These peanut butter rice krispie treats are the easiest no-bake dessert you can make: creamy peanut butter and honey are warmed together, poured over crispy rice cereal, and stirred up with chocolate chips and colorful M&M’s. Scoop them onto parchment, let them set, and you have chewy, crunchy, nutty treats in about 15 minutes, with no oven and no marshmallows.
Classic rice krispie treats get their chew from melted marshmallows. This version gets it from a peanut butter and honey base that coats every piece of cereal and then firms up as it cools. The result is a little less sticky than the marshmallow kind and a lot more peanutty, with a satisfying crunch and a sweet, salty balance.
They are great for lunch boxes, school parties, bake sales, and after-school snacks, and kids love to help stir in the candy. You can shape them into scooped clusters or press the mixture into a pan and cut it into bars, so they are as flexible as they are fast.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No-bake, with no oven and about 15 minutes from start to finish
- No marshmallows needed, just peanut butter and honey
- A chewy, crunchy texture with chocolate chips and M&M’s in every bite
- Only five ingredients
- Easy for kids to help with
- Scoop them into clusters or press into a pan for bars
- Keeps well in an airtight container
They are also a good way to use a big box of crispy rice cereal that has been sitting in the pantry.
What Do Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats Taste Like?
These treats taste like a peanut butter cookie crossed with a candy bar. The peanut butter and honey coating is sweet, salty, and nutty, the cereal adds a light crunch, and the chocolate chips and M&M’s bring pockets of creamy chocolate. The texture is chewy at the edges and crispy in the middle, and the clusters firm up so you can pick them up and eat them out of hand.
Recipe Overview
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: About 5 minutes
- Setting time: About 30 minutes
- Yield: About 20 treats
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Method: No-bake, stovetop
Ingredients
- 1 cup (260 g) creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup (340 g) honey (light corn syrup also works)
- 6 cups (about 160 g) crispy rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies
- 1/2 cup (85 g) mini chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup (about 100 g) M&M’s candies
Ingredient Notes
Peanut butter: Use a regular shelf-stable creamy peanut butter such as Skippy or Jif. Natural peanut butter is oilier and can leave the treats greasy and soft, so it does not set as well.
Honey: It sweetens the treats and acts as the glue that holds the cereal together. Light corn syrup works in the same amount if you prefer a more neutral flavor.
Crispy rice cereal: Rice Krispies or any store-brand crispy rice cereal works. Use fresh cereal, because stale cereal makes the treats soft instead of crunchy.
Mini chocolate chips: They stay in small, distinct bits. Regular chips also work, but minis spread more evenly through the clusters.
M&M’s: They add color and crunch. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes before folding them in so the colors do not bleed.
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
- Medium saucepan
- Large heatproof mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon or sturdy silicone spatula
- Large baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Measuring cups
- 1/4-cup scoop or measuring cup
- Airtight container for storage
Substitutions and Variations
- Corn syrup: Use light corn syrup in place of honey for a milder sweetness.
- Bars: Press the mixture into a lined 9×13-inch pan and cut into squares after it sets.
- Peanut butter chips: Add peanut butter chips for even more peanut flavor.
- Chocolate drizzle: Melt extra chocolate chips and drizzle them over the set treats.
- Other candy: Swap the M&M’s for mini peanut butter cups, chopped candy bars, or sprinkles.
- Nut butter swap: Almond butter or sunflower seed butter can replace peanut butter, though flavor and texture will differ and this has not been tested.
- Add-ins: Stir in chopped peanuts or pretzel pieces for extra crunch.
How to Make Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
This recipe is just three steps: warm the peanut butter and honey, coat the cereal, then fold in the chocolate and candy. Work quickly while the mixture is warm, since it firms up as it cools and becomes harder to scoop.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the baking sheet. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Measure the cereal. Place the crispy rice cereal in a large heatproof bowl.
- Warm the peanut butter and honey. Combine the peanut butter and honey in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until melted, smooth, and just starting to bubble at the edges, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Coat the cereal. Pour the hot peanut butter mixture over the cereal and stir gently until every piece is evenly coated.
- Add the chocolate and candy. Let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes so the chocolate does not melt completely, then fold in the mini chocolate chips and M&M’s.
- Shape. Scoop about 1/4 cup of the mixture onto the lined baking sheet for each treat, pressing it together lightly so it holds.
- Set. Let the treats set at room temperature for about 30 minutes, or chill them briefly, until firm.
Tips for Success
- Use regular creamy peanut butter so the treats set firmly.
- Do not boil the peanut butter and honey hard. Warm it just until smooth and bubbling at the edges, so the treats do not turn hard.
- Stir gently to keep the cereal from crushing.
- Cool the mixture a few minutes before adding the chocolate and M&M’s.
- Lightly grease your hands or the scoop if the mixture sticks.
- Press each scoop gently so it holds together without packing it down.
- Work quickly, because the mixture thickens as it cools.
- Chill briefly for faster setting, but let the treats sit out for a few minutes before eating.
How to Know It’s Done
The peanut butter mixture is ready when it is smooth, glossy, and just starting to bubble around the edges of the saucepan. The finished treats are done setting when they feel firm and hold their shape when you pick them up, with the peanut butter coating no longer sticky or shiny wet. This usually takes about 30 minutes at room temperature.
What to Serve With Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
These treats are great on their own and also pair well with:
- A cold glass of milk or chocolate milk
- Hot coffee or tea
- Fresh strawberries or sliced bananas
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream
- A snack board with other no-bake treats
For a full no-bake dessert tray, add Trail Mix Energy Squares and Peanut Butter Lunch Lady Bars.
Storage Instructions
Store the treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 to 4 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Place parchment paper between layers so the chocolate and candy do not stick. They are firmer when chilled, so let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before eating.
Freezing Instructions
Freeze the finished treats in a single layer on a tray, then transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving. Freezing has not been tested for this exact recipe, and the candy coating may look slightly different after thawing.
Common Mistakes
- Using natural peanut butter. It is too oily and the treats may stay soft and greasy.
- Overheating the mixture. Boiling it can make the treats hard and chewy-tough once cooled.
- Adding the candy too early. Hot peanut butter melts chocolate and makes the M&M’s bleed color.
- Stirring too hard. It crushes the cereal and makes the treats dense.
- Waiting too long to scoop. The mixture sets as it cools and gets hard to shape.
- Using stale cereal. Old cereal makes the treats soft instead of crispy.
- Not letting them set. Eating them too soon makes them crumble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do these need marshmallows?
No. The peanut butter and honey mixture holds the cereal together, so there are no marshmallows in this recipe.
Can I press them into a pan instead of scooping?
Yes. Press the mixture into a lined 9×13-inch pan, let it set, and cut it into bars.
Why are my treats too soft?
The peanut butter may have been natural or too oily, or the mixture may not have cooled and set long enough. Chill them for 15 to 20 minutes.
Why are my treats too hard?
The peanut butter and honey were probably heated too long or too hot. Warm it only until smooth and bubbling at the edges.
Can I use honey or corn syrup?
Yes. Either one works in the same amount, and corn syrup gives a more neutral flavor.
Can I make them nut-free?
Not easily, since peanut butter is the base. A seed butter might work, but it has not been tested here, and texture and flavor will differ.
Can I use other cereal?
Cornflakes or puffed rice cereal also work, though crispy rice gives the lightest crunch.
How long do they keep?
They keep for 3 to 4 days at room temperature and up to a week in the refrigerator.
Recipe Background
Rice cereal treats became an American classic after crispy rice cereal and marshmallow squares were popularized in the mid-20th century. Peanut butter versions followed soon after, since peanut butter and sweet binders like corn syrup or honey were already common in no-bake cookies. Peanut butter and chocolate have long been a favorite combination in American candy and desserts, and stirring in candy-coated chocolates and chips makes these treats colorful and kid-friendly. This recipe is adapted from the Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats with M&M’s and Chocolate Chips on Recipes by Clare, using honey in place of corn syrup.
Conclusion
These peanut butter rice krispie treats prove that a great dessert does not need an oven or marshmallows. With five ingredients and about 15 minutes, you get chewy, crunchy, chocolatey clusters that everyone loves. Make a batch for a party, a lunch box, or a quick after-school snack. If you try them, leave a comment and tell me which candy you used.
More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love
- 10-Minute Peanut Butter Clusters
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Clusters
- 4-Ingredient Chocolate Oat Fudge Bars
- Crispy Rice Krispie Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Butterfinger Caramel Crunch Bars
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Nutritional Information
Nutrition is an approximate estimate per treat (20 treats), calculated from standard ingredient values. Actual numbers will vary with the brands you use.
| Nutrient | Amount per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 200 |
| Carbohydrates | 30g |
| Protein | 4g |
| Fat | 9g |
| Saturated Fat | 3g |
| Cholesterol | 1mg |
| Sodium | 100mg |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Sugar | 22g |
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 20 treats 1x
Description
Easy no-bake treats made by pouring a warm peanut butter and honey mixture over crispy rice cereal, then stirring in chocolate chips and M&M’s and scooping into clusters.
Ingredients
1 cup (260 g) creamy peanut butter
1 cup (340 g) honey (light corn syrup also works)
6 cups (about 160 g) crispy rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies
1/2 cup (85 g) mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup (about 100 g) M&M’s candies
Instructions
1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place the crispy rice cereal in a large heatproof bowl.
3. Combine the peanut butter and honey in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until melted, smooth, and just starting to bubble at the edges, about 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Pour the hot peanut butter mixture over the cereal and stir gently until every piece is evenly coated.
5. Let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes so the chocolate does not melt completely, then fold in the mini chocolate chips and M&M’s.
6. Scoop about 1/4 cup of the mixture onto the lined baking sheet for each treat, pressing it together lightly so it holds.
7. Let the treats set at room temperature for about 30 minutes, or chill them briefly, until firm.
Notes
Adapted from Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats with M&M’s & Chocolate Chips by Recipes by Clare, a no-bake treat made by pouring a hot peanut butter and corn syrup (or honey) mixture over Rice Krispies and stirring in mini chocolate chips. Peanut butter, honey or syrup, and chocolate chips follow that recipe; the cereal and M&M’s amounts, the cooking time, cooling time, scoop size, and yield (20 treats) are estimates, and the added sugar that source’s method mentions was left out because the honey sweetens the treats. The recipe has not been tested.
Use a shelf-stable creamy peanut butter, not natural drippy peanut butter, so the treats hold together.
Let the mixture cool slightly before adding the candy, or the M&M’s will bleed color.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Nutrition is an approximate estimate per treat (20 treats).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 treat
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 1mg
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Gianna Poulef
I’m Gianna Poulef from Poulef Recipes. I love sharing perfected dishes from my kitchen. I’m sure they’ll earn a spot in your heart. Let’s savor this journey together!.
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