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Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars: kind of like a Snickers bar, but made with five ingredients. Chewy, sweet, and soft caramel-like Medjool dates are split and then layered with brown butter toasted corn flakes, creamy peanut butter, and a thick layer of salted chocolate. Magically, these taste just like a Peanut Butter Cup smashed into a Snickers bar. It’s a wonderful “candy bar-like” situation except not as sweet – and I swear, even more DELICIOUS!
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The description above really does describe these bars to a T, but the inspiration came to me pretty naturally. And originally these had nothing to do with candy bars.
My mom used to make these bars called Special K Bars. They’re as old-school as they come. Corn flake cereal mixed with 1 cup Karo syrup, 1 cup peanut butter, and 1 cup granulated sugar. The mix is pressed into a pan, topped with chocolate, and once the chocolate is set, cut into bars.
My mom is known for these bars. She has a special touch. No one can make them as good as she can, and after years of trying, I’ve decided they can not be made in a healthier way without coming out pretty different. You need the Karo syrup and the entire cup of sugar, and you should really use Jiff peanut butter too. Ya, not the best ingredients. My healthier version is good, but it’s different.
These are not my mom’s bars either, but the taste is similar: salty-sweet peanut butter and a (very) chewy, crunchy cornflake base.
Plus plenty of chocolate (of course).
The biggest difference is the dates, they taste like chewy caramel, I love them so much. They’re amazing in so many desserts. Plus, they have a lot of health benefits, win-win!
I decided these bars are more like a peanut butter cup and a Snickers bar smashed together. They’re absolutely scrumptious.
The details
Step 1: toast the cereal in butter
Toasting the butter is optional; you can skip it if you like, but the brown butter-toasted cereal adds an additional layer of major yumminess.
Brown the butter in a skillet. Then, add the cornflakes and get them toasted.
Step 2: assemble the bars
Next, tear the dates. Be sure to use fresh dates that are very plump and not hard. Arrange them in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish, pressing them as flat as possible.
Add the toasted cereal and pour over the warm peanut butter. I love the 365 creamy peanut butter, which has no added sugar.
Freeze until the peanut butter sets.
Step 3: the chocolate layer
Next, pour over a thick layer of melted chocolate. I use 1 1/2 cups chopped dark chocolate and 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Then sprinkle the chocolate with sea salt. Chill the bars until they’re just firming up, and then cut them into bars. Store the bars in the fridge or freeze them.
Assuming your dates are super soft, you should be able to enjoy them straight out of the freezer. They’ll be chewy, creamy, sweet, and salty—literally perfect.
But beware – they can be messy, especially if you use a drippy peanut butter (which I love). I think it makes them all the more deliciously addicting.
The perfect chocolate peanut butter “candy bar”.
Looking for easy party desserts? Here are a few ideas:
Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Blondies
Homemade Vegan Peanut Butter Twix Bars
Caramel Butter Cake with Fudgy Chocolate Frosting
Retro-Style Chocolate Sheet Cake
Lastly, if you make these Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, (optional)
- 2 cups organic corn flakes or brown rice krispies
- 24 plump Medjool dates, split lengthwise and pitted
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter, warmed
- 20 ounces semi-sweet/dark chocolate, melted
- flaky sea salt, (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat until lightly brown. Add the cornflakes and cook until toasted, 5-8 minutes. Remove from the heat. 2. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper. 3. Tear the dates and press into a single layer on the bottom of the pan. For BEST results use fresh very chewy, plump dates. Add the cornflakes and evenly pour over the peanut butter. Alternately, if a studier bar is desired, blend the dates and peanut butter in a food processor, stir in the cereal, then press the mix firmly into the prepared pan.4. Freeze for 10 minutes. Pour over the chocolate. Sprinkle with sea salt. 5. Chill in until firm, at least 20 minutes. Cut into bars. Keep in the freezer. Please note these bars are messy.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Just made these and they are delicious!! I loved the simple healthy ingredients! I blended the pb and dates and used rice krispies bc my cornflakes were stale 😉 Very good and will be making these again for sure! Thanks for the delicious recipe!
Hey Diane,
Yay!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it! Have a great week! xT
The recommendation to pulse the dates in a food processor should be the actual instruction, not a suggestion. I pulsed the dates until the were almost a paste and then added the peanut butter and pulsed some more. Mix the PB/date mixture into the cereal like you would for rice krispie treats. I do agree that 20 oz of chocolate is A LOT. I used 18 oz and think you could still take this down to 15 or possibly less – it’s a very thick layer of chocolate. I have learned always to read the comments for Tiegan’s recipes because they don’t always turn out as expected. Well-intentioned, but not always well-vetted.
Hi there,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear you didn’t love the end result. Have a great Sunday! x
AMAZING!!! I am in loveeee w these. Had no issues and they’re going to be made often. Thank you for sharing!
Hey Alexa,
Awesome! Love to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for making it! Have a great weekend! xT
eror in recipe. doesnt mention putting pb on dates
Hi Paula,
You are pouring the peanut butter over the cornflakes in step 3:) “Tear the dates and press into a single layer on the bottom of the pan. For BEST results use fresh very chewy, plump dates. Add the cornflakes and evenly pour over the peanut butter.” Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
I tried making these, like others have said they do not work. Please work on developing recipes better, I wasted a lot of $ making these. The taste is not great but the look absolutely unappetizing and would be impossible to serve to people. The whole dates on the bottom did not work- a date crust would have possibly been better.
Hi Abbie,
I am so sorry you had trouble with this recipe and felt like they were a waste of money. They are definitely a messy treat:) I keep mine frozen and eat from the freezer. That said, if you do want to try them again, I would try blending the dates with the peanut butter in a food processor, then stirring in the corn flakes. Press this into a pan, then top with chocolate. That will give you a bar that holds together better. Again so sorry the recipe caused any trouble for you! xx
Sorry, I’m confused, are these supposed to be frozen? Kept in the fridge? So many directions in this recipe contradict each other, not to mentioned the photos do not looked chilled at all. I chilled them and they were still pretty much a disaster. I wasted so many ingredients for a pan of slop.
Hey Francesca,
I am so sorry you are having trouble. These are in general messy. I keep mine frozen and eat from the freezer. That said, if you do want to try them again, I would try blending the dates with the peanut butter in a food processor, then stirring in the corn flakes. Press this into a pan, then top with chocolate. That will give you a bar that holds together better. Again so sorry if the recipe is/was confusing and caused any trouble for you! xx
These were a complete mess and my dates made a terrible “crust.” I’m so confused.
Hi Steph,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear they were not enjoyed! xx
So yummy! The crunchy chocolatey goodness was just what I needed today. 🖤
Hey Addison,
Awesome!! So glad to hear that you enjoyed these bars, thanks a lot for giving them a try! xT
My mom definitely made those too! And yes! What is Karo syrup?! 😂 just made them and they are delicious! My first recipe using dates and I’m sold! I did mix the peanut butter and corn flakes before spreading them in the pan. They are amazing, thanks for another great recipe! I appreciate you!
Yay!! Thanks so much, Tiffany:) So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, I appreciate you making it! xT
It’s not a secret, Tiffany, Karo Syrup is a branded corn syrup. The ingredients are on the label. This is a staple of many serious bakers’ pantries and nothing to fear at all.
These don’t work. I agree that mixing the cornflakes with the PB and probably also putting the dates in a food processor may work better, but honestly they are impossible to eat.
Also, there’s no way in her photos that the peanut butter has been frozen? It’s a mess. I guess if she had done the crust in the food processor or mixed in the cereal with the PB, it would have been too much like her other 10 recipes that are similar to this.
Hi Anne,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear this recipe was not enjoyed. Please let me know if there is anything specific that I can help with, these bars are definitely messy:) xx
This recipe just doesn’t work. The bars just fall apart in a gooey mess. Maybe mixing the peanut butter with the cereal and pressing in the pan would work, but I’m not wasting more ingredients to try.
Hi Julie,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear it didn’t work out for you. xx
This cannot be 20 ounces of chocolate…is it a typo
Hi there,
It’s not a typo:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
This was a mess. Tasted fine.
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear you didn’t love them! x
Jif is misspelled and also your peanut butter isn’t anywhere in your directions. Thanks.
Hi Connie,
The peanut butter is listed in step 3:) Have a great day! xx
What to do with the peanut butter ?
thanks.
Hi Leslie,
You are going to pour over the peanut butter in step 3. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
Pour over what? This recipe isn’t clear.
The dates and cornflakes:) Tear the dates and press into a single layer on the bottom of the pan. Add the cornflakes and evenly pour over the peanut butter.
With all due respect, the grammar is confusing. If you said “pour the peanut butter over the dates” it would be a lot clearer. When you say “pour over the peanut butter,” many people will interpret that as if you want them to pour something over the peanut butter. The verb “pour” on its own is enough. Just a matter of wording 🙂