Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
These gooey Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats come together in less than 30 minutes and are the perfect dessert or after school snack. If you love the flavor of chocolate and peanut butter, this twist on a classic rice krispie treat is just what you need!
Rice Krispie Treats are the perfect quick dessert or snack. They are sweet, crunchy, gooey and ready in just a few minutes. What makes them even better is how customizable they are.
Today’s recipe is for the chocolate and peanut butter lovers. When you want all the flavor of that winning combination but also want to avoid the effort of baking, this is the recipe to reach for.
These peanut butter and chocolate rice krispies have all that you love about classic rice krispy treats but are boosted with another layer of flavor and sweetness.
In less than 30 minutes you can mix up this no-bake snack that fulfills any sweet tooth craving! Try combining it with these Christmas Rice Krispie Treats for a peanut buttery Christmas treat!
Why Make This Recipe
- No Bake Treat: Sometimes you need something sweet without heating up the oven. This is the perfect solution!
- Classic Taken a New Level: I think rice krispie treats are one of the first desserts most kids learn how to make. It’s a simple, classic recipe but this version takes it one step further.
- Chocolate and Peanut Butter: There are few dessert duos more satisfying than peanut butter and chocolate. Mix it up with marshmallows and you can’t fail! If you love a chocolate peanut butter combo, you should also try these Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispie Treats!
What Do You Need to Make This Recipe
- Rice Krispies Cereal: You can use name brand or generic and still achieve great results!
- Butter: Butter helps soften the marshmallow. I prefer to use unsalted
- Marshmallows: I like to use big marshmallows for the base and add mini marshmallows later for even more marshmallow flavor and texture. Most recipes call for mini marshmallows rather than the regular. You can use either one. If you use miniature marshmallows be sure and keep an eye on them as they will melt faster.
- Vanilla Extract: Helps enhance all the flavors
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This is not a usual ingredient in Rice Krispie Treats but adds a layer of sweetness.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: You could use crunchy but I prefer the texture of creamy. I recommend a brand that doesn’t require mixing as the separation of the oil may cause problems in the recipe. You can use any nut butter you prefer for this recipe. You can make a 1:1 swap if you prefer a different kind of nut butter or have an allergy.
- Mini chocolate chips: You could use regular chocolate chips but the minis melt perfectly into the warm gooey mixture
Tools
- 9×9 Baking Dish
- Large Pot
How to Make This Recipe
Step One: Prepare Your Tools
Fill a large bowl with 6 cups of Rice Krispies cereal. Set aside.
Spray a 9×9 baking dish with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Step Two: Melt
In a large pot add the unsalted butter and stir until completely melted.
Add the 10 ounce bag of jumbo marshmallows to the pot and continuously stir until they completely melt.
Add in the vanilla extract, sweetened condensed milk, and creamy peanut butter, stirring everything once again until combined.
Step Three: Mix and Press
Remove the marshmallow mixture from the heat and pour over the bowl filled with the Rice Krispies cereal. Use a large wooden spoon or rubber spatula to fold the ingredients together until evenly distributed.
While the mixture is still warm, add the mini marshmallows and the mini chocolate chips and fold the two together again.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press into the pan evenly. Let the treats sit at room temperature for about an hour before eating.
Cut and enjoy or store in a ziploc bag or a tightly sealed container for later. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- If you prefer thicker rice krispie treats you can easily switch to an 8×8 pan. If you prefer them a bit thinner select a 9×13.
- It’s helpful to use a small piece of parchment paper to press the bars into your pan. You can also use a little bit of butter on your fingers to prevent sticking. Be careful, the mixture is hot!
- To keep your bars from falling apart, press into your pan firmly and quickly. They will set as they cool.
- Allow your bars to fully cool before you try to cut into them.
Can You Make This Recipe in the Microwave?
If you have ever made rice krispy treats in the microwave, you can also make these rice krispy treats in the microwave.
Add your butter and marshmallows to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Pull them out and mix well and return to the microwave in 30-second intervals until fully melted.
Add in your peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk and heat for one more 30-second interval. Mix in your vanilla and then pour over your cereal and press your bars into your pan as usual.
FAQs
Store these rice krispie treats in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out and becoming hard. They should stay good for up to four days.
You can also freeze these bars and thaw at room temperature to enjoy.
Your bars may end up hard if you overcooked your marshmallow mixture. You want to be sure and only cook it until it is just melted and not let it bubble or boil past that. It’s easy to overcook it or even burn it by accident.
Keep your temperature low and stir continuously. Once your marshmallows are melted, take it off the heat.
If your bars are easily falling apart, it’s likely one of two things: You didn’t let them cool long enough or you didn’t press them into your pan hard enough.
If you try to dig into your bars before they fully cool, they will easily fall apart. They are still delicious but much messier to eat that way! Let them cool for clean slices. You can place them in the refrigerator to speed up the process.
You also need to apply some pressure when you are pressing the bars into your pan. Give them a good push to help them stick together.
Did you enjoy this recipe for Chocolate peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats? If so, check out this recipe I picked out just for you:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- 9×9″ Baking Dish
- Large Pot
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 10 ounce bag marshmallows
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Fill a large bowl with 6 cups of Rice Krispies cereal. Set aside.
- Spray a 9×9 baking dish with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- In a large pot add the 5 tbsp unsalted butter and stir until completely melted.
- Add the 10 ounce bag of jumbo marshmallows to the pot and continuously stir until they completely melt.
- Add in 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk, and 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter, stirring everything once again until combined.
- Remove the marshmallow mixture from the heat and pour over the bowl filled with the Rice Krispies cereal. Use a large wooden spoon or rubber spatula to fold the ingredients together until evenly distributed.
- While the mixture is still warm, add the 1 cup mini marshmallows and the 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips and fold the two together again.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press into the pan evenly. Let the treats sit at room temperature for about an hour before eating.
- Cut and enjoy or store in a ziploc bag or a tightly sealed container for later. Enjoy!
Notes
- Rice Krispies Cereal: You can use name brand or generic and still achieve great results!
- Butter: Butter helps soften the marshmallow. I prefer to use unsalted
- Marshmallows: I like to use big marshmallows for the base and add mini marshmallows later for even more marshmallow flavor and texture. Most recipes call for mini marshmallows rather than the regular. You can use either one. If you use miniature marshmallows be sure and keep an eye on them as they will melt faster.
- Vanilla Extract: Helps enhance all the flavors
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This is not a usual ingredient in Rice Krispie Treats but adds a layer of sweetness.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: You could use crunchy but I prefer the texture of creamy. I recommend a brand that doesn’t require mixing as the separation of the oil may cause problems in the recipe. You can use any nut butter you prefer for this recipe. You can make a 1:1 swap if you prefer a different kind of nut butter or have an allergy.
- Mini chocolate chips: You could use regular chocolate chips but the minis melt perfectly into the warm gooey mixture
- If you prefer thicker rice krispie treats you can easily switch to an 8×8 pan. If you prefer them a bit thinner select a 9×13.
- It’s helpful to use a small piece of parchment paper to press the bars into your pan. You can also use a little bit of butter on your fingers to prevent sticking. Be careful, the mixture is hot!
- To keep your bars from falling apart, press into your pan firmly and quickly. They will set as they cool.
- Allow your bars to fully cool before you try to cut into them.
