Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Peanut Butter rice krispies with chocolate

Peanut butter desserts rule around here. It’s hard to resist the sweet and salty combination in desserts like chocolate and peanut butter rice krispies treats, peanut butter sheet cake, or peanut butter glaze drizzled over brownies.

Peanut butter rice krispie treats are a delicious variation of everyone’s favorite scotcheroos recipe, except they are made without Karo syrup. Like gluten-free rice krispies treats, the base is made up of marshmallows, butter, and Rice Krispies cereal, but with creamy peanut butter mixed in and a thick layer of chocolate on top.

Ingredient Notes

Chocolate peanut butter rice krispies treats are a naturally gluten-free no-bake dessert if using a gluten-free crispy rice cereal. See the linked post for suggested brands.

Also, to make vegan or dairy-free peanut butter rice krispie treats, replace the butter with a plant-based butter stick and use vegan mini marshmallows, such as Dandies brand. For the chocolate, use dairy-free chocolate, like Enjoy Life.

• Butter – The recipe calls for unsalted butter, but omit the salt if salted butter or a vegan butter stick is substituted.
• Marshmallows – Use mini marshmallows for faster melting. Set two cups aside to mix in with the crisp rice cereal. This is what makes the bars extra soft and gooey.
• Rice Krispie cereal – For gluten-free bars, be sure to read the label because some brands contain barley malt extract. I prefer Aldi or Malt-O-Meal brand.
• Peanut butter – Use creamy or crunchy for an added salty crunch.
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips – Melted chocolate chips makes the chocolate topping, but white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, or even chopped candy bars would make an equally delish topping!