Peppermint bark marshmallow cereal bars are a quick, no-bake festive treat perfect for holiday sharing. They’re sweet, crunchy, and easy to make for cookie boxes or gift tins.
This recipe was created in partnership with Feedfeed and If You Care. All opinions are my own.
The holidays are here, and these peppermint bark marshmallow cereal bars are an easy way to show someone you care. They combine crunchy cereal, melty marshmallows, peppermint pieces, and layers of chocolate for a classic seasonal flavor.
I like to add these to holiday cookie boxes — they hold up well and look festive when wrapped with parchment and tied with a ribbon.
Chocolate Peppermint Cereal Treats
This simple no-bake recipe makes one 9-inch square pan. It’s easy to scale — double the ingredients for a 13×9-inch pan or to fill additional pans for gifting.
The bars are built from crispy rice cereal bound with a butter-marshmallow mixture, studded with crushed peppermint and dark chocolate. A layered topping of white chocolate, dark chocolate, and extra crushed peppermint finishes the bars for a peppermint bark appearance.
They’re easy to make, store well for a few days, and are a festive addition to any holiday spread.
Ingredients
These bars require just a handful of pantry staples. Use your favorite crispy rice cereal or substitute another crunchy cereal if preferred. Melting the butter and marshmallows on the stovetop gives the best texture, but a microwave works in a pinch.
If You Care Parchment Baking Paper
When baking and packaging treats, I try to reduce waste and choose products with fewer chemicals and lower environmental impact. I recommend unbleached, chlorine-free parchment paper for lining pans and wrapping bars.
Line the 9-inch pan with parchment, leaving an overhang to lift the bars cleanly from the pan. Parchment prevents sticking so you don’t need to grease the pan, and it makes unmolding and packaging much easier.
Packaging Food Gifts
Parchment is also useful when packaging food gifts. Cut parchment into squares to separate and layer bars so they don’t stick together, and line tins or boxes to cushion and protect the treats during transport.
Peppermint Bark Marshmallow Cereal Bars
Yield: 9-inch square pan
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, (85 g)
- 1 10 oz package mini marshmallows
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 5 cups crispy rice cereal, (140 g)
- 3 Tablespoons crushed peppermint candy, (40 g)
- ½ cup dark chocolate chunks, (85 g)
Topping:
- ½ cup white chocolate chips, (85 g)
- ½ cup dark chocolate chunks, (85 g)
- 3 Tablespoons crushed peppermint candy, (40 g)
Instructions
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Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment, leaving an overhang to lift the bars out when set. Set aside.
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In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the mini marshmallows and salt, stirring until smooth and melted. Remove from heat.
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Fold in the cereal until evenly coated with the marshmallow mixture. Stir in the crushed peppermint.
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Divide the mixture into thirds. Press one third into the prepared pan to form an even layer. Sprinkle half the dark chocolate chunks over it. Press another third of the cereal mixture on top, then sprinkle the remaining dark chocolate. Finish by pressing the final third of the mixture into an even layer. Use a sheet of parchment to press and level the top if needed.
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Let the pan cool to room temperature.
Topping:
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Melt the white chocolate gently over a bain-marie or carefully in the microwave until smooth.
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Spread the melted white chocolate over the cereal bars and allow it to set slightly.
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Melt the dark chocolate over a bain-marie or in short bursts in the microwave until smooth.
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Spread the dark chocolate over the set white chocolate and immediately sprinkle with the remaining crushed peppermint. Let the chocolate set completely.
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Lift the set slab from the pan using the parchment overhang. Place on a cutting board and slice into 9 equal squares or into whatever size pieces you prefer.
Notes
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Baking Pan Size Options:
- Double the recipe to fill a 13×9-inch pan or to make two 9-inch square pans.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
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