Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars with only 5 ingredients! This crunchy vegan treat is made with gluten-free rice puffs and the recipe is similar to homemade Scotcheroos bars. This is a very easy no-bake dessert which is perfect to make with kids!
Servings 9
Equipment
- Kitchen scale*
- 8x8 pan*
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (105 g) maple syrup (or any other liquid sweetener)
- 1/2 cup (120 g) peanut butter (+ 1/3 cup more if you like/see notes)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt (optional/see notes)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups (130 g) rice puffs
- 5 oz (140 g) dark chocolate chips (dairy-free)
Instructions
- Check the video below for easy visual instructions. I recommend using a kitchen scale for this recipe.
- Line a 6×6 inch (ca. 15 cm) pan or 7×7 inch (ca. 18 cm) pan with parchment paper. You can also use an 8×8 inch (ca. 20 cm) pan, however, the bars will be less thick.
- Add liquid sweetener, 1/2 cup peanut butter, vanilla extract, and salt to a bowl, and stir to combine.
- Add the rice puffs to the bowl and stir until the rice cereal is well-coated. Depending on the size of the rice puffs, you will need 2 1/2 to 3 cups.
- Spread the mixture in the pan and press it down as firmly as possible with a spatula. You can also use the bottom of a jar to compress the mixture.
- I added 1/3 cup peanut butter in addition on top, but this step is optional!
- Melt the chocolate chips in a double-boiler or in a microwave and pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter cereal mixture. Spread it evenly.
- Put the pan in the fridge for about 60 minutes (or in the freezer for a shorter time).
- Cut into bars (which works best with a hot knife) and enjoy! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
- You can use any other nut butter instead of peanut butter. Some examples are almond butter, cashew butter, etc. To make the recipe nut-free, simply use sunflower seed butter.
- The additional 1/3 cup peanut butter will make the bars moist, but at the same time, they will stay crunchy. You can leave out the additional layer of PB though.
- Please do NOT add water to the recipe otherwise the bars get soggy!
- I recommend using salt if your peanut butter is unsalted.
- For a "Scotcheroos twist", sub half of the dairy-free chocolate chips with vegan butterscotch chips!
- Recipe serves 9. Nutrition facts are for one (of 9) bars.
Nutrition Facts
Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
Amount per Serving
Calories
239
% Daily Value*
Fat
11.1
g
17
%
Carbohydrates
29.2
g
10
%
Fiber
2.6
g
10
%
Sugar
15.9
g
18
%
Protein
5.2
g
10
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.