Chocolate and peanut butter are mixed with crunchy cereal to make these super easy No Bake Chocolate Crunch Bars.
When I was very young, I went camping with the Girl Scouts and our counselor taught us to make what she called “Babe Ruth Bars.” (More on that name in a minute.)
These are so easy to make. Our counselor helped me make these bars by stirring the ingredients together over the campfire, rolling them into a log, chilling and slicing them.
I wasn’t a girl scout for very long so I couldn’t have been more than 7 or 8 years old. We ate these gathered around the fire and I absolutely loved them.
My counselor wrote out the recipe for me and I took it home.
Chocolate Cereal Bars
My grandmother was sweet enough to save that recipe for me and over the following years, we would make those bars on special occasions. I remembered the recipe a while back and I dug it out of my old cookbook.
I read it several times and then made a trip to the store, just to look at the ingredients in an actual Babe Ruth bar. Uhm, there is no similarity at all.
I have no idea why these were called Babe Ruth Bars and the name now makes me laugh.
I’ve since swapped out half the ingredients, so they are likely to be even farther from the original. Corn flakes, chocolate chips, honey, and peanut butter get melted together and then chilled to create a perfect no-bake dessert bar.
Whatever you decide to call them–I typically go with Chocolate Cereal Bars or Chocolate Crunch Bars–these treats are sure to be loved!
Chocolate Crunch Bars
I made a batch of these Chocolate Crunch Bars and left them for my family the last time I was headed out of town. When I got back home, my three-year-old proudly informed me that he “ate ALL the candy bars.”
Apparently, he thought he was really getting away with something. The whole family really enjoyed these and they have already been requested again.
Homemade Chocolate Candy
These no-bake cereal bars are somewhere between a cookie and a candy bar. They’re as easy (or even easier) to make as a batch of cookies but are guaranteed to satisfy any chocolate candy bar cravings.
If you like these no-bake treats, you should also give Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars a try. You might also enjoy this Buckeye Fudge recipe.
I love how easy it is to make these homemade chocolate candy treats. Homemade fudge recipes are a go-to treat throughout the holiday season. Between the kids, husband and I, we can gobble up a whole batch quite quickly.
No-bake crunch bars also make a fantastic treat to share with friends at any party or gathering.
No Bake Desserts
No bake cookies, bars and other desserts are some of my very favorite sweet treats to make. I love that I don’t have to worry about firing up the oven (especially in the heat of the summer).
As a huge bonus, they usually come together with almost no effort at all.
Want more no bake dessert ideas? I’ve got you covered.
These Monster Cookie Dough Bites are a must-try. If, like me, you have a weakness for cookie dough, these naturally gluten free cookie bites are for you.
I’m not a fan of the way raw oats tend to dominate the texture and flavor of many no bake dessert and cookie recipes. However, in these No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Bites there’s just the right amount of oatmeal, plus crunchy almonds and honey, to make them irresistible.
Chewy, slightly crunchy, peanut butter cereal bars are loaded with pockets of gooey marshmallows; Chewy Peanut Butter Cereal Bars are a huge hit every time we make them.
For those who love oatmeal in their no bakes, these No Bake Oatmeal Cookies are another fabulous dessert that won’t have you heating up the kitchen.
Gluten-Free Dessert
Lucky for those who are avoiding gluten, this recipe for Chocolate Crunch Bars is naturally gluten-free. Bringing these to a potluck or party ensures that even those who need to steer clear of wheat can enjoy a sweet treat.
If you use dairy-free chocolate chips, these bars are also a dairy-free dessert. Substitute almond butter for the peanut butter if you’re cooking for someone with a peanut allergy!
No Bake Chocolate Cereal Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup honey
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups corn flakes
Instructions
- Combine the sugar, honey and peanut butter in a large glass bowl and microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring after every thirty seconds until it is smooth and liquefied.
- Add the chocolate and stir again until melted. (If the chocolate doesn't melt into the liquid completely, just warm it another 30 seconds and stir again.) Add the cereal and stir to coat completely.
- Transfer to a well-greased or parchment lined 6" square or 8" x 3" bread pan. (This is a small batch, so you really do need a small pan.) Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan.
- Chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 2-3 hours. Slice into bars or cubes and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Nutrition
{originally published 11/14/13 – photos and recipe notes updated 7/14/22}
Mellusia says
Just tried my hand at making them, but I think I managed to mess it up.
The picture lead me to believe these are suppose to be soft, right? After refrigerating my batch, I took them out and it was pretty hard. I waited an hour, and it still feels hard. I even had to heat them up in the toaster oven to make it soft enough to cut. On top of that, there's sort of a gritty texture when I tried one piece.
From the little I tasted, its yummy, but it's like I made some hard candy :/
Anonymous says
How can I print out just the ONE recipe for the no bake bars..not 10 pages of the other..just the recipe~
Mary says
When you click the above link that says (printable recipe) it will take you to a single page. Print that page and it should only print the recipe. I hope that helps!
Anonymous says
wow it is awesome!!! i loved it 🙂 keep going
Linda Hardway says
Where is the recipe for cornflake chocolate cereal bars?
Mary says
If you scroll up, you should see the recipe for the cereal bars.
Regina says
Can I make it with Rice Crispy cereal and Maple Syrup?
Mary says
That should work nicely, Regina.
Suzette says
Recently I was reminiscing about some no-bake cookie bars I had eaten as a child. I did not have the recipe but thought hoped I could find it on the web
Lo! This is the recipe! And I think we made it in Girlscouts too. Easy but decadent. It is the best! Try it with wheaties…it is great!
Mary Younkin says
awe! I love hearing this. That’s how I feel about the recipe too. We’ve made this with corn flakes too. If my distant memory serves correctly, I think it was Special K in my girl scout troop. I haven’t tried Wheaties!
Sandra Dee says
I was looking for an easy recipe to make with my chocolate Frosted Flakes and I didn’t have a lot of ingredients in the house a number recipes that came across required marshmallows or Karo syrup both of which I didn’t have… This recipe required chocolate chips which I also didn’t have but the cereal I was using was chocolate so I figured I try it out… I also didn’t have a glass bowl to use in the microwave so I did it the old-fashioned way on the stove… I haven’t tried it yet but it’s in the refrigerator and I’m giving it the two to three hours that the recipe says it has to be in there… In addition to using a different cereal I also added cinnamon and some vanilla… I double the recipe up slightly but not by exact measure… So we’ll see how it turns out
Mary Younkin says
That’s interesting, Sandra. I’m not sure if they’ll stick together without the chocolate, so you’ll have to keep me posted on that.
Ellen McKinley says
This recipe looks delicious and easy but I’m questioning whether it’s gluten free…? Typically Corn Flakes aren’t naturally gluten free. You can buy a gluten free version but it isn’t always readily available and it isn’t as good. Most brands contain wheat and also flavorings and sweeteners that also contain gluten.
Mary Younkin says
Ellen – I always encourage people with specific dietary needs to read labels. Some brands are gluten-free and some are not.