Candy Corn Marshmallow Bars are a delicious way to use up leftover Halloween candy. Easy microwave cereal treat with Cheerios, gooey melted peanut butter, marshmallows, and candy corn, salty peanuts, and M&Ms, for a fun anytime treat.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
You’re going to love these
Leftover Halloween candy. Great way to use up leftover candy corn, even if you're not that into it. These candy corn bars are chock-full of candy corn, but aren’t exactly candy-corn-forward.
Easy microwave cereal treat bars. These really take only a few minutes to make, thanks to the handy use of the microwave to melt the marshmallows, butter, peanut butter, and candy corn.
Salty + sweet. These seem like they would be crazy sweet, but they’re really not. The neutral cereal creates a blank canvas, the peanut butter and salty peanuts tones down the sweetness, and the sprinkle of sea salt provides a nice counterbalance.
Create your own concoction. You can totally make your own version of these candy corn treats with any crazy combo of cereal, nuts, and candy you have in your house.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Cheerios. Any plain cereal will work perfectly, you just want a neutral canvas. So Corn or Rice Chex, Rice Krispies, Special K — you know, the cereal that tastes pretty boring on its own ;).
Candy corn. Who knew you could melt candy corn?
Peanut butter. Crunchy or smooth—- pick your poison. Either will work. You could also use almond butter or any other kind of nut butter.
Marshmallows. You can use large or small marshmallows. Fresh marshmallows tend to melt better and yield a gooier result than ones that are a little bit dried… so there’s that.
Peanuts. Any nut will give a good crunch and a bit of salty relief to this sweet candy corn marshmallow treat. I used roasted peanuts, but almonds, pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts — any nut will work.
M&Ms. I don’t know why anyone would have any M&Ms left over from Halloween, but I suppose it happens. You can use any variety of M&Ms or small candy like Reeses Pieces or Sixlets.
Salt. A sprinkle of sea salt really makes a difference to the flavor of these bars. Of course, plain salt will work, but the big chunks of sea salt add a nice texture, too.
How to Make Candy Corn Marshmallow Treats
Prepare a 9x9 or similar-sized dish (mine is 8x10) with butter or cooking spray.
Place the M&Ms in the freezer. Just for a few minutes so they won’t melt while you’re mixing them with the warm marshmallow-peanut-butter-candy-corn goodness.
Place the Cheerios and peanuts in a large bowl.
Place the candy corn, peanut butter, butter, and marshmallows in a microwave safe bowl and heat on high for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture is completely melted. Stir every minute (the marshmallows will puff up!).
Pour the melted peanut butter marshmallow mixture over the Cheerios and peanuts and stir until completely combined. Working quickly, carefully mix in the frozen M&Ms. The mixture will be a bit stiff, so you may have to use your hands — if you do, be sure to butter them or spray cooking spray on them. I’m serious.
Gently pat the mixture into your prepared dish with the back of a spatula or buttered hands. Don’t press too hard or you could break the M&Ms. Add more M&Ms to the top, if you like, by gently pressing them into the mixture while it is still soft. Lightly sprinkle sea salt over the top of your candy corn bars.
If you like your cereal bars gooey, dig in right away. Otherwise, let the bars set for at least an hour to harden.
Store your candy corn bars tightly wrapped in plastic at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Yes! Just be sure they are completely cooled. You can pack them in a freezer safe container in between rows of waxed paper or individually wrapped in plastic in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 6 weeks.
Try These Easy + Sweet Recipes Next
Recipe Essentials
4-cup Pyrex
The 4-cup measuring cup in this set is big enough to melt the marshmallow goo in these candy corn cereal treats. The large one is also the perfect size for making microwave peanut brittle.
Adorbs Baking Dish
Ok, full disclosure, I don’t have this set… I just thought it would be a cute set to have for fall baking — and it’s a little candy corn-esque. The larger one appears to be the right size for making these candy corn bars.
Candy Corn Marshmallow Bars
Ingredients
- 3 cups Cheerios
- 1 cup candy corn
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- ½ cup peanuts
- ½ cup M&Ms
Instructions
- Prepare an 8x8, 9x9 or similar-sized dish (mine is 8x10) with butter or cooking spray.
- Place the M&Ms in the freezer. Just for a few minutes — you do this so they won’t melt while you’re mixing them in with the warm gooey marshmallow-peanut-butter-candy-corn goodness. Place the Cheerios and peanuts in a large bowl.
- Place the candy corn, peanut butter, butter, and marshmallows in a microwave safe bowl and heat on high for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture is completely melted. Stir every minute (the marshmallows will puff up!).
- Pour the melted peanut butter marshmallow mixture over the Cheerios and peanuts and stir until completely combined. Working quickly, carefully mix in the frozen M&Ms. The mixture will be a bit stiff, so you may have to use your hands — if you do, be sure to butter them or spray cooking spray on them. I’m serious.
- Gently pat the mixture into your prepared dish with the back of a spatula or buttered hands. Don’t press too hard or you could break the M&Ms. Lightly sprinkle sea salt over the top of the bars.
- If you like your cereal bars gooey, dig in right away. Otherwise, let the bars set for at least an hour to harden.
- Store your candy corn bars tightly covered at room temperature for a few days.
Leave a Reply