Ingredients
- 6 cups corn flakes
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Start by lining a large baking sheet or your countertop with parchment paper so the candy has a nonstick surface to cool and set on, a step that many cornflake cookie recipes recommend. Have your cornflakes measured into a large mixing bowl and your peanut butter and vanilla ready to go, because once the syrup is hot you’ll need to work quickly before it thickens.
In a medium saucepan set over medium‑low heat, combine the light corn syrup, granulated sugar, and salt. Cook this mixture at a gentle simmer, stirring constantly, until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture looks clear and fluid; this usually takes around 5 minutes and follows the same approach as other peanut butter cornflake candy recipes that caution not to boil the syrup hard.
Remove the pan from the heat and immediately stir in the creamy peanut butter and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth, thick, and glossy. Other recipes for peanut butter cornflake cookies describe this step the same way: the heat from the syrup melts the peanut butter, and the vanilla adds aroma and depth.
Pour or scoop the hot peanut butter mixture over the cornflakes in your large bowl. Using a spatula or large spoon, gently stir and fold until all the cereal is evenly coated, being careful not to crush the flakes too much—cornflake candy recipes consistently suggest “gentle folding” to keep cookies crunchy instead of powdery.
Once the cereal is fully coated, quickly form balls or clusters of the mixture, about 2 tablespoons each, and place them on your prepared baking sheet. No‑bake cornflake cookie instructions often recommend using a cookie scoop or two spoons for even portions and to keep your hands away from the hot candy. Let the clusters sit at room temperature until they’re firm and set; most cornflake candy recipes say this takes about 15–30 minutes depending on room temperature and size.