Friday, December 6, 2013

Sweet Marie Bars (no bake, vegan)


Sweet Marie Bars are one of my favourite Christmas squares. These festive goodies are gluten-free and dairy-free as well as totally delicious. These vegan two-layer squares can be whipped together in just a few minutes and they don’t require any baking. Plus, they are a delectable combination of chocolate and peanut butter, just like the No Bake Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Balls I made for Wednesday's post.

If you are looking to get some more holiday baking done, check out these recipes for Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chunk CookiesVegan Toffee Squares and Vegan Candy Cane Fudge. Each of these recipes are proof that vegan Christmas desserts can be easy to prepare and just as delicious as non-vegan recipes. 

Making these tasty Sweet Marie Bars is simple. Melt peanut butter, corn syrup or agave nectar, brown sugar and vegan margarine in a medium sized pot. Remove from heat and stir in peanuts and crispy rice cereal. Spread this gooey delicious mixture into an 8"x8" pan and pat down. Melt chocolate chips together with vegan margarine and spread over the base. Allow to set in the fridge. 

Cut into squares and then store in the refrigerator or freezer. I like to keep them in the freezer. They stay freshest that way, and they defrost fairly quickly. 

Add these vegan squares to your Christmas baking repertoire and you'll want to make them every year!

Sweet Marie Bars

by Joann MacDonald
Cook Time: none

Ingredients

½ cup natural peanut butter
½ cup corn syrup or agave nectar
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vegan margarine
½ cup peanuts
2 cups crispy rice cereal
Icing:
1 cup vegan chocolate chips
2 tablespoons vegan margarine

Instructions

Melt peanut butter, corn syrup (or agave), brown sugar and margarine in a medium pot over medium-high heat, stirring until blended. Remove from heat. Stir in peanuts and cereal until well combined. Spread into an 8X8-inch pan. Press down with your fingers or the back of a spoon. Melt the chocolate chips and margarine together in a pot or double boiler. Spread over the base. Allow icing to set in the fridge. Enjoy!








16 comments:

  1. Yay, more recipes for me to make for Christmas gifts! Assuming I don't eat them all beforehand, like your coconut peanut cookies...!

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    1. These are honestly so simple, you can eat them and make more! ;)

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  2. These sound wonderful! My best friend and her family require gluten-free and dairy-free, so I'll bake these for them for Christmas.

    I've enjoyed #ChristmasCookies week!

    xo,
    Ricki Jill

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    1. Thanks! So kind of you to include your best friend and her family in your baking plans. They will certainly appreciate it. :)

      I have enjoyed the week too! Thanks for visiting Ricki Jill!

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  3. Is that date squares I see behind the sweet marie bars? Two of my favourites.

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  4. I've enjoyed participating this week with you! What a lovely bunch of treats we've come up with

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    1. Thanks Julie! I had fun with it too! Happy Holidays.

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  5. Seriously that's it! They are kind of like rice krispie squares with different ingredients. I'm going to have to give them a try. Yum.

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    1. Yes, they are super simple! The best kind. :)

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  6. I've never heard of marie bars but these would go down well with family over Christmas.

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    1. Yes Nikki, I think most people would enjoy these. ;)

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  7. These look great and super easy to make, my kind of recipe!

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