A layer of candy bars and chocolate make these Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats the best no bake treats you will ever have. These will not last long when you bring them to picnics or barbecues.
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(photos updated August 2016)
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Most days I have crazy baking ideas that I can’t wait to get in the kitchen and work on.
Then there are days when I just want to make quick and easy desserts like rice krispie treats for our kids to enjoy.
The problem is I am me. I can’t stop my crazy mind from wandering when it comes to easy desserts. Well, I can’t keep it from wandering on any kind of dessert really.
Instead of easy treats, I end up making things like 100 Grand Rice Krispie Treats or Brownie Mint Rice Krispie Treats. #foodbloggerproblems
I really did have plans this time to make a pan of plain rice krispie treats. But as I pulled out the cereal from the bottom cupboard, I glanced over to the other side where I keep the “off-limits” food.
The bright orange packages of peanut butter cups started yelling at me. “Pick us!” “We would be great to use!” “You know how good we are!”
Yes, I do hear candy voices! That’s not weird, is it? How in the world was I supposed to resist candy that was basically forcing itself on me? I just couldn’t.
I started to think back to these Candy Bar Stuffed Rice Krispie Treats. I remembered how good the layer of candy bars was inside the no bake treats. That did it!
All thoughts of plain treats went out the window. The peanut butter cups won me over with their sweet yells. So, my pan of easy treats became rice krispie treats with peanut butter and marshmallow. That doesn’t surprise you, does it?
Tips for making Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats:
Butter your pan before you get started and keep the butter out. I like to butter my hands because it keeps the mixture from sticking to me. You could also use wax paper or parchment paper, if you don’t want to get messy.
Unwrap all the Reese’s peanut butter cups and set them aside. Buy a few extra because you know you are going to pop one or two in your mouth as you do this step.
Stir a little bit of peanut butter into the melted butter and marshmallow to give these bars the full peanut butter experience. You do have to work quickly as you put these together. Do not let the mixture sit long at all, or it will start to cool and be harder to work with.
Divide your hot rice krispie treat mixture in half. Press one half into the buttered baking dish. Lay the unwrapped Reese’s peanut butter cups over the top.
As soon as the candy bars are down, press the rest of the mixture over the top. Make sure you get it as even as possible. But don’t stress too much about it because we are adding a layer of chocolate over the top too. That will hide the imperfections.
Try not to press the rice krispie treats too much. Pressing the mixture too hard into the pan is what causes hard rice krispie treats. I don’t know about you, but I prefer soft, chewy rice krispie treats.
The last step to these Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats is a layer of chocolate. Combine the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat to melt it or place it in a microwave safe bowl and heat it for 30 seconds. Stir until it is spreadable. If you need to heat it another 10-15 seconds, go ahead. Just do not over heat the chocolate.
Spoon the melted chocolate over the top of the rice krispie treats and use an angled spatula to spread it out. Go ahead and lick the spoon and spatula. It’s a required step in my kitchen! #foodbloggerperks
Let the chocolate set before cutting into bars. That is if you can wait that long. I suggest earplugs while you wait to block out the yells from the peanut butter cups. Seriously! It’s a real thing!
More easy no bake recipes you may enjoy:
- A chocolate and candy layer make these Monster Cookie No Bake Bars a fun treat that everyone will grab.
- Make this Sweet and Salty Trail Mix to munch on for long drives or movie nights.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars are a great snack for on the go breakfasts or after school snacks.
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Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats recipe and video:
Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 8 cups mini marshmallows
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 7 cups plain Rice Krispies cereal
- 24 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, unwrapped
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Butter a 9x13 pan and set aside.
- Melt the butter over low heat in a saucepan. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Stir in the peanut butter.
- Pour the cereal into the marshmallow mixture and stir until completely combined. Press half the cereal mixture into the prepared pan quickly.
- Place the 24 peanut butter cups over the top of the rice krispies in the pan.
- Spoon the rest of the rice krispies over the top and press down. Let cool completely.
- Place the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a saucepan and heat over low to medium heat until melted. Stir until creamy.
- Spread over the top of the rice krispie treats. Let set. Cut into 24 squares. Store in a sealed container on the counter.
(photo from July 2014)
*This post and recipe was originally posted July 23, 2014.
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Sandi Quinn says
Can you tell me, please how many boxes of Rice Krispies it takes to get 7 C., and how many bags of mini marshmallows to get 7 C.???
Thank you!
Jocelyn says
One big box of Rice Krispies and big bag of mini marshmallows will give you plenty. I hope you enjoy the treats!
Sandi Quinn says
Thank you!!!
Aubrey says
Is there a printable version of it somewhere? I don’t want to print all 18 pages and have it split up…
Jocelyn says
If you click the print button on the recipe card, it will open a recipe card that you can print.
peggy says
Do you use full size reeses peanut butter cups or bite size?
THanks a bunch!
Jocelyn says
I used the full sized Reese’s in mine, but you can use whatever size you like. I hope you enjoy the treats!!!
Phyllis Grant says
These are nothing less than incredible! Made them for a family supper and everyone could not get enough of them. So nice to have a recipe that is different from the usual. I did find the mixing of the rice krispies into the marshmallow challenging and as I was doing it – I was thinking that I would not be making these again. Well, that was until I and my family tasted them. The extra work will not even be noticed because of how great these taste.
Jocelyn says
I am so glad you found that they are worth the work 🙂 They are a favorite here too!
Ridhima says
Wow, these look delicious! Must try!!
Niki says
I finally had the opportunity to make these as part of the dessert spread at my daughter’s birthday party. They were worth the wait and so good! In fact, I made them 3 days later for a work function and they were the first item gone!
Jocelyn says
Woo hoo! That is awesome to hear 🙂 !!!!
Susie says
Can these be prepared and frozen?
Jocelyn says
I have never frozen rice krispie treats before, so I googled it. It looks like if you wrap them well enough, you can freeze them. Just set them out a few hours before you want to serve them. Let me know how it works for you.
Amy says
I love this idea! Thank you for sharing. Rice crispies with pea nut butter!! What a fun treat!
shawnna says
hey girl- these treats look amazing!
Terry Wainscott says
I found that the recipe for the rice krispies was not enough to cover the bottom layer and also the top layer. i had to use 3/4 of the batch just to barely cover the bottom of a 9x13pan. i ended up making a second batch to cover the top layer
Jocelyn says
I have made this recipe so many times and it worked every single time. If you divide the rice krispies mix in half, and spray your hands very well with nonstick spray, it is enough for the pan. They are already pretty thick with the peanut butter cups in the center, so I bet yours were super thick. Not that that is a bad thing…
Cindy Bellman says
I made these bars for a kids treat but I used a 9 x 9 pan and There was plenty of Rice Krispie mixture for both layers. I used half the ingredients for the bottom layer and placed peanut cups on top. Then I made the other half of the Krispie layer for the top–didn’t have to worry about working fast. Added chocolate top. I cut the bars into small squares – still looked pretty. Let’s face it, these bars are very sweet and have a lot of sugar/fat so a smaller portion is probably a good idea.
laura says
These look amazing! Pinning to bake! laura
Shannon says
Question, could you leave off the top layer of chocolate? I know I must sound crazy. A co-worker made these and they were so yummy, but so rich…so thought maybe leaving the top layer off might help.
Jocelyn says
Haha! Yes, totally crazy! But sure, if you want to leave the extra chocolate off, go for it! 🙂
Nuzra Latiff says
These look awesome! Can I use organic peanut butter instead of the creamy store bought one? Will it hold shape?
Jocelyn says
I’m not really sure because I just used the store bought. I think with all the marshmallows that it would be ok, but I can’t say for sure. Keep me posted if you try it that way!
Katie says
I’m in the middle of making these, and just realized I don’t have heavy cream! I’ve made these many times before, and I forgot I needed that for the top layer. Can I make it without the heavy cream, or substitute it with milk??
Jocelyn says
I would just use the chocolate and add some shortening or coconut oil to thin it out. Or if you have coffee creamer, you can use that in place of the heavy cream.