Peanut butter Rice Krispie treats are so good and way too easy! These bars are for those of us who cannot resist chocolate and peanut butter together! These bars are crunchy, creamy, and perfectly sweet!
During quarantine and then into the summer months, I noticed friends sharing pictures of their kids grinning from ear to ear with giant “Crazy Shakes” in hand. Somes shakes had slices of cake, some had pounds of sprinkles, others hand mermaid tales or large tufts of cotton candy.
They looked over the top and I decided we had to have one.
Last week I drove the family 45 minutes to get our crazy shakes (not going to lie, I wanted my own Instagram worthy photo).
I had high hopes for my Buckeye Crazy Shake, but alas, it was a sticky disaster.
For starters, it is 90+ degrees outside, the milkshakes were way too top-heavy for their containers and they were way too sweet.
I chose the Buckeye shake because I LOVE chocolate and peanut butter together. In hindsight, I could have made another pan of these Rice Krispie Treats and called it a day (a much cheaper day too).
What Do I Need To Make Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats?
Rice Krispie cereal
Peanut butter chips
Mini Reese Peanut Butter Cups
Butter
Peanut butter
Mini Marshmallows
Semi-Sweet chocolate chips
How To Make Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars
STEP ONE – To begin, spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Alternatively, you can line your pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
STEP TWO – Place a large stockpot or saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter and marshmallows together, stir in the peanut butter.
STEP THREE -Remove from heat and stir in the rice cereal. Carefully fold in half of the mini chips and all but ½ cup of the peanut butter chips.
STEP FOUR – Working quickly, press the cereal mixture into the prepared pan. Carefully press the remaining mini peanut butter cups onto the bars. Allow the bars to cool completely.
STEP FIVE – When the bars of cooled, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and drizzle the melted chocolate over the bars. Repeat with the remaining peanut butter chips. Allow the chocolate to set before cutting into bars.
Why Are My Rice Krispie Treats So Hard?
Believe it or not, the cooking temperature is the culprit here.
If you’re making the treats on the stove-top, make sure you melt the butter and marshmallows together on low heat.
Cooking the mixture on medium or high will cause your marshmallows to get too hot, turning the sugar in the marshmallows into hard candy.
You can remedy this by microwaving your treats for just a few seconds before eating them.
If you find your treats are too crumbly, you may not have coated all the cereal pieces with the marshmallow mixture,
How long do Rice Crispy Treats last?
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats will stay crispy and fresh if stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
These marshmallow cereal treats will taste best when consumed right away.
Can you freeze marshmallow cereal treats?
Yes, Rice Krispie Treats freeze really well! Make sure that the bars are covered completely in an airtight container. If you have cut them into bars, place the bars between sheets of wax or parchment paper.
Freeze these bars for up to 1 month. Bring the treats to room temperature before consuming.
Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats Recipe Tips
- I only used a relatively small amount of peanut butter for this recipe but it can handle more if you are a true peanut butter lover!
- Do not use natural peanut butter for this recipe, it will not melt the same. I used creamy peanut butter, but there is no reason you couldn’t use crunchy!
- Chocolate Rice Krispy cereal can be used in place of regular rice cereal.
- To make the cereal mixture easier to spread, I like to spray my rubber spatula with non-stick cooking spray. This will keep the cereal sticking to the spatula. Wax paper can also be used.
- Feel free to add a little vanilla extract to the peanut butter mixture!
- You could use large marshmallows for this recipe.
- While technically you can use expired or older marshmallows, they will not melt the same as freshly purchased marshmallows.
- This recipe can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free cereal.
- To get really gourmet, brown your butter first before adding the marshmallow mixture!
- Chopped full-size peanut butter cups can be used in place of the mini. The portion added to the marshmallow mixture WILL melt a little as your stir. It is unavoidable.
- If you like these peanut butter Rice Krispie treats, then try this S’mores Rice Krispies Recipe!
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Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Peanut butter Rice Krispie treats are so good and way too easy! These bars are for those of us who cannot resist chocolate and peanut butter together! These bars are crunchy, creamy, and perfectly sweet!
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1 16 oz bag mini marshmallows
- 6 cups of Rice Krispie cereal
- 1 10 oz bag peanut butter chips, divided
- 1 7 oz bag mini Reese cups, divided
- ½ semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- To begin, spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Alternatively, you can line your pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Place a large stockpot or saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter and marshmallows together, stir in the peanut butter.
- Remove from heat and stir in the rice cereal. Carefully fold in half of the mini chips and all but ½ cup of the peanut butter chips.
- Working quickly, press the cereal mixture into the prepared pan. Carefully press the remaining mini peanut butter cups onto the bars. Allow the bars to cool completely.
- When the bars of cooled, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and drizzle the melted chocolate over the bars. Repeat with the remaining peanut butter chips. Allow the chocolate to set before cutting into bars.
Nutrition Information
Yield
16Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 280Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 10mgSodium 166mgCarbohydrates 42gFiber 1gSugar 25gProtein 5g
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