Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats (No Marshmallow)
If you love rice krispie treats but aren’t a fan of the sticky mess that comes with melting marshmallows, you’re in the right place. These chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats are made without marshmallows, and they’re even better than the classic version. Chewy, chocolatey, and full of peanut butter flavor, they come together quickly with simple pantry ingredients. Perfect for an easy no bake dessert, after school snack, or last-minute party treat.
I’ve been making rice krispie treats for years, but after testing this no marshmallow version with peanut butter and maple syrup, I knew I had a winner. Made with just 4 key ingredients, these peanut butter rice krispie treats without marshmallows are quick, budget friendly, and a treat the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredient spotlight
The full list of ingredients can be found below, these are just a few I thought would be helpful to call out:
- Maple syrup – this helps to hold the mixture together. Honey will also work.
- Peanut butter – use a natural peanut butter (the only ingredient should be peanuts or peanuts and salt). You can also use almond butter, sunbutter, cashew butter or even tahini.
- Brown rice cereal – most of the brown rice cereal brands on the market are gluten free friendly, which is why I recommend them for this recipe.
- Dairy free chocolate – use your favorite dairy free chocolate (chips or bars) to melt for the topping.
How to make
In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt. Microwave for 1 minute (or stir over medium heat in a pot over medium low heat 5-6 minutes until peanut butter is drippy). Stir well until fully combined. Add the brown rice crisps. Stir until all the cereal is well coated in the peanut butter mixture. Pour into a serving dish (line it with parchment paper to make removal even easier). Press down the mixture with a spoon until it’s well packed in. This is important so it will keep it’s shape when cut. In a small bowl, add the chocolate chips and microwave for 1 minute (using 30 second increments). Stir well. Pour melted chocolate over the peanut butter rice krispy mix. Spread out with the back of a spoon. Put the entire dish in the fridge (15 minute) or freezer (5-6 minutes) to set the chocolate. Let the entire dish come back to room temperature 5 minutes before slicing. This helps ensure the chocolate won’t crack when you cut into it.
Top tips
- After setting the bars in the freezer, let them sit on the counter 5–10 minutes before cutting, otherwise the chocolate may crack.
- For clean slices, use a serrated knife and run a sharp knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the chocolate.
- Line your pan with parchment or wax paper for easier removal.
- Adjust the thickness: use an 8×8 pan for thicker bars or a 9×13 pan for thinner bars (great for kids).
Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treats without Marshmallow
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 tsp salt (optional)
- 4 cups brown rice cereal
- 1 cup dairy free chocolate chips
Instructions
- Combine maple syrup and peanut butter in a bowl. Microwave 1 minute or heat on the stove over medium heat for 5-6 minutes. Stir well.3/4 cup maple syrup, 1 cup peanut butter
- Add vanilla extract, salt and brown rice cereal to the large bowl. Stir well.1 tsp vanilla extract (optional), 1 tsp salt (optional), 4 cups brown rice cereal
- Add peanut butter rice krispy cereal mixture to a casserole dish. Press down firmly.
- Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave 1 minute. Stir well until fully melted.1 cup dairy free chocolate chips
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter rice krispy mixture and spread it out to fully cover the cereal.1 cup dairy free chocolate chips
- Put in the fridge (5-10 minutes) or the freezer (5 minutes) to set the chocolate.
- Take out of the fridge/freezer. Let the chocolate peanut butter rice crispy mixture sit on the counter 5 minutes before cutting into squares using serrated knife.
Recipe Notes
- Warm the peanut butter and maple syrup together (microwave or stove) before mixing. This helps coat the rice cereal evenly.
- Use 100% pure maple syrup, not imitation pancake syrup, so the bars hold together properly.
- Press the mixture firmly into the pan. Since there’s no marshmallow, packing it down helps the bars stick.
- Chill to set the chocolate. Place in the fridge or freezer before cutting to avoid a messy topping.
Nutrition Information
Fun Add Ins and Toppings
- Fruity twists with freeze dried fruit
- Freeze-dried strawberries, raspberries, or banana
- Chocolate upgrades
- White chocolate coating instead of dark, or white chocolate chips in the cereal mix
- Flaky sea salt sprinkled over the chocolate before chilling
- Party-perfect extras
- M&M’s or Reese’s Pieces stirred into the mix or added on top
- Peanut butter cups, chopped and sprinkled over the chocolate layer
- Sprinkles mixed into the cereal before pressing into the pan
Common questions
Are rice krispy treats gluten free?
I recommend using Nature’s Path Organic Rice Crispy Cereal (I get mine on Vitacost) or One Degree Organic Foods Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps (I get this on Thrive Market). Kellogg’s Rice Krispies are not gluten free.
Whole Foods also sells Organic Brown Rice Crisps Cereal that is easy to find and has similar texture to Kellogg’s.
Can you make this peanut free?
Yes, just swap the peanut butter for sunbutter or tahini.
Do you need to heat up the peanut butter and maple syrup?
I recommend heating up the peanut butter and maple syrup together (using the microwave or the stove) to ensure that the peanut butter gets runny and easy to coat the rice cereal evenly.
However, if you have really drippy peanut butter, you can skip heating it up.
Storage tips
These chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats are best enjoyed within 1–4 hours of cutting when they’re at their chewiest. If you want to save some for later, store them in the freezer. Just let them sit out at room temperature for 10–15 minutes before biting in,
It’s 1:57am and I hate you for forcing me to get up and make this immediately 😂
How did they turn out Belle??