Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Put a spin on a childhood favorite with these peanut butter rice krispie treats! They're chewy yet crispy and topped with a layer of delicious chocolate and flaky sea salt. They're an easy, no-bake treat that everyone loves, and they're ready in just 15 minutes!
For more irresistible peanut butter desserts, try our peanut butter brownies, chewy peanut butter cookies, or our healthier peanut butter cookie dough ice cream!
Table of contents
These peanut butter rice krispie treats are like a grown-up version of the classic. They're everything you remember about the familiar chewy treat you grew up eating as a kid, but a little more sophisticated. The peanut butter is a delicious addition, but the flavor is actually quite subtle. The thick chocolate layer and flaky sea salt on top takes these treats to a whole new level.
We make them in the microwave because that's what we grew up doing. If you prefer to make them on the stovetop, you certainly can. Simply melt the marshmallows, peanut butter, and butter together in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir in the vanilla and rice krispie cereal, and then press it all down into a pan.
To make the chocolate layer, melt the chocolate chips with a bit of vegetable oil. Pour it over the rice krispie treats, then sprinkle the top with flaky sea salt. They're ready to cut into squares when the chocolate has completely hardened.
They're an easy and irresistible gluten-free treat that adults and kids of all ages love. Serving them as an after-school snack is what memories are made of. They're also our go-to treat for parties and potlucks, and we love gifting them to friends or neighbors!
Why you'll love these chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats
- They're an easy-to-make, no-bake treat
- You only need a few simple ingredients
- They're customizable
- They're perfect for potlucks or parties
Peanut butter rice krispie treats ingredient notes
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this peanut butter rice krispie treats recipe:
- Marshmallows – it doesn't matter what size marshmallows you use, although we usually go for the mini marshmallows because they melt more quickly. Use vegan marshmallows if needed.
- Peanut butter – we prefer salted natural creamy peanut butter, but any natural peanut butter will work.
- Butter – butter actually adds a nice flavor to these treats. You can use a non-dairy butter alternative if you'd like to make these dairy-free treats.
- Vanilla extract
- Rice krispies – any brand of crispy rice cereal will work for this recipe.
- Sea salt – the best salt for this recipe is a flaky salt like Maldon.
The chocolate topping is optional, but it really takes these treats to the next level. Here's what you need for it:
- Dark chocolate chips – we use dark chocolate chips, but you can use milk chocolate chips if you like them better.
- Vegetable oil – for helping the melted chocolate stay smooth and spreadable.
How to make peanut butter rice krispie treats
These classic rice krispie treats with peanut butter are the perfect no-bake snack for after school, potlucks, parties, or anytime you're after something chewy and chocolatey. Let's make this quick and easy recipe!
- Start by melting the marshmallows, peanut butter, and butter in a large bowl in the microwave.
- Use a little muscle to stir in the vanilla and rice krispie cereal – it'll be sticky!
- Transfer the mixture to a prepared pan or baking dish, and press it all down so it's even (make sure to press into the corners, too).
- Melt the chocolate with the oil in a small bowl in the microwave. Pour it overtop in an even layer, let it cool slightly, then sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
- They're ready to cut into squares when the chocolate has completely hardened. You don't need to put them in the fridge, but you can if you'd like to speed things up. Enjoy!
Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.
FAQS
Yes, you can. The chocolate topping is optional, but it adds an extra special chocolatey element to these treats.
Yes! Pretty much any other smooth natural nut butter will work in place of peanut butter. Almond butter or cashew butter make great substitutions. Try Sun Butter for a nut-free (aka school-friendly) version.
Yep! Store them in a single layer in an airtight container in your freezer for up to 3 months!
Store rice krispie treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. After a day or two they will lose some of their crispiness, but they will still taste great.
Peanut butter rice crispy treats add-ins
There are lots of ways you can customize these rice crispy treats to make them your own. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Make them fun or festive by topping them with sprinkles or mini m&m's.
- Toss in an extra handful of mini marshmallows at the same time as the rice krispie cereal for extra chewy gooey texture.
- Add salted peanuts to the mixture for a savory crunch.
- This one is for chocolate lovers – use cocoa rice krispies instead of regular ones for extra chocolatey flavor!
Easy dessert recipes
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
If you love this recipe as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!
Ingredients
- 10 ounces marshmallows
- Ā½ cup natural peanut butter, we like salted
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 5 cups Rice Krispies
- Ā½ teaspoon flaky sea salt
Chocolate Topping
- 1 Ā½ cups dark chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Grease the sides and bottom of a 9×9-inch baking dish with butter. (See notes) Melt the marshmallows, peanut butter, and butter in a large bowl in your microwave. (You can also do this step in a pot on low heat.)10 ounces marshmallows, Ā½ cup natural peanut butter, 2 tablespoons butter
- Once melted, stir in the vanilla. Add Rice Krispies and stir to combine.1 teaspoon vanilla, 5 cups Rice Krispies
- Transfer to the buttered baking dish and press down into the pan. (Lightly greasing your hands with butter helps prevent sticking.)
- Add the chocolate and oil to a small bowl and microwave for 30-second intervals until the chocolate has melted. Pour the chocolate over the Rice Krispie treats. Let the chocolate cool and harden slightly then sprinkle the top with flaky sea salt.1 Ā½ cups dark chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, Ā½ teaspoon flaky sea salt
- Once the chocolate has hardened completely, remove the treats from the baking dish and cut it into squares.
Peanut butter and chocolate combo is my weakness. These look too good to resist.
An amazing idea. With amazing photos:)
Unfortunately marshmellows are not available in Greece. Could we use something similar instead? What do you think may do the trick?:)
No marshmallows in Greece? That’s terrible!!
I really don’t think there is a substitute (at least that I can think of) but I do know you can make your own. I’ve never tried to make marshmallows at home but from recipes I’ve seen online it doesn’t look too difficult.
Or maybe see if you can order some online?
Best of luck on your hunt for marshmallows!!
Does your country sell corn syrup, if so you may use this as a replacement, or you can use any food item that is sticky and sweet.
Do you know of a vegetarian or vegan brand of marshmallows? I don’t know of any. There was a brand that made some years ago but I haven’t seen any vegetarian marshmallows for years.
I know that there is a company called Butter Baked Goods that sells their products locally in Vancouver. Honestly though I think they are far too lovely to melt down to bake with.
There are several places that you can order them online. I think this one looks lovely http://sweetandsara.com/