Some cereal + some butter = delicious. Thinking how? Because the butter is peanut and the cereal is Rice Krispies. These peanut butter rice crispy bars are sweet, salty, crunchy, and so, so addictive!
I’ve got one kid hunkered down for the exams; another kid who’s stressed out with life right now and a huge bag of Rice Krispies that I got as a gift the other day.
You see where I am going, right? Moms and dads who’ve racked their brains for homemade treats that satisfy the junk craving but are much cleaner and healthier than actual junk, know.
I am talking about the dynamic duo of peanut butter and Rice Krispies!
How to Make Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Bars?
Swirls of peanut butter mixed with honey and topped with chocolate; the peanut butter rice crispy bars are super easy to make. They require no baking and only the most basic ingredients you’ll find in the kitchen. The preparation hardly takes any time, and it is so much fun. (If you saw my Instagram Stories yesterday, you clearly saw the evidence of it.)
Start by mixing peanut butter and honey. The trick is to be very gentle with heat; too much and the honey goes for a toss. To cut through the sweetness of the 2 ingredients, add in a pinch or two of sea salt.
Combine the rice crispies with the thick paste to make a nice crunchy and sticky mixture. Pour into a pan lined with parchment paper and then flatten it evenly by gently pressing it down. Finally, plonk the entire thing in the fridge for a few minutes.
The surprise topping on peanut butter rice crispy bars
Chocolate makes everything better, right? That’s the surprise in the recipe. While the rice crispy mixture cools down, melt some dark chocolate with coconut cream in it. Pour a silky-smooth layer onto the rice crispies and then spread it uniformly.
Now comes the hard part. Waiting.
The pan goes back into the fridge for the chocolate to cool down and set. Once that’s done you can slice it into bars and then dig in. But chocolate and peanut butter lovers beware, you’ll be sorely tempted to guzzle the whole slab at once!
Some notes to keep in mind…
My version of peanut butter rice crispy bars are gluten-free and dairy-free. Hence the dairy-free dark chocolate and, well, because the bittersweet flavor is the perfect balance to the slight sweetness of Rice Krispies.
The recipe is even vegan-friendly. I used a ridiculously tasty raw honey because I had it at hand, but you can put maple or date syrup to work too.
For the pan, I recommend somewhere around 7 to 8 inches. The dish I made use of was round, but a square pan works in a jiffy. When it comes to cutting the rice crispy into bars, pick the size you prefer. Let your imagination (read: stomach) run free.
Slice & serve peanutty butter bliss
Topped with a decadent layer of chocolate, the super easy to make treat needs no other embellishment. But, as ever, I couldn’t resist a few sprinkles of sea salt. You can even garnish it with crushed nuts.
Texturally, the peanut butter rice crispy bars are just right. They are crunchy and light and the chocolate gives it that little luxurious vibe. But, if you still fancy an extra kick, add some crushed nuts into the peanut butter and honey mixture.
Okay, I know, I blame all the chocolate knick-knacks on the kids, but when the craving hits, I am the first one binge. Why the self-confession? Because I just realized, these bars could have been a bit healthier (that’s not to say they aren’t already) by adding oats along with Rice Krispies.
Eh, you-win-some-you-lose-some. Moving on! I really recommend the oats if you want the bars to be chewy and filling.
Tasha’s Extra Tip:
A quick tip, which in hindsight I should have spoken about right at the beginning, if you haven’t got any true Rice Krispies, the recipe works with our desi murmura (puffed rice) equally well. Puffed rice is available at every shop and store possible and its dirt cheap. I’ve used it to make some delectable crispy chocolate treats in the past, and I think I’m going to try them in this recipe too!
I’d love to hear from you! Please tag me on Instagram @tashasartisanfoods, using the hashtag #tashasartisanfoods. You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST for more fabulous recipes!
Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal / Puffed Rice/ Murmurra
- 1/4 cup Raw honey/ maple syrup/ Date syrup
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 tsp Sea salt
Chocolate Topping
- 1/2 cup Dairy free chocolate or Dark chocolate (70%)
- 2 tbsp Coconut Cream You can use regular cream too.
- Sea salt for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Line an 8" pan with parchment paper.
- In a small saucepan, combine the peanut butter, honey and sea salt and heat over a very gentle heat. The mixture should be just heated through and melted together.
- Pour over the Rice Krispies/ murmurra and mix well.
- Spoon into the prepared pan and flatten it, spreading it evenly. Refrigerate for a few minutes while you are making the chocolate topping.
Chocolate Topping
- Heat the cream in a small saucepan, placed over a pan of simmering water. Add the chocolate to the cream and mix well, till you get a shiny glossy mixture.
- Spread this over the peanut butter Rice Krispies mixture. Sprinkle some sea salt on top.
- Put the pan back in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours until the bars are well set.
- Cut into squares and enjoy!
- Keep the leftover bars refrigerated.
Priti says
Easy peasy lovely recipe
Natasha Minocha says
Thank you Priti! xx