“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
While celebrating the holidays has kind of an odd feeling around it this year, I’m destined to still make it as fun as possible not only for our little 10-month-old, but for my husband and I as well! I took out the decorations as early as possible, started listening to Michael Bublé and John Legend’s Christmas albums on repeat, even found some amazing mint mocha dairy free creamer—we are READY in this house!
I will say that most of this is for me and my sanity. I am obsessed with this time of year, so I’m not holding back one bit. Oliver really just wants to play too aggressively with the nutcrackers, climb on the gifts under the tree and just point to all of the ornaments hung up—so I’m waiting for next year for his excitement to be as high as mine! That being said, this little dessert is also more for me than him…oops.
While I would have given this boy chocolate the day he was born (exaggeration, but, I mean, another true love of mine!), I’m of course holding off until he’s at least one—and I read that usually around 2 is when it’s “acceptable” to give kids chocolate?! Yes, waiting until he’s at least 1 sounds better to me! Okay, back to it… I found this little chocolate bar/dessert to be this beautiful hybrid of no bake cookies + brownie batter + a Crunch bar, which is honestly kinda perfect! Your gal LOVES chocolate bars, but I never eat them, so I figured why not make some?! The peanut butter Panda Puffs cereal adds the most amazing texture and crunch to these cake batter/brownie-esque bars! This cereal was a true love of mine in high school, so we are bringing it back!
Sure, is this recipe “healthified?” A bit. But is the flavor all there and will you be hiding them in the fridge, so no one steals any of them?! Absolutely! I cannot wait for little O to be the age that he loves chocolate as much as his mom, but I’m totally cool not sharing these homemade Crunch bars for at least a few more months!
ingredients
Coconut Oil—1.75 oz, or ¼ C
Brown Sugar—6.5 oz, or ¾ C
Oat Milk—4 oz, or ½ C
Cocoa Powder—2.25 oz, or 2/3 C
Peanut Butter—6.5 oz, or 2/3 C
Vanilla Extract—1 TBL
Cereal [Panda Puffs]—4.5 oz, or 3 C
Salt—¾ tsp
process
In a medium saucepot, combine coconut oil, sugar, milk and cocoa powder on the stove. Allow to all combine together and lightly boil for 1-2 minutes.
Remove from the heat and add in the peanut butter and vanilla extract.
With your cereal of choice in a large bowl, pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over it, mixing to combine and coat evenly.
Sprinkle with salt.
Pour into an 8”x 8” pan that is either lined with parchment or a nonstick spray.
Press down evenly.
Place in the refrigerator to set for at least 1-2 hours.
Once firm remove from the fridge and cut into desired size!
Best stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Bon Appétit!