Sometimes I hear about or see something and know instantly I have to have it, have to make it, be a part of it. This thing must be a part of my life in some way. Maybe it’s a dress that made its way down the runway during New York Fashion Week. One that I have no place to wear but can’t stop thinking about nonetheless. Perhaps it’s the newest nail polish shade from Chanel. The hottest color, I will undoubtedly work all my makeup sources to hoard it before it sells out. I might even fall in love with a flower I see in an email or online. Years ago we ordered black tulip bulbs to plant. They were the most beautiful flowers. But then the squirrels dug up the bulbs and they are no more 🙁
Then there are the places I want to visit. Reading about local restaurants in the newspaper has me scribbling them down on a list of places I want to dine. I have hundreds of bookmarks for places I want to visit across the country, mostly related to food, which is why I try to mail order food on occasion. My eyes light up at the sight of a new play or musical coming to town, as my fingers click over to Ticketmaster to snap up some hopefully front row seats.
Gingerbread Peep
Of course, there are nearly countless recipes that I want to make one day too. I have to be honest, I have tons bookmarked and printed, plus cookbooks full of decadent delights that I hope fill my kitchen one day. But rare is the recipe that makes me stop in my tracks and put it on my baking schedule. Most of the things I make come from my imagination, a need for a recipe to use a certain ingredient, or finally getting around to one that’s stared at me for years.
This is not one of those recipes. Rather it is one that demanded my instant attention. I saw this recipe for Peanut Chewy Payday Bars on Averie Cooks and could not stop thinking about it. I tweeted it, pinned it, and most importantly printed it. That’s right, this recipe didn’t even rest in the bookmarks. I can’t remember the last time a recipe appealed to me so much that it was mere days, and a stop at the store for a box of Rice Krispies, before I was making it.
The original recipe called for ingredients that mimic the flavor of a Payday bar, one of my favorite candies. And while I want to try the recipe in its original form soon, I wanted to make something a little more holiday, more festive. So I swapped peanut butter for Biscoff, eliminated the corn syrup, because it turns out corn syrup makes Biscoff seize, peanuts for walnuts, and some of the marshmallows for Gingerbread Peeps. I’m kind of obsessed with marshmallows. You might be able to tell that based on how often I make and use my favorite marshmallow frosting. It tastes much better than store bought marshmallows, but there is totally a place and time for those. I added some here for balance, but the surprisingly tasty Gingerbread Peeps were calling to make an appearance in a recipe. What says Christmas more than Peeps shaped like gingerbread men with amazing gingerbread flavor?
The end result? It lived up to all my wild expectations and then some. The crust was firm, but still a little crumble and sandy. The insanely thick layer of marshmallows was soft and gooey with some of that great gingerbread flavor. The topping, crunchy with walnuts and Rice Krispies and rich with Biscoff. Together, the flavor combination is amazing, and this is one addictive and super easy to make treat. The title may not be the catchiest, but I can assure you the bars themselves are. I can’t wait to make the original because if my remix is this good, I can only wonder what greatness the original has in store. Give yourself an early Christmas present and make these bars.
Ginger Biscoff Marshmallow Bars
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 9 1x
Ingredients
Crust
- ¾ stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
Filling
- 10 Gingerbread Peeps
- About 1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows
Topping
- 1 cup creamy Biscoff
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
- 1 ½ cups Rice Krispies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 by 8 inch pan with parchment, leaving overhang above the edges of the pan. Butter the parchment generously.
- In a medium bowl, smash together the butter, flour, and brown sugar until the mixture is crumbly and the ingredients are evenly distributed. Pour the mixture into the pan and press it in very firmly with fingers or the back of a spoon (or both). Bake for about 12 minutes, until the crust is set and very light golden brown.
- Pack the Gingerbread Peeps tightly over the crust. Top with enough miniature marshmallows to completely cover the Peeps. The more marshmallows the better. Return to the oven for 5-7 minutes until the marshmallows are puffed and melted, but not brown at all. Set aside.
- Make the topping. In a medium microwave safe bowl, microwave Biscoff and butter until fully melted and combined. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between to promote melting. Stir in the vanilla. Add the walnuts and Rice Krispies and stir until they are distributed and fully coated. Pour over the marshmallows and smooth, covering the entire surface. Cool completely in pan.
- Using a very sharp knife, cut into bars once cooled and serve. May be stored at room temperature for up to 1 week. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Averie Cooks
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
Your bars look great and I love Biscoff and have a couple recipes coming with it, very soon. Including marshmallows, too 🙂
Thanks for not even letting the recipe rest and get buried in bookmarks and one-day’s. I do that all the time with recipes I see and then they just get lost in the shuffle. The last time I popped up and just made something right away it turned out to be one of my fave cookie recipes to date & so glad you tried my bars – and I think you’ll love the original version, too!
Can’t wait to see your Biscoff recipes, Averie 🙂 I have a mess of bookmarked and printed recipes that I want to try one day. I have been going through my bookmarks a little and some of them don’t even work anymore! I ate a leftover bar last night and microwaved it for about 10 seconds. OMG it was even better. Messy, but so tasty. I am dying to make the original recipe. I know I’ll love it.
These are absolutely sinful.
Yeah, these are a pretty amazing treat. Glad you enjoyed them 🙂
I love marshmallows tooo! And these bars are fabulous they look amazing and delicious and I love that you transformed them by switching in Biscoff and peanuts and gingy peeps-yessss
★★★★★
Yes, marshmallow everything. Those Gingerbread Peeps are so good it’s crazy. I was skeptical, but they’re amazing. Thanks, Kayle, and thanks for the Tweet too 🙂
Gingerbread Peeps sound awesome – I am going to be on the lookout for those!
You have to find the Gingerbread Peeps, Sydney. They are so good – I know you’ll love them!
These are so good. Layers upon layers of gooey goodness. Love them!.
★★★★★
Thanks! All the layers are great and they complement each other so well.
These looks so good! Tons of yummy layers stuffed into one bar…right up my alley!
Thank you, Rachel, and thanks for visiting 🙂 I have to say these taste even better than they look, one of my favorite treats. And they’re so easy to make.
I have to try those gingerbread peeps! I saw them at the store and nearly died – they are adorable and work so well in today’s recipe!
Thanks, Sally! And don’t miss out on the Gingerbread Peeps. I snapped up a bunch of them before they’re gone like the Gingerbread Oreos.
Oh, you are wrecking my diet!!! These look incredible!
Thanks, Debbie! But these are health food right? With walnuts and cereal, and there must be a food group for marshmallows 😉
These are really good!! The Marshmallow and Walnut mix is a combination that I have never had before, but you have discovered yet another hit! Thank you!
★★★★★
I’m thrilled you liked them, Lendon! There’s something about all of those flavors that makes them blend seamlessly.
These look incredible! Must try these out!
Thanks, Natalie, and thanks for visiting 🙂 They are incredible. Please let me know if you try them – I know you’ll love them!
Well these just look amazing huh?! What a perfect treat for the holidays!
Thank you, Ravie, and thanks for visiting 🙂 These are perfect for the holidays, and not too hard to make during this crazy time of year either.
I love the pictures, these bars look so pretty and the marshmallow filling looks so delicious! But gingerbread peeps? OH! I have to look for these adorable peeps!
Thank you so much, Ruby! Those Peeps just get better and better the more I eat them. So yummy!
Thank you very much for the super delicious treat!!!! I will definately try to make these over the holiday vacation 🙂 I’m telling ya, anything with marshmallows in them…….well, YUM is all I can say!!!
★★★★★
I’m thrilled you enjoyed them, Kristy! I really hope you make them. I’m sure they’ll turn out perfectly and be a huge hit. Let me know if you make them and how they turn out 🙂
Oh man, these look amazing. I love that you used gingerbread Peeps. Yum!
Thank you so much, Jennie! These taste even better than they look. They are one of my favorite things I’ve made, and yes, the Gingerbread Peeps were just amazing 🙂
Marshmallows and I have a very on again off again kind of thing going. These were a little out of the ordinary for me, but really good.
On a side note: The work you put in this year, on the blog and the recipes, are all part of the process, I heard the phrase 10,000 hours when I was writing and it put a lot of things in to perspective for me. It also made me reconsider whether I was really ready to commit to writing and actually go for it, and I wasn’t, I didn’t have the discipline and humility to wait it out. I hope you don’t get discouraged by this but I doubt you will. I found an article that more succinctly describes the concept; “A new study carried out by the British scientists revealed that it takes a person 10,000 hours of practice to become an ace in a certain discipline.” You are well on your way to your 10,000, overnight success is only overnight to those that weren’t there at the beginning. Best of luck in the new year.
★★★★★
I’m glad you enjoyed these, Arturo! I’m a big marshmallow fan, so maybe this treat has opened a whole new world of marshmallow for you.
Thank you for your words of support now and always. I feel like I am well on my way to said 10,000 hours of work. While I do often get discouraged, words like those you offered me here keep me going through the hard times.