These bars are a hybrid of some of my favorite bars.
No-bake, Chewy, Gooey, Caramely, with Peanut Butter, Special K, Cereal, Marshmallows.
And they’re so good. And so easy.
Ever since I made the Chewy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cereal Bars, I’ve been thinking about how to remake them in a slightly new way.
These bars are based heavily on those, but instead of using Rice Krispies, I used Special K. You could also use Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, or a similar vegan or gluten-free cereal.
Instead of topping them with chocolate-peanut butter swirls, I stirred in marshmallows. I love marshmallows in bars because they lend so much gooey-and-chewy texture.
Plus, marshmallows are more well-behaved in the Caribbean heat and don’t melt everywhere like chocolate.
No-bake bars like these are always nice so you don’t have to heat up your house, especially this time of year.
And they’re made in one bowl in the microwave, and take less than 5 minutes to stir together. Usually it’s the fast and easy recipes people seem to make anyway, and you can add this one to the Fast and Easy list.
There’s no butter in the recipe, but you’d never guess it because they’re exceedingly buttery-tasting and rich.
The microwave-made sauce drenches the cereal in a sweet, brown sugary, caramel-vanilla, peanut buttery syrup and holds the bars together.
I love bars that I can really sink my teeth into, and these deliver.
They’re dense, wonderfully soft, with tons of chewiness and texture from the cereal and marshmallows.
Peanut butter has a way of making everything taste so good and decadent.
Even Special K.
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No-Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Bars
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup creamy peanut butter, use Jif, Skippy, or similar; do not use natural or homemade peanut butter
- ½ cup light corn syrup, light colored, not lite
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups Special K cereal, Corn Flakes may be subsituted, or use about 3 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- about 5 ounces marshmallows, half of one standard bag; I used large but mini are ideal
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil leaving overhang, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 heaping cup peanut butter, corn syrup, sugars, and heat on high power for 1 minute to melt.
- Stop to stir. Mixture will be on the granular side, this is okay.
- Return bowl to microwave and heat for 1 more minute on high power.
- Stir in the vanilla.
- Stir in the cereal and marshmallows. The marshmallows will melt to some extent, but not fully.
- Turn mixture out into prepared pan, packing it down somewhat firmly with a spatula, and smooth the top.
- Cover pan with a sheet of foil (to prevent fridge smells), and place pan in fridge to set up for about 2 hours or until set, before lifting out with foil overhang, slicing, and serving.
- Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Adapted from Chewy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cereal Bars
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Related Recipes:
Chewy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cereal Bars (no-bake, vegan, GF)
Peanut Chewy Payday Bars (almost no-bake)
Caramel and Chocolate Gooey Bars
Double Chocolate Caramel Corn & Cocoa Rice Krispies Candy Bars
Nutella and Peanut Butter Graham Bars with Chocolate Frosting
Browned Butter Rice Krispies Treats – The best RKTs I have ever had. Double the butter and it’s browned, for great flavor and soft, buttery, chewy bars
No-Bake Nutter Butter Special K Bars
Peanut Butter Caramel Twix Bars (almost no-bake)
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Thanks for the entries in the 3-Piece Baking Set and Gluten-Free Dough Giveaway and the $100 My Sweet Muffin Giveaway
What’s your favorite no-bake or fast and easy dessert?
Thanks so much! Delicious.
Thanks so much! Delicious.
Can you use substitute the corn syrup for something else?
I haven’t tried to so I cannot say for sure. I am doubtful honey, agave, maple syrup would work but you can try and see.
These look great! I love bars made with cereal – it always adds that crunch that I love so much. I do have a question, though. Out of curiosity, what happens if you use natural or homemade peanut butter?
Can’t wait to try these!!!
it may separate and your bars may fall apart…
that makes a lot of sense, now that I think about it. Thanks for the quick response!
I need some help, in France we don’t have your “corn syrup”, so what can I put in the receipe instead of it? thx
Possibly golden syrup or honey? I don’t know because I haven’t tried them if they will work exactly, but it would be a good start.
thx! we’ve got maple syrup here, it could be the same, no?
done! it’s such… hmmmmmmmmmm! i tried the peanut butter bar with chocolate and cereal, really easy, fast and so good! thx for these ideas!
Glad you like them and they worked so well for you!
I am such a no bake lover :) these bars look heavenly!!
Just what I’m looking for. I’m stuck with no oven for a while and I’m so glad I came across these beauties. Stopping by from Tuesday Talent Show!
Oh thanks for clicking over and yes, no bake bars to the rescue (especially this time of year!) There are lots of related recipe links in the post too that are no-bake bars and goodies!
hardly made it into the pan! could not stop eating from bowl! my new favorite!!! thank you!
You always have such an interesting ideas for cookies and bars. Mushmellows in this one must taste great.
no bake is PERFECT:) as are these bars!
Omigosh, do I love these! They honestly sound like the food equivalent of a big, fat hug. I mean cereal, marshmallows and peanut butter? I can’t think of a more comforting combination. Top it off with ‘no-bake’ and this is like hours of hugging it out. Perfect for lazy, hot, late summer days, Averie!
“the food equivalent of a big, fat hug” = YES, so true! Perfect way to say it! They are indeed!
you had me at No-Bake