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

Crispy bars with peanut butter drizzle, jelly swirls, and 7g protein per serving. Ready in 1 hour with simple pantry ingredients.

# The Ingredients 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

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

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 over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and fully combined. Remove from heat.
03 - Stir in vanilla extract, salt, and 1/4 cup protein powder until fully incorporated and no lumps remain.
04 - Add crisped rice cereal to the peanut butter mixture and stir until evenly coated throughout.
05 - Transfer mixture to prepared baking pan and press firmly and evenly into an even layer using a spatula.
06 - In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup peanut butter with 2 tablespoons protein powder and enough milk to create a thick, pourable consistency.
07 - Drizzle the peanut butter protein mixture evenly over the pressed base using a spoon or squeeze bottle.
08 - Warm jelly slightly to loosen consistency, then drop spoonfuls over the peanut butter drizzle. Use a knife or skewer to create decorative swirls.
09 - Refrigerate for at least 40 minutes or until the mixture is completely set and firm to the touch.
10 - Lift mixture from pan using parchment overhang. Cut into 12 equal bars using a sharp knife, wiping blade between cuts for clean edges.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Tastes like childhood but keeps you full for hours thanks to the protein boost
  • Comes together in one pot with ingredients you probably already have
  • No baking required, just a quick stovetop stir and some patience while they chill
  • Looks fancy with those pretty jelly swirls but takes less effort than making toast
02 -
  • Press the base really firmly or your bars will crumble when you try to cut them, I learned this the hard way on my first attempt
  • Warm the jelly just enough to make it loose and swirl-able, cold jelly will rip up the peanut butter layer and make a mess
  • Let them chill completely before cutting or the drizzle will smear everywhere and you'll lose those pretty swirls
03 -
  • Wet your hands or spray them with a little cooking spray before pressing the base, it keeps the mixture from sticking to your fingers
  • Use natural peanut butter for the base but regular creamy for the drizzle, the oils in natural peanut butter can make the drizzle separate
  • If your protein powder is flavored like chocolate or vanilla cake batter, lean into it and skip the jelly for a different vibe entirely
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