Nobody’s gonna lay a finger on my Butterfinger. Remember that old slogan?
Well there’s truth to it with these because I wanted to hoard them.
I always loved Butterfingers as a kid and they’re still a gas station favorite treat for me. However, I’ve never made a single recipe that uses Butterfingers in the almost 5 years I’ve been blogging.
It was high time to change that.
As an aside, I have a recipe for Homemade Butterfingers. Ready in 1 minute in the microwave and they’re made with peanut butter and candy corn that are melted together, then topped with chocolate. So easy and taste eerily close to the real thing. If you have extra candy corn, make that recipe, stat.
But back to these bars. No-bake Cereal Bars are one of my favorite things to make. You can’t go wrong combining peanut butter, sugar, cereal, and chocolate in the microwave, with some candy bars tossed in to complete the elegant ensemble.
They may not be the height of classy, but boy, they sure taste ridiculously good and you can’t beat no-bake.
According to Nestle, Butterfingers are gluten-free and since all other ingredients used are gluten-free, you’re looking a gluten-free dessert that comes together in minutes.
If you want to keep the bars vegan and gluten-free, replace the Butterfingers with Peanut Butter Cups, since the Butterfingers are the only non-vegan ingredient used.
Ironically, there’s no butter or buttery spreads used in these very buttery-tasting decadent bars.
They have the same base layer as Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars and the Chewy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cereal Bars have, except there’s cocoa powder stirred in. It gives just the right amount of chocolate intensity to stand up to the bold peanut buttery, caramely sauce that glues together the cereal to comprise the base layer.
After making the base, I melted chocolate chips and peanut butter together and spread that over the top.
A couple baking tips. I like melting 1 cup of chocolate chips to 1/4 cup of peanut butter. The peanut butter helps prevent the chocolate from scorching as easily. And it helps prevent the chocolate from setting up too firm and prevents it from cracking when sliced.
Then I sprinkled on crushed Butterfingers. I used 7 Fun-Size candy bars, and I simply squeezed them in my palm before unwrapping them to find orange flakes and chunks. They crush very easily so don’t squeeze to hard or you’ll have orange dust.
Finally, I melted another quarter-cup of chocolate chips for a final drizzle. I did this to help ‘set’ some of the Butterfinger crumbly bits, and as a happy accident, the drizzle gives the bars a Halloween-ish look.
Biting through each of the layers is a texture lover’s dream. They’re firm enough so they’re not a gooey mess, and the texture is dense and exceedingly chewy, yet soft.
The chewy and dense chocolate-peanut butter base with crispy cereal for texture is a great contrast to the the firm yet soft layer of chocolate-peanut butter, and the abundance of crunchy, salty-and-sweet Butterfingers.
It’s a requirement that you’re a chocolate + peanut butter fan for these because that flavor combo is what they’re all about.
And of course, you have to be a Butterfinger lover.
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Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Butterfinger Bars
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 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder, Dutch-process may be substituted
- 3 cups Rice Krispies
Topping
- about 1 cup crushed or diced Butterfinger
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter, use Jif, Skippy, or similar; do not use natural or homemade peanut butter
- ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, for drizzling
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 the cocoa powder
- Stir in the cereal.
- Turn mixture out into prepared pan, packing it down firmly with a spatula and smoothing the top; set pan aside.
- Topping – Crush or dice the Butterfingers. I squeeze them in my palm before unwrapping them. They crush very easily so don’t squeeze too hard or you’ll have orange dust; set candy aside.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 cup 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 mixture can be stirred smooth; 15 seconds is likely all they’ll need.
- Pour chocolate mixture over base, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
- Working somewhat quickly so that chocolate doesn’t begin to set up, evenly sprinkle Butterfingers over the chocolate. I prefer a fairly densely covered surface; add candy according to preference. Set pan aside.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl (same one just used to melt the chocolate and peanut butter is fine; don’t need to wash it), place 1/4 cup chocolate chips 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.
- Using a spoon, evenly drizzle chocolate over the top of bars.
- Cover pan with a sheet of foil (to prevent fridge smells), and place pan in fridge to set up for at least 3 hours, or overnight, or until layers are completely set before lifting bars out with foil overhang, slicing, and serving. Before slicing, allowing bars to come to room temp for 15 minutes will make slicing much easier. 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 Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars, which were 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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Chocolate Peanut Butter Kit Kat Crunch Bars (keep vegan and GF by using Peanut Butter Cups instead of Kit Kats)
Chewy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cereal Bars (vegan, GF)
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No-Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Bars (GF)
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Homemade Butterfinger Bars (vegan, GF) – Ready in 1 minute and taste dangerously close to the real thing
Fan of Butterfingers? Chocolate and peanut butter? Favorite no-bake bar recipe?
I LOVE Butterfingers. I think I was the only kid I knew that loved Butterfingers. My mom would always stir them into chocolate ice cream for us. Such a treat. These sound SO yummy!
Oh wow, everyone I knew growing up loved BF’s. And Reese’s Cups! And there were some die hard Snickers and Milky Way fans. All those old school candies – can’t go wrong!
I think I just passed out. In the best possible way.
Averie, I love your new board you’ve been shooting one…very classy and makes everything you make just pop! I just love everything you make…especially with butterfingers! (And, everything else!)
Thanks for noticing, Gloria! I’ve been trying to rig up a few new setups. It’s hard with 4-5 new desserts a week to make them look fresh, without having props and gear take over my home! lol
Wow! I definitely need to try these out– they look delicious and so pretty! Yummmm!
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Oh I always forget about butterfingers when asked about my favorite candy bar. Loved them! I can seriously remember how they smell too!
I certainly can’t think of many things more comforting that the old chocolate and peanut butter combination. It truly is hard to beat. The texture of these bars looks amazing! Dense and chewy, just the way I like them!
those seriously look too good to true :o) yum!! !What not vegan about a butterfinger? :o).. thinking of trying ths base with something chistmas for the holidays :o) Emily
Pinned! These look incredible. Just incredible, Averie! I cannot believe this is your first butterfinger recipe aside from your homemade ones! Crazy, but I guess you waited to show us the best one!
I know, I have no idea why. I mean I have a million things with M&Ms (and Snickers, Twix, Heath, candy corn, PB Cups, Rolos – and it goes on and on – except not BFs til now!)
Thanks for pinning!
These are definitely Halloween appropriate! They look great! Bars like this are so nice because they’re easy to make.
Oh my goodness… these look absolutely amazing! :)
I am usually guilty of eating all the fun size Butterfingers from the trick or treat stash, but I will save a handful of them just to make these, lol!
I pilfer out & hoard the BF’s out of the stash, too :)
Seriously, you are the queen for making delicious goodies out of candy bars! Chocolate, peanut butter, and butterfingers. Deeeeeeelish. Butterfingers used to be my favorite candy bar when I was a kid. Haven’t had one in ages but now you’re making me crave one!
I have a knack for culinary masterpieces with gas station candy. But hey, it really tastes amazing. LOL
And lmk how the beer bread goes if you try it (no rush, no pressure!!)
Butterfingers, M&M’s, and PB cups are probably my top favorites for candy. These look like a texture lover’s dream bar…and perfect for Halloween. We have our annual neighborhood Halloween party next weekend–I might take these just so I can try one myself! Love those homemade butterfinger bars too!
A texture lover’s dream bar is right! Make these for the Hween block party, yes!
Btw, how did the treats you made for your other party go over last weekend? I know you said you loved them but did others enjoy too? I assume so but just asking…ha! :)
Everybody loved them!! A few said the fluffernutters reminded them of loaded up fudge and I told everyone the recipe was from my favorite blogger in CA:)! I talked about your cookbook and website and told them to check it out for some fabulous recipes..and to go score some candy corn M&M’s before they’re out of season!
You are too sweet! Thank you for saying all that and telling them about my site and cookbook!!! I am so happy that they liked the treats and it’s fun hearing what people think things remind them of, i.e. loaded up fudge, and little stories like this! And I know – I am going to have to hoard some of the seasonal candy too! :)
I want to shove a whole bar in my mouth…these look freaking amazing!
I would totally hoard these too! And you know, it’s 2:37 in the morning and I just want that stack right now as a nightcap!
You and me both with the midnight oil :)
Gorgeous! Hard to believe you hadn’t posted a recipe using Butterfingers before today, Averie! I love the crunchy layers, plenty of crushed Butterfinger bars and chocolate drizzle on top! Mmm. Beautiful photos, too. Butterfingers and Reese’s PB Cups were my favorite Halloween treats. Thanks for sharing. Pinning (of course)!
Thanks for pinning and BF’s and PB Cups were some of my faves, too!
These bars are gorgeous! I love the cocoa powder added to the base and the drizzle on top. Yum!