Peanut Butter Crisp Bars

This dessert comes from a long line of potluck treats made from common cereal treats. The list is long - Rice Chex, Cheerios, and the favorite, Rice Krispies. I think this one came from a family member, but I confess that when I read the recipe, I couldn't actually picture it in my head. A foreshadowing? Unfortunately, yes.

The preparation was actually easy. And trust me - anything with peanut butter in it is automatically a candidate. But this one just sort of fizzled.

The base is made with sugar, corn syrup, peanut butter, and Rice Krispies cereal. Simple enough, but man, does it stick together if you aren't fast about transferring it. The recipe said to spread it into a 9 x 13 pan, but when I tried, it filled up half the pan and that was it (see photo).

I liked how it held together, however, and it beat working with the marshmallow version that sticks to EVERYTHING. The top layer was mostly sugar, butter, and more sugar. Some brown, some powdered, but in the end, just lots of sugar.

This is a treat that can sit out on the counter, but I had to put mine in the fridge quickly to keep the topping from overflowing the little dam I built at the edge of my treats (again, see photo).

So what's the verdict? Well, let me remind you of my criteria for inclusion in my precious book of recipes:

1. Did it work?

2. Did it taste good?

3. Was it easy enough for me to make it with (mostly) ingredients on hand?

4. Would I make it again?

5. Would I make it for others?

This recipe passed the first three tests with ease. However, #4 is a 'probably not' and #5 would be a no. Not that there's anything wrong with it - it's just a forgettable dessert. My family will try it and sort of enjoy it, but it's very sugary, and not very satisfying.

On the bright side, I've found that I actually have standards! I figured if I could make it, I would consider it a winner, but so far, I'm finding that I really only want to include meals or dishes that I am confident in making AND that I feel proud about serving. So far, those have been hard to find. I already know the next one will be a winner, as I've made it before. But for the sake of this project, I'm making it for dinner tonight. For now...

Verdict: Miss

Score:

Hits - 1

Misses - 3