Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats

Take your treats to another level…try these Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats. Rice Krispie Treats are layered with a peanut butter layer and topped with chocolate ganache.

I go through spells when I come up with multiple ideas for Rice Krispie Treats but it’s been awhile. The last ones I made were Heath Bar Rice Krispie Treats; I’m thinking that was before the nightmare of Covid. I love making cakes that will take me all day but with kids on my street I know better than to do that for them…they are as happy with something like these Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats!

My inspiration for the Heath Bar Rice Krispies was a candy bar I loved as a kid and maybe I assumed all kids loved Heath Bars…but really who wouldn’t expect that? And by association also assume that they would love Rice Krispie treats that were mixed with toffee and topped with chocolate. REALLY…who would not love that??

Well, guess I found someone. I mean there was no major revolt or anything complete with threats of NEVER visiting again but it did come out last week when a whole porch-ful of my little buddies decided to come calling.

One whose name shall not be mentioned (Nolan) might have indicated that my Heath Bar version was not his favorite. Shock of all shocks…how could that be!!?? Not said with malice, just pretty much matter of fact and I decided then and there that there would have to be another go at it. I can not have my little buddies question my treats can I?

So here I am, Round Two. And you know what? As much as I love Heath Bars; I LOVE these Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats even more than the Heath Bar ones. They were (OK, are, but I’m hiding the few I have remaining), amazing…if I say so myself.

I sometimes Google an idea once I’m done with a recipe to see my totally unique and heretofore NEVER made before dish returns any results. OMG…82,114 Google results all referring to MY creation. But they were not the same!

Humor me OK but really what is the point of a recipe that simply smooshes Peanut Butter Cups in between layers of Rice Krispie Treats. How is that a recipe and why…couldn’t you just put a Rice Krispie Treat in one hand and a Peanut Butter Cup in the other and get the same result?

But even if you could, it would mean that you would in fact have to buy said Peanut Butter Cups so we’re back to why bother? I wanted something that took ingredients I already had in my pantry and make a dessert treat that was reminiscent of a Peanut Butter Cup (but better) without actually having to buy Peanut Butter Cups. DUH!!

This was it. Peanut butter in the Rice Krispie Treat layer topped with a fudgy soft peanut butter layer and all of it finished with a top layer of chocolate and peanut butter ganache.

Did I like it? No words. LOVED it. Loved it so much I was ready to stand by the curb and give it away to keep myself from eating the whole entire pan. Luckily that was not necessary; a neighbor showed up to help me put my Christmas tree in the basement (yes, in February!!) and I sent him on his way to distribute across the land.

Or on our street at least. All the flavors of a peanut butter cup but with some chewy crispness from the Rice Krispies. I’m serious. LOVED IT. Think everyone else did too. The kids. Yes (especially the instigator of this whole round!).

The parents? Them too. A friend who took home a package for her brood that asked if she had to share. Yep. Kellogg’s should talk to me. This would be huge. But wait…they would get ruined in translation and packaging and distribution and we don’t want that…so I’ll just simmer down and suggest you HAVE to make them.

You won’t be sorry…unless you are all alone and eat every single one of them by yourself. You may have a tinge of regret but no worries…the rest of us will be super jealous!

PIN IT! ‘Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats’

Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats

Barbara Baker

Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats include a peanut butter layer and are topped with chocolate ganache.

4 from 50 or more votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 20 Servings

Calories 318 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For the Rice Krispie Layer

• 10 ounces marshmallows
• 4 tablespoons butter
• ⅓ cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

For the Peanut Butter Layer

• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup peanut butter
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

For the Chocolate Ganache Layer

• 2 cups chocolate chips
• ¼ cup half and half
• 2 tablespoons Peanut Butter

Instructions

 

• Grease the bottom and sides of a 9×13 pan with softened butter.
• Put the marshmallows, butter, peanut butter, and vanilla in a large pot. Heat on low and stir constantly until everything is melted and combined.
• Stir in cereal and spread evenly into pan.

To Make the Peanut Butter Layer

• In a medium size saucepan combine butter and peanut butter and stir over medium heat until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and stir until smooth. Spread evenly over first layer of Rice Krispies. Score the fudge lightly with a knife in 2" increments (See Notes: This will help the chocolate layer to adhere).

To Make the Chocolate Ganache

• Using a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter and half and half and heat on low power for 30 second increments. Remove after each 30 seconds and stir. Do not heat too high or chocolate will seize! It should take about 2 minutes total. Spread ganache on top of warm peanut butter fudge layer and let everything cool. Cut into small squares.

Notes

I mention to score the peanut butter layer; my only issue was that after some chilling, the top layer of chocolate could be lifted off. If I’m honest I wouldn’t change a thing about this recipe but I would modify the prep work as I put it together.

First…as mentioned in the recipe, score the peanut butter with shallow knife marks. As important, top the peanut butter layer with the ganache before refrigerating it. I didn’t do this so the fudgy peanut butter got firm…that was my mistake; let the two of them marry a bit; warm on warm before chilling.

Worse case scenario was what I dealt with…the top wanted to slide off. That being said, not ONE person said, “Barb, I CAN’T eat this!” We managed. 🙂

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats

Serving Size

 

1 Serving/2 piecespieces

Amount per Serving

Calories

318

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

19

g

29

%

Cholesterol

 

19

mg

6

%

Sodium

 

165

mg

7

%

Carbohydrates

 

36

g

12

%

Protein

 

4

g

8

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Calories

318

Keyword dessert, peanut butter cup, Rice Krispie Treats

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