You know the old advice about never going grocery shopping hungry? As usual, I ignored it and these Chocolate Chex wound up in the basket. Turns out they're a bit too sweet for breakfast, so I put them to use in a dessert - Chex Cereal Bars aka "Sunshine Morning Bars" from Baked Elements.
Baked Elements
This book is fun because the recipes are based on the authors' ten favorite ingredients, one of which is peanut butter. That's one of my top ingredients too! I'm loving this book but still working my way through the chapters and the bars were a good start. They're a twist on Scotcheroos, but a little different because instead of Rice Krispies (or Special K) you use Chex.
Chex Cereal Bars Update
I haven't bought Chocolate Chex in a while so I haven't made these bars, but they are naturally gluten-free, so I've added them to the gluten-free category.
Recipe
Chex Cereal Bars
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Chex or use Chocolate Chex if that's what you have
- 1 ¼ cups salted peanuts coarsely chopped
- 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter I used unsweetened to balance the Chocolate Chex
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract I used a teaspoon
- ½ teaspoon of salt original recipe called for 1 ½, but that seemed like too much
- 6 ounces good-quality milk or dark chocolate chopped
- Some Reese' Minis optional
Instructions
- Line a 9x13 inch pan with nonstick foil.
- Place the cereal and peanuts in a large bowl and stir to combine.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the sugar and corn syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil and let boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter, vanilla, and salt.
- Pour the sugar mixture over the cereal mixture (or add the cereal mixture to the peanut butter mixture, depending on what kind of bowl you prefer to clean), then stir well.
- Turn the mixture out into the prepared pan. Grease your hands (or use a piece of parchment paper) and press the mixture into the bottom of the pan, being careful not to crush the cereal. Let cool to room temperature.
- Melt the chocolate in a microwave or double boiler. Drizzle over bars, then sprinkle with Reese's minis. Let set.
- Lift from pan and cut into squares.
Anna says
Hi Sue,
Thanks for posting a review! I want to make them again too. Chex has another recipe on their Pinterest site for a chili flavored bar with marshmallow, but I was pretty happy with this one from Baked. I'm so glad you tried it.
Sue says
Hi Anna!
That previous comment was from me. I accidentally used the wrong email address.
Sue says
I made these and I do believe they are the most peanut butter intensive things I've ever made outside of eating peanut butter off a spoon. I used plain rice Chex, and the entire T of vanilla.
Make them for the peanut butter lovers in your life. You won't be sorry!
Sonya says
The mini pb cups on top are the perfect topping! I checked out this book at Amazon from your link; it looks great!
Sue says
No doubt I would love these. Thanks for posting this!!
Anna says
Let me know what you think of the cherry pie! That is one of my favorites, and I've been freezing cherries so that I can make it all year. Coconut Cream Pie sounds good too, but there are so many good recipes that it's hard to choose.
TxPepper says
Oh my. I'm so glad that looking at pictures doesn't cause one to put on calories. 😀
I just now have a crust resting in the fridge to make your sweet cherry pie recipe tomorrow. I think it will be my last fruit pie of the season.
A coconut cream pie is calling my name. ☺