PMS Crunch Bars

Sweet, Salty, Peanut Buttery, Chocolate, Crunchy, and Chewy... so many wonderful flavors and textures all rolled into one with these bars. I've dubbed them "PMS Crunch Bars" because they so very well satisfy those special girl cravings. Boys dig these bars too, albeit on an entirely different level.

I don't have any one particular source for this recipe. The base is like the Special K Bars my mother made when I was a kid, only with Rice Krispies instead of Special K*. One time I made them and thought "Hmm these would be awesome with pretzels to offset the sweet" and then "Mmm Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pretzels.." and the rest is history.

PMS Crunch Bars
1 cup white sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
4 cups puffed rice cereal **
2 cups thin pretzels, broken up by hand into small pieces
1-2 cups chocolate chips, depending on how chocolately you want them
Sprinkles or chopped peanuts, if desired

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, stir together the sugar and corn syrup until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is just boiling.

1. Add the peanut butter and stir well until it's melted together into one molten peanut sugar mixture.

3. Add the cereal and pretzels and mix well until all the cereal and pretzels are all coated in the goo

4. Spread the cereal mixture evenly into a lightly greased (cooking spray works great here) 9X13" pan.

5. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave or over a double boiler until smooth. Spread on the top of the cereal bars. Sprinkle with sprinkles or chopped peanuts, if desired.

6. Cut the bars into squares once they have cooled completely.

7. Enjoy sugar buzz.

A shot of the unfrosted bars. Mmm check out that peanut butter pretzel cerealy goodness.

* According to my mother, Special K used to resemble Rice Krispies before it was a flake cereal. The recipe is from the pre-flake Special K days. When they switched to flakes, my mom switched the Rice Krispies for the bars.

** I actually like the really cheap "PUFFED RICE" that comes in a bag for these bars. Regular Rice Krispies will give you a more "marshmallow treat" type texture. Try it both ways, or go half and half if you're feeling adventurous!