Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

This chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats recipe creates the easiest no-bake dessert that’s perfect for summer or any time of year! Some days only the flavors of rich chocolate and smooth peanut butter can soothe your troubled soul, which makes these the perfect cure for whatever ails you.

A stack of three peanut butter rice krispies treats topped with chocolate ganache and more treats on a plate behind it.

Chocolate and peanut butter are so great together. Everyone loves it! Whether it’s vegan peanut butter blossoms cookies, or vegan peanut butter pie, this flavor combination is a favorite!

This recipe is one of the darlings that I have experimented with over the years. The idea of making rice krispie treats with peanut butter, instead of marshmallows was terrific!

Of course, I also love the more traditional vegan rice krispie treats, too!

But when it came to adding chocolate, I didn’t like the combination of chocolate and marshmallows at the time (talk about finicky!). That’s why I knew this peanut butter and chocolate rice krispie treats would be a real gem!

What Makes This Recipe Shine?

  • NO MARSHMALLOWS — Adding creamy peanut butter with Rice Krispies makes them flavorful and means you don’t need marshmallows.
  • PERFECT TEXTURE — Gently pressing the treats into the pan creates dense and chewy treats.
  • DELICIOUS — Creating a chocolate ganache topping makes these treats beautiful and delicious

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Peanut butter — I recommend creamy peanut butter, or you can use crunchy.
  • Agave nectar —  You can substitute maple syrup or corn syrup.
  • Rice Crispy Cereal — You can use either a brand name or store-brand version of rice crispies cereal.
  • Chocolate chips — Find the best dairy-free chocolate chips.
  • Vegan butter — Use either vegan butter or coconut oil.
  • Plant-based milk — Use your favorite plant-based milk, such as almond or soy. You can use a vegan substitute for evaporated milk because it’s rich and creamy!

Ingredient Spotlight

A glass bowl holds Rice Krispies cereal.

What are Rice Krispies?

This little cereal treat has been around since 1927 and was invented by Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day. It’s a rice paste that is dried and then baked. When milk is added to them, they “snap, crackle, and pop” as they rehydrate. They are added to other treats, such as peanut butter balls, to add crispy crunch bites. You can use the brand or store-brand cereal for this recipe. Just be sure to get Rice Krispies rather than puffed rice.

How to Make Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats

If you’re curious about how to make some old-fashioned peanut butter rice krispie treats, I’m here to show you how. In fact, let’s have some fun too! Let’s begin.

  1. Make the peanut butter sauce by heating it in the microwave and stirring.
  2. Pour the peanut butter sauce over the cereal and stir until coated.
  3. Spread the peanut butter cereal into the prepared pan.
  4. Heat chocolate chips and vegan butter in a microwave-safe bowl and then stir in milk.
  5. Spread the chocolate fudge topping over the peanut butter layer.
  6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to an hour.

Marly’s Tips

You can make chocolate peanut butter rice krispie balls by using a cookie scoop to portion the batter and then rolling them into balls. Either dip them in melted chocolate or serve them as is. They’re delicious either way!

Storage Tips

Cut them into individual slices and transfer them to an airtight container. They can be kept at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 10 days. If you have to stack them on top of one another, place a sheet of waxed paper between the layers.

Here are even more tips for storing rice krispie treats.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Treats

Don’t you love these peanut butter chocolate rice krispies treats! It’s such a great flavor combination! Here are even more vegan chocolate peanut butter recipes to enjoy:

A hand holds a peanut butter rice krispies treat with a bite taken out of it.

These chocolate peanut butter rice krispy treats are so good, you’ll want to make a double batch!

A stack of three peanut butter rice krispies treats topped with chocolate ganache and more treats on a plate behind it.

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats with Chocolate

These vegan chocolate peanut butter rice krispy treats are the perfect treat for any occasion, whether it's a party for ten, two or even one!
4.60 from 5 votes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 233kcal

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Bars

  • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
  • cup agave nectar (or syrup of choice)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups Rice Crispy (or Rice Krispies) cereal

Chocolate Fudge Topping

Instructions

Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Bars

  • Prepare a 9" square cake pan by using vegan butter or coconut oil to grease the bottom and sides. Alternatively, line pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • Combine peanut butter and syrup in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 10-second increments until the peanut butter softens/melts. Add vanilla and stir until combined.
    A hand holds a measuring cup full of syrup and is pouring it over a glass bowl full of peanut butter.
  • Pour the rice crispy cereal into a large bowl and then pour peanut butter sauce over the top. Stir until the rice crispies are evenly coated.
    Peanut butter sauce is being poured over a bowl of rice krispies cereal.
  • Pour the coated rice crispy mixture into the prepared pan and spread it around. You can use your fingers or the greased back of a spoon to press this into the bottom of the pan.

Chocolate Fudge Topping

  • Next, combine the chocolate chips and vegan butter (or coconut oil) in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir to ensure the chocolate chips are coated and then heat for about a minute. Stir and heat for another 30 seconds until the chocolate chips are melted.
    Cubes of vegan butter are sitting on top of chocolate chips in a glass bowl.
  • Add the milk, one tablespoon at a time, stirring in between until you get the desired spreadable consistency.
    A hand holds a spoon pouring milk into a bowl with melted chocolate. There is a blue spatula in the bowl too.
  • Spread the chocolate fudge topping over the peanut butter layer.
    A hand holds a spatula and is spreading soft chocolate ganache over peanut butter rice crispies bars.
  • Cover and place the pan in the fridge to allow it to set for at least 30 minutes (but an hour is more optimal).

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Notes

A note on salt. You can add up to 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the peanut butter sauce, however, I find most peanut butter has salt added to it, so I don’t find it necessary.
Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 94mg | Potassium: 232mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

This post was originally published in 2019 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2021.

26 Responses to Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

  1. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyDana Reply

    Hi there, these look absolutely amazing and I love your photos. I am trying to avoid peanut butter, do you think almond butter or cashew butter would work well in these? I know cashew butter works perfectly as a substitute in PB cookies, even better than Almond butter so that might be better. Looking forward to trying these, thanks for the recipe!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Dana. I’ve never tried anything but peanut butter with these, but I can imagine cashew butter and it sounds fantastic. What about hazelnut butter? I mean, how can you go wrong with hazelnut and chocolate? OK. Well, anything with chocolate really works here so let me know if you try it and how it goes!

  2. Avatar thumbnail image for Marlygretchen Reply

    Made these the other night and oh my dear lord. Did a double batch, here were my swaps:
    -used brown rice syrup instead of corn syrup
    -didn’t use the cream cheese layer
    -only did a single batch of the chocolate, but did dark chocolate and salted it

    Everyone who has been freaking out at how amazing they are. If I had put in the cream cheese layer, our heads might have exploded! Thank you for the recipe!

  3. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyDella Reply

    In the first part of the directions, in step 4, it says to coat the crisps in the chocolate peanut butter coating. Is there a missing ingredient to the first section of mixing? I don’t see that there’s chocolate in that part of the recipe. I made it as stated so we’ll see how it turns out tomorrow!:)

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Della! Thanks for pointing that out. I realized based on your comment that I forgot to include the cocoa in the first part of the recipe. It’s optional and would taste fine either way. I just happened to like the idea of a chocolate peanut buttery spread. I hope you enjoyed the bars!

  4. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyKristy@Keepin' It Kind Reply

    Oh my lord. I know I’m a little late to the party on this one, but I need this in my life, like, now. They remind me of something my grandma used to make (but far from vegan). My step-daughter was walking behind me while I was looking at this, and she stopped in her tracks when she saw the pictures. Then she asked when we’re having them, lol. Can’t wait to try them! Thank you!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Kristy – I can’t wait for you to try them and then let me know how it goes! I love things that remind me of meals with my family. That reminds me, I think there might be a big family meal coming this weekend! Yeah!

  5. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyRob Reply

    5 stars
    These look fantastic! And I love the chickpea-rather-than-cream cheese idea. Thanks!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I agree. Now I’m going to have to make them again, but this time with the chickpea variation. Yumm!

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