These Rocky Road Bars are a quick, no-bake dessert loaded with peanut butter, chocolate, crispy rice cereal, and marshmallows. Just 5 basic ingredients, and no oven required. They're perfect for a simple dessert, a sweet afternoon snack, or a potluck favorite that disappears fast.
Recipe Ingredients
- Butter - We haven't noticed a difference between salted and unsalted butter in this recipe, so use whichever you have on hand.
- Peanut Butter - If you prefer crunchy peanut butter rather than creamy peanut butter, it will work just fine in this Rocky Road Bars recipe. It will just add to the texture and crunch of the bar.
- Chocolate - Melting chocolate or chocolate chips both work well in this recipe. My personal favorite is dark chocolate, and I use chocolate chips since I am more likely to have those on hand.
- Crispy Rice Cereal - Any brand of crispy rice cereal works well here. Whether it is a name-brand or a store-brand, choose your favorite. It's what gives these bars their signature crunch against the soft marshmallows and creamy chocolate-peanut butter base.
- Mini Marshmallows - We use mini marshmallows instead of regular-sized ones for a couple of reasons. Since these bars get cut into small squares, minis distribute more evenly throughout each piece. With regular marshmallows, you might cut a bar and end up with barely any marshmallow in it, or one giant half-melted chunk. Minis also just look better in the finished bars.
Step-by-Step Directions
Before starting, place the bag of mini marshmallows in the freezer for at least 5 minutes.
Place a large pan over medium-low to medium heat. Add the butter, peanut butter, and chocolate to the pan. Stir often as the ingredients melt and blend together thoroughly.
Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat and allow it to cool for 5 minutes.
When the chocolate has cooled for about 5 minutes, stir in the crispy rice cereal and 3 cups of the mini marshmallows. Stir quickly and just enough to keep the mini marshmallows from completely melting.
Line the pan with parchment paper, letting some hang over the sides so you can easily lift the bars out later.
Pour the rocky road mixture into the prepared dish.
Sprinkle the remaining mini marshmallows over the top of the rocky road candy.
Place the Rocky Road Bars in the refrigerator. They will be fully set in 2 to 3 hours.
When you are ready, remove the rocky road candy, along with the parchment paper, and set it on the counter or a cutting board. Cut the rocky road into squares or bars. Serve and enjoy!
Mom Tip
What can I say? These Rocky Road Bars are delicious and if you don't want the kids eating them all, hide some!
Recipe FAQ's
If you only have regular marshmallows on hand, cut them into smaller pieces before adding them to the pan. This helps them distribute evenly through the bars instead of leaving big pockets of marshmallow in some bites and none in others.
Yes, this recipe doubles easily, just use a larger pan to fit the increased amount.
Freezing the marshmallows for a few minutes before adding them to the warm chocolate mixture keeps them from melting too fast, so you end up with distinct pockets of marshmallow instead of everything melting into one gooey mass.
Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
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Complete Recipe
Rocky Road Bars
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups Mini Marshmallows divided
- 16 ounces Melting Chocolate or chocolate chips
- ¾ cup Peanut Butter creamy
- ¼ cup Butter
- 2 cups Crispy Rice Cereal
Instructions
- Before starting, place the bag of mini marshmallows in the freezer for at least 5 minutes. This keeps the marshmallows from melting too fast.
- Place a large pan over medium-low to medium heat. Add the butter, peanut butter, and chocolate. Melt and blend the ingredients stirring often.
- Remove the pan from the stove and let cool for about 5 minutes.
- While the chocolate mixture is cooling, prepare an 8 x 8-inch or 9 x 9-inch pan by lining it with parchment paper. This is so you can lift the bars out of the pan easily when you are ready to cut them.
- When the chocolate has cooled for about 5 minutes, stir in the crispy rice cereal and 3 cups of mini marshmallows. Stir quickly and just enough to keep the mini marshmallows from completely melting.
- Pour the rocky road bars mixture into the prepared dish. Spread evenly and top with the remaining marshmallows.
- Refrigerate the bars until fully set, about 2-3 hours.
- Lift the whole chocolate out of the pan. Cut the rocky road into squares or bars. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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