Easy Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats made with marshmallows and crispy cereal. This 4-ingredient recipe is no-bake, kid-friendly, and perfect for quick snacks or parties.
If you’re craving a quick and delicious no-bake dessert, these Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats are the perfect choice. Made with crispy rice cereal, creamy peanut butter, and gooey marshmallows, this easy recipe delivers the perfect mix of chewy, crunchy, and sweet.
This simple no bake recipe for Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treats turns classic rice krispie treats into an amazing snack or dessert. It is the best dessert if you love peanut butter along with Peanut Butter Snowballs.
The ideas are endless for rice krispy treats and it’s so much fun to try new flavors. Chocolate Coated Krispy Treats and Cinnamon Roll Rice Krispy Treats are some of our favorites we have been making for years.
For more peanut butter flavor, make Peanut Butter Popcorn Recipe.
What's in this post: Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Why This Recipe Works
- No-bake & quick – Ready in just minutes with minimal prep.
- Simple ingredients – Uses pantry staples like peanut butter, cereal, and marshmallows.
- Kid-approved – Sweet, chewy, and fun to eat for all ages.
- Perfect for any occasion – Great for lunchboxes, bake sales, potlucks, or last-minute desserts.
- Customizable – Add chocolate chips, drizzle with melted chocolate, or use almond butter for a twist.
Ingredients
- Rice Krispie Cereal. Make sure it is fresh, or your bars will taste stale.
- Butter. I recommend using real butter.
- Mini Marshmallows. The marshmallows should be fresh.
- Creamy Peanut Butter. You can use your favorite brand.
The complete recipe ingredients are at the bottom.
Variations
- Butter. Unsalted or Salted butter will work for this recipe.
- Marshmallows. I prefer using the mini marshmallows as they melt easier but large marshmallows will work fine too.
- Thinner Texture. You can make half of this batch for thinner rice krispie treats. However, we prefer thick rice krispie treats.
- Chocolate Chips. You can also add ½ cup chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips. Butterscotch Chips also taste great.
- Peanut Butter. We prefer creamy peanut butter but you can also use natural or crunchy peanut butter. You can use Jif, Skippy or your favorite brand.
- Nut Butter. These treats can also be made with almond butter, sunflower seed butter, cashew butter or cookie butter instead of the peanut butter.
- Vanilla Extract. Try adding in 1 tsp of vanilla extract for a slight sweeter flavor.
- Flaky Sea Salt. Sprinkle sea salt on top of the bars.
- Melted Chocolate. Drizzle melted chocolate on top.
- Toppings. Crushed cookies can be sprinkled on top.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Prepare the pan with cooking spray. Then melt the butter, marshmallows and peanut butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Honey or maple syrup can be added if desired. Heat it in 30 second increments and stir until smooth between each one.
Step 2. Next, stir in the crispy rice cereal until completely coated.
Step 3. Once combined, spread the mixture in an even layer in the prepared baking dish. Use a piece of wax to press the Rice Krispies into the bottom of the pan. I spray the wax paper with a non-stick spray so that it doesn’t stick to the wax paper.
Step 4. Allow to cool completely before serving. Slice, serve and enjoy.
Expert Tips
- Skip the fridge – These treats are best cooled at room temperature to stay soft, gooey, and delicious. Refrigerating them can make them too firm and dry.
- Need a quick refresh? – If they start to firm up after a few days, just microwave a square for 5–10 seconds to bring back that chewy, melty texture.
- Sticky situation? – The mixture can get very sticky! Lightly spray your hands or spoon with non-stick cooking spray to make mixing and pressing the mixture much easier.
- Line or spray your pan – Don’t forget to grease your baking dish or line it with parchment or wax paper. It makes removing the bars super easy and mess-free.
- Press firmly – Once the mixture is in the pan, gently but firmly press it down to help the treats hold together well once set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, these can easily be made on a stove top as well. Heat the butter, peanut butter and marshmallows in a large saucepan or large pot over low heat.
Stir and heat until completely melted and smooth. Then remove from heat, stir in the Rice Krispie cereal until well coated and press the mixture into a pan.
Make sure that you melt the peanut butter mixture over low heat and do not over cook. Increasing the heat will result in hard or tough treats that will not be soft like desired.
Also, putting these treats in the refrigerator can cause them to dry out and become too hard, so I recommend storing these treats at room temperature.
Generally, I make these treat with name brand rice krispie cereal but the off brand would work great too. I also think that this recipe would be delicious made with Cocoa Krispies.
Yes, you can easily freezer peanut butter rice krispie treats. Place them in a freezer bag with parchment paper or wax paper between each treat to keep them from sticking together.
When you are ready to enjoy them, defrost them out overnight in the refrigerator.
Try More Rice Krispie Treat Recipes
- Neapolitan Rice Krispie Treats
- Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats
- Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
- Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats
- Rice Krispie Treats with Marshmallow Fluff
Make these Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treats for a luscious treat. After you do, please come back and leave a comment!
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 12 cups Rice Krispie Cereal
- 6 Tablespoons Butter
- (2) 10 oz. package of Marshmallows
- 1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
Instructions
- Spray a 9X13 pan with a non-stick cooking spray.
- Melt the butter, marshmallows and peanut butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Heat it in 30 second increments and stir between each one until fully meted.
- Once it’s melted, mix in the Rice Krispie cereal until completely coated.
- Spread evenly into the prepared pan. Use a piece of wax to press the Rice Krispies into the bottom of the pan. I spray the wax paper with a non-stick spray so that it doesn’t stick to the wax paper.
- Allow to cool completely before serving. Slice, serve and enjoy!
- *You can make half of this batch for thinner rice krispie treats. We love thick rice krispie treats!
- *Do not store in the refrigerator. They are best left to cool at room temperature so that the remain gooey and delicious!
My husband loves these peanut butter rice krispie treats! He’s always asking me to make more!
My husband loves it when I make these! One of his all time faves!!
I have two sons that are home from college. I make them Rice Krispy treats every day. Both boys are athletes, they’re eating me out of house and home. LOL
The most easiest dessert ever and my favorite.
I made this recipe but doubled the gooiness to make them extra creamy!!!!!!!!!!!! The kidos loved them!!!!!!
We are huge peanut butter fans. These are perfect!!
Very Good and easy to make. You can’t go wrong with these.
Super easy and delicious!!
So good and lots of fun…we get out the cookie cutters and sprinkles. The entire family is a fan.
I love how easy these are to make. They taste better than store-bought too! They would be a perfect treat to give as a gift also.
Made these for the Family Christmas get together last year. Everybody wanted the recipe. They are so good and easy to make.
Love these! Easy too!
They are wonderful.
I love Rice Krispie Treats and peanut butter. Never thought of combining these two!! These were awesome!! 🙂
These were super delicious AND easy to make!
I’m not a big fan of regular rice krispies, but I love these peanut butter rice krispies. Peanut butter makes everything taste good.
These couldn’t be any easier to make! My husband and kids love them with m&m’s sprinkled on.
You can never go wrong with kids & peanutbutter!
I make these for my grandkids. I make them with and without the peanut butter. I dress them up by drizzling chocolate diagionally across the & adding sprinkles on top. I eat low carb so I also adapt the recipe so I can enjoy them. I use sugar-free marshmallows which I get on Amazon, or you can find a recipe for making your own low carb marshmallows. I also use soy protein puffs in place of the rice krispies and use sugar-free chocolate to drizzle on top. I leave off the sprinkles for me. I love rice krispie treats and this way I can still eat them.
Delicious! Love how the peanut butter means I’m eating healthy, right? Relieves my guilt! LOL!