Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cereal Bars

Do you have that one treat that magically brings you back to your childhood? I remember so many of my pre-packaged school snacks but these were always my favourite. Of course I am talking about peanut butter cereal treats topped with chocolate. 

I remember my mother making these so many times but they were always gone within hours of being presented. 

I hadn’t had these for years until I was able to get my super top secret family recipe. Now, I may be making them every single week!

To make these, you will need one 10oz bag of marshmallows, 4 cups of puffed rice cereal (like Rice Krispies or Crispy Rice by Nature’s Path),  1 cup of smooth or crunchy peanut butter depending on your preference, half a stick of butter and 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips. 

Start by filling a large pot with a few inches of water and placing a tightly fitting bowl on top of it, creating a double broiler. Put your pot on the stove top and turn it on to a medium-low heat.

Begin by melting your butter in the bowl. When it has mostly melted down, add in your marshmallows. Stir often to avoid any burning, and allow them to melt down fully. 

Next, add in your peanut butter and mix it into the marshmallows.

Add in your rice cereal and fold it into your melted marshmallow and peanut butter mixture. You’ll want the cereal to be fully coated in the sticky mixture. This will ensure that the bars hold together. 

Place a clean glass bowl onto the broiler pot and begin to melt the chocolate. When the chocolate has fully melted, pour it onto the crispy treats and spread the chocolate around using a rubber spatula.

Cover the baking tray and place it into the fridge or freezer for an hour. When the chocolate has fully solidified, your treats are ready to enjoy! 

Cut them into small squares and store in an airtight container in the fridge. These will store for a few weeks in the fridge but I cannot guarantee that they will last that long! 

Print Pin

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cereal Bars

Cereal bars, Rice Krispy Squares, Scotcharoos… Whatever you call them, they are a delicious treat!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cereal bars, cereal treats, rice krispy squares, school snacks, scotcharoos, snacks

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cooling Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• ¼ cup salted butter half a stick
• 10 oz marshmallow
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 4 ½ cups puffed rice cereal
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate

Instructions

• In a large pot, fill it with a few inches of water. Place it on your stove top and place a tightly fitting glass bowl over top.
• Turn stove on to medium-low heat.
• Add your butter into the bowl and begin melting it.
• When the butter has finished melting, add in your marshmallows and allow them to melt down. Stir often using a rubber spatula to prevent sticking.
• Next, add in your peanut butter and vanilla. Fully mix into the marshmallows.
• Add your cereal into the sticky peanut butter marshmallow mixture and mix well until everything is fully combined.
• Empty your mixture into a well greased 9×12 baking pan, spread it out evenly and set aside.
• Place a clean glass bowl on top of your pot of water.
• Add your chocolate into the bowl and begin melting it. Stir often using a rubber spatula to avoid burning the chocolate or sticking.
• When the chocolate has fully melted, pour it on top of your cereal mixture in the baking tray and spread it evenly across.
• Cover your tray and place it into the fridge or freezer for one hour. The bars are ready when the chocolate has completely solidified.
• Remove the tray from the fridge and cut the cereal mixture into squares or bars.
• Eat!

Notes

• These cereal bars should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge.