Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats (No Bake Bars!)
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These peanut butter chocolate Rice Krispie treats are a delicious no-bake bar that are a VERY tasty treat for any day. A gooey twist on a classic, these bars have marshmallows, peanut butter, and just the right amount of chocolate and are a family favorite.
My daughter took the bite for me that you see out of some of these peanut butter chocolate treats. If I’m being totally honest, she didn’t want to give it back and I had to bride her with a second one. Tough life.
She did declare these treats loudly the best thing ever. I’ll take the compliment!
Luckily for me these peanut butter rice krispie treats are one of those super easy recipes to make. Really you can’t go wrong with these, a gooey peanut butter and marshmallow base topped with melty chocolate is next level. These peanut butter treats are super tasty, it’s hard to eat just one.
If you love peanut butter and chocolate as much as I do, try the no bake chocolate oat bars! They have a chewy oat top and bottom, and a creamy chocolate peanut butter center. Or if you’re in the mood for baking, the Fudgy Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies are hard for any peanut butter lover to resist.
Table of Contents
Ingredients Needed For Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Treat
You only need six simple ingredients, and you’ll be satisfying your sweet tooth in no time!
- Peanut butter– Creamy peanut butter, chunky peanut butter, you choose! You can also use alternative nut butter in this treat like almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or cashew butter.
- Crispy Rice Cereal– Rice Krispie Cereal gives these treats its classic flavor and texture. You can use store brands, or boxes marked “puffed rice” or other crisp rice cereal.
- Marshmallows– Mini marshmallows work great in these treats. If you are using larger marshmallows make sure to measure them in ounces instead of cups. Fresh marshmallows also make a big difference in this recipe. Don’t try to use a hard bag of marshmallows in the back of the pantry that have been there a while, the rice krispie treats won’t be as good.
- Butter– Butter helps to melt and bind these treats together.
- Chocolate chips– Chocolate chips or chopped chocolate both are delicious. The better quality chocolate you use, the more decadent the treats will feel. For an extra thick layer of chocolate use a cup and a half of chocolate chips. You can also use dark chocolate chips.
- Coconut oil– Coconut oil when added to chocolate makes it harden a little easier and makes it a little thicker. This technique is often used for chocolate-dipped strawberries, or even to make a homemade chocolate magic shell for ice cream. You can add the chocolate melted without adding the coconut oil, but you’ll have a better topping on the bars if you add coconut oil.
Love no-bake desserts? These no-bake cornflake cookies are full of gooey peanut butter and are the perfect combination of salty and sweet! Or if you don’t feel like baking at all, you have to try this easy peanut butter cup cheesecake dip, you’ll want to share this recipe!
How To Prevent Krispy Treats From Getting Hard
- Don’t cook the marshmallows too long– Overcooking the marshmallows can cause the treats to get hard as they cool. Watch carefully and remove the marshmallows from the heat as soon as they start to lose shape.
- Watch the ratio of Rice Krispies to other ingredients.- Too much rice cereal can cause your treats to be hard, and too much butter, marshmallow or peanut butter mixture can cause the treats to be too soft. While this recipe is pretty forgiving when measuring, you do still need to measure with care with this easy recipe.
- Pressing the cereal mixture too hard into the pan– Press gently when you are adding the hot mixture to the pan. Pushing the mixture really hard into the pan can cause the treats to be too hard so push gently.
Want Super GOOEY Bars? I’ve made this recipe with both 5 1/2 and 6 cups of cereal. at 5 1/2 cups, the treats are extra gooey which is delicious but doesn’t hold up on a hot day very well. If you’re making these bars on a hot summer day, you definitely need the full 6 cups of cereal… but these bars are really gooey – in a good way with 5 1/2 cups of cereal.
What’s The Difference Between Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats and Scotcheroos?
Scotcheroos and peanut butter Rice Krispie Treats look a lot alike, but aren’t quite the same no bake treats. The original Scotcherros recipe was often printed on the box of Rice Krispies and was very popular in the midwest.
Scotcheroos includes similar ingredients to Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie treats, they both include peanut butter and chocolate and are both a no bake dessert. The main difference is Scotcheroos also includes butterscotch chips in the mixture.
Can I Use Other Types Of Peanut Butter Or Nut Butter?
Crunchy, smooth or any peanut butter in between. You can use whatever peanut butter is your favorite. You can also use other nut butter like cashew or almond butter.
I recommend using no-stir peanut butter for these bars. Sometimes a natural peanut butter, the kind with the oil on top in the jar can start to separate in desserts. This causes the dessert bars to be oily. Sometimes the bars don’t become oily and start to separate until the next day when using more natural peanut butter.
We also like to just experiment with other flavors of rice krispie treats besides peanut butter. Try these pumpkin spice rice krispie treats, or we really enjoyed these banana pudding rice krispie treats.
Can I Use Large Marshmallows, Marshmallow Fluff, Or other Sizes Of Marshmallows?
1 cup of mini marshmallows = About 8 of the large round classic-sized marshmallows. Here is a great marshmallow conversation chart if you have other sizes of marshmallows or marshmallow fluff.
Will Rice Krispie Treats Stick To Wax Paper?
Rice Krispie treats do stick to wax paper. Your best bet for easy release is to line the pan with parchment paper. The Rice Krispie Treats will lift right out of the pan and off the paper.
Some people prefer to butter or oil the pan with cooking spray. If you use butter or oil make sure to cover the pan completely.
How Do I Store These Rice Krispie Treats
Store these Rice Krispie treats at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Putting these treats in the refrigerator can make them stay fresh a little longer but it can also make them hard.
I sometimes store them in the fridge when it is especially hot outside. I typically will pull them out as I’m making dinner to give the crispy treats enough time to soften a little before we eat them as dessert.
Other Delicious Recipes You Will Love
Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats– Everything you love about buttery, gooey classic Rice Krispies and pumpkin spice all mixed together into a delicious treat!
Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Chip Cookies– Gooey cookies packed with crunchy Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter chips and peanut butter cups. So delicious!
How To Make Whipped Hot Chocolate– This delicious treat only uses a few ingredients, takes less than 15 minutes to make, and can be made warm or iced!
Pancake Mix Muffins– Use pancake mix to make quick and easy sweet muffins, three flavors in one pan! We made strawberry, blueberry and peanut butter banana chocolate chip (my personal favorite!)
Chocolate Dirt Pie Cups– This classic no bake recipe is tons of family fun and so easy to make with just a few ingredients. I’ve also included lots of variation ideas for every party!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- Oil or parchment paper
- Medium sized pot
- 8 ½ by 11-inch pan
- Silicone spatula or wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Medium sized microwave safe bowl
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 5 cups mini marshmallows 10 ounce bag
- 6 cups Rice Krispie Cereal
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
Rice Krispie Treats
- Oil an 8 ½ by 11-inch pan or line with parchment paper to keep the dessert from sticking. It is extra important to have the ingredients measured for this recipe as the steps move fast once you start.
- In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter in the pan. Add peanut butter to the melted butter and stir well until the mixture is smooth, about a minute.
- Add the marshmallows to the pot and keep stirring the mixture over medium-low heat until the marshmallows start to stretch and lose their shape, about 1-2 minutes. Then turn off the heat.
- While the marshmallow mixture is still hot, add the cereal and mix well until fully coated.
- Pour the mixture into the 8 ½ by 11 prepared pan and spread evenly with the silicone spatula.
- Wet your fingers and gently press the mixture into the pan. Press the mixture gently so they stick together. Pressing really hard can make your treats too dense, so press just a little.
Chocolate Topping
- Place your chocolate and coconut oil into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave at half power, stirring every 30 seconds until both are melted. This takes about 2 minutes total or until melted.
- Pour the warm melted chocolate and coconut oil mixture over the cereal and spread in an even layer with a spatula. Let the treats cool completely, then slice and enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t store Rice Krispie treats in the fridge, this can make them both soggy or too hard depending on how much moisture is in the container. You can pop them in the freezer if they are too gooey (which can happen on a hot day) for 15-20 minutes to help them firm up a little. Store them on the counter.
- I’ve made this recipe with both 5 1/2 and 6 cups of cereal. at 5 1/2 cups, the treats are extra gooey which is delicious but doesn’t hold up on a hot day very well.
- Some people like to add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the melted butter before moving to the next step. It can be pretty delicious but is optional.
Nutrition
Did You Make This?
I would love to see it! Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
I tried the recipe and are my suggestions:
1) double the amount of marshmallow mix. Mine was to dry and did not stay together.
2) I would double the amount of chocolate but don’t double the coconut oil.
There wasn’t enough chocolate for my taste.
The marshmallow being too dry can happen if you cook down the marshmallow for too long. Or if you use harder marshmallows that have been exposed to air and were opened a while ago, this can also happen. It’s best to use a fresh bag of marshmallows rather one that’s been open for a while for making no-bake treats. The treats are rich with the peanut butter, you’re welcome to add as much chocolate as you like but it’s not intended as a super thick layer because the peanut butter is rich on its own. Hope that helps!