Mini Doughnut Hot Buttered Cheerios (Fried Cheerios) a fantastic sweet and salty treat that will remind you of your favorite fair food! Makes the perfect snack or appetizer!
Mini Doughnut Hot Buttered Cheerios (Fried Cheerios)
Mini Doughnut Hot Buttered Cheerios (Fried Cheerios), made with only 5 ingredients, is a fantastic twist on the 80s classic snack, Hot Buttered O’s! Cheerios are “fried” in butter with a hint of vanilla, then tossed in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. This irresistible, easy to make treat will have you coming back for more.
Mini Doughnut Fried Cheerios (Hot Buttered Os)
Back in April 2017, I shared Fried Cheerios (aka, Classic Hot Buttered Cheerios), a fun old school snack I grew up on in the 70s and 80s. Readers loved reminiscing and many found a great new treat. Today I am sharing a new version from Betty Crocker, Mini Doughnut Hot Buttered Cheerios…. I love this version! A delicious, sweet and salty twist on a favorite childhood snack. Skip the popcorn and make this!
Read great reviews from people who tried this recipe on Pinterest!
Original Post Date, May 16th 2018. Updated, March 18, 2023
TIPS FOR MAKING MINI DOUGHNUT HOT BUTTERED CHEERIOS
- Real butter is best with this recipe. Growing up, my mom used margarine – it’s just not as tasty.
- This recipe calls for salted butter, so you may find them salty enough as is. If you like more salt, add a little bit to the butter in the pan, or add a few dashes to the cinnamon sugar mixture. Cinnamon, sugar and salt are a tasty combo!
- You can use the microwave, but the stove top method is best. My mom used margarine and the microwave back in the 70s and 80s, for the classic version, Hot Buttered O’s, they just were not very toasty. *See Recipe Notes in recipe card for the microwave version.
- These are a bit messy, be sure to have napkins ready!
- Hot Buttered O’s are a great alternative to popcorn. They are kid and older adult friendly – no popcorn skin (hulls) or kernels to worry about.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The original recipe, Hot Butter O’s, was popular in the 70s and 80s. I grew up in Michigan, they were a go-to snack growing up. There was even a commercial with a catchy tune – I think it went something like this, “Hot buttered O’s…fry them in a pan, man oh man…” 🙂
Yes, but they are best made on the stove top.
Yes, but butter is best.
This recipe calls for salted butter, so you may find them salty enough as is. If you like more salt, add a little bit to the butter in the pan, or add a few dashes to the cinnamon sugar mixture. Cinnamon, sugar and salt are a tasty combo! Learn more: Salt Is The Missing Ingredient You Need in Your Cinnamon Sugar
INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE MINI DOUGHNUT HOT BUTTERED CHEERIOS (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR FULL RECIPE)
- Cheerios
- butter, salted
- pure vanilla extract
- granulated sugar
- ground cinnamon
- salt to taste (optional)
How To Make Mini Doughnut Hot Buttered Cheerios
In a small bowl, mix cinnamon and sugar, set aside.
Using a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat then add vanilla, stir well. Next, add cheerios, coating evenly in butter. Cook for about 3 minutes, until cheerios are lightly toasted.
Remove from heat and pour the sugar cinnamon mixture evenly over Cheerios, coating evenly. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
This is a fun treat for movie night (instead of popcorn). They are a little messy, but oh so good. Be sure to have napkins on hand and be ready to refill bowls!
Looking for more easy snacks?
Note: This is not a sponsored post, I have no affiliation with Betty Crocker or General Mills – I am just a fan of this fun recipe.
Mini Doughnut Hot Buttered Cheerios
Ingredients
- 4 cups Cheerios
- ¼ cup butter, salted
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- salt to taste (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix cinnamon and sugar, set aside.
- Using a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat then add vanilla, stir well.
- Next, add cheerios, coating evenly in butter. Cook for about 3 minutes, until cheerios are lightly toasted.
- Remove from heat and pour the sugar-cinnamon mixture evenly over Cheerios, coating evenly. Allow to cool for a few minutes. Enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe calls for salted butter, so you may find them salty enough as is. If you like more salt, add a little bit to the butter in the pan, or add a few dashes of salt to the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
- These can be served warm or at room temperature.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Using a large microwave safe bowl, melt the butter (high for about 30-45 second)
- Add vanilla extract to the butter and stir well.
- Next, add Cheerios – stir coating evenly.
- Place Cheerios back in microwave, cook on high for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring Cheerios every minute.
- Last, sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over cheerios, stirring, coating evenly. Enjoy!
Susan M Lee
Lol. I’ve been making these since the 80’s but with butter, garlic, salt. Hot Buttered O’s!
Kelly
Very good! I tried the microwave method and used vegan butter! Stilled turned out great. I think these would be awesome with the seasonal apple Cheerios!
jamie
hi just made this about 5 mins ago. i did everything the recipe said and to me they just taste like plain ol cheerios lol not sure what happened?? anyone else have this happen? I was really looking forward to this snack for movie night too.
Katie
The cheerios was a great snack. My husband wants me to make more. This is definitely a keeper in my book.
Tara
I love these with chopped pecans thrown in and a couple dashes of cayenne for some spice! I used Swerve as a sugar substitute. So good, right off of the stove!
Janie
Made as written with Honey Nut Cheerios. Love it!!! It’s a really nice quick snack! Thanks!
Barbara Marcinko
I have cinnamon sugar, how much of that??????
Mary Neumann
Barbara – I’d use 1/4 cup cinnamon sugar, since the recipe calls for 1/4 cup sugar. Or just add until you like the ratio/taste.
Emma
Love these! Perfect recipe. Not too sweet or salty. Taste is similar to Honey Nut Cheerios.
Mae Larkin
These will be a super tasty treat for on the snack table line-up. I used the heart shaped Cheerios for extra cuteness. Will definitely make again. Maybe add a dash of cayenne for a flavor kick.
Pat Wolf
When do you add the salt?????
Mary Neumann
Hello Pat, You can add a little salt to the butter when you’re toasting them in the pan or when adding the cinnamon/sugar. You may find that the butter has enough salt.
XTina
If you want them to taste sweet and salty you can add a good amount of salt to the cinnamon sugar mix. I did this and we love it!
Ally
Very easy to make!!! I used honey nut Cheerios because that’s what I had on hand. We enjoyed them, but I think next time I will use more butter so that more of the cinnamon sugar mixture sticks. Or maybe I’ll melt the butter first, toss the Cheerios with it, add the cinnamon sugar, and then lightly toast. Anyone tried it this way? I’m hoping that the sugar will caramelize a bit and be wonderful.
Margaret Williams
How long will these keep? I want to make them to send to college for different kids but worried about the time frame.
Liz
I just tried this, well a version of this. I used Lorann flavorings instead of vanilla and left off the cinnamon. I used cotton candy, then another batch of tutti fruitti, then did i small batch of white chocolate ones. Threw it all together and the kids devoured it in no time. Thank you for the start of a great recipe!
Tammy
I’ve made these, they taste wonderful but they are soggy
Mary Neumann
Toast them in a pan, Tammy.
Sarah
Or put them in the oven at 200 for ten mins. Stir halfway
Danielle
This is wonderful! Second double recipe made in 3 days… everybody loves it! So simple to make and so good! It is perfect anytime. Definitely, I will add these ingredients to my camping list to make several recipes, as we always camp for over 2 weeks. Thank you!
Lisa
Can you do this with other flavors of Cheerios? Honeynut, blueberry ect…
Bonnie
Does it have to be butter or can you use margarine?
Tina vonweinstein
What do u think about baking them in the oven on a cookie sheet ? Maybe be less messy ?? Baked on kind of
June Holley
Can honey nut cherrios be used?
Mary Neumann
Yes, June!
Bonnie Startt
what is the calorie/fat of the Hot Buttered Cheerios/Vanilla Donut cheerios?
Mary Neumann
Bonnie- head here for the nutritional information provided by Betty Crocker:
https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/mini-doughnut-hot-buttered-cheerios/fb1dc8c0-9ea3-48e0-964f-2ed9e41b7d27
Faye
These look really good but wonder how long you can store them?
Amber
Very bland, I think the ratios are off. I can’t taste the butter or the cinnamon. I added crasins and cinnamon toast crunch cereal. Maybe it would work better if you baked it? Will not make again.
Mary Neumann
Hello Faye, Adding Crasins and Cinnamon Toast Crunch completely changes the recipe, the butter and cinnamon sugar would need to be adjusted depending on how much you used. This is a simple, salty & sweet treat, a great alternative for popcorn.
Carlee
What a fun treat! I am definitely making these for our next movie night 😋