Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats
Welcome to the third installment of my Christmas goodies series (only twenty more to go!). This time I’m sharing a truly decadent take on Rice Krispie treats. My Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats pack in four layers of peanut buttery, chocolatey, chewy, gooey, crispy deliciousness. These are another personal favorite of mine that I love to share each year.
Despite the seeming complexity of this recipe (a relatively long ingredient list, multiple layers, chilling time, etc.) this is actually one of the quicker and easier recipes to put together. There is no baking, everything is made on the stovetop or in the microwave. While there is a “fudge” layer, there is no need for a candy thermometer or to test for any candy making stages.
Also important to note, there is no harm done if you put this recipe on pause in between layers to focus attention elsewhere. That makes this recipe an ideal candidate for multitasking. When making Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats for the goodie trays, I usually work on them at the same time as I’m baking two of the brownie recipes. The goal each year is to get all of the goodies baked, assembled, sliced and packaged up as close to the same time as possible so any opportunity for multitasking is very much welcome.
Even though I rank this among the easier recipes, there are a few tips to share:
- Work quickly and efficiently on each layer. Rice Krispie treats, fudge and chocolate all set fairly quickly as they cool, so you want to get each layer in place while the mixtures are still hot and pliable.
- Mise en place is key to completing each layer as quickly and efficiently as possible. Measure out all the ingredients for each layer before you begin following the instructions for that layer.
- Don’t worry if your Reese’s Pieces crack or break when being added to the hot Rice Krispie treat mixture or if your peanut butter cups melt a bit in the fudge layer – that is normal and expected, and I promise it will all come together beautifully.
- Avoid overheating the chocolate and peanut butter mixture for the topping. If the mixture is too hot, it may break, leaving it uneven and with visible separation of fats from solids. Also, both the chocolate and the peanut butter are at risk for hot spots in the microwave that could cause them to scorch.
As with my brownie recipes, I usually cut these into 40 – 48 bars, but they could certainly be cut larger if you prefer. Just like the brownies, these get cut even smaller for the goodie trays – about 1 1/4 inch square. I also find these a bit easier to cleanly slice straight from the fridge with a very sharp, large chef’s knife.
Equipment
- 9×13 inch pan
- non-stick foil
- medium saucepan
- glass bowl (or double boiler)
- silicone spatula
Ingredients
Layer 1 (Krispie Treats):
- 3 cup Rice Krispies cereal
- 10 ounce marshmallows mini
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
- 2 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup Reeses Pieces candy
Layer 2 (Peanut Butter Fudge):
- 6 ounce peanut butter baking bits
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 7 ounce sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounce mini peanut butter cups
Layer 3 (Krispie Treats):
- 3 cup Rice Krispies cereal
- 10 ounce marshmallows mini
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
- 2 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup Reeses Pieces candy
Layer 4 (Peanut Butter Chocolate Topping):
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 cup chocolate semisweet, chopped or chips
Instructions
- Line a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick foil.
For layer 1:
- Melt marshmallows, butter, peanut butter, chocolate syrup and corn syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat.10 ounce marshmallows, 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon corn syrup, 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup, 2 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- Add cereal to melted marshmallow mixture; stir quickly and well to evenly coat the cereal.3 cup Rice Krispies cereal
- Quickly stir in Reeses Pieces candy.1/2 cup Reeses Pieces candy
- Press mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan.
For layer 2:
- Place the peanut butter baking bits and sweetened condensed milk in a medium pan over medium heat, stirring continuously until melted and smooth6 ounce peanut butter baking bits, 7 ounce sweetened condensed milk
- Add peanut butter and vanilla, stirring to combine.1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Spread peanut butter fudge mixture over the first Krispie treat layer.
- Evenly scatter the mini peanut butter cups over the peanut butter fudge, lightly pressing them into the peanut butter mixture8 ounce mini peanut butter cups
For layer 3:
- Melt marshmallows, butter, peanut butter, chocolate syrup and corn syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat.10 ounce marshmallows, 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon corn syrup, 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup, 2 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- Add cereal to melted marshmallow mixture; stir quickly and well to evenly coat the cereal.3 cup Rice Krispies cereal
- Quickly stir in Reeses Pieces candy.1/2 cup Reeses Pieces candy
- Drop spoonfuls of the cereal mixture over the previously prepared layers pressing the cereal together and slightly into the peanut butter fudge layer.
For layer 4:
- Melt the peanut butter and chocolate together either in a microwave, stirring often, or over a double boiler.1 cup creamy peanut butter, 2 cup chocolate
- Cool slightly and pour over the Krispie treats, smoothing with the back of a spoon or a spatula.
- Allow the treats to cool, then refrigerate until the ganache is fully set (30-60 minutes).
- Use the foil to lift the treats from the pan, slice into bars and serve.
Nutrition
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