No Bake Peanut Butter Cereal Crack Bars {Gluten Free}

Hey there!  How's everyone doing? Before I get to the recipe, I thought I'd share some highlights from my week.

Summer has been moving fast this year. Something is going on every day, yet I love the flexibility of summer that lets you just get together with people for the fun of it. Although I have enjoyed lots of activities this summer, I haven't had very much time with friends.  So getting to spend a couple hours one on one was a blast.

Golf tournaments are over!  Now that I've been playing for a while, I really wish it would keep going. We finished the two day championship yesterday and although my score was exactly the same as last week, I felt like I had improved. Just wish my score could reflect my feelings;)  It was incredibly hot, but playing consistently made it really fun. 

Sewing lessons!  I've finished a couple baskets and we are almost done with skirts. I'll post pics of those soon. I've really enjoyed getting to sew and be creative in that way. 

Vacation Bible School was this past week and I truly enjoyed it. It was great meeting and leading with other kids my age from our church and also getting to be a crew leader. My group was all boys and one especially was a piece of work. There were times when he would blatantly disobey me and other times just throw his arms around me in a hug. I couldn't ever decide if I wanted to clobber him or hug him back:)  Call it being stretched and challenged. Although I got so many sympathetic looks and comments, this little boy was what I needed. It was a really great VBS. 

And I made these bars. 

I'm gonna cut to the chase and let you know, I think these are illegal.  They are that good.  I remember Mom coming home after lunch and looking in the pan, saying, "Wow, these must've been popular!"

Uh well, you see ... I was the only one who ate any:)  My siblings were interested in finishing up the zucchini bars, but I wanted these. 

Just FYI, peanut butter and no bakes are goners around me.  So much so, that there was enough gone from the pan that my mom thought my many siblings had had their share. (Don't worry, they did come to their senses and finish what was left of the pan for me.)

These are sweet, very peanut buttery and crunchy. The first day they are very crunchy, but the longer you let them sit, the softer the chex and crispies get, almost making them better. They are still crunchy, don't worry, but the peanut butter and corn syrup mixture has soaked into the chex. Seriously, I don't know why these are so ridiculously addictive, but they are. I haven't eaten half a pan of something in a loooooong time.
 

 

No Bake Peanut Butter Cereal Crack Bars {Gluten Free}

Recipe Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life. Yield: 12-16 servings.  Adapted from Averie Cooks

1 heaping cup peanut butter
1/2 cup corn syrup (light colored, not lite)

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon vanilla 

1-1/2 cup Rice Krispys cereal 

2 cups chex (rice or corn)

1/4 cup chocolate chips

2 teaspoons shortening

Lightly grease a 9x9 pan. 

On the stove top, chine peanut butter, corn syrup, sugars, cinnamon and vanilla. Cook on low heat until combined and smooth, about a minute. Remove from heat and stir in chex and rice Krispy treats. Immediately press into prepared pan. 

Let cool for about 5 minutes. While it is cooling, melt chocolate chips and shortening. (I put them in a ziploc bag and microwaved it for about 15-30 seconds.  Then, I sealed the bag and squished the chocolate chips and shortening in it. Then I cut one of the points and piped the chocolate on.  Ifthe  chocolate is too runny, go ahead and let it cool and firm up before piping it on. But however you do it is fine!)  Spread or pipe  chocolate topping onto cooled bars.

Note:  Apparently, rice krispies are NOT gluten free.  After reading this article, you can eat them if you are not celiac.  I am not gluten free, so please, do what is best for your diet!

Cut and serve or store in an airtight container. 

Like I said, peanut butter no bakes are some of my most favorite things ever.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bites

Pretzel Buckeyes



Fudgy Walnut Butter Sprinkles No Bakes

Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars