Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Rice Krispie bars are a quintessential part of my childhood. As I’ve grown older, I’ve really learned to love a good sweet and salty combo…enter peanut butter Rice Krispie treats! This easy dessert has everything you love about the classic with a little (peanut buttery) twist!

Level of difficulty: Easy.

Flavor: Peanut butter is the star of these Rice Krispie bars. They kind of give you a bit of a fluffernutter vibe with the combination of the peanut butter and marshmallow.

Time: It will take you about 30 minutes to make this peanut butter Rice Krispie treat recipe, including time for your bars to set up!

Rice Krispies Cereal (or Puffed Rice Cereal)

Mini Marshmallows

Butter

Creamy Peanut Butter

*Optional: Vanilla Extract

I’ve made this recipe with and without vanilla extract, and have decided to write it in as optional. If you want more of a peanut butter punch to your Rice Krispie peanut butter treats, leave the vanilla out; if you want a more mild peanut butter flavor, add the vanilla to balance the flavors out. Both ways are delicious, but they end up being pretty different!

1. Melt the marshmallows with the butter and peanut butter: Place the marshmallows, butter, and peanut butter in a large microwave safe bowl, and microwave in 30 second increments. Stir after each 30 second increment to coat the marshmallows in the butter and peanut butter. Repeat until marshmallows are poofy and melted. This will take approximately 3-4 rounds (or 1.5-2 minutes) to complete, depending on your microwave.
2. Note: if you are adding the option vanilla, stir in after the marshmallows have been melted
3. Note: you can also do this on the stovetop if you prefer! First melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Then add the marshmallows and peanut butter and stir continuously until melted.
4. Stir in your Rice Krispie cereal: Stir in 5 cups of puffed rice cereal until evenly distributed. If additional cereal is desired to obtain your perfect cereal-to-marshmallow ratio, stir in up to 1 additional cup of cereal.
5. Make your bars: Gently press the cereal and marshmallow mixture into a 9×13 pan with a clean rubber scraper.
6. Note: option to line with parchment paper if you plan to remove the bars from the pan prior to cutting/serving.
7. Let your bars set up: Let your Rice Krispie peanut butter treats set up for 20-30 minutes before cutting.
8. Serve and enjoy!
9. Store leftovers: Store leftover bars in an air-tight container on the countertop for up to 3 days (I will be impressed if they last that long!)

Peanut butter and chocolate is one of the best combinations. If you’d like to add even more fun to your Rice Krispie peanut butter treats, try one of these chocolate additions:

• Dipping them in chocolate: peanut butter Rice Krispie treats dipped in chocolate would be an awesome way to add chocolate to your dessert. If you would like to do this, I would recommend dipping one half of each Rice Krispie square or the bottom of each square into melted chocolate and allowing it to set prior to serving.
• Drizzling them in chocolate: if you don’t feel like dipping, try drizzling the tops of your treats with melted chocolate (and maybe some melted peanut butter too!)

Can I use the larger sized marshmallows instead of mini marshmallows? Yes! They may just take a little longer to melt, but no big deal!

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