These chocolate covered homemade chex cereal bars are a crunchy, no-bake treat, chock full of caramel and peanut butter. Made on the stovetop in less than 15 minutes, (no baking required!) and so easy to make, you won’t even mind that they disappear so quickly!
Chocolate Covered No-Bake Chex Cereal Bars are the Best
With just a few ingredients including some Rice Chex cereal, you can have a crispy peanut butter treat by simply melting brown sugar and corn syrup, adding peanut butter and pouring it over Chex cereal. Then drizzle with some chocolate and in no time at all you a family favorite dessert. (These are my husband’s favorite!)
The caramel peanut butter mixture will get thick quickly so as soon as you add the peanut butter to the hot caramel mixture you need to immediately pour it over the cereal and mix it together. Have everything all set up so the cereal can be evenly coated.
Why You’ll Love Chex Cereal Bars
- Irresistible Flavor Combo: The combination of rich caramel and creamy peanut butter (PLUS chocolate!) creates a classic and irresistible flavor that makes everyone happy – from kids to adults.
- Crunchy Texture: The crispy Rice Chex cereal and chopped peanuts give you that satisfying crunch in every bite and it won’t fall apart leave crumbs like granola bars.
- Easy to Make: With just a handful of simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, these homemade cereal bars are quick and easy to whip up, no candy thermometer needed. Perfect for last-minute event invitations, school functions, or busy weeknights.
We love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, but who doesn’t? It’s such a classic combo. So, recipes that let me make easy treats full of peanut butter goodness are always welcomed around here. Even better if they’re no-bake. The flavors are similar to creamy no-bake peanut bars or peanut butter pie, but both of these are creamy and a little messier to eat.
You can eat homemade cereal bars with your fingers. The chocolate drizzle will get soft if they’re left out in the heat, but otherwise it will stay firm at room temperature. This makes them ideal for parties, picnics and bake sales.
These bars are made similarly to Rice Krispie treats, but instead of using marshmallows, we coat the cereal in a homemade peanut butter caramel sauce, then drizzle the bars with chocolate. Sound dreamy? It is! And it’s so easy! If you like more chocolate than peanut butter, than you should try some peanut butter chocolate Rice Krispies treats.
Need more ways to use up Chex cereal? You can make bold and savory homemade chex mix or this sweet Chex Mix and white chocolate treat that’s perfect for a party.
What kind of Chex cereal to use for peanut butter bars?
I use Rice Chex for my homemade cereal bars for the neutral flavor and crispy texture, other flavors will technically work but could change the flavor of the bars. Try using a neutral cereal if you are making a substitution or combining cereals like, Cheerios, or Crispix.
What else can I add in?
These peanut butter Chex bars are perfect as they are with just chopped roasted peanuts added, but if you have some things in your pantry to use up, you can toss them into the mix. Just keep the amount of cereal or nuts you use the same so there’s enough coating.
Try mixing in raisins, other nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips or white chocolate chips.
No-Bake Chex Peanut Butter Bars Recipe Ingredients
- Rice Chex Cereal – It doesn’t use an entire box, try storing what’s left in a ziplock to keep to keep it fresh for your next batch or some bold chex mix.
- Salted roasted peanuts – Salted cocktail peanuts (like Planters) works perfectly. Give them a rough chop.
- Light corn syrup – Karo is the mosts popular brand in my area. Light refers to the color not the calorie content. You can generally find this on the baking aisle.
- Smooth peanut butter – This recipe needs smooth peanut butter to create the correct texture for the caramel.
- Semi-sweet chocolate – Chocolate chips or a chopped-up chocolate bar – you’ll need about ½ cup. You can use any type of chocolate you like. If you want it sweeter, go with milk chocolate, or dark chocolate for a less sweet more chocolate flavor.
- Pantry staples – Brown sugar, vanilla and salt.
How To Make a Peanut Butter Homemade Cereal Bar
Step 1: Prepare the cereal and nuts
Add the Chex rice cereal to a large mixing bowl, then add in the coarsely chopped peanuts.
Step 2: Boil the sugars.
In a medium saucepan, whisk the brown sugar and corn syrup together over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Allow the mixture to boil while whisking constantly for 1 minute. This will make a caramel sauce.
Step 3: Mix everything together.
Remove the sugar from the heat and quickly whisk in the peanut butter, vanilla, and salt. Whisk the mixture until it’s completely smooth. Immediately pour the caramel mixture over the cereal and stir with a rubber spatula until all of the cereal is fully coated.
Step 4: Spread the mixture.
Dump the cereal mixture out onto the prepared baking tray, spreading it out with the spatula until it’s flat and even.
Step 5: Drizzle with chocolate.
Once the pan has cooled, place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on 50% power for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until it’s fully melted. Pour the mixture into a small Ziploc bag and cut a very small hole in the corner. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cereal mixture.
Step 6: Set and serve.
The chocolate will set as it cools at room temperature or if you’re in a hurry to cut them, set the pan in the refrigerator or freezer for 15 minutes. Cut into 24 squares and serve.
Tips for Making Perfect Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chex Cereal Bars
- Before you begin cooking, have all of your ingredients measured out and ready to go. The steps of this recipe move quickly, so having your ingredients ready to go will make it easier and cut down on potential issues.
- Store any leftover cereal in a ziplock so it will be fresh for the next batch.
- Whisk your sugars constantly, to prevent burning.
- Line the pan with parchment so that you can lift the bars out for easy cutting. Wipe the knife with a damp cloth between cuts if needed.
How to Store Chex Mix No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
You can store homemade cereal bars at room temperature. Once they’re cut, place them in an airtight container and keep them on the counter for 5-6 days.
If you need to stack them, place parchment or wax paper between the layers.
In the fridge, they’ll last about two weeks. For longer storage, freeze them instead. You can also freeze these and just pull out a few at a time for a snack or for an easy dessert. They’ll last in the fridge for about 3 months.
More 30-Minutes-Or-Less Dessert Recipes For Busy Days
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No-Bake Homemade Cereal Bars with Chex Cereal
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Chex Cereal
- 1 cup salted roasted peanuts chopped
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
Instructions
- Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Add cereal and coarsely chopped peanuts to a large mixing bowl.
- Over medium-high heat, whisk the brown sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan until it comes to a boil. Allow it to boil, whisking constantly for 1 minute.
- Remove from the heat and add peanut butter, vanilla, and salt, whisking until smooth. Immediately pour the mixture over the cereal, stirring with a rubber spatula until the cereal is coated.
- Place the cereal mixture in the prepared pan, spreading it out with the spatula until it is even. Let cool.
- Once cooled to room temperature, place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on 50% power, for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until melted. Pour into a Ziploc bag and cut off the corner of the bag. Drizzle over the cereal mixture.
- Place in the refrigerator or freezer until the chocolate has set before cutting.
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- Before you begin cooking, have all of your ingredients measured out and ready to go. The steps of this recipe move quickly, so having your ingredients ready to go will make it easier and cut down on potential issues.
- Store any leftover cereal in a ziplock so it will be fresh for the next batch.
- Whisk your sugars constantly, to prevent burning.
- Line the pan with parchment so that you can lift the bars out for easy cutting. Wipe the knife with a damp cloth between cuts if needed.
Nutrition
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Wendy Hartford says
Easy, delicious & satisfying! I put a mixture of rice & corn chex cereal and you can’t tell the difference. The crunch is satisfying, the taste is delicious and it was so easy to put together! It was difficult to wait for them to set, but worth it!
Barbara Curry says
It is pretty versatile. Glad you liked it.