Name: No Bake Peanut Butter Chex Bars Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 6 cup Rice Chex Cereal; 1 ½ cup peanuts (roughly chopped); 1 cup brown sugar; 1 cup light corn syrup; 1 cup peanut butter (creamy); 1 Tablespoon vanilla; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 cup milk chocolate chips

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If you love peanut butter and chocolate, then these No Bake Peanut Butter Chex Bars are just for you!

My kids love when I make these no bake bars. They honestly last two days at my house, if that! At least since they are super simple to make I don’t mind when they disappear so fast. 😉

Though if you can restrain yourself they will last a few days in an airtight container and you can even freeze them!

No bake recipes are one of my favorites to make. Most likely I already have the ingredients in the house and I do not have to wait near as long to indulge! No to mention they are normally pretty easy to whip up for a snack later in the day.

Recipe Ingredient Notes

To make No Bake Peanut Butter Chex Bars, you will need the following ingredients

Rice Chex cereal
Peanuts (we used cocktail peanuts)
Brown sugar
Light corn syrup
Peanut butter, creamy
Vanilla extract
Salt
Milk chocolate chips

Equipment Needed

For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:

Chex cereal mix and peanuts in a large bowl.

Chex mix covered in the peanut butter mixture in a mixing bowl.

How to make No Bake Peanut Butter Chex Bars

Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. Mix the cereal and peanuts in a large bowl.
In a medium saucepan stir together the brown sugar and corn syrup over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil for 1 minute. Then remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter, vanilla, and salt. Stir until the mixture is smooth.
Pour the peanut butter mixture over the cereal mixture. Toss carefully with a wooden spoon until all of the cereal is covered.
Transfer the mixture into the prepared 9 x 13 inch pan and press down gently. Cool for about 20 minutes.
Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave stirring every 20 seconds until completely melted and smooth. Drizzle over the cooled bars. Let the chocolate cool.
Cut into bars and enjoy!

No Bake Peanut Butter Chex Bars in a baking dish with chocolate drizzled on top.

Top view of No Bake Peanut Butter Chex Bars drizzled with chocolate.

Storage Suggestions

If you manage to have any leftover Bars + Brownies, these can store well if prepped appropriately. Once they have cooled completely, here is how you can store it:

Counter: Store bars and brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. If your kitchen is particularly warm, consider refrigerating instead to prevent them from getting too soft or melty.
Refrigerator: Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week. Let them come to room temperature before serving for the best texture and flavor.

Enjoy More Delicious Bar Recipes

There’s nothing better than an easy brownie or bar recipe. Check out our comprehensive list of brownies, bars, and blondies here

No Bake Peanut Butter Chex Bars Recipe

4.91 from 11 votes

These no bake peanut butter Chex bars are full of all of the peanut butter chocolaty goodness you will ever need, no oven required.

24 Servings

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 5

Total Time 20

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Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. Mix the cereal and peanuts in a large bowl.
In a medium saucepan stir together the brown sugar and corn syrup over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil for 1 minute. Then remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter, vanilla, and salt. Stir until the mixture is smooth.
Pour the peanut butter mixture over the cereal mixture. Toss carefully with a wooden spoon until all of the cereal is covered.
Transfer the mixture into the prepared 9 x 13 inch pan and press down gently. Cool for about 20 minutes.
Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave stirring every 20 seconds until completely melted and smooth. Drizzle over the cooled bars. Let the chocolate cool.
Cut into bars and enjoy!

Notes

If you want you can even put the chocolate in a little ziploc bag to drizzle it. Using a cup place the ziploc bag over the rim of the cup and pour the chocolate into the bag, cut a small hole in a corner, and use that to easily drizzle the chocolate over the bars.

Nutrition

Calories: 217 kcal · Carbohydrates: 29 g · Protein: 6 g · Fat: 10 g · Saturated Fat: 2 g · Sodium: 172 mg · Potassium: 161 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 21 g · Vitamin A: 125 IU · Vitamin C: 1 mg · Calcium: 49 mg · Iron: 3 mg

Cuisine: American

Cost: $8

Author: Steph Loaiza

Course: Dessert

Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.

Questions & Reviews

Susan says:

Hi,

I just made the peanut butter chex bars.
It is Saturday and I am not serving them until Wednesday night.
What is the best way to store them?

Cyd says:

You may want to freeze them in an airtight container if you are not serving them until 4 days after making.

Ashlee says:

How can I make this recipe work for a sheetcake? Would I double it?
Thanks
Ashlee

Cyd says:

You can easily double this recipe. If they are slightly thinner because the pan is so large, that is still fine. They are so easy and delicious!

Carol says:

Any suggestions for a substitute for the 1 cup of corn syrup? Or maybe a way to add less and substitute something else? Thanks!

Cyd says:

Here is a link you can read about substitutions for corn syrup. http://www.myrecipes.com/how-to/cooking-questions/substitute-for-corn-syrup

Annette Peterson says:

These are delicious! I didn’t have milk chocolate so I used semi-sweet. They are gooey and delectable. Thank you!

Joan says:

Do you think I could substitute Rice Krispies for the Chex?

Cyd says:

I’m sure Rice Krispies would work in this recipe too.

Tara says:

Dry roasted peanuts or cocktail peanuts?

Cyd says:

Either will work, but we used cocktail peanuts.

Lucy Emanuele says:

If i only have crunchy PB what should i do about adding peanuts

Cyd says:

You could still add the same amount of peanuts or you could also cut back a little too.

Kim says:

I only had 4 cups of Rice Chex cereal so I used 2 cups of Rice Krispies with the Chex. It worked perfectly together!

Cyd says:

Great! Thanks for sharing your substitutions with everyone. During this pandemic we all have to make a few tweaks with recipes! Have a great weekend.

Amy says:

Yum–we had wonky ingredients–used dark karo syrup and honey and semi-sweet chocolate chips–still turned out super delicious! Kids loved helping make it. Thanks!

Jane says:

Needed to do some baking today but with the unprecedented heat (should be around 70F and atm its 87F) there was no way I was going to put the oven on! Decided to give these a try although with some substitutions…instead of Chex cereal all I had in the house was chocolate Life cereal and no peanuts so I just tossed in some coconut in place of them. Have to make do with what’s in the house on the day before grocery shopping lol. These actually turned out so good and sweet I didn’t even bother with the chocolate drizzle since the cereal was already chocolate. These are soo yummy, I can see myself making them fairly often during the summer – and the rest of the year too!

Jane says:

Ooops forgot to rate the recipe lol

Momma Cyd says:

Hi Jane. So glad you liked these easy no bake Chex bars. Your substitutions sounds delicious!

Mmarl says:

Seemed like it needed more cereal. I measured cereal just to rim of measuring cup. Next time I’ll over pour. Added Mini M&M’s instead of peanuts, but added them after cereal all stirred in.

Trudy b says:

This was so good! I’m very thankful you shared it. I didn’t have peanuts so I used broken up pretzel rods. Lol. It turned out to be really good. My husband thinks he actually likes it better.

Momma Cyd says:

Thanks for sharing. We’ll have to try it with pretzels.

Leslie says:

I am wondering if any one has tried it with corn chex…? That is what I have on my shelf.

Momma Cyd says:

I think corn chex will work great too!

Michelle says:

Quick and easy recipe, delicious end result! It reminds me of a Payday candy bar. I used Chocolate Chex cereal and added pretzels, peanuts and chunks of Reese’s Pretzel Cup peanut butter cups. I did not add the chocolate drizzle on top because I added the Reese’s in the bar mixture. Versatile recipe, easy to adapt to what you have on hand. I had a game challenge today to use up 21 items in the pantry. This recipe helped me use up 5 ingredients toward my challenge, yay! Thank you for the great recipe. It is a keeper!

Jess H. says:

I made these yesterday and they were incredible. I hate super sweet desserts and this had just the right amount of sweetness, but the star of the show is the texture of the bar. It’s soft – chewy – crispy everything you would want!

Shawna says:

This turned out great!! I’m a good cook but not a good baker at all. My husband likes sweets and he loved these! I’m glad because I can tell he only pretends to like other things I make because he eats one and doesn’t go back. But he ate several of these. I’m very happy. I made it exactly as the recipe says. Thank you for sharing!!

Sheryl O says:

Love this easy gluten free recipe! It has become e a family favorite and is a hit anywhere we bring it. It’s so easy, I even whip it up while wet are camping.

Barb M says:

This is so good! I had to use up some rice Chex. I had enough for 1/2 the recipe. I also used cashews and I added the cosmic chips at the mixing everything together part. That was my chocolate instead of drizzling chocolate on it. My husband and I ate more than we should have because this was amazing .

Jennifer says:

Does this recipe not keep well how long does in fridge how long freezer please

Join The Discussion

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Susan says:

Hi,

I just made the peanut butter chex bars.
It is Saturday and I am not serving them until Wednesday night.
What is the best way to store them?
Cyd says:

You may want to freeze them in an airtight container if you are not serving them until 4 days after making.
Ashlee says:

How can I make this recipe work for a sheetcake? Would I double it?
Thanks
Ashlee
Cyd says:

You can easily double this recipe. If they are slightly thinner because the pan is so large, that is still fine. They are so easy and delicious!
Carol says:

Any suggestions for a substitute for the 1 cup of corn syrup? Or maybe a way to add less and substitute something else? Thanks!
Cyd says:

Here is a link you can read about substitutions for corn syrup. http://www.myrecipes.com/how-to/cooking-questions/substitute-for-corn-syrup
Annette Peterson says:

These are delicious! I didn’t have milk chocolate so I used semi-sweet. They are gooey and delectable. Thank you!
Joan says:

Do you think I could substitute Rice Krispies for the Chex?
Cyd says:

I’m sure Rice Krispies would work in this recipe too.
Tara says:

Dry roasted peanuts or cocktail peanuts?
Cyd says:

Either will work, but we used cocktail peanuts.
Lucy Emanuele says:

If i only have crunchy PB what should i do about adding peanuts
Cyd says:

You could still add the same amount of peanuts or you could also cut back a little too.
Kim says:

I only had 4 cups of Rice Chex cereal so I used 2 cups of Rice Krispies with the Chex. It worked perfectly together!
Cyd says:

Great! Thanks for sharing your substitutions with everyone. During this pandemic we all have to make a few tweaks with recipes! Have a great weekend.
Amy says:

Yum–we had wonky ingredients–used dark karo syrup and honey and semi-sweet chocolate chips–still turned out super delicious! Kids loved helping make it. Thanks!
Jane says:

Needed to do some baking today but with the unprecedented heat (should be around 70F and atm its 87F) there was no way I was going to put the oven on! Decided to give these a try although with some substitutions…instead of Chex cereal all I had in the house was chocolate Life cereal and no peanuts so I just tossed in some coconut in place of them. Have to make do with what’s in the house on the day before grocery shopping lol. These actually turned out so good and sweet I didn’t even bother with the chocolate drizzle since the cereal was already chocolate. These are soo yummy, I can see myself making them fairly often during the summer – and the rest of the year too!
Jane says:

Ooops forgot to rate the recipe lol
Momma Cyd says:

Hi Jane. So glad you liked these easy no bake Chex bars. Your substitutions sounds delicious!
Mmarl says:

Seemed like it needed more cereal. I measured cereal just to rim of measuring cup. Next time I’ll over pour. Added Mini M&M’s instead of peanuts, but added them after cereal all stirred in.
Trudy b says:

This was so good! I’m very thankful you shared it. I didn’t have peanuts so I used broken up pretzel rods. Lol. It turned out to be really good. My husband thinks he actually likes it better.
Momma Cyd says:

Thanks for sharing. We’ll have to try it with pretzels.
Leslie says:

I am wondering if any one has tried it with corn chex…? That is what I have on my shelf.
Momma Cyd says:

I think corn chex will work great too!
Michelle says:

Quick and easy recipe, delicious end result! It reminds me of a Payday candy bar. I used Chocolate Chex cereal and added pretzels, peanuts and chunks of Reese’s Pretzel Cup peanut butter cups. I did not add the chocolate drizzle on top because I added the Reese’s in the bar mixture. Versatile recipe, easy to adapt to what you have on hand. I had a game challenge today to use up 21 items in the pantry. This recipe helped me use up 5 ingredients toward my challenge, yay! Thank you for the great recipe. It is a keeper!
Jess H. says:

I made these yesterday and they were incredible. I hate super sweet desserts and this had just the right amount of sweetness, but the star of the show is the texture of the bar. It’s soft – chewy – crispy everything you would want!
Shawna says:

This turned out great!! I’m a good cook but not a good baker at all. My husband likes sweets and he loved these! I’m glad because I can tell he only pretends to like other things I make because he eats one and doesn’t go back. But he ate several of these. I’m very happy. I made it exactly as the recipe says. Thank you for sharing!!
Sheryl O says:

Love this easy gluten free recipe! It has become e a family favorite and is a hit anywhere we bring it. It’s so easy, I even whip it up while wet are camping.
Barb M says:

This is so good! I had to use up some rice Chex. I had enough for 1/2 the recipe. I also used cashews and I added the cosmic chips at the mixing everything together part. That was my chocolate instead of drizzling chocolate on it. My husband and I ate more than we should have because this was amazing .
Jennifer says:

Does this recipe not keep well how long does in fridge how long freezer please