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These Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats are a magical blend of peanut butter and chocolate wrapped up into gluten free bars. Crispy rice cereal is folded into melted marshmallows, swirled with peanut butter, and finished with a swipe of chocolate for a perfect no-bake treat.
Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free option, Dairy-free option
- Skill Level: Easy
Who doesn’t love a good rice krispie treat? I mean, they are buttery, sweet, chewy, and delicious. Plus so easy to make! But we all know any dessert is better when you add peanut butter and chocolate. I mean, I’m pretty much obsessed with this combo, so I had to add it to my marshamllowy treats. Here’s why you’ll crave them too…
- Gluten Free. Missing traditional rice krispie treats? I know how you feel! But, making gluten free rice krispies treats is possible, and they taste just as good as the regular version. Use gluten free cereal to easily make this recipe gluten free.
- No-Bake. I truly love a no-bake dessert and rice krispie treats peanut butter is a winner. It’s great for a last-minute after-school sweet treat or to serve at birthday parties. And you can adjust the ingredients if needed to accommodate any food allergies (see tips lower down).
- Keeps well. These bars keep great at room temperature for up to 1 week, although I’m not saying you won’t eat them all in a few days!
What You’ll Need
See the ingredients in these chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats plus some notes below. Don’t forget to check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.
- Butter: For these treats, you’ll use salted butter to add a little salt to balance the sweetness of the marshmallows. If you don’t have salted butter, use unsalted butter and add ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Peanut Butter: Use creamy peanut butter rather than crunchy. You can use conventional or natural peanut butter, just make sure that it is well stirred.
- Marshmallows: I use mini marshmallows but if needed you can use regular marshmallows. You’ll need 16 ounces of whatever size of marshmallow you choose (and yes, marshmallows are gluten free!).
- Vanilla Extract
- Crispy Rice Cereal: Use a gluten free brand of cereal – you read more about what cereals are gluten free in this post. Note that Kellogg’s Rice Krispies are not gluten free.
- Chocolate: I use semisweet chocolate chips or you can use chopped chocolate.
- Oil: Avocado or vegetable oil is used to help the melted chocolate become smooth and spreadable.
How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
This easy no-bake recipe takes minimal effort and is perfectly salty-sweet! You can see how to make it in the photos below. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Prepare. Line a 9×9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and grease it.
- Melt butter and peanut butter. Over low heat, melt the butter and peanut butter together, then add all but 1 cup of the marshmallows.
- Melt the marshmallows. Mix over low heat. Keep stirring until the mixture is smooth.
- Add vanilla. Pour in the vanilla, stirring gently to combine.
- Add cereal. Now fold in the cereal and reserved marshmallows.
- Place in pan. Gently press the cereal mixture into the prepared pan.
- Melt the chocolate. Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it until nearly melted, then add the coconut oil.
- Add to bars. Spread the chocolate evenly over the pan with the cereal mixture.
- Cool. Let cool at room temperature until firm.
Tips for Success
Rice krispies treats are one of those classic easy desserts that anyone can make!
To help you make this recipe even more easily, follow these tips:
- Make clean cuts. These treats are thick. I’ve found that a brisket knife works best for cutting them into neat, clean squares because they are long and sharp with a flat edge.
- Brush with oil. If your chocolate has a dull or whitish finish when it hardens, you can lightly brush it with a very small amount of avocado oil or vegetable oil (I like to use the kind that comes in an aerosol can).
- Make in a larger pan. If you wish, you can make these peanut butter rice krispies treats in a 13×9-inch pan. Note that the treats and chocolate layer will be thinner if you press them into a larger pan. You may want to use 1 1⁄2 cups of chocolate chips and 1 1⁄2-2 teaspoons oil for the topping if you use a larger pan.
- Skip the chocolate. Like just peanut butter without any extra chocolate? You can skip the chocolate layer.
- Use another nut butter. Try almond butter instead of peanut butter, or another nut butter of choice. If you can’t have nuts, substitute sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter.
- Make it dairy-free. If you want to make this recipe dairy-free, substitute your favorite non-dairy butter for the butter (make sure it’s salted as this helps keep the treats stay fresh longer), and vegan chocolate.
Proper Storage
Store these gluten free peanut butter rice krispies treats in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 7 days. If you plan to pack these in lunchboxes, wrap each treat in plastic wrap.
More Cereal Treat Recipes
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
These gluten free Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats swirl brown rice cereal with melted marshmallows and peanut butter, and top it with a swipe of chocolate for a perfect no-bake treat.
Servings: 16 servings
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons salted butter , OR 4 tablespoons unsalted butter plus ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 8 cups (16 ounces) mini marshmallows (preferably Kraft Jet Puffed), divided
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 6 cups Crispy Rice Cereal (Be sure to use a brand that is gluten free. Kellogg’s Rice Krispies are NOT gluten free.)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, or 8 oz. chopped chocolate
- 1 teaspoon avocado or vegetable oil
Instructions
- Line a 9×9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil and grease it generously with cooking spray or butter.
- In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the butter and peanut butter over low heat. Set aside 1 cup of the marshmallows, and add the remaining 7 cups to the melted butter. Stir over low to medium-low heat until just melted (it’s fine if a few unmelted marshmallows remain). Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract (plus the salt if you use unsalted butter).
- Add the cereal and reserved 1 cup of marshmallows and gently stir with a spatula until the cereal is evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and gently press down with your fingers to spread it out and fill the pan, but do not pack it down tightly.
- Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 50% power for 30 seconds. Stir, and continue to microwave in 15-second intervals until nearly melted. Add the oil and stir until fully melted. Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl over a simmering saucepan of water.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the top of the cereal treats and spread it into an even layer.
- Let cool at room temperature until firm, at least 2 hours. Cut into squares and enjoy.
Notes
If your chocolate has a dull or whitish finish when it hardens, you can lightly brush it with a very small amount of avocado oil or vegetable oil (I like to use the kind that comes in an aerosol can).
Since the treats are quite thick, I like to use a brisket knife to cut them into nice, clean squares.
You can make them in a 13×9-inch pan, but the treats and chocolate layer will be thinner. You may want to use 1 1⁄2 cups of chocolate chips and 1 1⁄2-2 teaspoons oil for the topping.
Prefer just peanut butter? You can skip the chocolate layer.
Nutrition Facts
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Amount Per Serving
Calories 558
Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Trans Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 208mg9%
Potassium 130mg4%
Carbohydrates 113g38%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 74g82%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 792IU16%
Vitamin C 7mg8%
Calcium 16mg2%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
Did you make this?
Leave a rating below and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram and hashtag it #cupcakesandkalechips
These bars are tantalisingly delicious – who has ever heard of so much goodness packed into one dish!
Thank you 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
You can never go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate, right? And then add salted caramel to the mix, and you are all set 🙂
LOL! I loved your “Even a woman on Weight Watchers broke down.” comment! These look mighty tasty and you did them up right all healthy like. When my kids were that little it always drove me crazy that they handed out gift bags with candy like that. Hello! The goodie bags were picked through by my hubby and I and we threw out the rest. Thanks for linking up!
Thanks! Sorta healthy, sorta not. But definitely tasty!
how can you go wrong with these?!?!? YUM!
Chocolate, peanut butter, salted caramel – how could it be bad, right?! 🙂
Oh my goodness, these are AMAZING. I wouldn’t share them. I’d be mean and nasty and eat them all myself. 😉
Haha, thanks! They are quite tasty!
What a nice change to an old standby. Thanks so much for sharing! Would love for you to link up: http://iamaddictedtorecipes.blogspot.com/p/link-party.html
Have a great weekend!
Thanks for stopping by! I am heading over to your site now.
Thanks, yes, it is fun to change up an old standard. I had a busy weekend at my mom’s, but if it is too late, I will get in your link party next week. Thanks for asking, and I can’t wait to check out the rest of your site!
They look absolutely wonderful!
Thanks!