Peanut Butter Protein Rice Krispies Treats are a delicious twist on a classic treat! Soft and chewy with gooey marshmallows, and packed with extra protein from the peanut butter, oats, sunflower and flax seeds. My kids devour these, and I love the little bit of extra substance, call them dessert OR a snack!
I love taking a dessert that everybody loves and changing it up with some healthier additions! These Protein Rice Crispy Treats were easy to alter, just a few high protein additions that go completely unnoticed with that delicious peanut buttery flavor!
My kids are always starving it seems, so why not add healthy extras where you can? Together with a few friends, they absolutely devoured a pan of these!
If you Love healthier versions of your favorite desserts, try these Black Bean Protein Brownies, Zucchini Banana Cookies, Peanut Butter Nutella Protein Balls, and Healthier Berry Rhubarb Crisp!
My kids also love Homemade Strawberry Banana Yogurt Popsicles for a healthy treat that's also a snack!
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Ingredients & Substitutions
- Rice Krispies Cereal - That familiar snap crackle pop, these high protein Rice Krispies Treats start with the basics and then add some hearty extras!
- Regular Rolled Oats - Oats add a bit of protein but are hardly noticeable in the finished bars. You can also use quick oats, or leave them out if you don't have them, just substitute more cereal.
- Sunflower & Flax Seeds - These little additions of protein are all optional and interchangeable. You can use just sunflower seeds and no flax seeds, or try chia seeds or even sliced almonds. If you don't want to use seeds at all, you can simply add the equivalent of more Rice Krispies.
- Marshmallows - Marshmallows give you that classic chewy consistency and we haven't tried to go healthy here a bit! You can also use the mini marshmallows, just measure 3 cups.
- Peanut Butter - The star of the show! That peanut buttery goodness gives these Rice Krispie Protein Bars their delicious flavor! For kids who are always hungry, a treat like this acts like an extra filling snack! You could also substitute really any nut butter, or even use sunflower seed butter if you want to keep it allergy friendly. Peanut butter is our favorite, taste-wise, and we love the natural peanut butter that is made from just peanuts and salt. Some peanut butters add oils and sugar so read the ingredient label!
- Honey - A tiny bit of honey here adds a bit more sweetness and ties together the peanut butter and marshmallow. You could substitute maple syrup or brown sugar if you don't have honey.
- Butter - Butter helps everything melt together and keeps your treats from sticking to the pan. You could also substitute coconut oil if you want these to be dairy-free Rice Krispies Treats.
- Optional Toppings - We love these Rice Krispies Treats with M&M's and white chocolate chips, but you can also add any type of chocolate chips or chopped candy bars, Reeces Pieces, sprinkles, or just leave them plain.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Step 1 - Start by adding your dry ingredients, the cereal, oats and seeds to a large bowl. Add your marshmallow, peanut butter, honey and butter to a sauce pan with a lid.
Melt your marshmallow mixture over low heat, COVERED, for about 6 to 10 minutes without opening the lid or stirring.
Step 2 - Remove from the heat and stir. Work quickly, you want everything to mix while it's hot!
Step 3 - Keep stirring until everything is incorporated, a few marshmallow chunks is ok!
Step 4 - Pour into your dry ingredients.
Step 5 - Mix until well combined.
Step 6 - Press the mixture into a 9x9 pan with your spatula or your hands. Add toppings and press them into the top, optional but delicious!
Allow to set for 30 minutes before slicing!
Holiday Variations
Rice Krispies Treats with M&M's make them perfect to adapt to any holiday!
- Christmas - Add red and green M&M's along with white chocolate chips.
- Halloween - Try orange, yellow and brown M&M's or Reese's Pieces with a drizzle of melted chocolate. You can also chop up some of those Halloween candy bars to press into the top!
- Valentine's Day - Go for the red, pink and white M&M's or even top them with candy hearts and sprinkles.
- Fourth of July - Red, white and blue M&M's or some white chocolate chips make a festive, easy dessert!
Recipe Tips
- Cover to Melt - Make sure to cover your pot and keep it over low heat to melt your marshmallow mixture together. The cover will trap steam and allow everything to melt faster so you won't need to cook it longer and risk burning the bottom.
- Work Quickly - Once it's melted, work quickly! Have your pan ready and get everything mixed together while it's hot so it can easily incorporate.
- Portions - You can cut these bars into 9 squares or cut those squares into 18 triangles for smaller portions.
- Double the Recipe - You can also double the recipe to feed more people by using a 9x13 casserole pan!
- Storage - These high protein Rice Crispy Treats will keep on the counter for up to 5 days if tightly covered or the squares transferred to an airtight container. They are perfect to make ahead for a weekend at the cabin, a pool party or any occasion!
- Freezer - Peanut Butter Rice Krispies can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Make sure to cool completely first.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal are not guaranteed to be gluten-free, but they do make a gluten-free version of the cereal. There are also other gluten-free brands of similar rice cereal. Most brands of marshmallows are gluten-free so just check the label. All other ingredients in this recipe are gluten-free!
Yes! If you really want to switch things up, these Rice Krispie peanut butter squares can be made by substituting Cheerios, Chex, Reeses Puffs, Kix, Cocoa Puffs, Cocoa Krispies, or even combinations! Really any cereal out there will work, but since peanut butter is your main flavor, avoid colored fruit flavored cereals like Fruity Pebbles.
When you add your warm rice krispie treat mixture to the pan, lightly, not firmly, press it into the pan. You want them to remain fluffy, so you're biting into some air pockets. So smooth out the top and press in your M&M's or toppings gently to keep your treats soft and chewy!
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Peanut Butter Protein Rice Krispies Treats
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Print Pin RateIngredients
- 4 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- ½ cup regular rolled oats
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 Tablespoon flax seeds
- 3 cups marshmallow about 25 large marshmallows
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 3 Tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Add cereal, oats, and seeds to a large bowl and mix.
- Add marshmallows, peanut butter, honey and butter to a sauce pan, COVER, and melt over low heat for about 6 to 10 minutes (depending on how low your burner is set). Don't open the lid or stir, the cover helps steam and melt the marshmallows.
- Mix heated ingredients together with a spatula or whisk until they are well combined. A few chunks of marshmallow is ok if it doesn't totally incorporate.
- Pour warm ingredients into dry ingredients and mix immediately with a spatula until well combined. Work quickly, it's easier to mix when it's hot! Transfer to a 9x9 pan and press gently into the pan with the spatula or your hands.
- Optional, top with mini M&M's and white chocolate chips. Press them in lightly so they stick.
- Allow to set for 30 minutes, cut into 9 squares (or cut each square diagonally into 2 triangles for 18 smaller portions) and enjoy!
Notes
- Cover to Melt - Cover your pot of marshmallows over low heat so it can trap steam and melt quickly. Without a cover you will need to cook it longer and risk burning the bottom.
- Work Quickly - Once the marshmallow mixture is melted, mix it with the cereal and get it into the pan quickly. Everything incorporates easier when it's hot!
- Store homemade protein Rice Crispy Treats on the counter or in the fridge for up to 5 days, tightly covered, or cut into squares and transferred to an airtight container. They can also be frozen.
Nicole says
Delicious! My kiddos helped and couldn't wait for them to cool. We used funfetti chips and tossed in a few whole marshmallows after mixing the warm and cold ingredients. Whole family asked me to save this recipe for sure! Yum!
Meryl Downing says
So glad you liked it Nicole! My kids love it too, and I like that there are a few healthy elements!
Annie says
These are delicious, grandkids loved them! Great to have some healthy ingredients too.