Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats are an absolute dream for anyone who loves a good crunch, and adores the combination of peanut butter and chocolate. Easy to make, few ingredients, and absolutely delicious, these may be your new favorite way of making rice krispies!

Cut bars of crispies treats in a baking dish.

Several weeks ago, I shared my recipe for Healthy Rice Krispie Treats and they were very well-received.

I simply couldn’t stop making them, and let’s face it – the recipe went viral.

And for a good reason – nothing beats a simple no-bake dessert recipe that requires few ingredients, reminds us of a childhood favorite, and ranks low on the guilt index.

While I wouldn’t consider these chocolate peanut butter rice krispies to be on the same health conscious spectrum as my original recipe, they sure are worthy of praise.

Stack of cereal bars in a baking dish with sea salt sprinkled on top.

Plus, they don’t contain corn syrup or a marshmallow mixture, which does give them one leg up on classic rice krispies in my opinion.

Not only is the cereal layer of the rice krispies treats jam packed with rich peanut butter and chocolate deliciousness, but we add a layer of chocolate on top to reel in the chocolate lover as well.

Peanut butter lovers, I guarantee this easy recipe will become your go-to favorite treat the next time you’re feeling that itch.

The combination of the peanut butter and chocolate will make you go wild over this enticing crunch!

I certainly did!

Trust me when I say these chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats are not just for kids.

I just couldn’t stop nibbling on them while I was cutting and photographing them and putting them away.

Horizontal photo of peanut butter rice krispie treats stacked up in a baking pan.

Let’s discuss the simple ingredients needed to make these amazing rice krispie treats.

Ingredients for Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats:

Peanut Butter: The glue that holds everything together and also brings that otherworldly unmistakably delicious flavor to the dessert.

I use unsweetened natural peanut butter, but feel free to use any brand of creamy peanut butter or chunky peanut butter you’d like.

Pure Maple Syrup: Used to sweeten the rice krispie treats, we use pure maple syrup. You can swap it for honey if you prefer.

Butter (or Coconut Oil): Bringing plenty of rich flavor and lubrication to ensure the treats don’t turn out dry, we use a generous amount of unsalted butter or coconut oil.

Cocoa Powder: A little cocoa powder brings more chocolate depth to the rice krispies. I use raw cacao powder, but you can use Dutch process cocoa powder or any unsweetened cocoa powder you like.

Pure Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla brings warmth and depth of flavor to the treat. Skip it if you don’t have it on hand.

Sea Salt: A little salt levels up all of the flavors and makes them join together in one cohesive flavor mission.

Crispy Rice Cereal: The true star here, crispy rice cereal is what brings that amazing crunch to rice krispie treats. I use brown rice crispy rice cereal, but pick your favorite brand.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: We mix chocolate chips in with the rice cereal to ensure there is plenty of chocolate flavor to go with the peanut butter.

Use your favorite chocolate chips here! I go with semi-sweet, but dark chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, milk chocolate chips, and sugar-free chocolate chips all work.

Optional Topping: all we need for the optional melted chocolate topping is chocolate chips and butter (or coconut oil).

When melted together, a thick, gooey, deliciously rich ganache forms, which hardens as it sits in the freezer or refrigerator.

Optional Additions:

Mix in mini marshmallows with the crispy rice cereal and the chocolate chips for a sort of s’mores approach to these peanut butter rice krispie bars.

If you’re familiar with the process of making brown butter, feel free to employ that technique here by first browning the butter in the pot you’re using to prepare the peanut butter rice krispie treats recipe.

Chop up some peanut butter cups and toss them in!

Now that we’ve covered the pantry ingredients for these krispy treats, let’s make it!

How to Make Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats:

Add the peanut butter, pure maple syrup, butter, and vanilla extract to a large pot. Heat the large saucepan on the stove top over medium heat or low heat (depending on your burner), and stir well until everything is melted and completely combined.

Once combined, remove the pot from the heat.

Butter, pure maple syrup, and peanut butter in a large pot

Stir in the cocoa powder and salt until combined.

Cocoa powder being stirred into the peanut butter chocolate mixture.

Add the crispy rice cereal and chocolate chips to the pot and gently fold everything together until all of the cereal is well-coated with the peanut butter chocolate mixture.

Rice cereal mixed in with peanut butter and chocolate.

Pour mixture to a parchment-lined 9” x 9” square pan and spread it into an even layer.

Peanut butter chocolate rice cereal layer

Microwave the chocolate chips and butter in a bowl for 20-second intervals, stirring well in between, until melted and creamy.

Melted chocolate chips in a bowl with a spoon showing a scoop.

Pour this mixture over the rice crispy treats and spread it evenly.

Spreading melted chocolate over chocolate rice krispies

Transfer the square baking dish of rice krispies to your freezer and freeze for at least 30 minutes, or until the chocolate has hardened and the rice krispies have set up.

Finished chocolate peanut butter rice kripies in a baking pan, ready to go into the freezer.

Tug on the parchment paper to lift the bars out of the baking dish and move them to a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to carefully cut any size rice krispie treats you like.

Serve and enjoy!

Cut cereal bars on a sheet of parchment paper

Store the rice krispies in an airtight container or zip lock bag in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

You can also cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate if need be. I don’t recommend storing these rice krispie squares at room temperature, as they can melt in the summer heat if you keep your house warm.