Sweet and Salty Frito Dessert Bars

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These super simple Sweet and Salty Frito Chip Dessert Bars are the perfect treat to cure every craving. Crunchy yet chewy, sweet yet salty, these Rice Krispie-inspired bars are a no-bake dessert made with only a few ingredients – and they’re super satisfying!

frito dessert bars cut into squares and stacked on a white plate

Why You’ll Love These Sweet and Salty Dessert Bars

Fritos are my favorite chip and many years ago I concocted this recipe to satisfy one of those desperate salty/sweet cravings. Fast forward to now, and I realized I could make this treat so much better, all without the corn syrup. Now here we are!

I thought, why not make them like a Rice Krispie bar and use mini marshmallows? Genius! They have tons of chewy and crunchy texture, and they have all the flavor you can dream of. These chip bars are such a yummy midday pick-me-up or dessert to round off your day with something delicious.

Made with a handful of ingredients and no baking required, you can pull these bars together in just a few minutes. Next time you’re having a football party, birthday party, or a strong craving, mix together these dreamy treats and enjoy!

an overhead photo of dessert bars stacked on a white plate

Ingredients

I’m not kidding, you only need a handful of ingredients! Corn chips are the center of this recipe and give it that salty goodness, but the marshmallows and butter bind it all together. Here’s the list, but don’t forget to check the recipe card for exact measurements!

Butter
Mini marshmallows
Corn chips
Chocolate chips
Butterfinger baking bits – optional

a close-up photo of frito bars with chocolate chips

How To Make Frito Dessert Bars

Step 1: Prep The Pan

Line a 9×9 baking pan with foil and spray it with cooking spray (or grease it with extra butter). Set the pan aside while you make your bars.

Step 2: Melt Butter

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the marshmallows and stir until it’s just melted. Remove the butter and marshmallow mixture from the heat and stir in the corn chips, then half of the chocolate chips.

Step 3: Add To Pan

Press that sweet and salty mixture into your pan and then sprinkle it with the remaining chocolate chips. Add the Butterfinger baking bits, if you’re using them, and then allow the bars to cool completely before cutting them into bars.

a stack of frito bars on a white plate in front of two glasses of milk

FAQs

What’s a fruckie?

When I first made these, I had no idea people out there enjoyed a very similar dessert bar referred to as a “fruckie.” Imagine my surprise! A fruckie is made with Fritos, peanut butter or caramel sauce, chocolate, and sometimes candy.

What else can I put in these bars?

This recipe has such a freestyle kind of vibe that you can get creative with it. If you want to slightly alter this recipe as it’s written, add some crushed graham crackers to give more of a heavy-handed s’mores flavor. You can also omit the butterfingers and add chopped-up Reese’s or Twix. If you want to get really wild, add some peanut butter or caramel and mix in M&M’s instead of (or in addition to) chocolate chips. You might have to mess around with the portions of each ingredient to make sure it’s not too wet or dry, but I’m sure it’ll come out delicious!

How do I store these dessert bars?

I love making these bars and enjoying them as a treat throughout the week. I pop them in my kids’ lunch boxes too! Just let your bars cool and then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for about 4-5 days. Enjoy!

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