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No-bake Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats are swirled with creamy peanut butter and topped with a rich layer of melted milk chocolate. Chewy and sweet, these bars are easy to make and are a fantastic version of a classic treat.
If you enjoy making dessert bars and treats, you’ll have to try my zesty lemon bars for a burst of citrus flavor, indulge in the creamy goodness of my pumpkin cheesecake bars, or savor these sweet and tangy cherry kuchen bars. There’s a treat for every craving!
The beloved flavor duo of peanut butter and chocolate is shown to perfection in these chewy rice crispy treats that are a twist on the classic no-bake dessert bar. Loads of smooth peanut butter, a little maple syrup for sweetness, mini marshmallows, and crisp rice cereal are finished with a decadent layer of chocolate. You’ll definitely fan over this rice crispy treats recipe!
Why I Love These Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
- Easy. No-bake desserts are some of my favorites, and this is a keeper. If you’ve made rice krispie treats you know the drill – just melt, stir, and set.
- Peanut butter and chocolate! I don’t know if there’s a better combo! The peanut buttery treats are wonderfully offset by melted milk chocolate for even more flavor and sweetness.
- A new version of a classic. Rice krispies treats are a classic dessert for a reason, but sometimes I find them just a bit too sweet. In my peanut butter recipe, the sweetness of the marshmallows is nicely balanced by a sprinkle of flaky salt on top of the treats.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a glance at the ingredients you’ll need to pick up to make these homemade rice crispy treats. Please check the recipe card for the full ingredient amounts.
- Butter – I use unsalted butter in this recipe.
- Maple Syrup – You can substitute honey if you don’t have maple syrup.
- Mini Marshmallows – Feel free to use regular marshmallows if you don’t have mini marshmallows. Just make sure the total of whatever type of marshmallow you include is 10 ounces.
- Peanut Butter – Creamy peanut butter is best in this recipe, and I prefer not to use natural peanut butter so that the oil doesn’t separate.
- Vanilla Extract
- Rice Krispie Cereal – You can use the familiar Rice Krispies or your favorite brand of crispy rice cereal.
- Chocolate Chips – I love the rich sweetness of milk chocolate chips in these bars.
- Sea Salt – Used for garnish, but it’s optional.
How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
These easy rice crispy treats are wonderfully easy to make, and you’ll need just minutes of active time to put them together.
- Prep. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- Melt butter. Over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter and maple syrup.
- Cook. Keep cooking until they’re completely melted and bubbles form.
- Add marshmallows. Stir in the marshmallows and cook until melted.
- Stir in peanut butter. Now stir in the peanut butter until combined.
- Add cereal. Fold in the Rice Krispie Cereal until evenly coated.
- Press into pan. Transfer the cereal mixture to the prepared baking dish and press it in evenly.
- Top with chocolate. Melt the chocolate chips then pour them over the mixture.
- Set. Place the treats in the fridge until firm and the chocolate is set.
Tips for Success
- Make them gluten free: Easily turn these into gluten free peanut butter rice crispy treats by using a gluten free rice cereal.
- Try another nut butter: Sometimes I’ll mix things up and use almond butter instead of peanut butter, and cashew butter would also be nice. If you need to be nut-free, try sunflower seed butter.
- Use salted butter: To make these treats last a bit longer, try salted butter in place of unsalted butter. You may wish to skip the salt on top if you use salted butter. The salt in the butter will help the rice crispy treats stay fresher.
- Semisweet chocolate: I love the creamy sweetness of milk chocolate and I also love semisweet chocolate! For a more bittersweet chocolate flavor, use semisweet chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate chips.
Proper Storage
Rice crispy treats can be stored in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature for up to 5 days.
More Peanut Butter Recipes
Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter
- 5 tablespoons maple syrup
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 cups Rice Krispie Cereal
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
- sea salt, for garnishing
Instructions
- Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on both sides. This will make it easier to lift the treats out of the pan later.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter and maple syrup until completely melted and bubbles form.
- Add the mini marshmallows to a saucepan and stir constantly until they completely melt and the mixture becomes smooth and sticky.
- Stir in the creamy peanut butter until fully combined with the melted marshmallow mixture. Mix in the pure vanilla extract to enhance the flavor of the mixture.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and quickly fold in the Rice Krispie Cereal until evenly coated with the marshmallow mixture. The mixture will start to set, so work swiftly.
- Transfer the cereal mixture to the prepared baking dish and work fast to shape and press it firmly and evenly into the pan. To prevent sticking, moisten your hands with spray cooking oil or use a damp spoon to smooth the mixture.
- Melt the milk chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between intervals until smooth, or use a double boiler. If using a double boiler, place the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate has melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the pressed cereal mixture, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
- Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the chocolate layer.
- Place the dish in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until the chocolate is set and the treats are firm.
- Once set, remove the treats from the refrigerator, cut them into bars, and serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
