Easy & Delicious Peanut Butter Rice Krispies with Chocolate

Looking for a tasty rice krispie treat variation? No marshmallows needed for these delicious peanut butter rice krispies are made with karo syrup instead.

There is something about a rice krispie treat that almost everyone loves. Even adults love the simple gooeyness of those marshmallow cereal bars. While I enjoy a rice krispie treat now and then, there is a chocolate rice krispie treat variation that I like even more!

It is these peanut butter rice krispies with karo syrup. Yes, I know it may sound a bit odd but trust me when I say that it totally works! I keep karo syrup on hand to make these peanut butter bars and my homemade caramel corn. There’s just no other substitute for these yummy treats.

These peanut butter rice krispie treats are made with peanut butter in the cereal layer, and topped with a combination of chocolate and butterscotch. There is something about the peanut butter, butterscotch and chocolate combination that works so well together! More recipes should feature that combination. Maybe that is why my husband and I both love these 4 ingredient peanut clusters so much!

With only 6 ingredients needed, you can make this rice krispie treat almost as quickly as the original. Plus, it’s a fun twist on a classic!

This easy recipe is perfect for when you need to make a quick treat for a bake sale or cook out. If you want to surprise your kids with a sweet treat for dessert, this kid approved recipe definitely works too!

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Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treat Ingredients:

The ingredients are simple. It might seem odd that you are making rice krispie treats without marshmallows, but trust me on this! These peanut butter rice krispies with karo syrup don’t need marshmallows. You still get a chewy texture, that is slightly different, but equally delicious.

To make these treats you will need:

  • Sugar
  • Karo Syrup
  • Rice Krispies
  • Peanut Butter
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Butterscotch Chips

That’s it. 6 ingredients needed to make these amazingly delicious peanut butter rice krispie treats! The full printable recipe is below.

How to Make Peanut Butter Rice Krispies with Karo Syrup:

It’s really very simple to make these easy peanut butter recipe krispie treats.

You are going to start by boiling the sugar and karo syrup in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir together until they bubble consistently around the edges. I like to use a medium size saucepan so I can use the one pot to make my bars.

When the mixture is bubbling nicely, after just a couple minutes, remember the sugar mixture from the heat and stir in the peanut butter. You can use smooth or crunchy peanut butter. I tend to use smooth myself, but grew up with my mom and Grandma using crunchy in this recipe.

After the peanut butter is combined, stir in the rice krispies. It doesn’t have to be name brand. A cheaper generic rice crisp cereal works just fine. I should know because that is what I normally use!

Next, press the combined mixture into a 9×13 pan. I use the back of a spatula, or a greased butter wrapper to press the mixture into the pan.

Finally, you get to add the yummy chocolate topping! The recipe calls for equal parts of semi-sweet chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. Feel free to play around with the ratios. If you have more chocolate chips on hand, than butterscotch chips, that will work!

Mix the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 90 seconds and stir.

Continue microwaving in 30 second intervals until the chocolate mixture is fully melted. Pour the chocolate mixture on top of the still warm rice krispie treats. Use a spoon to spread the chocolate over all of the rice krispie treats.

Allow the chocolate to harden at room temperature. Do NOT store these bars in the refrigerator. They harden up too much and become crunchy instead of chewy. Besides, once you taste these bars, I know they won’t last long anyway!

You can cut these bars into mini squares or larger ones, depending on your preference. This is an easy treat to when you need something yummy and quick.

I hope you enjoy these peanut butter rice krispie treats as much as we do!

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Easy & Delicious Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

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These easy peanut butter rice krispie treats are made with karo syrup instead of marshmallows – and topped with a delicious layer of chocolate and butterscotch. Delicious!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup karo syrup
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 6 cups rice krisipes
  • 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 cups butterscotch chips

Instructions

  1. Pour sugar and karo syrup into a medium sized pan on the stove. Stir over medium heat until mixture is bubbly.
  2. Take pan off the stove and stir in peanut butter.
  3. Stir in rice krispies cereal. 
  4. Spoon rice krispie mixture into a 9×13 pan. Use a greased spatula or spoon to press the rice krispie treats firmly into the pan.
  5. Melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in the microwave for 90 seconds. Stir. Continue microwaving in 30 second intervals until chips are completed melted together.
  6. Pour chocolate over the rice krispie treats. Smooth over all the bars.
  7. Allow bars to harden on the counter. Do not refrigerate! 
  8. Once chocolate is harden, serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Smooth or chunky peanut butter may be used.
  • You can add more chocolate chips and less butterscotch chips to the topping, if you choose. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 square
  • Calories: 303
  • Sugar: 28.8g
  • Sodium: 173mg
  • Fat: 12.9g
  • Saturated Fat: 6.1g
  • Carbohydrates: 45.2g
  • Fiber: 1.6g
  • Protein: 5.2g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

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4 Comments

    1. Kristen

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      The Real Person!

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      says:

      Hmmm. I don’t know. The sweetness might take some tweaking. You are certainly welcome to try but I can’t give you a definite answer as I only make these with Karo Syrup!

  1. My aunt made these for us kids back in the ’60s. This is the recipe I always use, it’s the best especially with the butterscotch/chocolate combo. They always go fast!
    Thanks for posting this as my recipe box is in storage while we move. I’m making them for a Halloween party. I’ll be dying them orange.

  2. I first had these in 1975 and loved them.
    I decided to try something different and used Cocoa Krispies instead with no topping.
    They’ve been a family favorite since then.






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