If you've tried Avalanche Cookies and have fallen in love, then these will be right up your alley! They are the beloved Avalanche Cookies, but in bar form! So basically, a fancy version of a rice crispy treat. Envision white chocolate, peanut butter, marshmallows, and semi-sweet chips all combined with a crispy cereal and pressed into bars make cutting and serving a cinch! I love these cold, so I keep them refrigerated which makes them a little more crispy and crumbly.....so my husband thinks their name comes from bits falling off while you eat them . 😂 I still don't know the history of their name, but I do know they are addicting and YOU WILL LOVE THEM.
Avalanche Bars
Makes 9 squares (8X8" pan)
1 (12 oz.) bag white chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter
3 cups gluten-free crispy rice cereal
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
Butter an 8X8" baking dish. In a large microwavable bowl, melt the white chocolate chips in 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until completely melted and smooth. Add the peanut butter and stir until combined. Pour in the cereal and stir until completely coated. Set a timer for 15 minutes and allow the cereal mixture to cool, stirring every 5 minutes. After cooled, add the marshmallows and miniature chocolate chips. Stir until evenly distributed, then press into prepared pan. Allow to completely cool and set, then cut into squares. Refrigerate if desired.
Step-by-step tutorial:
Gather your ingredients. You will need white chocolate chips, peanut butter, marshmallows, miniature chocolate chips, and rice crispy cereal.
Prepare an 8X8" baking dish by spraying with nonstick spray or buttering. I always use a cooking spray EXCEPT when making treats that you don't bake. I don't like the flavor of the spray, so I take a stick of butter with the end cut off and run it around the dish or pan. This greases it and lets your treats have a nice buttery flavor instead of tasting like Pam.
In a large microwavable bowl (I use a large Pyrex measuring cup) add 12 ounces white chocolate chips. Microwave on high in 30 second intervals until melted when stirred.
Add 1/4 cup peanut butter.
Stir with a spatula until fully combined.
Pour in 3 cups crispy rice cereal. Stir until the cereal is evenly coated. Let this mixture sit for 15 minutes to allow it to cool, stirring every 5 minutes.
Once cooled you will be adding 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows and 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips. The cooling allows the marshmallows and chocolate chips to keep their shape and not melt. Believe me, you're going to love the chunks of marshmallows in this! Stir until evenly distributed.
Press the cereal mixture into your prepared pan. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.
These bars are so tasty and fun to share!
Go make some today! You will be glad you did. Enjoy!
Recipe Source: Recipe adapted from a recipe on Cookies and Cups