Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats: A Marshmallow Free Rice Krispie Treat made with brown crisp rice peanut butter, and honey to create a clean version of a Rice Krispie treat. Topped with dark chocolate because chocolate and peanut butter are perfection together. Dairy-free; Gluten-free, Vegan.
One of my earliest memories of a sleep over at a friend’s house included making homemade rice krispie treats. I remember laughing and giggling and thinking we were so grown up that her mom let us make the classic no-bake treat all by ourselves.
And truly, to this day, I have a hard time resisting a soft rice krispie treat, just like I have a hard time passing up Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.
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Put the two together and an IRRESISTIBLE treat is created.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treat
You guys know I have a serious love for peanut butter already, with my Peanut Butter Banana Bars, Peanut Butter Banana Sushi, and even Peanut Butter Coffee. I also love to switch out overly processed food to make classic recipes a bit healthier. So it was a pretty obvious choice for me to lose the marshmallows in rice krispie treats and replace them with peanut butter and honey. The chocolate addition is just because, everything is better with chocolate, right?!
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
- Brown Crisp Rice Cereal–this can be harder to find, so regular old crisp rice cereal works, you just lose the whole grains that brown rice cereal provides.
- Peanut Butter–use all natural, creamy style peanut butter. You can use regular peanut butter, but keep in mind that has added oils and often added sugars.
- Honey–I love the way honey and peanut butter pair together and the honey helps to sweeten these bars up naturally.
- Dark Chocolate–melted chocolate tops off these peanut butter rice krispie bars to take them over the top.
How to Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Bars
Step One: Measure out the peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and a pinch of salt and mix well.
Step Two: Measure the rice cereal and pour into the peanut butter mixture.
Step Three: Pat down the bars into a greased or parchment or wax paper lined pan.
Step Four: Melt some dark chocolate and pour over the bars. Resist until cooled!
Step 4: Allow bars to set up and cut into squares.
Step 5: Enjoy a peanut butter rice krispie bar or two.
Notes on Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars
- Store these peanut butter no bake bars in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Use dairy-free dark chocolate and maple syrup in place of the honey for Vegan Rice Krispie Treats.
- I like to use a leftover dark chocolate bar, chopped up to melt if I have it in place of chocolate chips.
- To Melt Chocolate in Microwave: Heat on medium high for about 1 minute to start with. Remove from microwave and stir. Repeat heating at shorter intervals, 20 to 30 seconds, stirring in between, until the chocolate is completely melted and has a smooth consistency.
- Be sure your crisp rice is certified gluten-free to make these Gluten Free Rice Krispie Treats.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Treat Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
A Marshmallow Free Rice Krispie Treat made with brown crisp rice peanut butter, and honey topped with dark chocolate.
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- dash of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 cups brown rice crisp cereal
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips
Instructions
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Cover an 8x8 pan with parchment or wax paper. Set aside.
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Heat honey and peanut butter up for 30 seconds and then stir in vanilla and salt until smooth. Stir in cereal until just coated.
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Pour into prepared pan and gently flatten out.
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Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until chocolate is melted.
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Pour chocolate over cereal mixture and spread out with back of spoon.
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Allow to set up in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
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Remove from fridge and cut into squares.
Recipe Notes
Substitute maple syrup for the honey for a vegan rice krispie treat.
Sarah@bakingwithmom says
Great recipe! I have helpers in my kitchen often. It makes baking fun. (Most of the time!) 🙂
Kristen Chidsey says
Ha! Yes, MOST of the time it is is fun. 🙂
Marye says
This looks like a great twist on a childhood (and adulthood) favorite. These look so yummy!
Kristen Chidsey says
They are awesome Marye 🙂
Angela Barnard says
What a wonderful healthy variation to one of my favorite desserts! Yummy!
Kristen Chidsey says
Happy to deliver 🙂
Monique @ Ambitious Kitchen says
I’m definitely going to make these! Such a great idea.
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Monique–you will love them!
Kait @ Our Foodie Appetite says
I love everything chocolate, so if you add peanut butter and rice crispies, I think this is going to be delicious! I’m going to have to try it. My husband doesn’t like peanut butter though, so maybe I’ll substitute some almond butter or something! http://www.ourfoodieappetite.com/east-beach-farmers-market-norfolk-va/
Kristen Chidsey says
Almond butter would work great!
Stephanie says
Mmmmmm. These treats could turn any day around!
Kristen Chidsey says
You better believe it!
Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen) says
I love ANYTHING that combines chocolate and peanut butter. It is such a classic combo, and can’t be beat. I love this twist in combining the TWO classics of peanut butter cups and rice krispie treats. Yum!
Kristen Chidsey says
It is a stellar combo 🙂
CatK says
Rice Krispy treats are one of my all time favorite treats and I am always looking for new ways to elevate the flavors! Thanks for this great looking recipe!!
Kristen Chidsey says
It is the best rice krispie treat I have ever had!
Julia says
These would be my son’s favorite! I love the chocolate on top!
Kristen Chidsey says
It was a hard treat to share for anyone 🙂
Megan Keno says
Ooo, what a delicious treat!
Kristen Chidsey says
It is just that!
Kristen Chidsey says
you bet!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
Chocolate & peanut butter are always a winning combo! P.S. love the book analogy!
Kristen Chidsey says
Winning combo for sure!!
Catherine says
Dear Kristen, what a fantastic idea to use honey and peanut butter to bind the krispies..I love your variation! These look wonderful. I used to love krispie treats more than my kids…still do! I have to try this next time. xo, Catherine
Kristen Chidsey says
Trust me Catherine, these will be your new favorite!!!
Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines says
I could eat a pan of these treats myself!!
One of my all time favorites~
Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines
Kristen Chidsey says
I may be able to eat 2 trays 😉
Lisa Sharp says
I’m allergic to peanuts but I bet sunflower seed butter would work with these! They sound delicious!
Kristen Chidsey says
It would be great with sunflower butter!
swayam says
Ditto here!!baby D is my constant helper in the kitchen.esp when I am baking or its something with eggs! These sound so good .. I am going to have to try this! Thanks for linking up at #SaucySaturdays
Kristen Chidsey says
You bet!! My kids beg me to let them crack the eggs as well 🙂
Christine says
Great way to cut down on the sugar! Love it, Kristen! Thanks for linking up at #SaucySaturdays.
Kristen Chidsey says
You bet Christine!
cuteheads says
Found you through the linkup! These look AMAZING. Must make them! I’m gluten free and would love them as much as my kiddo.
Kristen Chidsey says
I could have eaten the whole pan myself–you will love these!
Sarah says
Yum! These sound great! Thanks for linking up to the Blogger Brags pinterest party. I have pinned your post to the Blogger Brags pinterest board.
Kristen Chidsey says
Thank you Sarah!
Ksenia says
These bars look super yum! I just wanted to say though; while the honey is easily subbed out, it is not a vegan ingredient. Please consider either amending the recipe, or labelling it vegetarian instead of vegan. Thanks for sharing this fabulous recipe! 🙂
Kristen Chidsey says
Ksenia–good catch. I updated the recipe to please vegans Enjoy–these are scrumptious!