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Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats

Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats are made with just 4 simple ingredients and taste even better than the original. No marshmallows required!

Prep Time
14 mins
Cook Time
14 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 16 bars
Calories: 94 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
  • 3 cups crispy rice cereal
  • ½ cup honey
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
Optional Topping:
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Spray an 8-inch square pan with oil and press a piece of parchment paper into the bottom of the pan. The oil will hold the parchment in place, so it won't wiggle around later. Since this recipe moves quickly, go ahead and add the measured cereal to a large mixing bowl, so it's ready to go later.
  2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the honey to a boil. As soon as it's bubbling, set a timer for 1 minute and let it boil until the timer goes off. Turn down the heat if the honey starts to bubble towards the top of the pan.
  3. When the timer goes off, remove the honey from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and salt. As soon as the mixture is smooth, pour it over the cereal in the large mixing bowl. Stir well, until the cereal is well coated. It will start to thicken up as it cools, and will be very sticky.
  4. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, and press firmly to pack the cereal into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the fridge or freezer, so the bars can cool completely. When they are totally cool, they are ready to slice and serve, unless you'd like to add the chocolate topping below.
  5. For a chocolate-topped bar, melt a 1/2 cup (or more for a thicker layer) of dark chocolate chips in the microwave, or over a double-boiler. When the chocolate is melted, spread it over the top of the bars and place the pan in the freezer briefly, just until the chocolate is hardened. Then the bars are ready to slice and serve.
  6. Leftover rice crispy treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, but they will become slightly softer over time. For the crispiest results, I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

  • Nutrition information is for 1 of 16 bars, without the optional topping. This information is automatically calculated and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
  • Gluten-Free Note: Rice Krispies® cereal is not gluten-free because it includes malt flavoring. Look for a certified gluten-free cereal if you need these bars to be gluten-free. (The brown rice cereal I used in the photos above is labeled as gluten-free.)
  • Use a different nut butter: Almond butter or sunflower butter will also work in this recipe if you prefer.
  • Make it Vegan: replace the honey with maple syrup.
  • Update Note: This recipe was updated in June 2024 to use slightly less cereal and improve the overall flavor and texture. You can find the original recipe here.

Nutrition Information

Calories 94kcal (5%) Carbohydrates 14g (5%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 4g (6%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 2g Sodium 108mg (5%) Potassium 55mg (2%) Fiber 0.5g (2%) Sugar 10g (20%) Vitamin C 0.1mg (0%) Calcium 5mg (1%) Iron 0.3mg (2%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 94

% Daily Value*

Calories 94kcal 5%
Carbohydrates 14g 5%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Sodium 108mg 5%
Potassium 55mg 1%
Fiber 0.5g 2%
Sugar 10g 20%
Vitamin C 0.1mg 0%
Calcium 5mg 1%
Iron 0.3mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.