Baking is overrated some days.
Some days you need a chocolate fix without all the mixing and preheating.
Some days you need to melt some chocolate, top it with cereal and call it a day.
Some days turns out to be today.
This is essentially a bark, but not a bark, because it’s a little thicker…and also because I didn’t want to call it bark.
And since I invented it, I have that ability.
In this candy bar (bark) we have chocolate, peanuts, mini peanut butter cups AND Reese’s Puffs cereal. It’s a chocolate and peanut butter party.
And again, you don’t even have to bake it. I’m winning at desserts today.
So let’s get these Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Candy Bars (Bark) show on the road.
First, chop up some honey roasted peanuts…
Then melt some chocolate. About 3 cups. I used Hershey’s Baking Melts.
They melt pretty much the same way that a chocolate chip would, just to let you know, they aren’t like those candy baking melts.
Mix in your chopped nuts…
Then get your mini peanut butter cups ready…
And stir them in. They might melt a touch, but that’s ok!
Spread that onto a baking sheet lined with parchment to about 8″x11″. You want a little thickness.
And then measure out your cereal…about 2 cups.
And press that into the chocolate. Make sure you press it in, though, because if you don’t it will all pop off when you cut it into pieces.
And if you’re feeling fancy, drizzle some melted peanut butter chips on top.
Kinda cute, right?Chill it for a bit to set the chocolate and then cut it into pieces!
Print
Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Candy Bars
Description
makes 16 bars
Ingredients
- 3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped honey roasted peanuts
- 1 cup mini peanut butter cups
- 2 heaping cups Reese’s Puffs cereal (you could use Cocoa Puffs too)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
- 1 tsp coconut oil or vegetable shortening
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
- Melt your chocolate chips in the microwave or over a double boiler.
- Once melted stir in chopped peanuts.
- Then stir in mini peanut butter cups. It’s ok if they melt slightly.
- Spread your mixture onto lined baking sheet into a rectangle approx 8″x11″. You don’t want it to be too thin like a bark candy, you want it to be a little thicker.
- Sprinkle your cereal on top of chocolate mixture evenly, pressing in to stick.
- Melt peanut butter chips and coconut oil or shortening in a ziptop bag in the microwave on 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove bag from microwave and squeeze, repeating the process until the chips are melted.
- Snip off a small corner of the bag and drizzle melted peanut butter chips on top.
- Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes until chocolate is set up.
- Cut or break into pieces.
Notes
If weather is warm, you might want to keep these in the refrigerator until serving.
I think I have to go back to the store for Reese’s Puffs now. Like, immediately. Amazing recipe, Shelly!
Oh yeah, these are so fun! I love Hershey melts too. Cereal candy bar sounds perfect to me!
Reece’s cereal really is the BEST! I love that you made this into a super chocolatey dessert!
HOLY SMOKES. Are these for real? Swoon.
These look so nifty!!! What a genius concept!
Holy crap, this is genius. Now you have me thinking of 15,265 different variations. Love it!
So, I think the cereal in the bark is genius. One of my favorite desserts when I was a kid was a Cocoa Puff Parfait. Literally a layer of Cocoa Puffs, then vanilla pudding, chocolate sauce and whipped cream, then repeat. It sounds gross I know, but trust me when I say it was awesome.
I am completely in love with these — those Hershey baking melts are the best invention!!
These look great. so original
Melted chocolate on cereal? Genius.
These bars? Too dangerous to have around the house. But then again you only live once!