Reeses Rice Krispie Treats

My mom used to treat my sisters and me to these addictive, Reeses Rice Krispie Treats when we were kids. They’ve stood the test of time! With only three out of five fans of the peanut butter chocolate combo in my current household, I save these gems for a rare splurge.

Instead of marshmallows, these classic Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats utilize a mixture of peanut butter, sugars, and corn syrup. I know corn syrup is not de rigueur, but for an occasional indulgence, I say go for it! 

Why You Must Make

• There’s no baking involved! They’re perfect for picnics and BBQs in the summer when you don’t want to turn on the oven.
• These Krispie Treats are a quick way to get your chocolate peanut butter fix!
• If you want to make peanut butter Rice Krispie treats but don’t have any marshmallows on hand, this recipe is the solution!
• Garnishing with mini Reeses peanut butter cups makes them impossible to resist.

Ingredient Notes

• Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Brown Sugar, Vegetable Oil (I used canola oil)
• Peanut Butter – Creamy, I used Jif brand
• Corn Syrup – Light corn syrup
• Rice Krispies
• Chocolate Chips – Semisweet, can use bittersweet if you prefer a dark chocolate
• Small Peanut Butter Cups – Use to garnish. You may also quarter full-sized peanut butter cups.

Recipe Tips

Though Rice Krispie treats, in general, are a simple dessert, there are a few tips to make the process go smoothly.

• Whether making the classic marshmallow or this peanut butter version, you’ll want to prep the pan properly. I like using non-stick foil as it can be used as a sling to remove the bars as a whole from the pan to cut.
• Another option is to use a non-stick 9 x 9-inch springform pan (affiliate link). The coating prevents the sticky peanut butter layer from attaching to the sides.
• PRO-Tip: Use regular peanut butter not natural as the latter will be too runny.
• PRO-Tip: Don’t overheat the peanut butter mixture or your bars will be too hard.
• Gently mix in the cereal to avoid breaking up the pieces into crumbs. Also, carefully press the mixture into your prepared pan. Again, you want to avoid compressing this peanut butter layer.
• PRO-Tip: Feel free to grease your hands with little butter, oil, or cooking spray if you find them sticking while pressing the mixture into the pan. You can also use the buttered side of a butter wrapper to press the krispie treats into the pan.
• Add any garnishes after the chocolate topping has cooled so the candies don’t melt, but is still soft enough to adhere to the candies. Notice I didn’t heed my own advice! You can also freeze the candies for about 15 minutes, especially if your kitchen is warm or you’re making these in the heat of summer.
• Special K cereal can be used instead of Rice Krispies if that’s your preference. Growing up, Rice Krispie treats were made with marshmallows and Special K treats were made with peanut butter. I love both of these types of cereal bars!

Frequently Asked Questions

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I’ve had one bite of a peanut butter sandwich in my life. I was in Kindergarten and taking a courtesy nibble at my friend, Scott Wiggins’ house. Never again. Though at least one of my sisters would eat peanut butter straight from the jar, I think all of them ate their share of peanut butter toast for breakfast back in the day.

But I was always a fan of peanut butter desserts, like these Reeses topped peanut butter krispie treats. In fact, my usual willpower blows the dust when these are around!