Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars

5 from 1 vote

Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars with M&Ms are insanely delicious cereal treats loaded with marshmallows and peanut butter and topped with M&Ms, a peanut butter drizzle, and salty roasted peanuts. Perfect lunch box treat or after school snack.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 232kcal

Author: Cara Lanz

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter
⅔ cup creamy peanut butter
8 cups marshmallows
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups Cheerios

Toppings

½ cup M&Ms
¾ cup peanut butter baking chips
2 teaspoons butter
1-2 tablespoons water
¼ cup roughly chopped roasted peanuts
sea salt

Instructions

Make the Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars

Prepare an 8x8, 9x9 or equivalent sized pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. You can also use a 9x 13 pan for thinner bars.
Melt butter and peanut butter together in a large pot or Dutch oven over low heat.
Add the marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
Pour the Cheerios into the pot and stir until the Cheerios are completely coated in the marshmallow mixture.
Pat the mixture into the prepared pan with a silicone spatula.

Add the Toppings

Gently press ½ cup M&Ms onto the top of the peanut butter Cheerio bars.
Place ¾ cup peanut butter chips and 2 teaspoons butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until melted.
Add small amounts of warm water until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and a drizzling consistency.
Drizzle the melted peanut butter chips over the peanut butter Cheerio bars. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and top with flaky sea salt, if desired.
Let the bars set for 1-2 hours to firm up. You can place them in the refrigerator to speed up the process.

Notes

Use low heat to melt the butter, peanut butter, and marshmallows.

Butter or grease the baking pan or line it with parchment paper so you can easily remove the bars from the pan.

Use a very large pot so you have plenty of room to stir the Cheerios and coat them in the yummy peanut butter marshmallow mixture.

For thick bars, use an 8 or 9 inch pan -- or similarly sized. A 9x13 pan also works, the bars will just be thinner.

Use a rubber spatula to press the sticky cereal mixture into the pan.

Looking for the cereal treats recipe with candy corn? Click here!

Nutrition