Peanut Mallow Bars are a delightful combination of crunchy peanuts, gooey marshmallows, and rich chocolate, creating an irresistible dessert that’s sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. Whether you’re making them for a family gathering, a potluck, or just to enjoy at home, these bars are the perfect treat. With layers of sweet and salty goodness, they offer a perfect balance of textures and flavors in each bite. The best part? They’re incredibly easy to make and require only a few basic ingredients. Follow this recipe to whip up a batch of these delicious Peanut Mallow Bars that will leave everyone coming back for more.
Ingredients for Peanut Mallow Bars
For the Base:
- 1 cup of crushed graham crackers
- 1/4 cup of melted butter
For the Filling:
- 2 cups of mini marshmallows
- 1 cup of salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup of peanut butter (smooth or chunky, depending on preference)
- 1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup of butterscotch chips (optional)
For the Topping:
- 1/4 cup of melted chocolate (for drizzling)
- 1/4 cup of chopped peanuts (for garnish)
- Extra mini marshmallows (optional, for garnish)
How to Make Peanut Mallow Bars
Step 1: Prepare the Base
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Create the Base: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the crushed graham crackers and melted butter until the mixture resembles wet sand. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×9-inch baking pan to form the base of your bars. Use the back of a spoon or the bottom of a glass to press the mixture down firmly.
- Bake: Place the base in the preheated oven and bake for about 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Remove the base from the oven and let it cool while you prepare the filling.
Step 2: Make the Filling
- Melt the Peanut Butter: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the peanut butter for about 20-30 seconds until it’s soft and easily spreadable. Set it aside to cool slightly.
- Add the Peanuts and Chocolate: Once the base has cooled, sprinkle the chopped salted peanuts evenly over the graham cracker crust. Next, sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips and butterscotch chips (if using) over the peanuts.
- Add Marshmallows: Evenly distribute the mini marshmallows across the top of the peanut and chocolate layer, making sure every part of the pan has a nice marshmallowy coating.
Step 3: Bake the Bars
- Bake Again: Place the assembled bars back into the oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until the marshmallows are slightly golden and puffed up. Keep an eye on them to ensure the marshmallows don’t burn.
- Cool the Bars: Once the marshmallows have a nice golden hue, remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Cooling helps the bars firm up and makes them easier to cut.
Step 4: Add the Toppings
- Melt the Chocolate for Drizzling: While the bars are cooling, melt the chocolate for drizzling. You can do this by microwaving the chocolate in 20-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until it’s fully melted.
- Drizzle and Garnish: Drizzle the melted chocolate evenly over the bars using a spoon or a piping bag for a more controlled drizzle. For added texture and flavor, sprinkle the chopped peanuts on top of the melted chocolate. If you want an extra marshmallowy touch, feel free to sprinkle a few more mini marshmallows on top before the chocolate sets.
- Chill the Bars: To help everything set, place the pan in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until the bars have firmed up.
Step 5: Slice and Serve
- Cut the Bars: Once the bars have set and cooled completely, use a sharp knife to cut them into squares or rectangles. For clean cuts, wipe the knife with a damp cloth between each slice.
- Serve and Enjoy: Your Peanut Mallow Bars are now ready to be enjoyed! Serve them at room temperature for the best texture. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
About the Main Ingredients
Peanuts
Peanuts add a delightful crunch and a salty contrast to the sweet layers of marshmallows and chocolate in these bars. They also provide a source of protein and healthy fats, making the bars a slightly more satisfying treat. Salted peanuts are used in this recipe to balance out the sweetness of the other ingredients, but you can also experiment with unsalted peanuts or other types of nuts such as almonds or cashews if you prefer.
Marshmallows
Marshmallows are a key component of these bars, offering a light and fluffy texture that contrasts beautifully with the crunchy peanuts and graham cracker crust. The marshmallows melt slightly during baking, creating a gooey and sticky layer that binds the ingredients together. Mini marshmallows work best in this recipe as they spread more evenly, but you could also use larger marshmallows and cut them into smaller pieces.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter not only enhances the peanut flavor in the bars but also adds a creamy richness to the overall texture. Both smooth and chunky peanut butter work well, depending on your preference. The peanut butter layer helps to glue the peanuts and chocolate together, ensuring that every bite is full of nutty goodness. If you have a peanut allergy, you could substitute the peanut butter with almond butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter.
Chocolate
The chocolate layer in these bars adds a decadent sweetness and a rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Semi-sweet chocolate is a great choice because it strikes the perfect balance between sweet and bitter, complementing the other ingredients without overpowering them. If you prefer a less sweet treat, dark chocolate can be used instead, or if you want something sweeter, you could try milk chocolate. The white chocolate drizzle is optional but adds a nice decorative touch and extra sweetness.
Graham Crackers
Graham crackers create a sturdy and flavorful base for the Peanut Mallow Bars. Their slightly sweet and buttery flavor pairs wonderfully with the rich chocolate and peanuts. If you want to mix things up, you could try using chocolate graham crackers, digestive biscuits, or even crushed pretzels for a saltier twist.
With their perfect combination of crunchy, gooey, sweet, and salty elements, Peanut Mallow Bars are a hit for any occasion. Whether you’re sharing them with friends and family or indulging in them yourself, these bars are sure to become a favorite in your dessert repertoire. Enjoy making (and eating!) these irresistible treats!
