Classic Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats

Your favorite childhood treat just got a delicious upgrade. My Classic Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats are the same Rice Crispy treats that you knew and loved as a kid, but are made with better-for-you ingredients and delicious, creamy peanut butter for an unexpected, yet welcomed, twist. Plus, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, and can easily be made vegan-friendly, because everyone deserves delicious Rice Crispy Treats!

Friends, when was the last time that you had homemade rice crispy treats?! For me, I’ll admit, it’s been ages. While they were one of my favorite treats as a kid (especially those single-serving ones in the blue wrapper), they were a treat that tended to stay in my childhood. That is, until today. Once I made these Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats, they immediately brought me back to childhood and reminded me of how delicious these little rice squares are.

But as delicious as those single-serving treats are, we all know that homemade Rice Crispy Treats are infinitely better. Even as a kid, when my mom would make homemade treats on a special occasion, it was always an exciting day. And now as I am a mom myself, I love being able to make these treats for my boys. It feels just as special as it did when I was a kid! But, all of this to say, whether you are making these treats for your kids or for your inner kid, these treats are too good to pass up!

What You Need to Make This Classic Childhood Treat

• Unsalted Butter: You can use regular unsalted butter, or dairy-free unsalted butter, if you prefer! Both work well in this recipe.
• Mini Marshmallows: Of course, you need mini marshmallows to make Rice Crispy Treats! If you are vegan or vegetarian, make sure to use vegan-friendly marshmallows in this recipe.
• Peanut Butter: You’ll want to use CREAMY peanut butter, in this recipe.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla extract is necessary in any baked good recipe!
• Rice Krispie Cereal: And, of course, you also need Rice Krispies in order to make these delicious treats! You can use traditional Rice Krispies cereal, or a slightly healthier alternative – I love the Whole Foods brand!
• Chocolate Chips: Chocolate chips will make the creamy, chocolate-y topping!
• Coconut Oil: And a little bit of coconut oil will help the chocolate melt perfectly.
• Roasted, Salted Peanuts: This is optional, but I highly recommend topping your Rice Crispy Treats with a sprinkle of roasted, salted peanuts! It adds a delicious crunch, and really helps to bring out that yummy peanut butter flavor. 🙂

How to Make These Delicious Rice Crispy Treats

Making these Rice Crispy Treats is so simple and easy, you will want to make them all the time! Simply start by heating a pot, on the stove, over medium heat, and melt your butter in the pot. Then, once the butter is melted, add in your marshmallows, creamy peanut butter, and vanilla extract, and stir until they are fully combined.

Once your mixture is smooth, remove it from the heat and pour in your Rice Krispies. Mix until they’re fully combined with the peanut butter mixture, then pour the mixture into a greased 8×8 baking dish. Use a spatula to evenly spread the mixture out across the baking dish.

Next, prepare your chocolate by adding your chocolate chips and coconut oil to a small bowl and microwaving them, together, in 2-3, 30 second increments, until they’re fully combined. Be sure to stir them in-between, so that the chocolate and coconut oil mixes together. You can also do this on the stove, using the double-boiler method.

Finally, pour the melted chocolate on top of the Rice Crispy Treats and top with crushed peanuts, if desired.

Refrigerate your treats for two hours, the once they’re solidified, remove them from the fridge, slice them into squares, and enjoy! Store any leftovers back in the fridge for up to one week.

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! And, since I practically live on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your creations so that I can repost them! xx