No-Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Bars

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These bars are a hybrid of some of my favorite bars.

No-bake, Chewy,ย Gooey, Caramely, with Peanut Butter, Special K, Cereal, Marshmallows.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Bars - Easy 5-Minute Recipe at averiecooks.com

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.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Bars - Easy 5-Minute Recipe at averiecooks.com

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 Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Bars - Easy 5-Minute Recipe at averiecooks.com

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.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Bars - Easy 5-Minute Recipe at averiecooks.com

Thereโ€™s no butter in the recipe, but youโ€™d never guess it because theyโ€™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.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Bars - Easy 5-Minute Recipe at averiecooks.com

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.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Bars - Easy 5-Minute Recipe at averiecooks.com

Peanut butter has a way of making everything taste so good and decadent.

Even Special K.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Bars - Easy 5-Minute Recipe at averiecooks.com

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5 from 2 votes

No-Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Bars

By Averie Sunshine
These fast, easy, no-bake bars are a hybrid of some of my favorite bars, which include peanut butter, marshmallows, cereal and are held together with a brown sugar-caramel sauce thatโ€™s made in the micro in 1 bowl. Theyโ€™re dense, wonderfully soft, with plenty of chewiness and texture and you can really sink your teeth into them. Thereโ€™s no butter in the recipe, but you wonโ€™t miss it because the bars are rich and very buttery tasting.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour 53 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours
Servings: 1 8-by-8-inch pan, 9 to 12 squares
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Ingredients  

  • 1 heaping cup creamy peanut butter, use Jif, Skippy, or similar; do not use natural or homemade peanut butter
  • ยฝ cup light corn syrup, light colored, not lite
  • ยฝ cup granulated sugar
  • ยผ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 ยฝ 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 288kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Sodium: 182mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 32g

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

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Chewy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cereal Bars (vegan, gluten-free) - Recipe at averiecooks.com

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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

Browned Butter Rice Krispies Treats

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ย Thanks for the entries in the 3-Piece Baking Set and Gluten-Free Dough Giveaway and theย $100 My Sweet Muffin Giveaway

What’s your favorite no-bake or fast and easy dessert?

5 from 2 votes

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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. 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.

  1. 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!!!

  2. 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

    1. 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.

      1. 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!

  3. 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!

    1. 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!

  4. You always have such an interesting ideas for cookies and bars. Mushmellows in this one must taste great.

  5. 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!

    1. “the food equivalent of a big, fat hug” = YES, so true! Perfect way to say it! They are indeed!