Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

Why You’ll Love It

Easy to make: Just grab the five ingredients you need, melt the butter, chocolate chips and peanut butter together, add the other ingredients and let the whole thing cool and set in a pan.
So sweet and tasty: The sweetness of chocolate chips, peanut butter cups and Rice Krispies pairs with salted butter and peanut butter to make these heavenly bites.
A versatile treat: Enjoy one of these with your morning coffee, serve them up for dessert or even give some as gifts. These are a versatile treat.

Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Salted butter: For a rich flavor and to add moisture.
Crunchy peanut butter: Adds a peanut flavor and also some crunch.
Chocolate chips: To add a chocolatey touch.
Reese’s peanut butter cups: For sweetness and chocolate and peanut flavors.
Rice Krispies: To add a contrasting texture.

How to Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Melt the butter, chocolate and peanut butter: Combine chocolate chips, butter and peanut butter in a large mixing bowl and microwave until melted.
Add the Rice Krispies: Stir in the cereal to coat.
Add to a baking dish: Spread half the mixture in a prepared pan and top with the peanut butter cups. Add the rest of the mixture on top.
Chill, slice and serve: Chill the bars for an hour in the refrigerator or until firm and set, then slice and serve.

Substitutions and Variations

Butter: You can use unsalted butter if you add ½ teaspoon of salt to your melted chocolate mixture.
Crunchy peanut butter: If you only have smooth, add some chopped nuts to the mixture. You can use natural peanut butter or any other kind.
Peanut-free: Sub almond butter or any nut or seed butter for the peanut butter and another kind of candy for a peanut-free version.
Rice Krispies: You can use any brand of crisp rice cereal or even another cereal like Corn Flakes.
Semi sweet chocolate chips: Use dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips or any kind you want.
Another flavor: A few drops of vanilla extract in the peanut butter mixture would add a contrasting taste. Or you could add some mini marshmallows or raisins to the cereal mixture.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: Start your meal with some minestrone soup.
Main and sides: Next up, baked salmon with Greek salsa would be perfect, served with garlic green beans or a melon prosciutto salad.
Desserts: Finish your meal with these delicious peanut butter Rice Krispies bars and perhaps a pumpkin spice latte too.

How to Store Peanut Butter Bars

Store: You can store these bars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Keep the pan covered with plastic wrap or transfer your sliced bars into an airtight container or Ziploc bag. You can also keep these bars on the counter for a week but they will be softer than if stored in the fridge
Freeze: Freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.