High-Protein PB&J Rice Krispie Bars (Printable Version)

Crispy rice cereal bars with peanut butter protein drizzle and jelly swirls for a protein-boosted twist on the classic childhood favorite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 4 cups crisped rice cereal
02 - 1 cup creamy peanut butter
03 - 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
04 - 1/4 cup vanilla or unflavored protein powder
05 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Toppings

07 - 1/3 cup peanut butter for drizzle
08 - 2 tablespoons vanilla or unflavored protein powder for drizzle
09 - 2 tablespoons milk dairy or plant-based as needed for consistency
10 - 1/3 cup strawberry or grape jelly slightly warmed

# How to Prepare:

01 - Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on all sides for easy removal.
02 - In a large saucepan, gently heat 1 cup peanut butter and honey or maple syrup over low heat, stirring continuously until smooth and fully combined.
03 - Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract, salt, and 1/4 cup protein powder until fully incorporated into the mixture.
04 - Add crisped rice cereal to the peanut butter mixture and stir until all cereal is evenly coated.
05 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan and press firmly and evenly using a spatula or the back of a spoon.
06 - In a small bowl, mix 1/3 cup peanut butter with 2 tablespoons protein powder and add milk gradually until achieving a thick, pourable consistency.
07 - Drizzle the peanut butter protein mixture evenly over the pressed base in a decorative pattern.
08 - Warm the jelly slightly to loosen consistency, then drop spoonfuls over the drizzle. Use a knife or skewer to swirl the jelly and peanut butter together decoratively.
09 - Refrigerate for at least 40 minutes until the mixture is fully set and firm.
10 - Lift the mixture from the pan using the parchment paper overhang, cut into 12 equal bars, and serve chilled.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They taste like a guilty pleasure but actually contain serious protein, so you're not pretending these are health food—they genuinely are.
  • No oven required, just five minutes on the stove, which means you can make a batch between breakfast and getting out the door.
  • The swirled jelly and peanut butter drizzle on top makes them look bakery-worthy, but nobody needs to know you made them in your kitchen with a skewer.
02 -
  • The protein powder needs to be fully incorporated into the base mixture—undissolved powder will create weird gritty pockets that ruin the whole vibe, so mix longer than you think necessary.
  • Warming the jelly is non-negotiable; straight-from-the-jar jelly won't swirl smoothly and will stay in stubborn blobs instead of creating those beautiful ribbons.
  • Don't skip the full forty-minute chill time, especially if your kitchen is warm—cutting too early means you'll end up with bars that fall apart instead of clean slices.
03 -
  • Invest in a decent skewer or thin knife for the swirl step—a fork or spatula will drag the layers apart instead of creating that elegant marble effect.
  • If your kitchen runs warm, chill the peanut butter drizzle mixture in the fridge for five minutes before drizzling so it sets faster and doesn't sink into the base.
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