Crispy Peanut Butter Bars – Marshmallow crispy rice bars with peanut butter and a chocolate layer on top
Now that it’s getting so hot outside, turning the oven on just doesn’t seem like something I want to do. That’s why no-bake recipes are perfect for these hot months. My new favorite recipe is for these Crispy Peanut Butter Bars. Chewy, sweet, and salty – plus a little richness from the chocolate. What else could you want?!
I first attempted to make no-bake bars similar to these – scotcharoos. They’re similar but have corn syrup and butterscotch chips in addition to peanut butter and chocolate. They are way too sweet in my opinion. I wanted something a little more balanced and these Crispy Peanut Butter Bars achieve just that.
Take a look at my Crispy Peanut Butter Bars!
How to make these bars
These chewy bars are made just like rice crispy treats, just with a peanut butter added to the marshmallow mix and chocolate spread over the top of the bars when they’re in the pan.
To start, the butter is melted with the peanut butter and then the marshmallows are added. They’re mixed together until the marshmallows are melted. The butter is super important in this recipe because it keeps the marshmallow from being too sticky.
Next, the mixture is removed from the heat and the cereal is added and stirred in the pot until combined. Then, the mixture is pressed into the pan to form the bars. Melted milk chocolate is smoothed over the top. The bars are left to sit until the chocolate firms up, about 2 hours. Then, the bars will be ready to cut.
Tips and Tricks
- Do not overheat. Make sure not to overheat the marshmallows or they could caramelize and turn brown. Heat just until they melt into the peanut butter.
- Cool before cutting. Make sure the chocolate is cooled completely before cutting the bars to ensure a clean cut. Otherwise, the chocolate will get everywhere and create an awful mess.
Crispy Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter unsalted
- ¾ cup peanut butter
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows
- 6 cups crispy rice cereal
- 8 ounces milk chocolate chopped
Instructions
- Spray a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray. Set aside. In a large pot, melt butter and peanut butter together. Add marshmallows and stir constantly until smooth. Remove from heat and add cereal. Stir until cereal and peanut butter mixture is combined.
- Pour mixture into greased pan and press down firmly into one even layer. In a microwave safe bowl, place chopped milk chocolate. Microwave in 30 second increments until smooth, stirring after each one. Pour over the peanut butter cereal in the pan. Using an offset spatula, spread into a thin, even layer.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting, about 2 hours. The cut into 16 even bars. Store in a covered storage container for up to 3 days.
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More recipes you’ll love:
Reese’s Crispy Cereal Bars
Churro Marshmallow Bites
Crispy S’mores Bars
I love the idea of no-bake recipes for summer! The Crispy Peanut Butter Bars sound like the perfect blend of chewy, sweet, salty, and rich. The addition of peanut butter to the marshmallow mix is genius.
My mom used to make these, snd I continue to at 65yrs because they are so good. She used to make the topping with semisweet choc chips blended with butterscotch chips, but I sometimes make with just straight semisweet as I like the contrast with the peanut butter. My adult kids tend to prefer them without any topping, just the pb rice krispie base. Thanks for reminding me to make some!
I love any cereal based treat but this is my new favourite! Quick and simple to make, but so much flavour!
These were so easy to make and turned out perfect! I loved the chocolate and peanut butter combination. My family loved them too.
These bars were fantastic! I just love chocolate and peanut butter together, and they were great in this recipe. Already looking forward to making these again!
The chocolate on these peanut butter bars completely elevated them to a whole new level! YUM!!
I love making your desserts Sharon. These peanut butter bars were perfect to bake with my kids. Thank you!
OMG, you had me at chocolate and peanut butter with this dessert recipe! So crispy and delicious, they did not last long in my house because everyone loved them!
Looks crispy and Peanut Butter makes it unique. Looks like my snack box or dessert box for the week is ready.
These are one of my favorite snacks!
These are so much better than traditional rice krispy treats and so easy to make! My kiddos loved them!
Absolutely yummy! My kids will love these, if they get them before I do!
I made these for my boys and they loved them!!! So crispy and the perfect amount of peanut butter. We loved them.
These peanut butter bars take me back to my childhood, my mom used to make something very similar but this one is so much better!
These are some of my favorite kind of bars. I haven’t made them in ages so I will have to!
These were so good! Just what I needed to curb my pb & chocolate cravings!
This recipe takes rice krispie treats to the next level. I can’t wait to try this delicious looking version.
You had me at peanut butter. Even better with chocolate on. These look amazing.
Give me all the peanut butter treats like these bars. You can’t beat a good pb, marshmallow and chocolate snack, yummy!
Such a great easy treat for summer! And who doesn’t move peanut butter and chocolate… can’t wait to try!
This looks delicious! I need to give it a go over the weekend