Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

A fun twist on a classic bar recipe, these peanut butter rice krispie treats are the perfect dessert for the peanut butter lover.

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!

If you love an easy and delicious cereal bar recipe, be sure to try our homemade scotcheroos, cocoa krispie treats, and these easy s’mores bars too!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Super easy to make! A great entry-level recipe to try.

Great peanut butter 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.

Ready to enjoy in 30 minutes! This includes time to make the peanut butter Rice Krispie treat recipe and allow for them to cool and set up too!

Ingredients Needed

Rice Krispies Cereal (or Puffed Rice Cereal)

Mini Marshmallows

Butter

Creamy Peanut Butter

*Optional: Vanilla Extract

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Why is the Vanilla Extract Option in These Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats?

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 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!

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

Add Chocolate! 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: These bars 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!)

Step-By-Step Instructions

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!)

Recipe FAQs

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!

Love This Recipe? You May Also Enjoy

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Meredith

This easy dessert has everything you love about classic Rice Krispie Bars with a little (peanut buttery) twist!

5 from 8 votes

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Prep Time 8 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 minutes mins

Inactive Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16 Bars

Calories 126 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 5 C Rice Krispies Cereal or Puffed Rice Cereal
• ▢ 1, 10 oz Bag of Mini Marshmallows
• ▢ 2 tablespoon Salted Butter
• ▢ ¼ C Creamy Peanut Butter
• ▢ *Optional: ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Instructions

 

• 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.*
• If you are adding the option vanilla, stir in after the marshmallows have been melted.
• Stir in 5 cups of puffed rice cereal until evenly distributed.
• Gently press the cereal and marshmallow mixture into a 9×13 pan with a clean rubber scraper.
• Let your Rice Krispie peanut butter treats set up for 20-30 minutes before cutting.
• Serve and enjoy!
• 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!)

Notes

*You can also melt the marshmallows, butter, and peanut butter on the stovetop if you prefer. Start by melting the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Then add the marshmallows and peanut butter and stir continuously until melted.

Nutrition

Calories: 126kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 89mgPotassium: 35mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 626IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 3mg

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