Vegan No Bake Pumpkin Spice Chex Cereal Bars
These no-bake bars combine the warm spices of fall with crunchy Cinnamon Chex cereal and roasted peanuts in a sweet peanut butter base. A simple stovetop mixture of brown sugar and corn syrup creates a chewy binding that holds everything together, while white chocolate chips add a creamy finishing touch. Perfect for autumn gatherings, school lunches, or when you want a festive treat without turning on the oven. The bars set quickly at room temperature and slice cleanly for easy serving.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Combine cereal and peanuts in a large bowl and grease a 9x13 pan
- 2
Bring brown sugar and corn syrup to a boil in a medium saucepan
- 3
Boil for one minute, then add peanut butter, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and salt
- 4
Stir mixture to combine
- 5
Add hot mixture to cereal and peanut mixture and carefully stir without crushing cereal
- 6
Gently press mixture into prepared pan and cool
- 7
Top with melted white chocolate and wait for chocolate to harden
- 8
Cut into bars and serve
Tips
Work quickly when mixing the hot sugar syrup with the cereal to ensure even coating before it begins to set.
Press the mixture firmly but gently into the pan to avoid crushing the cereal while ensuring bars hold together when cut.
Let chocolate topping set completely at room temperature before cutting to prevent messy bars.
Good to Know
Store covered at room temperature for up to 1 week
Can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored covered
Serve at room temperature cut into squares
Common Mistakes
Avoid overcooking the sugar syrup beyond one minute to prevent hardening
Don't overmix the cereal mixture to prevent crushing the cereal pieces
Substitutions
Nut-Free Alternatives
General Alternatives
less cinnamon flavor
FAQ
Can I use natural peanut butter instead of regular?
Yes, but natural peanut butter may make the bars slightly less firm. Stir well before using and expect a slightly different texture.
How long do these bars need to set?
Allow about 2 hours for the bars to cool and set completely, plus additional time for the chocolate topping to harden if using.
Can I freeze these bars?
Yes, wrap individually and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.