Salted Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Peanut butter rice krispie treats… I know, I know. Basic right? You can get the recipe right off the back of the box. But… mine are a bit bougie. I fancy them up a bit.

I slowly brown the butter. Mix in natural peanut butter and sprinkle them with mini marshmallows and flakey salt. Never have I met a more perfect balance of sweet and salty.

They level up the rice krispie treat from your childhood.

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

• crispy and crunchy
• easy to make
• only four ingredients (+toppings)
• kid friendly
• so customizable!
• make it in under 30 minutes!

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Butter. I go for unsalted butter but if all you have is salted, that works too!

Marshmallows. I use the smaller marshmallows because they melt quicker and are easy to come by.

Peanut Butter. I use creamy peanut butter. Either natural peanut butter or no-stir peanut butter is fine. You can also sub in another nut or seed butter if you prefer! Sunflower seed butter, almond butter, or tahini would be delicious options!

Rice Krispies. This is why you’re here! They are crunchy, they are crispy, they are an iconic childhood favorite. Use whatever your favorite puffed rice cereal is!

Mini Marshmallows. Ok ok, I bought these on impulse from amazon. Have fun decorating your treats with whatever you want! I give you some ideas below 🙂

Flakey Salt. I sprinkle this on at the very end once they’re set and cut. The salt gives these Rice Krispie treats the perfect sweet and salty balance.

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How to Make Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Brown the butter. Yes, you can just melt the butter but browning it just takes a few extra minutes and adds so much flavor to these treats! Melt the butter on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the butter begins to foam and bubble. Once light brown specs form at the bottom of the pot, the butter turns golden brown, and the butter begins to smell nutty, add the marshmallows.

Melt the marshmallows. Stir the marshmallows into the browned butter and continue to stir until the marshmallows are melted. Remove from the heat.

Stir in peanut butter. Add the peanut butter to the pan and mix again until combined.

Add those Krispies! Stir in the cereal and mix again until they are coated with the peanut butter mixture.

Press. Line a square pan with parchment paper and press the krispie mixture into the pan. The harder you press down into the mixture, the firmer the treats will hold together.

Top with mini mallows. If you’re adding the mini marshmallows on top, sprinkle them on top of the treats and press them into the top.

Set. Allow the Rice Krispie treats to set for 30 minutes or pop them in the fridge for 10 – 15 minutes.

Salt. Cut into 16 squares and sprinkle with flakey salt.

Can I Make these in the Microwave?

Absolutely! The only difference is you’re not going to get that brown butter flavor which is definitely ok if you’re in a pinch!

Melt the butter and marshmallows in a microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until combined. Once it is melted, stir in the peanut butter. Then, add the rice krispie cereal.

Line a 9×9 inch pan with parchment paper. Press the mixture into the pan using the back of a spatula to pack it in. Follow the directions below!

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of peanut butter should I use? You can use whatever peanut butter you like! I tend to have natural peanut butter in my house so I use that, but you can use a no-stir peanut butter or even a fun flavored nut or seed butter.

Can I use chunky peanut butter? Sure! It’ll add a fun nutty texture that makes for a really fun twist to these peanut butter rice krispie treats!

Can I use other cereal? Sure! I love using Rice Krispies because of the crunchy, crispy texture but get creative! Honey Nut Cheerios, Chocolate Rice Krispies, Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms, Fruit Loops, would all be amazing!

How do I make them thinner/thicker? Just use a longer pan! I used a 9×9 square pan but if you want thinner treats and produce more treats for a crowd, use a 9×13 pan.

How can I make these firmer? Make sure to press them down as hard as you can. The harder you push and pack the mixture into the pan, the more firm the treats will be once they set.

Ways to Make These Your Own

Have fun with the toppings! I bought these mini marshmallows from amazon because I’m always obsessed with adding as many mini mallows to my hot chocolate as possible. But, try something else like sprinkles, mini M&M’s, peanut butter chips, pretzels, or all the above!

Switch up the cereal! Rice Krispies are iconic and traditional and nostalgic but have fun swapping it out for whatever you have in your pantry. Honey Nut Cheerios, Chocolate Rice Krispies, Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms, Fruit Loops, would all be amazing!

Try some colorful marshmallows! I’d recommend using both regular marshmallows and colorful ones! Make the base with regular white marshmallows and then stir a cup of colorful ones into the mixture to get gooey bursts of unicorn colors!

Use a different nut butter! I mean, these are peanut butter treats but how amazing does nutella Rice Krispie treats sound? Almond butter, tahini, sunflower seed butter are all fun options too! Get creative!

How to Store Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

I store my Rice Krispie treats in an airtight container at room temperature for about five days, or you can store them in the fridge for about a week.

It’s fun to warm them up a bit but not too hot because they could fall apart!

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