Looking to make the most deliciously chewy Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats squares or bars?
Our easy homemade Rice Krispies Treats recipe is the perfect no-bake dessert for peanut lovers, featuring creamy peanut butter, peanut butter chips and roasted peanuts.
You can make these peanut butter flavoured marshmallow puffed rice cereal bars as a sweet snack and fun dessert for kids parties, movie night or packed in your bag for a scenic hike or camping trip.
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What Are Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars?
Rice Krispies Treats are a no-bake dessert commonly made through binding Kellogg’s Rice Krispies or another crisp rice cereal together with butter or margarine and marshmallow. Though they are traditionally home-made, Kellogg’s began to market the treats themselves in 1995.
Homemade Rice Krispie Treats are also known as Rice Krispie Bars and Rice Krispie Squares.
Our favourite recipe adds another breakfast favourite, creamy peanut butter. Peanut Butter Rice Krispies are a chewy dessert which can be served as a sweet snack when sliced into bars or squares.
We add additional nutty flavour by topping the squares with roasted peanuts or candied peanuts and peanut butter chips.
If you love peanut butter you may also enjoy Peanut Butter Flapjacks and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins.
Why You’ll Love Rice Krispie Treats
- Perfect for sharing: Makes snack-sized squares perfect for picnics, school lunches or parties
- Chewy and gooey: Marshmallows create the perfect soft texture
- Nutty flavour: Peanut butter and roasted peanuts add richness and crunch
- Quick and easy: Ready in under 30 minutes with no oven required
How To Make Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats
- Melt butter and peanut butter: In a large microwaveable bowl, melt together for about 1 minute.
- Add marshmallows: Fold in the marshmallows with a rubber spatula, then microwave for another minute until puffed and melted. Stir in vanilla extract until smooth.
- Mix in cereal: Add Rice Krispies and gently fold until evenly coated in the peanut butter marshmallow mixture.
- Press into pan: Grease a 9-inch pan or casserole dish and gently press the warm mixture inside.
- Add toppings: Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and peanut butter chips. Use your hands to gently press them into the bars.
- Cool and cut: Let cool for 30 minutes, then cut into 16 squares.
Rice Krispies Bars Recipe Tips
If it’s your first time making Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars at home be sure to review our detailed step-by-step recipe below. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to get you started:
- You can prepare the marshmallow mixture in a pot over the stove or in a microwave using a microwave-safe bowl. We always use a microwave as it makes cleanup much easier.
- Use mini marshmallows for easier melting and smoother texture
- We’ve used butter in this recipe but you can substitute with any flavourless vegetable oil like canola oil, or melted margarine.
- We’ve used creamy peanut butter but you can use crunchy peanut butter for additional texture.
- We’ve topped the squares with roasted peanuts but you can use candied peanuts or beer nuts if you prefer.
- We suggest using a high quality rubber spatula so you can easily stir and scrape down the side of the bowl as the melted marshmallows can easily stick to a wooden spoon. Spatula is always best!
- Press gently into the pan to keep bars light and chewy, not compacted
- Add mix-ins: Chocolate chips or M&Ms can be stirred in for variation
- Store properly: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days
- Warm bars slightly before serving for extra gooeyness
What To Serve with Rice Krispies Treats
Rice Krispie Treats can easily be enjoyed on their own as a grab and go snack or late night dessert. The fact you don’t need to use any cutlery to eat them means it’s easy to sneak a slice without anyone knowing!
If you’re offering them as an after dinner treat, serve a chewy square or bar with a hot pot of tea or coffee.
You can also serve a decadent ice cream sundae by placing a Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bar in a bowl and adding a scoop of Chocolate Chip Caramel Banana Nut Ice Cream. Squirt with whipped cream, sprinkle with chopped peanuts and drizzle with chocolate fudge sauce.
You can also make Rice Krispie Square Sandwiches by sandwiching two of the squares around a scoop of ice cream or gelato.
Why Are My Rice Krispies Treats Hard?
It’s likely you left the marshmallow mixture on the stove or in the microwave for too long. Since the marshmallows have sugar in them, leaving it on the heat for a long period of time can cause the sugar to harden. To prevent this, make sure to remove it from the heat completely after melting down the marshmallows and peanut butter.
Why Are My Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Falling Apart?
You likely added too much butter, too many marshmallows, or you used a natural peanut butter with more liquid and oil in it causing the mixture to break down. If you follow the measurements in our recipe you should have no problem. Don’t eyeball ingredients be sure to measure them out exactly.
Can I Make Rice Krispie Treats The Night Before?
Homemade Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars are at their best the day they’re made. However, they can be enjoyed for up to 2-3 days if stored properly. Store Rice Krispie treats at room temperature, in a container or bag that seals airtight.
Can I Freeze Rice Krispie Squares?
If you want to store the bars for longer than two days, try freezing them! To freeze rice krispies, allow them to cool completely and cut them into squares. Wrap each square in a piece of wax paper and place them in a large freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Is It Cheaper To Make Rice Krispies Or Buy Them?
Do some number crunching and you’ll find store-bought Rice Krispies Treats cost more than twice as much as a homemade recipe. They’re quick to make at home and especially fun to prepare with kids. We also love eating them fresh, still warm out of the tin.
Can You Make Rice Krispies With Stale Marshmallows?
Lack of moisture means old marshmallows don’t melt properly. Instead, the dehydrated marshmallows congeal into a thick mass. When making Rice Krispies treats, always opt for fresh marshmallows.
What Happens If You Put Too Much Butter In Rice Krispie Treats?
The best Rice Krispie Treat requires the perfect ratio of butter to marshmallow to rice cereal. Too much marshmallow and butter can make a super sticky, wet or soggy slice, while too little makes a hard, dry or crumbly one.
How Long Should Rice Krispie Treats Cool Before Cutting?
While you might be tempted to eat the chewy squares immediately after making them, let them cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares or bars. The cooled marshmallow-cereal mixture will be much easier to cut. For easy cutting, unmold the pan of treats onto a cutting board.
You May Also Enjoy These Dessert Recipes…
- Double Chocolate Ice Cream
- Roasted Hazelnut Ferrero Rocher Cookies
- Tebirkes Danish Poppy Seed Pastry
- Flodeboller Danish Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies
- Nussecken German Nut Corners
- White Chocolate and Raspberry Blondies
- Vegan Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Almond Chocolate Orange Muffins
- Decadent Toblerone Brownies
- Kinder Bueno Brownies
- Jamaican Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake
- Gianduja Hazelnut Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream
- Gianduja Hazelnut Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- mixing bowl
- spatula
- Square Baking Tin
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp Butter
- 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 5 cups Mini Marshmallows
- 5 cups Rice Krispies
- 1/2 cup Roasted Peanuts chopped
- 1/4 cup Peanut Butter Chips
Instructions
- In a large microwaveable bowl melt the butter and peanut butter, about 1 minute.
- Fold in the marshmallows with a rubber spatula. Return to the microwave and heat until marshmallows have puffed up and are no longer solid, approximately 1 minute. Remove from the microwave, add vanilla, and stir to create a homogenous mixture.
- Add the Rice Krispies cereal and gently fold to coat in the peanut butter marshmallow mixture.
- Gentle press the warm mixture into a greased 9 inch pan or casserole dish.
- Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and peanut butter chocolate chips. Use the palm of your hands to press them into the squares.
- Let cool for 30 minutes before cutting into 16 squares.
Nutrition
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