Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars

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These may be the best no-bake bar I’ve ever made. And I’m the queen of bars, so that’s quite a statement.

They’re like a homemade peanut buttery Crunch Bar topped with Kit Kats, and they’re worth every empty calorie.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars (no-bake) - Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

No-bake Cereal Bars are a real specialty of mine. Some people can make macarons in their sleep or pipe flowers onto 4-tiered fondant-covered cakes.

Me, I’ve got a real knack for combining peanut buttersugarcereal, and chocolate in the microwave, with some candy bars tossed in to complete the classy ensemble.

And I’ve done it in more combinations and permutations than should be legal.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars (no-bake) - Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

So when I can get excited about a new bar, given all the dozens (hundreds) that have come before it, I do a little happy dance. These bars are the new top dog to beat in no-bake cereal bar adventures.

They’re vegan and gluten-free up until they’re topped with Kit Kats. If you top them with peanut butter cups instead, they’re vegan and gluten-free since since Kit Kats are the only thing that’s not vegan/GF in the recipe. Simple swap.

Ironically, there’s no butter or buttery spreads used in these very buttery and rich bars.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars (no-bake) - Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

They’re fast and easy to make, with less than 15 minutes of active work.

They combine two favorite recipes. The base is a duplication of Chewy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cereal Bars, which are adapted from my Grandma’s Special K Bar recipe. I love that recipe so much that I included it in my cookbook.

The base is made by combining sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup and peanut butter in the microwave to make a bastardized 2-minute caramel sauce. It serves as the glue to hold together Rice Krispies cereal that’s stirred in.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars (no-bake) - Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

I’m a huge fan of any version of Rice Krispies Treats. These use peanut butter rather than marshmallows as the glue. Can’t go wrong either way.

They’re firm enough so they’re not a gooey mess, and the texture is chewy and dense, yet soft.

They have a pronounced pop of peanut butter flavor, with caramel and vanilla notes. The flavor is exceedingly buttery-tasting, despite no butter being used.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars (no-bake) - Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

The top layer is an adaptation of the topping of Peanut Butter Cocoa Krispies Smores Bars. I don’t know why I haven’t repurposed the topping until now, but I’m so glad I did.

It’s chocolaty with just a hint of peanut butter, and has the most amazing texture after it sets up. Dense, firm, crispy and crunchy, and reminds me of a Nestle Crunch bar, with a little more airiness and less snap.

It’s made by melting chocolate chips with a little peanut butter, and just enough cereal is stirred in to soak up some of the melted, saucy mixture.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars (no-bake) - Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

Last but not least, I chopped Kit Kats for the top.

When I pushed them down onto the still warm chocolate layer, they melted just enough to become embedded.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars (no-bake) - Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

I’ve always loved the flaky,crunchy layers of Kit Kats and they paired perfectly with the crunchy-yet-softened cereal in both the base and topping layers. Their sweeter milk chocolate complemented the semi-sweet chocolate in the topping.

They’re definitely the new bar to beat.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars (no-bake) - Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars - Easy, no-bake bars that are packed with peanut butter, chocolate & topped off with a wall of KitKats! At averiecooks.com
Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars (no-bake) - Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

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4.58 from 21 votes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars

By Averie Sunshine
A soft, yet very chewy, rich, dense, peanut buttery base is topped with a crunchy chocolate topping that reminds me of a Nestle Crunch bar. There’s Kit Kat candy bar pieces embedded, for extra crunch, texture, and flavor. Despite tasting extra buttery, there’s no butter used. If you swap out the Kit Kats for peanut butter cups, the bars are vegan and gluten-free (since the Kit Kats are the only thing that’s not vegan/GF in the recipe). If you need a fast and easy dessert that’s sure to be a huge hit, I highly recommend these. They keep extremely well and can be made in advance, but I know leftovers will not linger. Quite possibly my favorite cereal bar of all time.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
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Ingredients  

Base

  • 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 cups Rice Krispies cereal

Chocolate Topping

  • 1 heaping cup diced Kit Kat pieces, I used three 1.50-ounce bars, diced
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup creamy peanut butter, use Jif, Skippy, or similar; do not use natural or homemade peanut butter
  • 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal, or similar crispy rice cereal that’s vegan/GF, if necessary

Instructions 

  • Base – Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil leaving overhang, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
  • In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine 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 3 cups cereal.
  • Turn mixture out into prepared pan, packing it down somewhat firmly with a spatula and smoothing the top; set pan aside.
  • Chocolate Topping – Dice the Kit Kats; set aside.
  • In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, and heat on high power for 1 minute to melt.
  • Stop to stir. Chips may not be completely melted. Return bowl to microwave and heat in 15-second bursts until chocolate can be stirred smooth, 15 seconds is likely all they’ll need.
  • Stir in 1 cup cereal.
  • Pour chocolate mixture over base, packing it down somewhat firmly with a spatula and smoothing the top.
  • Place the Kit Kats in about 10 evenly and tightly spaced rows over the surface, with about 1/4-inch space between each piece (does not have to be perfect). By the time you get all the pieces on and in rows, the pieces you placed on first will likely have started to melt at the base. Push them down lightly so they embed into the chocolate-crispy layer. Go back over and push on all the pieces with your finger to ensure they’re all embedded and will stick as the bars cool and set up.
  • Cover pan with a sheet of foil (to prevent fridge smells), and place pan in fridge to set up for at least 2 to 3 hours, or overnight, or until chocolate layer is completely 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 424kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 162mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 42g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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This post is being linked to Roxana’s Chocolate Party!

Fan of Kit Kats? Chocolate and peanut butter? Favorite no-bake bar?

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. Why after the Kit Kat  bars have cooled they are really hard to cut and the choc  top has fallen off the bottom bars? Followed the recipe to a t

    1. It’s hard to say, chocolate can be messy and finicky sometimes. These are not really ‘neat’ bars. You can see from the photos there is lots of meltiness going on.

      Use an incredibly sharp knife is my suggestion.

  2. I made these and they are very tasty, thank you. Only problem I had was the instructions to “dice” the Kit Kats, I diced up some and then was at a loss to where to put them. I ended up adding them to the melted chocolate chips and rice cereal then topped with Kit Kats like the picture.

    1. In Step 13 is where I used the diced Kit Kats. Glad things worked out for you – this is after all not a fussy dessert and made with candy bars so however you got them incorporated is fine no doubt!

  3. Hello Averie!

    I handle the Facebook page of KIT KAT Philippines. Your dessert photos look good! I’m wondering if we could publish some shots on this post of yours on our Facebook page. We will surely give you credit on our post. Hoping for your sweet reply! :)

    1. Thanks for trying the recipe and glad the marshmallow idea worked out great! I bet they tasted fabulous!

    1. It’s possible but I haven’t tried it and worry it won’t give you the setting-up-sticking-together effects that you’d get with corn syrup but you can try and see what happens.

  4. These are even better than they look. If that’s possible. O.M.G. So amazing!! I made them tonight to bring to work tomorrow for Halloween, and of course I had to taste test the goods. Wow!! I’ll def be making these again!!

    1. I loved these bars, too! They ARE way better than they look, and taste way better than ‘just a cereal bar’….I totally agree and glad you discovered that and that you’ll make them again! Hope your coworkers enjoy them too!

  5. I decided to make these for the neighborhood Halloween party yesterday and am so glad I did! I remember when I first saw them I liked how the kit kats looked on top–like crispy little chocolate tiles or something. As for taste, well, there weren’t any leftovers (thank goodness because I think I’d eat them for breakfast)!! The base is peanut buttery gooey-chewy and the top is fudgy with layers of texture all the way through. These definitely take rice krispies to a whole new level!

    1. I’m so glad you loved them as well as the party-goers. And glad to hear there weren’t any leftovers (I didn’t think there would be)! Little chocolate tiles is a perfect description and so many layers of texture from the top to the bottom, in one bite, yes indeed! So happy you made these b/c they’re a huge personal fave of mine :)

  6. I just bought some of those little bags of unwrapped candy (because that is the only way I will ever have spare kit kats in this house lol) and I think I just found my use for them! These are positively over the top swoon worthy decadent! Pinning!

    1. Thanks for pinning and I too only had a few Kit Kats b/c more is not better, just laying around to tempt me :)

  7. Can’t. Stop. Drooling. These bars are out of this world Averie! Pinned and shared on Facebook cause I just love ’em so much :)

  8. Whoa… I want the whole pan of these little babies! Look so tasty and love the crunch factor with kit-kat and chewy rice crispy treats!