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 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 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!
If you prefer a slightly thicker bar, use an 8x8 baking dish instead of a 9x13 baking dish like I do with my FRUITY PEBBLES TREATS.
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: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- butter
- mini marshmallows
- creamy peanut butter
- Rice Krispies cereal
HOW TO MAKE PEANUT BUTTER RICE KRISPIES TREATS:
Spray a 9"x 13" (or 8 x 8" for thicker bars) dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a 4 quart sauce pan, melt butter on low heat. Do this slowly, you don’t want burnt or brown butter here.
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 (won’t take too long, about 5 minutes or so.)
Once, mixture is combined and melted, turn off heat and remove pan from stove.
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 until firmly compacted.
Allow 30-45 minutes for treats to set up.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS? GIVE THESE A TRY!!
Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats (+Video)
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter
- 5 cups mini marshmallows
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 5-¾ cups Rice Krispies
Instructions
- Spray an 9"x 13" (or 8"x 8" for thicker bars) casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a 4 quart sauce pan, melt butter on low heat. Do this slowly, you don’t want burned or brown butter here.
- 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 (won’t take too long, about 5 minutes or so).
- Once, mixture is combined and melted, turn off heat and remove pan from stove.
- Add rice krispy 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 until firmly compacted.
- Allow 30-45 minutes for treats to set up.
Video
Notes
- If you prefer a slightly thicker bar, use an 8x8-inch baking dish.
- Also, for all you budget-conscious shoppers, I have made this recipe with the store brand cereal, marshmallows, butter and peanut butter and these treats still turn out delicious.
- If you’re a Krispies treats purist, just leave out the peanut butter, they’ll still be gooey.
- 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.
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 can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: January 2011
Updated & republished: June 2020
Deb
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
Brandie @ The Country Cook
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!
Julie B
I’ve read other recipes that recommend browning the butter, but specifically said not to…is there a reason for that?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Because these aren’t browned butter Rice Krispies treats.
michelle
LOOKING FORWARD to all your amazing interesting ideas THANK YOU !!!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you so much Michelle! Happy to have you here!
Charles Hunt
i love peanut butter rice krispes treats alot
Karen
They turned out delicious
F. Voorhees
Great recipe! I absolutely love this layout of instructions, pictures and recipe. Thank you!
Vanessa
I have a question do you bake them in the oven. On what temperature and how long or not .thank you curious
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Vanessa! No baking necessary. These are a no-bake sweet treat 🙂
Crystal Garcia
This is a peanut butter lovers dream come true. This will be a family favorite from here on out.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Always love hearing that!! Thank you for taking the time to comment, Crystal! 🙂
Bonnie Hancock
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.
Christi
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
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hahaha! Love it Christi!! Thanks so much! Great idea 🙂
Charles
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
Diana
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
William Shoemaker
How much marchmellow cream would I use instead on mini marchmellows?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
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.
Annie
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 9x13 pan and pat in the mixture. Let set and then lift paper out of pan and cut. Very easy cleanup.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Great tip Annie!! Thanks so much!!
Jane Beville
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!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Yay!! That's great! Thank you Jane!!
mary
Perfectly easy and yummy!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much Mary!
Ms.F
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.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much for coming back to comment. Love that you made it your own way!
Myah
These Rice Krispie treats are ridiculous!!! They’re addicting! Thanks for the amazing recipe.
Donna
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.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Love hearing that Donna!
Mormor
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!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Love hearing that!! Makes my day - thank you!!