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Home > Recipes > Desserts

Published: Sep 25, 2021 · Modified: Aug 17, 2022 by Meredith · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

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

top down view of several peanut butter rice krispy squares. surrounded by mini marshmallows, rice krispie cereal, and a spoon full of creamy peanut butter

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 homemade scotcheroos and these easy s’mores bars too!

Jump to:
  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients Needed
  • Why is the Vanilla Extract Option in These Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats?
  • Recipe Variations and Substitutions
  • Step-By-Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Love This Recipe? You May Also Enjoy
  • Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

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

Ingredients needed to make peanut butter rice krispy treats. Rice krisy cereal, marshmallows, butter, and creamy peanut butter.

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

collage showing the step-by-step for making peanut butter rice krispy bars
  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!)
stack of 4 peanut butter rice crispy treats. Surrounded by other rice krispie squares, mini marshmallows, and a jar of peanut butter in the background.

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

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Did you make this recipe? Tag @ourlovelanguageisfood on Instagram & Facebook. Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating & comment below too! Be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get free recipes sent directly to your inbox!

close up of squares of Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats cut and ready to eat.

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
Prevent your screen from going dark
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
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
  

  • 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
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

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    How many stars would you give this recipe?




  1. Keith says

    February 23, 2023 at 10:07 am

    5 stars
    I never had a PB rice krispie treat before I found this recipe; I always added chocolate to mine, which is good, but leaving the chocolate off and just appreciating the peanut butter is so good! Love it. Will make for the family again!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 23, 2023 at 8:38 pm

      so happy to hear that you enjoyed this PB version! thank you for giving it a try, hope you can enjoy another batch soon!

      Reply
  2. Maggie says

    August 26, 2022 at 4:05 am

    I’ve been making these for 40 years. Only I use 6 cups of rice and I use a whole cup of peanut butter. Also, if you put them down in a very thin layer you can then spread a layer of “all fruit” type spread and then another layer. Not only do I have them for snacks, they also make great breakfast bars.

    Reply
    • ourlovelanguageisfood says

      August 26, 2022 at 1:21 pm

      Glad you love PB Rice Krispie Bars too! I’ll have to try the amped up PB version and mid-layer next time – thanks for sharing 🙂

      Reply
  3. Nathan says

    August 17, 2022 at 12:36 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing bars! I drizzle mine with a little milk chocolate to take them to the next level.

    Reply
    • ourlovelanguageisfood says

      August 17, 2022 at 4:06 pm

      So glad you loved them! Agree chocolate drizzle on this is a great add – yum!

      Reply
  4. Lynn says

    April 18, 2022 at 2:18 pm

    5 stars
    Peanut butter and Rice Krispie treats? There’s no better combo!! Delicious!!

    Reply
    • ourlovelanguageisfood says

      April 18, 2022 at 2:19 pm

      right??? Glad you love this treat too!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Meredith!

I am a Midwest-based foodie and mom working full time by day and sharing my passion for all things food by night. Follow along for great recipes to share with your family and friends. I've got you covered for breakfast, dinner, snack-time, parties, desserts, drinks, and more!

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