Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Squares

Upgrade your rice crispy treats with these peanut butter chocolate rice crispy squares! Made with mostly wholesome ingredients (and no marshmallows), this no bake treat is sure to be enjoyed by the whole family.

Jump to:

• The Ingredients
• The Method
• Leftovers and Storage
• Make it Your Own
• Tips for the Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Bars
• And if you liked this recipe...
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It's no secret that I adore the combination of peanut butter + chocolate.

From protein balls to hot chocolate, I don't think that it is possible to have too many recipes based on this dynamite pair.

And now, to add to the collection, let me tell you about these chocolate peanut butter rice crispy treats! You'll love them because:

• No Marshmallows. Unlike traditional rice crispy treat recipes, I wanted to find a way to make them without the need for marshmallows (or corn syrup). While the marshmallows do help them to better stick together in warmer temperatures, I think storing this version in the fridge is well worth it.
• No Bake. Just like the typical treats, this recipe requires no baking, so that it is quick and easy to prepare and doesn't require heating up your kitchen in the summer months. (If you use pre-roasted almonds, this dark chocolate almond bark can also be made without an oven).
• Simple Ingredients. Made with ingredients like natural peanut butter in place of marshmallows or corn syrup, you'll find that the ingredient list is wholesome and suitable for a healthy-ish treat.
• A Classic Dessert Upgraded. While I do enjoy a classic rice crispy treat every now and then, it is truly hard to beat the extra dimensions of flavor that it gets with the addition of peanut butter and chocolate!

The Ingredients

• Baking Chocolate- This provides the structure, chocolate flavor and sweetness. Since this is where the bars get their sweetness from, make sure you use a sweetened chocolate.
  • I like deep and dark chocolate flavor so I typically use 3 parts semi sweet chocolate and 1 part unsweetened chocolate for a darker flavor. You can use all semi-sweet or even milk chocolate if you prefer it to be sweeter. Or use half and half for even darker chocolate taste.
  • Don't use chocolate chips as they won't melt properly.
• Smooth Peanut Butter- I used natural style peanut butter (where peanuts are the only ingredient). I suspect this these chocolate peanut butter rice crispy squares would work fine with shelf-stable peanut butter but I haven't personally tested it.
• Crisp Rice Cereal- I prefer to use crisp rice cereal rather than puffed rice. Crisp rice cereals (such as "Rice Krispies") are made from rice flour rather than being puffed grains. I tested this with puffed rice but found that I didn't like the texture of those ones as much (though it still works if that is what you prefer).
  • NOTE: Not all crisp rice cereal is gluten free ("Rice Krispies" brand is not) as some contain malt. If you need this recipe to be gluten free, ensure that you are using a certified gluten free crisp rice cereal.
• Sea Salt- Just a touch enhances the flavor and balances the sweetness. Table or kosher salt will also work.

The Method

1. Melt chocolate. Roughly chop the chocolate and place it into a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring after each until melted. Add the peanut butter and microwave for one more 20 second burst.

2. Mix. Add the salt and stir together the melted chocolate mixture. Fold in the rice cereal until fully coated.

3. Press into the pan. Line a 9x9 inch baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone liner. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula or your hands and press the mixture firmly and evenly into the pan.

TIP: Lightly wet your hands or the spatula to prevent sticking.

4. Chill. Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or freeze for 1 hour, until the squares are firm.

5. Slice. Once set, use the liner to lift the mixture out of the pan onto a cutting board. Slice into your desired size of squares or bars. I usually cut them into 4 even sections in both directions for a total of 16 squares.

6. Enjoy!

Leftovers and Storage

To Store: Leftover peanut butter chocolate rice crispy bars can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. I personally find that the texture is best when refrigerated so that is what I recommend if possible.

Make it Your Own

• Double Chocolate- To add even more chocolate to this treat, you can add a chocolate layer on top after the bars have chilled.
  • To a microwave safe bowl, add 4 ounces of baking chocolate with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (or butter). Microwave for 20 second intervals until melted then spread it evenly over the rice crispy squares. Refrigerate until the chocolate layer is hard and then slice.
• White Chocolate- If you love white chocolate, you can take a note from these White Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies and swap the baking chocolate in the recipe for white baking chocolate. I definitely find these to be on the sweeter side.
• Nut Free- If you need a nut free option, you can make this with Pumpkin Seed Butter (Pepita Butter) or sunflower seed butter. If you simply need a peanut free version, you can use almond butter instead.
• Include Mix-Ins- For extra texture and flavor, you can replace 1 cup of crisp rice cereal with 1 cup of your favorite add ins such as shredded coconut, chopped peanuts, raisins or mini marshmallows.

Tips for the Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Bars

• Wet Your Hands. To press the mixture down evenly without it sticking to your hands, slightly wet your hands with water. I learned this trick years ago and use it any time I'm making sticky no-bake bars (like Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars).
• Line Your Baking Pan. Use a silicone liner or parchment paper to line your baking pan to allow for easy removal of the rice crispy treats to a cutting board.
• Allow to Set Completely. Don't rush the chill time. You want to make sure the squares are set completely before slicing so that they hold their shape.
• Slice When Cold. For clean cuts, slice the rice crispy squares immediately after removing from the refrigerator while they are still cold.

And if you liked this recipe...

...you might also like:

• Crunchy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars (No Bake)
• White Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
• Chocolate Pecan Bark

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