Crispy Peanut Butter Cereal Bars with Chocolate

Quite possibly the most amazing, healthy snack you've crunched in to. Made with rice cereal, peanut butter and maple syrup, these sweet, crisp bars are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and have no refined sugar. And that drizzle of chocolate on top? There's so much to love here.

I served these crunchy-sweet treats to my boys as an afterschool snack. Then... we ALL WENT BACK after dinner and enjoyed them for dessert! That's how incredibly awesome they are - any time of day. And, since they're uber wholesome, they make a great breakfast-on-the-go and pre-workout source of fuel.

And you need just 5 ingredients! Easy AND healthy? Sign me up!

Crispy Peanut Butter Cereal Bars with Chocolate 

1 cup peanut butter (or almond butter or cashew butter)
1 cup pure maple syrup (or agave nectar or brown rice syrup)
5 cups crispy rice cereal, regular or brown rice
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon shortening

Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil.
Combine the peanut butter and maple syrup in a large saucepan or microwave-safe bowl. Heat over medium heat until the mixture is thin and smooth whisking frequently; or microwave for 90 seconds, checking and whisking every 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and fold in the cereal. Mix until well blended.
Press the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the surface.
Heat the chocolate chips and shortening together in a small saucepan or in the microwave, checking and stirring every 20 seconds. Drizzle the chocolate over the bars. Let stand until the chocolate sets (refrigerate to speed up the process).
Cut into 24 bars and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Makes 24 bars