No Bake Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
These No Bake Peanut Butter Cereal Bars are perfect for peanut butter lovers. It's packed full of peanut butter cereal, peanut butter, and even peanut butter chips for a topping.
Geez, is it the first Thursday of May already? It is and I've made no bake peanut butter cereal bars for the Peanut Butter Bash! This month's theme was peanut butter and cereal, so I pulled out one of my favorite cereals. I don't love milk, so the peanut butter crunch cereal is perfect for me. I can jam it into my mouth by the handful and avoid adding milk all together.
This just is one of my several cereal bars that I've made. There's also my maple bacon rice krispies treats which people on pinterest seem to love and cookies & cream rice crispy treats. These ones are fully loaded with peanut butter though. Because the cereal is round, I did crush some up to add a little more texture to the bars. I would imagine there would be a lot of empty space in the bars if I didn't crush some up.
The top layer of peanut butter ganache is really sort of optional. It tastes amazing, gives the bars a finished look AND a way to stick little mallow bits on it, but totally not necessary. You know me, more is more! Plus, it's a way to have more peanut butter flavor.
No Bake Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
Ingredients
Ganache
- 10 oz. peanut butter chips
- ½ cup heavy cream
- â…“ cup mallow bits
Bars
- 3 cups peanut butter crunch cereal crushed
- 3 cups peanut butter crunch cereal whole
- 10 ounces regular marshmallows
- 6 tablespoons salted butter sliced
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
Ganache
- In a medium glass bowl, add in the peanut butter chips and heavy cream. Microwave for 1 minute and stir. If there are still lumps after giving it a good stir, microwave for another 45 seconds. Stir until smooth.
- Let the ganache set up for about 20 minutes until it's thickened. When you stir the ganache, the ripples will stay in it and not smooth out.
Bars
- Spray a 7x11 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add the 3 cups of peanut butter crunch cereal in a large bag. I used a storage bag. Smash the cereal until crushed. It doesn't all have to be completely crumbs, there can be big bits.
- Add the crushed and whole cereal into a large bowl. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, add in the marshmallows and butter. Place over medium heat and stir occasionally. Once the butter is all melted and the marshmallows are all melted and smooth, remove from the heat.
- Add in the peanut butter and stir until combined.
- Pour the marshmallow mixture into the bowl with the cereal. Stir to make sure all the cereal is coated with the marshmallow and work quickly. It marshmallows will start to stiffen up quite quickly!
- Press the cereal into the prepared pan. I use a piece of wax paper that's been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray to press it down. That will prevent most of the sticking.
- Spread the ganache that's been slightly cooled and thickened on top of the bars. Use a offset spatula to spread it out and then give it a few taps on the counter to flatten it out completely.
- Sprinkle the mallow bits on top of the ganache.
- Place in the fridge to set up.
- Cut and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
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Yummmm! I love anything PB! Thanks for stopping by #HomeMattersParty
I love peanut butter and cereal so this really hits the spot for me! Thanks for linking up with Delicious Dishes Recipe Link Party!
I'm liking how you crushed part of the cereal so you'd have a more dense bar. Sounds like a great idea! Those maple bacon rice krispies treats also sound like something I need to try. 🙂
these sound amazing! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Yummed & Sharing on FB! Have a great week!
Kim
You say peanut butter and I come running! These do NOT disappoint!