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Crispy Peanut Butter Brownie Bars

Prep 15 min
Total 3 hr 0 min
Servings 18

Why choose between crispy treats and brownies when you can have both? These easy chocolate-peanut butter bars combine two favorites into one tasty dessert. ...MORE+ LESS-

Girl Versus Dough

February 26, 2015

Ingredients

Brownie layer:

box Betty Crocker™ dark chocolate fudge brownie mix

1/2

cup vegetable oil

1/4

cup water

eggs, divided

1/3

cup creamy peanut butter

1/3

cup packed brown sugar

Crispy treat layer:

tablespoons unsalted butter

ounces mini marshmallows OR 1 (7 oz) container marshmallow crème

1/2

cup creamy peanut butter

cups crisp rice cereal

1/2

cup mini chocolate chips

Steps

Hide Images

1

Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 13-by-9-inch pan with foil, then spray bottom only of pan with cooking or baking spray.
2

In a large bowl, stir brownie mix, oil, water and 2 eggs until just combined. In a separate medium bowl, stir remaining egg, peanut butter and brown sugar until well combined.
3

Pour and spread half of brownie batter into prepared pan. Top randomly with tablespoonfuls of the peanut butter mixture, then randomly with tablespoonfuls of the remaining brownie batter. Run a knife a few times through batter to create swirls. Bake brownies 30 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
4

As soon as brownies come out of oven, make crispy treat layer. In a large saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Stir in marshmallows or marshmallow crème until melted. Stir in peanut butter, then stir in cereal until well coated.
5

Carefully and gently spread and press cereal mixture into an even layer on top of warm brownies. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips. Let set until treats are fully cooled before slicing.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 410
Calories from Fat: 160

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 18g; 27%
Saturated Fat 4 1/2g 23% Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol: 35mg; 12%
Sodium: 230mg; 10%
Potassium: 110mg; 3%
Total Carbohydrate: 57g; 19%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4% Sugars 18g
Protein: 6g

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin A: 8%; 8%
Vitamin C: 4%; 4%
Calcium: 0%; 0%
Iron: 20%; 20%

Exchanges:

1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 3 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 1/2 High-Fat Meat; 2 1/2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choice

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

These bars are so easy and such a fun twist on the expected.

Peanut butter and chocolate, crispy bars and brownies… with this easy and delicious dessert, you don’t have to choose. You can have them ALL.

Words escape me, really, whenever I think about how to describe these bars. They're just so tasty that once I see them or hear about them or read about them or even think about them, all I can do is drool and say, “MUST HAVE ONE.” Okay, okay, you’re right – “MUST HAVE FIVE.”

Good thing their name pretty much describes all of their goodness. Right? Right?? A layer of peanut butter-swirled dark chocolate brownies is topped with peanut buttery crispy treats and mini chocolate chips.

Yeah, they’re pretty much amazing. And the best part is they’re easy to make and you probably have everything on hand you’d need to make them, too. Holla hands emoji!

First, make the brownie base. I love using Betty Crocker’s dark chocolate fudge brownie mix – it’s quick, simple and the results are decadently fudgy, moist, dense and – did I mention fudgy? Plus that peanut butter swirl: ZOMG.

Make the brownie batter and pour half of it into a greased and foil-lined baking pan. Top the brownie batter with random tablespoonfuls of the peanut butter mixture and the remaining brownie batter, then run a knife through the batter a few times to create swirls. Easy as pie! Er, brownies.

Bake the brownies until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

While the brownies are still warm, make the crispy treat topping. In a large saucepan over low heat, melt some butter, then stir in either regular marshmallows, mini marshmallows or marshmallow crème (what I used here).

Stir until everything is melted and gooey, then add the peanut butter. Finally, stir in the crisp rice cereal until it’s well coated in the marshmallow-peanut butter mixture.

Carefully and gently press the crispy treat mixture over the warm brownies in an even layer. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips (because we can!) and let everything set until the brownies are fully cooled.

Finally, cut into bars and serve.

That peanut butter fudge swirly brownie goodness with a crunchy, crispy, chewy, gooey peanut butter chocolate chippy topping… like I said, there are no words. So let’s just get to eating already.