Peanut Butter Chocolate Snack Bars {gluten-free}

Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack BarS on a platter

Peanut Butter Chocolate Snack Bars {gluten-free}

These delicious homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack Bars have the perfect balance of sweet, salty, soft, crunchy, firm and chewiness. Gluten-free based on puffed cereal used.

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 5

Total Time 2 29

Servings Makes 24 4 ½ inch long by 1 inch wide bars

Calories 245kcal

Author Toni Dash

Ingredients

4 cups Chocolate Puffed Rice cereal (I used gluten-free One Degree Organic Foods ‘Vegan Sprouted Brown Rice Cacao Crisps’)
1 cup Roasted , Salted Peanuts, rough chopped
¼ cup Hemp Seeds/Hulls
¼ cup Chia Seeds
¼ cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
¾ cup Mini Chocolate Chips
½ cup Smooth Peanut Butter
½ cup Brown Rice Syrup or Agave Syrup*
¼ cup Honey
1/8 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Instructions

Line a 13x9 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl combine the chocolate rice cereal, peanuts, seeds, chocolate chips and mix together well. NOTE: the small Chia and Hemp seeds tend to migrate to the bottom of the bowl so be sure to stir them into the bar mixture when adding the wet ingredients.
In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the peanut butter, brown rice or agave syrup and honey. Stirring constantly, allow the ingredients to melt together and begin to bubble; 3-5 minutes. NOTE: If using agave syrup it will begin to bubble more quickly than the brown rice syrup. Remove from heat and add the salt and vanilla.
Pour the sweetened peanut butter mixture into the dry ingredients. Quickly stir all ingredients together using a large mixing spoon, ensuring all dry ingredients are coated. If using the brown rice syrup it tends to set up more quickly than agave syrup.
Turn the bar mixture into the prepared pan and spread the mixture evenly around the entire pan. Using the back of a large mixing spoon, press the mixture down to compress the mixture and flatten the top. Place wax paper over the top of the bars and refrigerate until fully set (approximately 2 hours).
Slice into bars and keep refrigerated in an air tight container.

Notes

* Brown Rice Syrup is a more subtle flavor sweetener which is also thicker than Agave Syrup. If you prefer a less sweet bar, use Brown Rice Sweetener but be sure to mix the wet and dry ingredients quickly. For sweeter bars use Agave Syrup.

Nutrition