The other day, I told you how I love to eat breakfast for dinner. I love it so much, I had it again the other night. Today I have another confession. A much worse confession. I like to eat dessert for breakfast. I know. I’m all messed up. Breakfast for dinner. Dessert for breakfast. What’s next? Dinner for lunch?
In the morning, sometimes a muffin doesn’t sound good. But a leftover piece of pie or cake is just calling my name. Or maybe it’s more like screaming. Last week, it was the last piece of blueberry buckle, waiting patiently in the freezer to be eaten. It was freezing and snowy and totally terrible outside. I needed a reminder that the weather will get nicer. So I turned toward a berry filled cake, all warm and moist right from the oven. It was the best breakfast a girl could ask for. And it had fruit in it, so it was a totally acceptable breakfast, right?
There is some method to my madness. I always eat a healthy dinner. Protein and vegetables, yummy, good for you foods that keep me feeling good. After all that healthy food, sometimes I’m too full for dessert. Gasp! Such a travesty – no dessert! In the morning this is clearly not an issue, my body ready for a treat to fuel the day.
Speaking of which, eating dessert in the morning also gives me all day to work it off. Running, elliptical-ing, going up and down the stairs, creaming butter and sugar by hand. Each time I move, I’m, burning the calories I ate for breakfast. Eating dessert after dinner, the only calories I burn come from my heart racing during the latest plot twist on The Americans. I think I’ve convinced you eating dessert for breakfast is a good thing. Oh, you didn’t need convincing? Well, then I’ve helped you explain it to others not in the know 😉
I was looking through the awesome Baked cookbooks Mom and Dad got me for my birthday when I came across these Good Morning Sunshine Bars and knew immediately I had to make them. When the amazing Sydney over at Crepes of Wrath whipped up a killer batch of her own, they moved up on the do to list, as they looked so good. These are quite the decadent breakfast treat, but even the cookbook authors note they are the perfect wake-up meal, as they’re name suggests. I ate one for breakfast and one for dessert and can attest to the fact that they make any part of the day better.
Much like Triple Peanut Butter Puppy Chow, Momofuku Peanut Butter Cookies, and homemade Marshmallows, these are destined for regular rotation in my kitchen. Chex and peanuts (I used Planters dry roasted unsalted because I don’t like salt, but feel free to use what you like) are coated in a peanut buttery concoction that has serious peanut butter flavor and a sticky, chewy consistency almost like a rich taffy. I used Skippy peanut butter because I didn’t want to have any issues with the more volatile homemade. In the book, they’re coated in ribbons of chocolate, but, as you know, that’s not a possibility for me, so I drizzled mine with both white and peanut butter chips.
The cereal and peanuts stay crunchy, while that chewy peanut butter coating adds a different texture and depth of flavor. The drizzle adds a bit of sweetness, as these bars are not overly sweet. Now, these are insanely tasty at room temperature, all the flavors and textures melding perfectly, but they are outstanding, irresistible, eat the whole pan good when warmed just a little. The white and peanut butter chip drizzle starts to melt, as does the peanut butter coating, but the cereal stays crunchy. I even topped mine with a melty homemade marshmallow. Let’s just say I had to be torn away from the pan.
So whether you eat these for breakfast or dessert, just be sure to make this easy, no bake treat. You might find you want to eat them for all three meals a day.
Good Morning Sunshine Bars
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 20 1x
Ingredients
- 6 cups Corn Chex
- 1 cup peanuts (I used Planters dry roasted unsalted)
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- ¾ cup light corn syrup
- ¼ cup dark corn syrup
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter (I used Skippy)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup white baking chips
- ½ cup peanut butter chips
Instructions
- Butter a 9 by 13 inch pan. Line it with parchment. Butter the parchment.
- In a large bowl, combine Chex and peanuts. Mix together with hands just to distribute.
- In a medium saucepan, cook brown sugar and corn syrups over medium heat until they come to a boil, stirring frequently. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and add the peanut butter, salt, and vanilla. Stir until fully combined. Immediately pour onto cereal mixture. Stir until all of the cereal and peanuts are coated with the peanut butter mixture. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth into an even layer. Allow to cool completely.
- When cool, place the white baking chips in a small bowl. Microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between to promote melting, until fully melted. Drizzle over the bars. Repeat with the peanut butter chips. Allow to cool until the drizzles have hardened. Cut into bars.
- Bars may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing this recipe. When ready to serve, microwave individual bars for 15-30 seconds until warm and slightly melty for an even better eating experience.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Baked Elements
I’m ALL about dessert for breakfast! I always wake up with such a sweet tooth and try to find healthy ways to satisfy it. Your breakfast-dessert looks amazing – I am going to have to try it out!
I have a sweet tooth all day long 🙂 It is great to eat healthy sweet treats, but sometimes something a little more decadent is just needed. Please let me know if you try these – I know you’ll love them! Thanks, Becky!
I had eggs and an english muffin for breakfast and 20 minutes later I had leftover salted caramel apple cake! Ha needless to say I am right there with ya sista! I could definitely eat these bars for breakfast, lunch or dinner! 😉
A multi-coarse breakfast! Love it! I already want to make these bars again I loved them so much! Thanks, Elizabeth 🙂
What a perfect breakfast treat! Dessert for breakfast has me convinced!
Thanks, Ruby! Oh yeah, dessert for breakfast is a must!
Yum – these sound awesome!
Thanks, Jennifer 🙂
I really enjoyed these Laura. Everything about them was fantastic and my peanut butter addiction was satisfied. Thank you for sharing.
I am also a big “dessert for breakfast” person. Especially at Christmas when I can eat my Mom’s sugar cookies with my coffee. YUM!!!!
🙂
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Yay! So glad you liked them that much, Jackie 🙂 They satisfied my pb addiction too! Sugar cookies sound like an amazing breakfast. I’ll have to make a batch to try that.
These were great. I’m a fan of the desserts that don’t require baking, cause it’s probably something that I can make. Thanks!
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I like no bake desserts, too, Lendon! It’s nice to have an amazing treat very quickly!
Allen and I shared and both agreed that this is something we will be making because we enjoyed it so much. Thank you for the treat.
I’m so glad you both enjoyed it, Linda! Please let me know if you make it and how it goes 🙂
Ahhhh my dear Laura. If I could always have dessert for breakfast I’d be a happy camper.
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I think we could solve the world’s problems if everyone ate dessert for breakfast 🙂
Yum! They look crunchy, sweet and salty, all such a great combination!
They are exactly crunchy, sweet, and salty, and taste so yummy! Thanks, Natalie!
I know they are called good morning bars but I would love one right now…I’d call it a sweet dreams bar : )
These would definitely lead to sweet dreams and probably lull you right to sleep.
These look wonderful. I’m sure they would be good anytime!
Thanks, Debbie! They are wonderful!
These look like the perfect treat for a good morning 🙂 Love these, Laura!
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Thank you so much, Anna! These bars for sure start the day right and lead to a good rest of the day 🙂
How can you go wrong with Chex, peanut butter, brown sugar and vanilla. They are great. Thanks
I love all of those ingredients too, Jeff! So glad you liked them 🙂
Hehe, done the whole dessert for breakfast thing! The only problem is that carbs like that make me so tired, I’m then ready to go back to bed ………….. not always such a bad thing ………….. 🙂
A little nap after breakfast is never a bad thing 😉 Carbs give me energy, so it really helps to get me through the day!
I secretly love having dessert for breakfast. After my regular, yummy breakfast of course. I just can’t resist those delicious treats, they seem to be calling out my name. Glad I’m not the only one 😉
Two breakfasts sound like a great way to start the morning 🙂 Thanks and thanks for visiting, Katy!
I’m so happy right now! I totally have a box of chex sitting in my cupboard!!! How can you go wrong with peanut butter, white chocolate, sugar….! Just wanted to let you know that I nominated your for the Liebster Award this week! If you want to head over to my blog you can check it out 🙂
I love these bars, and I know you would too, Summer! Thank you so much for the award! It means so much that you thought of me 🙂
These where great…I’m not a fan of chex mix so I was really hesitant. The sweetness and peanut butter flavor made these a big hit. Easy to make …good to eat…right up my alley. Thanks.
These are definitely not your average chex mix! Glad you liked them, Rick 🙂
That coating mixture, with the PB + corn syrup, that’s the coating mixture I use in a few fave cereal bar recipes Ive blogged about, and in some recipes in my book. Not those exact ratios, but in general, corn syrup, brown sugar and PB, heated and mixed with cereal creates the most amazing bars! And yours look to be something I would LOVE! So dense, soft and chewy, and packed with flavor! And with white choc too. Amazing! Pinning!
I am really looking forward to trying more bars like these. They were so easy, yet one of my favorite treats, and that is a baker’s dream! Thank you so much for pinning, that is a serious complement coming from you 🙂 Thanks, Averie!
This tastes like a creative variation of puppy chow. It’s more convenient too, no powder sugar evidence leftover.
★★★★★
Great taste, nice texture and so easy to make…mornings can’t get any better!
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These definitely make mornings better! Thanks, Carol!
I thought I was eating a Snickers bar, peanuts and chocolate, and what tasted like caramel. It is good anytime!
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Ooh, now that I think of it, they are kind of like a Snickers bar. Thanks, Stan!
Um, YUM!!!! Good Morning Sunshine Bars, where have you been my whole life?!?!?!!! Lol! Yes, these are the perfect treat, and then you had to mention adding marshmallows to yours……are you insane?!!! I wish I woulda thought to dothat myself! I definately think marshmallows woulda sent this over the top. So anyways……did I mention I liked these???? 😉
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I’m so glad you liked these, Kristy! You could totally make these yourself too! And yeah, marshmallows make them pretty crazy awesome 🙂
These sunshine bars look so wonderful! But, you know, I usually can’t eat dessert for breakfast – my blood sugar gets way too low way too fast. And then I feel shaky. 🙂 So, I usually eat something pretty healthy and full of protein for breakfast. I’ll take these bars in the evening though!
Thanks, Julia! You’ll just have to call these Good Night Moon Bars 😉
Great combination of ingredients. Great taste.
Thanks, Dad! Glad you liked them 🙂
YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY VERY NICE SNACK,.
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Glad they were a hit, Sal!
I’m a huge advocate of dessert for breakfast. Besides, who could resist chowing down on one of these bars for breakfast? Not me!
These may be my favorite breakfast ever! Thanks, Jennie 🙂
Great breakfast treat. Good for you and it taste great.
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Thanks, Eric! I’m not sure if it’s good for you, but I think I’ll use that as an excuse to eat two the next time 😉
I have always been a big fan of breakfast for dinner but now you have conviced me that dessert for breakfast is the only way to go 🙂 These were delightful!
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I’m glad your a dessert for breakfast convert, Jessica 🙂 And I’m glad you liked these!
These look awesome! I’m glad that you also found them to be delicious and irresistible!
Delicious and irresistible to be sure! Thanks, Sydney 🙂