Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup crispy rice cereal – Adds the perfect crunch.
- ½ cup rolled oats – Old-fashioned oats work best for a hearty texture.
- ½ cup peanut butter – Use natural peanut butter for best melting.
- ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup – Choose your favorite natural sweetener.
- ¼ cup cocoa powder – Unsweetened works best for rich flavor.
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract – Adds depth and warmth.
- Pinch of salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over low heat, combine peanut butter, honey (or maple syrup), cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt.
- Stir constantly until the mixture is smooth and fully combined. This only takes a few minutes, but make sure to keep it moving to avoid scorching.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the crispy rice cereal and rolled oats.
- Pour the warm chocolate-peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients.
- Mix thoroughly until all the cereal and oats are well coated. You want every bit to be enveloped in that chocolatey goodness.
- Press the mixture firmly into a parchment-lined 8x8-inch pan.
- Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to flatten evenly, making sure it's packed tight.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or until firm.
- Slice into 12 bars and enjoy!
Notes
- Nut-Free Option: Swap peanut butter for sunflower seed butter to make these school-safe.
- Add-Ins: Sprinkle chopped nuts, cacao nibs, or shredded coconut on top before chilling. Mini chocolate chips or dried fruit like raisins or cranberries are also great mix-ins.
- Allergy-Friendly: Use certified gluten-free oats if needed and ensure your cereal is gluten-free.
- Sweetness Swap: Agave syrup works in place of honey or maple syrup, especially if you're going fully vegan.
- Texture Tips: For an extra firm bar, you can add an extra tablespoon of oats.