O'Henry Bars... sort of.

If you were to do an internet search for O'Henry bars you'd find a bar made with oats & topped with a peanut butter/chocolate mixture. These are not those bars. I'm not really sure how they got their name - I only know that it's wrong!! LOL This O'Henry bar is a treat my mother-in-law would make every Christmas to put on the table with TONS of other sweets - all homemade. Almond roca, sour cream cookies, chocolate covered cherry cookies, caramels, chocolate peanut clusters... tons. Of all that deliciousness spread across the table THESE are the ones that would always call my name. And they still do. O'Henry bars, I love you.

Shopping list:


Rice Krispies, unsalted peanuts, peanut butter, light Karo syrup, white sugar, milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips & butterscotch chips.

First step is to butter a 9x13 dish. My adorable little helper wanted to be sure to have her picture in the write up this time!


Now melt some of the semi-sweet chips together with the milk chips. I just do this in the microwave.


Spread this mixture into the bottom of your prepared pan & then go find something to do for the next half hour or so. You can't move on until this is mostly set.


Once that's not a gooey mess anymore go ahead & move on to the next step - the crispy, chewy, sweet, salty, magical middle!

Melt the sugar & Karo together in a pot over medium heat, stirring frequently.


Then remove it from the heat & stir in the peanut butter until it's all melted in. Add the nuts & cereal & stir until well combined.


Spread this mixture over the cooled chocolate.



Now we're gonna move on to the top!

Melt the rest of your semi-sweet chips with your butterscotch chips.


Spread that on top of the cereal layer.


Then just stick it out on the counter top to let it all cool down & firm up together. Maybe 2 hours...? Ish? Then cut them into small squares. About a 1-inch square is a good size for these. Perfect little 2-bite treats! You don't need them to be big, like a Rice Krispy treat.


Mmmmmm.. My FAVORITE Christmas tradition!


Enjoy!

O'Henry Bars:

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 cup unsalted peanuts
3 cups Rice Krispies

Butter a 9x13 pan.
Melt together 1 cup of semi-sweet chi[s and the milk chips. Spread in bottom of prepared pan. Set aside to cool.

Bring Karo & sugar to a boil in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Add peanut butter; stir until melted. Add nuts & cereal & stir until it's all well coated in the mixture. Press over cooled chocolate in the pan.

Melt together remaining semi-sweet chips & the butterscotch chips. Spread on top of cereal layer. Allow to cool & set for about 2 hours before cutting into 1-inch squares.