Add Peanut Butter to Cereal
You have a couple different options for incorporating peanut butter into a bowl of cereal:
Stir It In
For the easiest method, simply stir peanut butter directly into your cereal once you have poured the milk. Use a spoon to gently fold the peanut butter through the cereal until evenly distributed. This technique blends the peanut butter flavor throughout your cereal while allowing it to soften and melt a bit from the milk.
Drizzle on Top
You can also artfully drizzle peanut butter over the top of your cereal creation. This helps peanut butter maintain more of its thick, creamy texture rather than fully incorporating into the milk. Use a spoon to drizzle spoonfuls of peanut butter over the cereal surface in a zig-zag pattern. The peanut butter stays silky and provides pops of concentrated flavor in each bite.
Layer in a Parfait
For a pretty presentation, construct your cereal as a parfait by layering peanut butter between layers of cereal. Assemble it in a tall glass by starting with some cereal at the bottom, followed by a layer of peanut butter, more cereal, more peanut butter, and so on. The parfait layers highlight the contrast between the textures and keeps the components separate until eaten.
| Peanut Butter Application Method | Texture Result | Flavor Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Stirred in | Blended, softened | Peanut butter flavor infused throughout |
| Drizzled on top | Creamy blobs | Distinct hits of peanut butter flavor |
| Layered in a parfait | Defined layers | Alternating peanut butter and cereal flavors |
Smooth vs. Crunchy Peanut Butter
Smooth and crunchy peanut butter both pair well with cereal, so the choice comes down to personal preference. Here’s a quick comparison:
Smooth
- Pure creamy texture
- Subtler peanut flavor
- Blends into cereal and milk more seamlessly
Crunchy
- Adds texture variation with chopped peanuts
- Bolder, nuttier peanut taste
- Provides more contrast to soft cereal
Smooth peanut butter delivers creaminess, while crunchy offers some textural crunch. Choose whichever style you like best, or alternate between the two.
How Much Peanut Butter to Use on Cereal
The amount of peanut butter you swirl into your cereal comes down to your personal preference. A good starting point is around 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter per standard bowl of cereal. This contributes extra nutrition from protein and healthy fats without overpowering the cereal flavor. But feel free to use more or less peanut butter depending on how prominent you want that peanut taste to be. Keep in mind that a little peanut butter goes a long way in terms of flavor, so you may need less than you think. Start with a conservative amount, then increase to your desired peanut intensity.
Low-Calorie Peanut Butter Options
If you’re looking to cut calories, be mindful that regular peanut butter does pack a decent calorie punch. Here are some lower-calorie peanut butter options to consider:
- Powdered peanut butter – Mixes with water for a creamy texture with about 1/4 the calories of regular peanut butter. Each 2 tablespoon serving has around 45 calories compared to 190 calories in regular peanut butter.
- Reduced fat peanut butter – Contains around half the fat and calories as regular styles. Two tablespoons provide 90-100 calories.
- Lite peanut butter – Typically contains half the fat and 2/3 fewer calories than regular peanut butter. Two tablespoons have about 130 calories.
- Peanut flour – Made from crushed, defatted peanuts, so the fat is removed. Two tablespoons contain about 70 calories.
These lower-calorie versions allow you to still enjoy the flavor of peanut butter with less of a calorie burden. But keep in mind they offer less monounsaturated fat and may be slightly less nutritious than regular full-fat peanut butter.
Conclusion
Peanut butter can be a delicious mix-in for cereal, adding flavor, texture, nutrition, and visual appeal to your morning bowl. The savory nuttiness of peanut butter balances wonderfully with both sweet and neutral cereals. Feel free to get creative with your favorite cereal varieties and preferred peanut butter style. Just be mindful of portion sizes, as peanut butter is high in calories. Prepared thoughtfully, a spoonful of peanut butter can take your usual cereal up a notch!