Just like making homemade granola bars, you can also customize these rice crispy treats by melting some dark chocolate chips and spreading the melted chocolate on top. I also like to add a sprinkle of sea salt to make the flavor pop!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Crispy rice cereal gives these bars their famous crunchy texture. Rice Krispies cereal is slightly lighter and crispier than brown rice cereal, so you may prefer the texture of these treats when you use the popular name brand. However, that particular cereal is NOT gluten-free because it’s made with malt flavoring. (Which is derived from barley.) If you need a gluten-free recipe, choose another crispy rice cereal that is labeled gluten-free. Paired with creamy peanut butter, honey, and salt, these treats are easy to prepare. Feel free to use any other nut butter you prefer!
How to Make Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
This recipe moves fast, so be sure to measure everything out before you get started. Prepare an 8-inch square baking dish by lightly spraying it with cooking spray, then press a piece of parchment paper into the bottom. The oil will hold the parchment paper in place, so it won’t wiggle around as you work. This will make the bars easy to remove later. Add the cereal to a large mixing bowl, so it’s ready to go for the next step. Have the ½ cup of peanut butter measured and the salt nearby, too. Then add the honey to a small saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop, and bring it to a boil. As soon as you see bubbles around the edges of the pan, set a timer for 1 minute. It’s okay if the honey bubbles significantly, but turn down the heat when the bubbles start to rise toward the top of the pot. You don’t want it to boil over! When the timer goes off, remove the pan from the heat. Immediately stir in the peanut butter and salt with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Pour the hot peanut butter mixture over the cereal in the mixing bowl. Stir well, until the cereal is evenly coated. Work quickly, as the peanut butter mixture will start to harden as it cools, and will become more difficult to stir. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, pressing firmly until the bars are in a flat even layer. To make chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats, melt 3/4 cup of dark chocolate chips (either in the microwave or in a double boiler on the stove) and spread the melted chocolate over the top. It will harden as the bars cool. Sprinkle some flaky sea salt over the top, if you’d like. Let these healthy rice crispy treats cool completely by placing them in the fridge or freezer. It usually takes about 1 hour in the freezer, or 2 hours in the fridge for them to cool completely. Slice the cooled peanut butter rice crispy treats into 16 bars and enjoy. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. (But I doubt they will last that long before you eat them!) Peanut butter rice krispies treats will become softer when you store them at room temperature, so for the firmest results, keep them chilled. Looking for more healthy desserts? Try Flourless Chocolate Cake, Banana Mug Cake, or Freezer Fudge for more delicious options. If you try this Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.
