My initial concept for this recipe included melting in 2 cups of vegan marshmallows instead of the maple syrup. This would make a “stickier” bar. But actually the flavor of these bars was fabulous. I would imagine that adding a tad more vegan butter would make them stick together better. Another way to solidify them is to put a chocolate layer on both the bottom and the top – creating a choco pb bar sandwich. But either way (well solidified or not), they were yummy…
Also, I used “puffed” cereal which made my bars more tender rather than “crispy” – if you want a crispier/crunchier bar, use crispy rice rather than thick puffed grains.
Easy Peanut Butter Bars
makes about 16 2″ bars
3 cups puffed rice cereal (use crispy rice cereal for crispier bars)
2 cups puffed kamut cereal
3/4 cup maple syrup, grade B
1 cup vegan butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup creamy peanut butter, softened
1 cup vegan dark chocolate chips
1 tsp veg oil
1/4 tsp sea salt
Directions:
1. Combine the maple syrup, peanut butter, vanilla, and softened butter in a large mixing bowl. You want to have a thin liquid mixture.
2. Melt the chocolate chips – with the oil and sea salt – on your stovetop – or very carefully in your microwave.
3. Add your rice and kamut crisps to your butter/maple mixture. Fold until all the crisps are coated.
4. Pour your crisps into a wax-paper lined dish. Flatten with a spoon.
5. Drizzle the melted chocolate over top. Note: You can also double the chocolate amount and do a top and bottom layer of chocolate. Or you can even fold the chocolate right into the crispies to create true peanut butter chocolate crispy bars.
6. Chill in the freezer until hardened. Store in the fridge.
