If you caught the first few episodes of Stranger Things 5, you probably noticed Steve Harrington snacking on a Peanut Butter Bopper—and the beloved character even referenced the retro confection when he, Dustin, Nancy and Jonathan were formulating a plan to break into the Upside Down in an effort to save their friends. “Gates are like Peanut Butter Boppers, right?,” he asked the crew. “The outside is like, crunchy and tough, but when you bite down on it, it gives way to a gooey, creamy core,” he explained.
Though the writers of the show might not have intended to reignite the public’s desire to snack on a Peanut Butter Bopper, that’s exactly what they did, and since these initial episodes first aired, fans of the show have been itching to get their hands on the beloved 80s snack. Here, read all about the nostalgic snack, learn if they’ll be hitting stores once again and find out how to make your own dupe version at home in the meantime.
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What is a Peanut Butter Bopper?
The Peanut Butter Bopper is almost exactly how Steve Harrington described it—a creamy peanut butter center coated with chocolate and crispy cereal made for a bite that checked every box. Introduced by Nature Valley in the mid-80s, this fan-favorite snack defined many people’s childhoods, and this resurgence reminds us of after-school snacks by the TV (perhaps while watching an after-school special!) or packed lunches at school. Though they were ultimately discontinued by the end of the decade, the popular snack popping back up in Stranger Things prompted Nature Valley to listen to the people—and a few lucky fans recently got their hands on a few boxes of this throwback snack. On December 3, a limited number of boxes of Peanut Butter Boppers were available for purchase, but as expected, these tasty treats went quick.
Courtesy of General Mills
Will Peanut Butter Boppers be coming back?
While this initial drop sold out quickly, many are still holding out hope—and shouting from the rooftops—for their return. In a post shared to TikTok of a box of Peanut Butter Boppers, Nature Valley wrote in the caption, “You never know where they will pop up next.” Additionally Tudum urged fans to keep an eye on Nature Valley’s TikTok, saying, “there might be more tasty treats from the Upside Down to come.”
How to make Peanut Butter Boppers at home
If you’re itching for that signature peanut butter flavor, Nature Valley recently shared a recipe for how to make these 80s treats at home—and it’s as easy as can be! Here, see the items you’ll need to make them below.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons softened butter
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 pouches Nature Valley Oats ‘n Honey Crunchy Granola Bars (from 8.9-oz box)
- 1/4 cup semisweet miniature chocolate chips
- 5 oz chocolate-flavored candy coating (like candy melts)
Directions:
- Combine butter and peanut butter using an electric mixer on medium speed. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and beat on low speed.
- Shape the mixture into a ball and split it in half. Roll each half into a foot-long log, and cut each log into six pieces, each being about 2 inches long. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- In a plastic bag, crush the granola bars. Once crushed, combine them in a bowl with chocolate chips.
- Microwave the candy melts until melted. Dip the refrigerated peanut butter logs in the melted chocolate and roll them in the granola-chocolate chip mixture. Place them on a parchment lined tray and cool in fridge.
