Crispy, crunchy no bake peanut butter cereal bars are simple to prepare with just 6 ingredients. A delicious treat that you can prep ahead.
While baking is a great stress reliever, sometimes you just don't want to turn on the oven. Enter the no bake treats: granola bars, energy bites and more.
These no bake peanut butter cereal bars are definitely more a 'dessert' than a 'snack'. With peanut butter, Rice Krispies, and Corn Flakes mixed together with brown sugar and corn syrup and drizzled in a crunchy chocolate layer.
Simple to prepare for delicious treats through the week!
Reasons to ♡ peanut butter cereal bars
- the texture is unbelievable: crispy and crunchy
- peanut butter and chocolate is a classic combination that can't be beat
- they do not require an oven and are made using 6 simple ingredients
Ingredients you'll need
- peanut butter- for this recipe you can use all natural or a processed nut butter; I recommend creamy
- brown sugar- you can use dark or light brown sugar
- light corn syrup- necessary to bind the ingredients together
- Rice Krispies- or rice cereal, this adds a light-as-air crispy texture to the bars
- Corn Flakes- adds the crunch to the bars
- chocolate chips- melted until silky smooth, then spread over the peanut butter cereal layer
Prepping the bars
Start by lining a 9 x 9 inch baking pan with foil (grease with spray oil) or parchment paper and set it aside. This step is essential as it helps you get the bars out of the pan after cooling.
Next, combine the peanut butter, brown sugar and corn syrup in a pot and heat gently, stirring until they are completely combined. Stir in the cereal, then scrape the mixture into the pan, pressing firmly with a spatula to flatten.
The chocolate layer
To avoid scorching the chocolate, I advise melting in a double boiler rather than in the microwave. If you've never done this before, here's a video that shows you exactly how to do. it.
If you need to melt the chocolate in the microwave, heat in 10 second increments only, stirring in between. Go slowly.
Once chocolate is melted and smooth, pour it over the peanut butter cereal base and smooth the top with a spatula.
Recipe tips
- chill peanut butter cereal bars in the fridge for at least 1 hour to set
- cut into 20 bars, or as many as you'd like
- store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days
- add 1 teaspoon of shortening or coconut oil to the chocolate if you want it to be slightly soft to bite into
More tasty desserts
- Fudgy Black Bean Brownies
- Lemon Meringue Pie Bites
- Cream Cheese Swirl Blackberry Coffee Cake
- Strawberry Shortcakes
- Healthy Lemon Blueberry Bread
No Bake Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
Ingredients
Bars
- 1 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)
- ½ cup brown sugar (dark or light)
- ½ cup corn syrup (light)
- 1 ½ cups Rice Krispies
- 1 ½ cups Corn Flakes
Chocolate Topping
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
Bars
- Line a 9x9 inch pan with foil and spray with oil to coat.
- In a large pot, heat peanut butter, brown sugar and corn syrup over medium heat, stirring frequently until mixture is completely combined and slightly melted.
- Stir in the cereal until completely coated with peanut butter mixture.
- Press firmly into the prepared pan.
Chocolate Topping
- Melt chocolate in a double boiler (or microwave if you can manage it), until completely smooth.
- Spread evenly over the peanut butter crunch bars, being extremely gentle if bars are still slightly warm.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour, before slicing into 20 bars.
Notes
- store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days
Nutrition
Recipe adapted from BHG
liz klotz
Turned out rock solid , anyway to soften them a bit?
Patricia Parker
I was introduced to this snack by a friend who brought them to my house, I so had to make some, they tasted like Reese peanut butter cups only better. My friend had brought home about a half dozen of them home or so and by the next day, they were gone. I decided I had to know the recipe, I made up a batch and invited one of my daughters over who adores her chocolate, sorry but she renamed it "Crunchy Crunch" I had made a batch and while texting her I was making another, this was just last night, she came over, I sent her home with 4 and today there are about 4 left out of 2 batches, this is my new go to snack for the house, thank you.
Denise
I think I should rename this recipe to Crunchy Crunch! What a great name. Thanks so much for reporting back, Patricia!
Beryl
I use to make these for my son years ago he is now almost 50. My original recipe came from Woodward's grocery store in BC Canada
Stef
These are delicious! A total hit with my kids, including my very own Mr. picky! One cup of chocolate chips didn't quite cover mine. I'll go with 2 cups next time.
Thanks for this!
Denise
Hi Stef! I'm so glad you and your kids like the bars! Thanks for the feedback on the recipe 🙂
Nikita
looks good...probably tastes nyc too.well i wanna ask...what are rice krispies? and is it ok if i dont add corn syrup?if no, then plz tell me wai i can substitute it with...
Denise
Hi Nikita! Rice Krispies is toasted rice cereal, here's a link! They add a real light crispiness to the bars. If you can't find any, I would suggest substituting with more cornflakes. I hope you like them!
susan @ the wimpy vegetarian
Oh my, this looks so perfect!!!! I can't wait to make them!!
Denise
Thanks, Susan! They are so easy, I think I'm going to whip up another batch tonight 😉
taylor @ greens & chocolate
My mother in law makes something like these and they are SO good! Yours look incredible...can't wait to give them a try!
Ami@NaiveCookCooks
Gosh this is the perfect timing!! My brother just asked me to send him some homemade granola bars and he loves peanut butter!! Will be making these for him!
Denise
Hope you and your brother like them! Thanks, Ami 🙂
Erin@WellPlated
These look dangerously delicious! I love my peanut butter toast too, but I would dive at a pan of these!
Denise
They are dangerous! The first pan was inhaled...I wish I could say Ben helped but admittedly it was mostly me 🙁
marcie
These bars look AWESOME! I love the peanut butter, corn flakes, and pretty much everything about these bars...especially the chocolate. I need to try these soon! 🙂
Denise
Thanks, Marcie!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel
Your baby sounds like my pooch... he never says no to peanut butter! 😉 LOL! Seriously though, these bars look amazing! PB + chocolate should always go together!!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter
These look absolutely incredible, Denise! Love that they're no-bake and the chocolate and peanut butter combo is such a winner around our house too! That entire pan would be gone in no time 🙂
Old Fat Guy
These bars remind me of something my mother used to make. Nice post!
The Old Fat Guy
Thalia @ butter and brioche
Nothing beats the peanut butter and chocolate combo - so I can imagine how delicious these cereal crunch bars must have been. They do look beautiful!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life
Oooh these bars would SO not be safe around me. They look awesome, Denise! We're PB fanatics here so I think a pan of these babies are in our future. 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
These bars look PERFECT, Denise! I'm all about no-bake bars, especially ones that involve lots of peanut butter. I love the chocolate layer on top, too! How delicious!
Denise
Thanks, Gayle! I'm new to the no-bake bar thing, but I like it! So easy!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
Denise, I love these!!!! My oldest loves peanut butter toast as well. . and she's 7 so she is actually vocal about it! 😛 love the Corn Flakes, peanut butter and chocolate topping!!! yum!!!
Denise
Thanks, Alice! So I guess I can't count on the PB love to disappear anytime soon, huh? 😉
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen
I've never tried adding corn flakes to rice crispy bars before - what a great idea. A 20 minute snack with no baking - I'm sold! I like how thick the chocolate is on top. Great pictures, Denise!
Denise
Thanks, Geraldine 🙂 I loved the texture of the corn flakes...more crunchy than the crispiness of the Rice Krispies!
Leah | So, How's It Taste?
Yes, please! No bake + all that crunch? Sounds perfect!
Denise
Thanks, Leah!
Annie @Maebells
Great minds think alike don't they?! 🙂 These look just incredible! I love the layer of chocolate on top! I want them all!
Denise
Totally 😉 I love your cereal bars! I'm going to have to try them, especially with all that PB in them 😉
Laurie
Why no natural type peanut butter? Does it need to be the type of PB with sugar and other ingredients besides peanuts and salt?
Denise
Hi Laurie! I haven't actually tried it with natural peanut butter, but since the texture and taste is quite different from Kraft (or Skippy), I don't think the bars would turn out the same. You would definitely need more sugar, and the bars may not stay together. But like I said, I haven't actually tried it.
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely
Love all the crunch and peanut butter in these! And a great breakfast to grab and eat on the go. I could easily eat a whole pan of these babies : )
Denise
Don't tell anyone, but I pretty much single-handedly ate the whole first batch 😉
Sarah @ Whole and Heavenly Oven
Oh my gosh. You definitely have a buyer here. I am SO down with these bars! Cereal bars are seriously my jam and anything choc/pb with only 6 ingredients SO has my name on it! Did I mention your photos are super-duper fabulously gorgeous?! You rocked these bars, Denise!
Denise
Thanks, Sarah! I am definitely in love with the crispy texture cereal gives!