Ingredients and roles
- 9 oz bag Fritos corn chips
Provides salty crunch and structure. Frito candy and Frito bar recipes typically use about a 9–9.25 oz bag in a 9×13 pan. - 1 cup light corn syrup
Acts as the sticky base and helps prevent crystallization of the sugar, giving the candy its chewy texture. - 1 cup granulated sugar
Sweetens and, when heated with corn syrup, creates a simple candy syrup. - 1 cup peanut butter
Stirred into the hot syrup for flavor and richness; creamy peanut butter is standard in these bars. - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Melted and spread on top for a chocolate-peanut butter candy bar effect, as seen in Funky Frito Bars and many Frito bar recipes.
Step-by-step instructions
1. Prep the pan and Fritos
Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour the Fritos corn chips into the pan to cover the bottom in an even layer. Some recipes lightly crush the chips; others leave them whole for more texture—your version keeps them whole, which is common in Frito bar variations.
Set aside.
2. Make the peanut butter syrup
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the corn syrup and sugar. Microwave on high for 1 minute, then stir well to help dissolve the sugar.
Continue microwaving in 1-minute bursts, stirring between each, until the mixture comes to a boil—about 3 minutes total in many microwave versions. Traditional stovetop recipes bring the mixture just to a full boil over medium heat before removing from the heat.
Once the syrup is bubbling, carefully remove it from the microwave (it will be very hot) and stir in the peanut butter until completely smooth. This step is identical to most peanut butter Fritos candy instructions.
3. Pour over Fritos
Immediately pour the hot peanut butter mixture evenly over the Fritos in the prepared pan, trying to cover as many chips as possible. Do not stir. Recipes emphasize pouring and letting the mixture seep through the chips rather than mixing in the pan, which preserves Frito crunch and bar structure.
Use a spatula to gently nudge or tilt the pan if needed so the syrup spreads across the surface.
4. Cool to set
Allow the pan to sit at room temperature for about 1 hour, or until completely cooled and set. Many Frito candy and bar recipes recommend letting the mixture set for 1–2 hours before slicing.
Once cooled, you can cut into bars as-is or add the chocolate topping first.
5. Optional chocolate topping
If using chocolate, place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. This is the same melting method used in Funky Frito Bars and Frito bark recipes.
Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the cooled peanut butter Fritos layer. Let the chocolate set at room temperature or briefly in the refrigerator until firm before slicing into bars.
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