Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats
Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats are the ultimate childhood favorite. This recipe is special because it keeps the treats gooey and soft!
PERFECT GOOEY PEANUT BUTTER NO BAKE TREAT
My Mom is a peanut butter nut (pun intended!) She loves peanut butter cookies, and of course, she couldn’t pass up the chance to put peanut butter in Rice Krispies treats. When you grow up eating things a certain way, you just become accustomed to it. So now, this is the only way I like to eat them. I think my particular recipe for these 5-ingredient Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats is the absolute perfect balance between chewy and crunchy and peanut butter.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
I have made this recipe with the store brand cereal, marshmallows, butter and peanut butter and these treats still turn out delicious. You do not need to use name brand. Also, Cocoa Krispies work perfectly with this recipe too! They’d be a fun chocolate and peanut butter flavor combination that we know so many people enjoy.
If you prefer a slightly thinner Rice Krispies treat, use a 9×13-inch baking dish instead of a 9×9-inch baking dish will do the trick.
Options are endless here guys. Over the years, you know you’ve made thousands of these things. You can add sprinkles, top with any baking chip like white chocolate chips, peanut butter chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, etc. You can add crushed candies into the mix. Additionally, you could melt some chocolate and pour it over the treats before you cut them. You know the deal, you can get creative and add anything you like the flavor of peanut butter with!
Usually this happens if you used too much heat. Using low heat to melt the butter and marshmallows is key. I know it can be tempting to turn up the heat to speed up the process but that’s risky. You could burn the butter, marshmallows or just make hard treat bars and nobody wants that! Just take the time you need to make these correctly.
Of course you can. Just be sure to hide them well so you don’t end up eating them all before you plan to serve them. Just kidding, you can make them up to a day in advance and store them appropriately. It is worth mentioning that these do taste best the day that you make them, but they do make a good make ahead treat if needed.
As with all Rice Krispies treats, they are best eaten the day they are made.
Store in an airtight container if you don’t eat them all the same day. I like to warm them up in the microwave for about 5-10 seconds when they start getting a little stale.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- salted butter
- mini marshmallows– I used a 10-ounce bag which equates to about 5 cups.
- creamy peanut butter– if you prefer crunchy, this would work also
- vanilla extract– don’t panic if you’re out, these will still taste delicious if you have to omit this extract.
- Rice Krispies cereal
HOW TO MAKE PEANUT BUTTER RICE KRISPIES TREATS:
Spray a 9×9-inch casserole dish (or 9×13-inch for thinner bars) with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper (for easier removal.) In a large sauce pan or pot, melt butter on low heat. Do this slowly so the butter does not burn. Once butter has melted, keep heat on low and add mini marshmallows.
Once marshmallows begin to soften and melt, add peanut butter. At this point, you will need to constantly stir the mixture so the peanut butter does not burn and the marshmallows can evenly melt (this won’t take too long – just a couple of minutes). Once, mixture is combined and melted, turn off heat and remove pan from stove. Stir in vanilla extract.
Add Rice Krispies cereal to sauce pan and stir until evenly coated with mixture. This is sticky stuff so do your best to get it all combined.
Add Rice Krispies cereal to sauce pan and stir until evenly coated with mixture. This is sticky stuff so do your best to get it all combined. Pour mixture into casserole dish (it will look very loose). Spray your hand with some nonstick cooking spray and pat down the mixture gently so it is evenly spread out. Allow 30-45 minutes for treats to set up. Then slice into bars.
Serve and enjoy when ready to dig in.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
- Original Rice Krispies Treats
- Fruity Pebbles Treats
- Scotcheroos
- Chex Mix Marshmallow Treats
- Circus Animal Krispies Treats
- No-Bake Gooey S’mores Treats
- Peanut Butter Cheerio Treats
- Reese’s Cheesecake Bars
- No-Bake Avalanche Cookies
- Reese’s Mini Cheesecakes
- Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
- Southern Peanut Pie
Originally published: January 2011
Updated photos & republished: July 2024
Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter
- 10 ounce bag mini marshmallows (about 5 cups)
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 cups Rice Krispies
Instructions
- Spray a 9×9-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper (for easier removal.)
- In a large sauce pan or pot, melt butter on low heat. Do this slowly so the butter does not burn.
- Once butter has melted, keep heat on low and add mini marshmallows.
- Once marshmallows begin to soften and melt, add peanut butter.
- At this point, you will need to constantly stir the mixture so the peanut butter does not burn and the marshmallows can evenly melt (this won’t take too long – just a couple of minutes)
- Once, mixture is combined and melted, turn off heat and remove pan from stove. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Add Rice Krispies to sauce pan and stir until evenly coated with mixture. This is sticky stuff so do your best to get it all combined.
- Pour mixture into casserole dish (it will look very loose.) Spray your hand with some nonstick cooking spray and pat down the mixture.
- Allow 30-45 minutes for treats to set up. Then slice into bars.
Video
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
So good!!! Love it this way!
Thanks so much Hannah! Definitely my childhood favorite! I appreciate you coming back to comment!
These were perfect for a cold, snowy winter day!!
Oh gosh these were so good! My Mom used to make them when I was a kid so I made them for my kiddos. They were absolutely perfect and soft and yummy! Thank you!
Loved them
How do you change it make it in 9×13 pan?
Double the recipe.
for the love of humanity, thank you for adding peanut butter!!!!
Delicious! I used half cocoa rice krispies and half regular for a fun variation!
So good! First timer and the recipe is spot on! Thanks for sharing❤️
Thanks so very much Karen!! It means so much that you took the time to come back & comment!
seems like it won’t work when you add the cereal, but it does come together and is sooo good with crunchy peanut butter
These are my jam, only I add double the peanut butter to make them just how I like them.
I love these and have been making your recipe for years! When I make them for my Grands, I stir in another 1/2 bag of mini marshmallows with the cereal .. they barely melt and the kids love them! When I make a batch for me, I add a big old handful of raisins! DELICIOUS!!! Oh! Funny story … one set of my Grands are pretty healthy eaters, so when they come to us for a sleepover, we make the traditional Rice Crispie Treats, but we refer to it as “cereal”, so when they eat it for a bedsnack or for breakfast, they say they’re having “cereal” and then they laugh!
Made it with my granddaughters today and they turned out perfect! They were all eaten within hours – ha! Thanks so much, fantastic recipe!
yum……I am going to make this recipe
Hope you love it!
Easy to make and very good.
Wouldn’t change a thing, these were excellent. Just the right balance.
yummy, nice flavor
Just found your recipe and whipped these up for our 4th of July celebration today. Your directions are complete and easy to follow. I was risky and tried folding in mini chocolate chips from the freezer but they melted some, as expected,but were oh so good!
I made these but put half of the rice krispey in a 9×13 pan put small miniature dresses than cover with the rest of the krispey treats so delicious.
delicious and easy!
Hi Brandi, How many packages of mini marshmallows is 5cups?? I want to make these!!
You can just buy one bag then measure the 5 cups from there 🙂
thank you for sharing this recipe. This is the only way my mama made them when I was little. going to make it today for my family
I absolutely love this recipe. It is so easy to make. I’m thinking about making it today.
A customer kept worrying me about making this and I never imagined peanut butter Rice Krispies☺️they are delicious. Thanks
Thank you SO much Yolanda!! This really is my personal favorite!
I use Quaker harvest crunch & raisins when I make these…..
Hi Brandi!
Sooooo how do you think these would work with truly natural peanut butter – that being ground dry roasted peanuts (no salt no sugar)? As much as I love the original the marshmallows are sweet enough without adding more “sweet” from the peanut butter.
Deb
That’s a good question. As you know the natural peanut butter is naturally much more oily. So the krispie treats may not want to set up all the way. But all we can do is give it a shot, right? I’m not sure I would add as much as I do here. Try adding a little at a time. Give it a taste & see how it’s holding up. As long as it stays sticky, you should be good!
I’ve read other recipes that recommend browning the butter, but specifically said not to…is there a reason for that?
Because these aren’t browned butter Rice Krispies treats.
LOOKING FORWARD to all your amazing interesting ideas THANK YOU !!!
Thank you so much Michelle! Happy to have you here!
i love peanut butter rice krispes treats alot
They turned out delicious
Great recipe! I absolutely love this layout of instructions, pictures and recipe. Thank you!
I have a question do you bake them in the oven. On what temperature and how long or not .thank you curious
Hi Vanessa! No baking necessary. These are a no-bake sweet treat 🙂
This is a peanut butter lovers dream come true. This will be a family favorite from here on out.
Always love hearing that!! Thank you for taking the time to comment, Crystal! 🙂
I am such a fan as well as the rest of my family,I also will use fruity dino bites minus the P.B but ooooh so good.
I have been making these for about a year now..(keeping the cereal and marshmallow people in business!! Lol)..but I gave them a twist. I use cocoa crisp rice cereal. Or 1/2 & 1/2, plain & cocoa.
Everyone calls it “crack” cause they cant stop eating it! Hehe
Hahaha! Love it Christi!! Thanks so much! Great idea 🙂
This Should be the only Completely Rite way Who in the would wouldn’t Automatically just know Peanut Butter Belongs in the Recipe as much as Snap,Crackle&Pop ..U Your Mother and My Mother just must be in the few that recognize Gooder than Good, We are Bless and Thank for the Reminder on how to get it right Hope’s are letting her taste one and memorize come back Bless you and yours
This was a lovely recipe – thanks so much! I made it yesterday for my husband’s (very late) Father’s Day dessert. My one change was to add the peanut butter at the same time as the marshmallows – they both just melted in together. Thank you again for a wonderful recipe – I know it’s going to be a staple in our household!
Diana
How much marchmellow cream would I use instead on mini marchmellows?
Hi William – I haven’t tested it but I believe you would need at least 2 1/2 (7 oz.) jars of the Marshmallow Creme.
I melt the butter and marshmallows in my crock pot on LOW. Takes about 45 mins. and does not burn. Then I add the cereal to the crock pot and mix until all coated. Put wax paper in a 9×13 pan and pat in the mixture. Let set and then lift paper out of pan and cut. Very easy cleanup.
Great tip Annie!! Thanks so much!!
I like the crockpot idea! I made these for a pool party, my granddaughter helped. I cut them up and put in the freezer since the party was 3 days away. Came out perfect!
Yay!! That’s great! Thank you Jane!!
Perfectly easy and yummy!
Thanks so much Mary!
Thanks for the idea, I didn’t follow your exact recipe but I used your idea of putting peanut butter in them. I’m glad I did, thanks.
Thanks so much for coming back to comment. Love that you made it your own way!
These Rice Krispie treats are ridiculous!!! They’re addicting! Thanks for the amazing recipe.
I made them with honey instead of marshmallows
It was a big hit everyone liked them and asked for more
It is also healthy for you. Doubled recipe 1 cup of crunchy peanut butter, 3/4 cup honey, vanilla and butter.
Love hearing that Donna!
This so true, I’ve been making them every 2 days when they run out for the last 3 weeks! They’re literally addictive lol.. I started adding less marshmallows (4 1/2 cups instead) because I don’t like them gooey.. I also add a little less peanut butter (about a spoonful less) because I don’t like them to be too peanut buttery.. they’re so good!
Love hearing that!! Makes my day – thank you!!