Name: Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Prep time: 12 min
Total time: 132 min
Ingredients: 4 ½ cups rice krispies; ½ stick unsalted butter; 2 tablespoons milk powder; ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk; 10 ounces marshmallows; ½ cup peanut butter; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips; 2 teaspoons coconut oil; ¾ cup pretzels (chopped)

If you're looking for a super easy, no-bake recipe, these chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats are it! A delicious mix of sweet and salty, with a chocolate topping and pretzels, these rice krispie treats are perfect after school snack (or after work snack, after dinner snack, the list goes on). They only take 12 minutes to prep and are so delicious.

Peanut butter chocolate rice krispie treat squares, topped with pretzels.

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This recipe was originally published in July 2021. It has since been updated with a new recipe and photos.

Chocolate and peanut butter is such a classic flavor combo, and for a good reason! The sweet and salty mix is perfect for a dessert and is the best treat for chocolate peanut butter lovers! This is such an easy recipe, you are not going to believe it!

Based on my chocolate-covered rice krispie treats, these chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats are extra ooey and gooey. The rice krispies are combined with melted peanut butter and then topped with melted chocolate and salty mini pretzels. I think the mini pretzels make for a fun twist on a classic!

While these chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats are based on an existing recipe of mine, I've got a few secret ingredients to make these rice krispies extra special!

Super Gooey Rice Krispie Treats

All the ingredients needed to make chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats.

Feel free to use the branded or generic grocery store version of Rice Krispies cereal.
I love adding mini salted pretzels for an extra salty-sweet kick.
You can use regular marshmallows or mini marshmallows.
I'm using semisweet chocolate here, but you can use dark chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch chips or even peanut butter chips if you prefer!
I'm using a smooth peanut butter like Jif or Skippy. I don't recommend using a natural peanut butter here.
While reading Jessie Sheehan's Snackable Bakes, I noticed she added some sweetened condensed milk to her rice crispie treats! Not only is it going to make rice krispie squares so much gooier, but it will help keep them soft for days.
After seeing this King Arthur rice krispie treat recipe, I knew I had to try adding milk powder to my rice krispies! Adding the milk powder to the butter while browning it is going to really amp up the brown butter flavor and is a real flavor enhancer.

steps 1 and 2 in the chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treat baking process.

Step One: Place a medium or large pot on the stove over medium-low heat. Melt the butter and add the milk powder, and let it begin to brown. Make sure you're constantly stirring. It should turn a golden color and smell toasted.

Step Two: Add the marshmallows, peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk, salt and vanilla extract. Stir everything until the marshmallows have completely melted and everything is combined.

steps 3 and 4 in the chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treat baking process.

Step Three: Stop the heat and pour in the cereal. Use a rubber spatula to combine the cereal with the marshmallow mixture, making sure the cereal is evenly covered.

Step Four: Pour the peanut butter rice krispie mixture into an 8x8 square pan that has been lined with parchment paper. Use a rubber spatula to gently press it into an even layer.

steps 5 and 6 in the chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treat baking process.

Step Five: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips with the coconut oil. I like the melt it in 15 second increments in the microwave, stopping each time to stir the mixture with a spoon so the chocolate doesn't burn.

Step Six: Pour the melted chocolate on top of the rice krispies. I like to decorate with pretzels but you could also top with sea salt, sprinkles or chopped mini peanut butter cups. Let sit for 2 hours before cutting.

An overhead shot of pretzel and chocolate rice krispie squares.

Making the Perfect Rice Krispie Treats

Keep these peanut butter chocolate rice krispie treats soft and gooey by using fresh marshmallows (no time for stale marshmallows here!) and adding the sweetened condensed milk. This will keep them soft for days!
Keep the heat to medium-low so you don't burn the brown butter or the marshmallow mixture.
Place the chocolate peanut butter rice krispies squares in the fridge if you want the chocolate to set faster.
I don't recommend using natural peanut butter here, make sure you're using commercial peanut butter that doesn't have the oil on top.