High-Protein PB&J Rice Krispie Bars (Printer View)

Crispy rice cereal bars elevated with protein-rich peanut butter drizzle and fruit jelly swirls for a satisfying, nutritious snack.

# What you'll need:

→ Cereal Base

01 - 4 cups crisp rice cereal
02 - 1.5 cups mini marshmallows
03 - 0.25 cup unsalted butter
04 - 0.25 cup creamy peanut butter
05 - 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - Pinch of salt

→ Protein Drizzle

07 - 0.5 cup vanilla protein powder
08 - 0.33 cup creamy peanut butter
09 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
10 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup

→ Jelly Swirl

11 - 0.33 cup fruit jelly or jam

# Method:

01 - Line an 8x8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and peanut butter together. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt.
03 - Add the crisp rice cereal to the mixture and fold until evenly coated with the peanut butter and marshmallow base.
04 - Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared baking pan, creating a uniform layer.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together protein powder, peanut butter, almond milk, and maple syrup until smooth and pourable. Adjust milk for consistency if needed.
06 - Drizzle the protein mixture evenly over the pressed cereal layer.
07 - Spoon small dollops of jelly over the top. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the jelly and protein drizzle together for a marbled effect.
08 - Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or until completely set.
09 - Lift the bars out using the parchment overhang and cut into 12 equal squares.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste like a nostalgic PB&J sandwich but pack real protein without the protein bar aftertaste.
  • The whole thing comes together in under 30 minutes of active time, which means you can make a batch before your week gets chaotic.
  • The marbled jelly and protein drizzle look impressive enough to share, but they're honestly just for you.
02 -
  • The protein drizzle will set up more as it cools, so if it looks too thin when you're drizzling, give it ten minutes—it firms up in a way that feels almost magical.
  • Don't skip the salt in the cereal base; it's the thing that keeps these from tasting one-note and sweet, and it's what makes people ask why these taste so much better than store-bought bars.
03 -
  • A damp paper towel wiped on your cutting knife between cuts keeps the jelly from smearing and makes your squares look cleaner.
  • If your protein drizzle is too thick to pour, microwave it for 10 seconds instead of adding more milk—sometimes warmth is all it needs.
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