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Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Oat Cereal Bars

Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Oat Cereal Bars combine crisp rice cereal, oats, nuts, chocolate, toffee, and peanut butter for a crowd-pleasing treat that’s quick and easy to make!

Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Oat Cereal Bars on a parchment-lined baking sheet

Now that we’ve moved past Thanksgiving and into December, I have switched baking gears a bit. I’ll get back to pies and cakes soon enough, but I’ve been enjoying a little baking spree of cookies and bars and such. We’re talking about all of those things that are perfect for cookie swaps and holiday parties and just for having around for a sweet treat.

Chocolate and peanut butter are one of my go-to flavor combinations. Here, those two team up with oats, Rice Krispies, nuts, and toffee bits to make a big pan of sweet, crunchy, nutty bars that are perfect for sharing.

Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Oat Cereal Bars on parchment paper

You can top these with whatever you’d like. I delved into my pantry and found some cashews and toffee bits that were just perfect for a little extra flavor and crunch. Feel free to change that topping with other nuts and toppings.

I have one bit of advice about making the crust. When you start spreading it onto the bottom of the pan, you’ll think it will never cover the whole bottom. But it will. It will be thin, but it will cover the pan. Just be patient.

Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Oat Cereal Bars topped with nuts

Other than that possible cause for hesitation, there’s nothing remotely challenging about making these. If you can operate your microwave, you’ve got this. Then, you’ll have a big pan of these delicious bars to share or swap.

Find more bar recipes in the Recipe Index.

More Cereal Bar Recipes

Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Oat Cereal Bars

Yield 48 bars
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes

Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Oat Cereal Bars are a simple, delicious, sweet, crunchy treat. A breeze to make!

Peanut Butter-Chocolate-Oatmeal Cereal Bars on a parchment-lined baking sheet

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (160g) quick-cooking oats
  • 3/4 cup (150g) firmly packed dark brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup (90g) all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (255g) creamy peanut butter
  • 4 cups (112g) crisp rice cereal (like Rice Krispies)
  • 12 ounces (340g) semisweet chocolate chips
  • 10 ounces (283g) peanut butter chips
  • 1 cup (120g) chopped cashews or other nuts
  • 1/2 cup (80g) toffee bits

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 15"x 10" jellyroll pan.*
  2. Combine the oats, brown sugar, flour, butter, and egg. Transfer to the prepared pan. Press firmly and evenly onto the bottom of the pan.
  3. Bake 12 minutes. Then, set the pan on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes.
  4. Place the corn syrup, sugar, and peanut butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals until mixture is melted and smooth. Stir every 30 seconds.
  5. Stir in the cereal. Transfer the mixture to crust. Working quickly, spread evenly and press firmly over crust.
  6. Place the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave at half power in 30-second increments until the chips melt when stirred. Stir until smooth and blended.
  7. Spread evenly over the cereal layer.
  8. Sprinkle with the nuts and toffee bits.
  9. Allow to cool 45 minutes before cutting into bars.

Notes

*I also prefer to line the pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it as well. That's not necessary, but I add the paper to help protect my pan when cutting the bars.

Recipe adapted from MyRecipes.

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    11 Comments on “Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Oat Cereal Bars”

  1. These look great. It’s nice when they have a bit of energy value too since there is SO much sweet being eaten during the holidays. I feel less like a sugar pimp when I can give back something that might keep them going longer with some cereal or PB or something added. HA.

  2. This is totally how I want to eat my cereal!

  3. I love easy cookies and bars like these. Especially when chocolate is involved!

  4. Oats in a krispie treat? It’s practically healthy!

  5. THESE BARS–all things yumminess. omg

  6. YUM. Want want want!

  7. Just drooling over ALL THE PERFECT THINGS in these bars.

  8. I don’t even butter my bread; I consider that cooking.

    Katherine Cebrian

  9. *drool* These are going to be my new favorite dessert ever!!

  10. These look fab! Is there a substitute I could use for the corn syrup?

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