Peanut Butter-Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats

My Peanut Butter-Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats are filled with loads of peanut butter and chocolate. A no-bake snack that's made for sharing!

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats: An origin story

First we start with a crazy confession: I had my first Rice Krispie treat... let's just say after the age of 50. The way I grew up, in a Korean household, rice was rice and Rice Krispies cereal was cereal. Rice Krispies treats simply weren’t a thing in our household.

Then, one fateful day, so many years later, a friend “forced” me to try one. It was transformative. I wondered where they had been all my life. My brain could hardly comprehend this Mona Lisa of snacks. This crunchy, sticky block of  “rice” was revelatory. So, of course, I decided I had to make it even better. My version of the iconic Rice Krispie treat answers The Boy’s constant question of “Where’s the peanut butter?” It’s inside and on top of these Peanut Butter-Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats. Relax, bud.

Ingredients in Peanut Butter-Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats

• Unsalted butter Whether it's cooking or baking, I rarely use salted butter. Every brand of salted butter has its own degree of salinity, so to avoid over or under seasoning anything, I default to unsalted butter, and add my own salt. And yes, sweet treats need salt too. It cuts through all the sweetness and brings out the flavors within.
• Marshmallows I use the mini marshmallow, because I find they melt better.
• Peanut Butter This is not the place for chunky peanut butter, even though it's a superior peanut product to creamy 😏 We are looking to have the peanut butter fully incorporate into the marshmallow, as though they were meant to be together 💞
• Salt and vanilla They come to the game to just enhance the flavors that are already here. If you ever tasted a sweet treat without vanilla and/or salt and then tasted the same treat with them, you'd definitely notice the difference.
• Rice Krispies I have heard stories that you can use any cereal in these marshmallowy treats (check out my friend Kim's Lucky Charms Treats), but I'm just getting used to the idea of the Rice Krispies variety. Give me a minute.
• Chocolate Chips This recipe calls for one cup of chocolate chips of your choice. You might like milk chocolate. Sometimes I’m in a dark chocolate mood. Feel the chocolate vibe and make your choice.
• Peanut butter chips We also use one cup of peanut butter chips. If you can’t find them, you can use another chip, like butterscotch (yum!), or just use another cup of chocolate chips. Oh no, please don’t give me more chocolate, said no one ever.

Let's make Peanut Butter-Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats

• Prep Your pan Line a 13X9 pan with parchment or foil
• Make the treat layer This is so simple. Just melt and whisk your butter, marshmallows, and peanut butter together into a smooth mixture, add your Rice Krispies and stir thoroughly to coat, then press into your lined pan. It's that easy!
• Cover in peanut buttery chocolate Either in a microwave, in 30 second bursts, or over a double boiler, melt your chocolate and peanut butter chips together. Stir until fully combined and smooth. Spread over the top of your cereal layer and swirl the top, if you're feeling fancy.
• Cool and serve Allow to cool at room temperature for at least two hours, to fully set the chocolate and the treat layers, then slice with a very sharp knife and serve up! Cut into really teensy pieces so you can pretend you’re a giant dinosaur. Aaarhhh 🦖

How do I store leftovers, if there are any?

Store leftovers in an air-tight container for up to 5 days. These Peanut Butter-Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats can also be frozen, tightly wrapped, for up to two months. Defrost at room temperature before devouring.

Need more Rice Krispies? Try these treats:

• Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Brownies
• Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Cookies