This easy Peanut Butter Cereal Bars Recipe goes perfectly with the rich chocolate topping! These dessert bars are peanut butter chocolate paradise.
Mom’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
I know most people have a variation of cereal bars in their own recipe box, but I get asked for this recipe so often that I felt it was obviously still worth sharing. These are the only Peanut Butter Cereal Bars I’ve ever known, a recipe from Mom. And they’re one of my husband’s favorite homemade treats.
Why I Love These Peanut Butter Bars
The bars are super easy to put together, with a minimum of ingredients. They set up perfectly every time, and are gooey and chewy, with just the right amount of peanut butter and chocolate. Better than any candy bar, guaranteed.
Many people say the chocolate frosting on these bars is the best they’ve ever tasted on peanut butter cereal bars, and they always want to know specifically how I make it.
This is the only deviation I make from Mom’s original recipe, which calls only for melted chocolate chips in the frosting. My secret is that I simply add a bit of peanut butter. And I like to use Guittard semi-sweet chocolate chips…I think they have a deeper darker quality than most semi-sweet chocolate chips.
These peanut butter cereal bars are easy enough to put together, in fact, I made them while we were camping with my parents this past weekend at one of South Dakota’s beautiful state parks. I thought it would be the perfect way to celebrate Blake’s birthday around the campfire. Except that I forgot to bring the chocolate chips. And the party plates and napkins. And the birthday candles. Sheesh!
Mom & I drained our chocolate supply for s’mores and I used Hershey’s bars in lieu of the chocolate chips. The frosting was softer and sweeter, but definitely still delicious.
And because my aunt and uncle were so thoughtful (thanks, Ray & June!), there were even candles and ice cream!
We had such a great weekend camping and catching up with family and friends. There were games of Scrabble played in our pajamas, card games around the outdoor picnic table throughout the day, boating under the big blue sunshiney sky, and plenty of good eating. We baked our favorite Buffalo Chicken Dip in a cast iron skillet over the campfire, and passed around bowls of freshly popped corn. My uncle Elroy makes the best popcorn, shaking the popper over the open flame. It’s buttery, perfectly salted, and has just the right amount of big open starry South Dakota sky.
Do you have a favorite cereal bar recipe that everyone asks you for? If not, give these a try. And when you take them to your next gathering, be sure to have a copy of the recipe with you, because I’m betting you’ll be asked for it.
Mom’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
Ingredients
for the peanut butter cereal bars
- 6 c. corn flakes cereal
- 1 c. sugar
- ½ c. unsalted butter
- 1 c. light corn syrup
- 1 c. creamy peanut butter
for the chocolate frosting
- 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips I like to use Guittard brand
- ¼ c. creamy peanut butter
Instructions
FOR THE PEANUT BUTTER CEREAL BARS
- Spread cereal evenly in a 9” x 13” pan and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan over medium/medium-high heat, combine sugar, butter, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil. Let boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until silky smooth.
- Pour hot mixture over cereal and gently fold to incorporate evenly. Using a spatula, press down on the coated cereal, firmly but gently, until even. Let cool.
FOR THE CHOCOLATE FROSTING - In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Heat the chocolate as gently as possible, stirring regularly, and taking care to not let the chocolate scorch. When the chips are almost melted, remove pan from heat and stir until completely smooth.
- Pour warm frosting over bars and spread evenly. It’s really hard to not cut out a piece and eat it immediately, but if you let the frosting cool completely, it will set up and cut very nicely.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
You might like these bar recipes, too!
- Peanut Butter Granola Bars from Shugary Sweets
- Peanut Butter Bars from Add a Pinch
- Gooey Chocolate Chip Sandwich Bars from Recipe Girl
- Butterscotch Bars with Chocolate and Disappearing Marshmallows
- Double Chocolate Marshmallow Crispy Bars
- Yum-Yum Bars
We always make these with Special K, but I like the idea of switching up the cereals. Lovely photos. It looks like Father’s Day weekend was a success!
Thank you for sharing your recipe! These are such a classic potluck, church gathering, picnic bar. I cannot wait to try your version!
Hi, Emily – it was so nice to meet you in Austin! Hope you’re doing well, thanks for visiting!
Do you crush the cereal at all before adding the sugar, butter and corn syrup mixture? The commenter who used butterscotch in the frosting caught my attention right away. I love butterscotch! I wonder if peanut butter and butterscotch go together well. Anyway, I plan to experiment but love the simplicity of this recipe!
Yes Dianna butterscotch and peanut are wonderful together :)
Love these bars, that frosting does look like the best!
I do love cereal bars. And I love corn flakes. I would chose corn flakes over frosted corn flakes every single time. It just has this flavor that is so good. Especially when it gets soggy in milk (I’m a soggy cereal eater)
Can’t wait to try these.
I hope you like them, Becca! :)
Wow these sounds really great!
Hello Brenda! Happy you and your family got to have fun enjoy your camping getaway and that your hubby had his favorite birthday treat to celebrate while he was there too!
On making them…I wondered if I could sub maple syrup or honey for the light corn syrup? I know it would definitely give them a different taste…but just wondered if that was a possibility?
Hi Donna, how are you?! Hmmm…I’m really not sure about your question. I’ve never tried any substitutions. But I did find online that honey is a good substitute for light corn syrup. If you try it, PLEASE let me know what you think!
I love these! They look so easy and delicious!
Sounds like you had a great weekend!
I think my kids (and I) would love these…will be trying them :)
We live in the Black Hills and got back yesterday from camping at one of our favorite spots on Sheridan Lake–hope your weather was just as beautiful!
Oooooo…I love the beautiful Black Hills and Sheridan Lake. You live in fabulous country!
I used 1/2 semi sweet and 1/2 butterscotch chips for the frosting….MMMM Good!
I love family recipes and your Mom’s cereal bars look SO delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Apparently you all know how to camp! I want to go with you guys….as I imagine myself gorging on Buffalo Dip around a fire….pure bliss!!
You’ve intrigued me with these…I was thinking maybe she used Captain Crunch…but corn flakes? Have to try this.
These look absolutely delicious!?! Can’t wait to try them for myself.
What a perfect camping or picnic dessert! It looks as though your husband was pretty happy with his birthday dessert.
My kids would love these! Will definitely have to try them this summer.
I haven’t played scrabble in forever! I need to pull the games out soon. I wish I could have one of these bars right now!
Whenever I’m with Mom, there is ALWAYS a game of Scrabble. ;)
I want to eat the whole pan! Love these!
These look fantastic!
Oh girl … Love these!
OHHHHHHH Heck yes!! This looks delicious and I love your secrets in the frosting. Pinning this baby!
Thanks Carrian!
These are my kind of bars!! I want one for breakfast!