Cereal Thriller Bars hero image

Cereal Thriller Bars

No-Bake Peanut Butter Crunch Bars with Golden Grahams and Nilla Wafers

25 minutes plus 2 hours chilling
Serves 4
DessertAmerican
Herb's take

Meet the dessert that lets your inner cereal scientist shine: layers of Golden Grahams and Nilla Wafers meet a rich peanutty cream for pure nostalgia, no oven required. You’ll learn the dark arts of emulsifying peanut butter with cream, and the light science of how coconut oil keeps chocolate soft.

Equipment needed
  • 8-inch square pan
  • parchment paper

Ingredients

Yield
4

Instructions

  1. 01
    Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment, leaving overhang for easy removal.
  2. 02
    Toss the golden grahams and crushed nilla wafers together in a large bowl; set aside.
  3. 03
    In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine coconut oil and heavy cream. Warm just until the oil melts and small bubbles form at the edges; remove from heat.
  4. 04
    Add powdered sugar, cinnamon, and salt to the warm cream mixture. Whisk until smooth and slightly thickened.
  5. 05
    Pour the cream mixture over the cereal-wafer mix. Stir until all the pieces look glossy and wet, no dry pockets allowed.
  6. 06
    Fold in the chopped peanuts, dispersing well.
  7. 07
    Transfer mixture to the prepared pan. Press firmly into an even layer using the bottom of a measuring cup or your palms.
  8. 08
    Chill, uncovered, at least 2 hours or until firm.
  9. 09
    Lift bars out using the parchment. Slice into 12 bars. Serve cold or at cool room temperature.

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