This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy
Snack Bars are the crunchy, chewy, sweet, and salty bars that are dangerously snackable. Best part? They’re no bake with just about 10 minutes of hands on time.
The combo of marshmallow goo and peanut butter will keep you coming back for more!
Sweet, Salty, No Bake Perfection
I first made these snack bars back in 2012, when my oldest son was just 12 years old. He’s now a fully grown adult, has opinions about car insurance, still can’t fold a fitted sheet – yet he still asks me to make him these bars.
These gooey, chewy, crispy, crunchy snack bars, loaded with peanut butter and marshmallows and m&ms, have stood the test of time. That’s how you know they’re a keeper.
This is the kind of recipe you’ll want to keep in your back pocket for bake sales, road trips, or evenings when dinner was just a little too nutritious and you feel the need to restore the balance. 😏
♥ 3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Easy Peasy: If you can stir things together in a bowl and press them into a pan, you’ve got this.
- Sweet & Salty Vibes: You’ve got melt chocolate chips, crispy pretzels, candy, and peanut butter all in one bite.
- Lunchbox Hero or Midnight Snack: These snack bars work just as well tucked into a lunchbox as they do when you’re standing in front of the fridge at 11pm whispering just one more.
Ingredient Notes:
The Crunchies: We’re using a combo of Chex cereal + pretzel sticks to make a crispy, crunchy, snacky base.
The Chocolate: Chocolate chips + m&ms are the star here. You can use any variety (dark chocolate for a more sophisticated experience, peanut butter m&ms for more, well, peanut butter).
The Goo: Butter, peanut butter, and marshmallows melt together to form the goo that holds everything in place. Heavenly.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step by Step Instructions for Snack Bars:
Snap the pretzel sticks in half and add to a large bowl with the Chex, M&Ms, and chocolate chips. Mix and set aside.
Melt the butter and peanut butter together over low heat in a sauce pan. Stir in the marshmallows and continue to cook over low heat until the marshmallows are melted.
Pour the peanut butter marshmallow mixture over the snack mix in the bowl and toss to coat. Firmly press the mixture into a wax or parchment lined 9×13 pan.
Firmly press the mixture into a wax or parchment lined 9×13 pan. Refrigerate the snack bar mixture until it has completely cooled and firmed up. Slice it into bars and serve!
Helpful Tip!
Storage:
Weird that you aren’t eating these all immediately, but you’ve got options for keeping these fresh.
- Room Temp: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Fridge: Keep in the fridge if you prefer a more firm bar, especially helpful during summer.
- Freezer: Wrap bars individually and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temp or in the fridge.
Snack Bars
Ingredients
- 3 cups pretzel sticks snapped in half
- 2 1/3 cups chex cereal any variety
- 2 cups m&ms any variety
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips any variety
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 5 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine pretzels, cereal, m&ms, and chocolate chips. Set aside.
- In a large sauce pan, melt together the butter and peanut butter over low heat. Stir in the marshmallows and continue to cook over low heat until the marshmallows are melted. Remove from the heat as soon as the marshmallows are melted – do not overcook.
- Pour the marshmallow mixture over the cereal mixture and stir well to coat. The chocolate chips will melt a bit – that's fine.
- Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment or wax paper and dump the cereal mixture into the pan. Use a second piece of parchment or wax paper to press the mixture flat into the pan in an even layer. Press firmly to ensure the bars stick together once cooled.
- Refrigerate until the mixture is completely cool and firm. Cut into bars and serve.
Barbara K Bosse says
I had a terrible time when I poured the melted ingres over the other ingred. There was no “tossing”, tried to mix….not so good. Finally dumped all into dish and smashed it down. It’s in refrigator at the moment. I hope I didn’t waste all the ingreds.
Karly says
You definitely need to combine everything while it’s hot as marshmallows cool quickly, just like with rice krispies treats. Hope they turned out for you.
Camille says
These look awesome! (and would be Perfect for leftover halloween candy I’m desperately trying to get out of my house!) 🙂
averie @ averie cooks says
Cereal bars of any kind, salty and sweet, Rice Krispies Treats, all of it is so up my alley! Plus no bake. LOVE it!
Willa Stanley says
Is there anyway to make this without peanut butter…I have to have a peanut free snack on hand. It looks delicious. But no peanuts. Not savvy to recipe changes on my own. 🙁
Karly says
I haven’t tried this without peanut butter, but maybe doubling the butter and marshmallows would do the trick?
katy says
You can sub Sunbutter, it will work the same!
Kathy Hornsby says
This was so yummy! The only thing was all the chocolate chips melted when I poured the mixture on dry ingredients.
Kelly | Foodtasia says
YUMMMMM! The perfect combination of salty and sweet, crunchy and gooey! My kids would love these too! So sweet how your son is your biggest fan. I have a son the same age and he’s my biggest support. Always encouraging me!