The peanut butter candy bars are no-bake, easy, loaded with bold peanut butter flavor, and plenty of chocolate. They’re super soft, very dense, and chewy!
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cooling Time4 hourshrs
Total Time4 hourshrs20 minutesmins
Course: Bars & Blondies
Cuisine: American
Keyword: no bake chocolate peanut butter bars, no bake peanut butter bars, peanut butter candy bars, peanut butter chocolate bars
Servings: 9bars
Calories: 663kcal
Author: Averie Sunshine
Ingredients
Bars
1heaping cup creamy peanut butteruse Jif, Skippy, or similar; do not use natural or homemade peanut butter
½cuplight-colored corn syrup
½cupgranulated sugar
¼cuplight brown sugarpacked
1tablespoonvanilla extract
3 ½cupsSpecial K Cereal
Topping
1 ¾cupssemi-sweet chocolate chips
¼cupcreamy peanut butter
about 1 cup bite-sized candy bar piecesI used Rolo, Reese’s Pieces, mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Butterfinger Cups; substitute with your favorite candy as desired
Instructions
Make the Bars
Line an 8×8-inch square pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
To a large microwave-safe bowl, add 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. Stop to stir.
Return bowl to microwave and heat for 30 more seconds on high power. Stop to stir. (That was 2 1/2 minutes total microwave time)
Stir in the vanilla. (1 tablespoon is 3 teaspoons, use less if you prefer less vanilla flavor)
Stir in the cereal.
Turn mixture out into prepared pan, packing it down somewhat firmly with a spatula and smoothing the top; set pan aside.
For the Topping
To a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and heat on high power for 30 seconds. Stop to stir. Heat in increments of 20 to 30 seconds, stopping to stir after each 20 to 30 second increment until chocolate has melted and can be stirred smooth. It will probably take 1 1/2 to 2 minutes total.
Evenly pour chocolate mixture over Special K layer, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
Evenly place the candy pieces over the top. Add as many as you like (I’m generous) and use your favorite candy including Snickers, Turtles, Milky Way, 3 Muskateers, Payday, etc.
Cover pan with foil and allow bars to cool at room temp until chocolate has set, likely 4+ hours. I don’t like to refrigerate them because the chocolate topping and the candy bars can sometimes turn color (bloom) or experience condensation droplets when brought back to room temp however these are purely cosmetic issues, won’t effect taste, and will speed up the cooling process if you’re in a hurry.
Notes
Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, in the refrigerator for up 1 month, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.