This easy, no-bake dessert can be thrown together in no time to bring some fun to a gathering or be used as a great after-school snack. Peanut Butter Rice Krispie balls were a hit with our small group and are a perfect treat for kids and grown-ups alike.

This recipe makes about 24 peanut butter balls, so you won’t have as many leftovers to finish off (if you are like me and feel like you must make sure no desserts go to waste).

Peanut butter rice krispy balls drizzled in chocolate arranged on a a plate. Four of the peanut butter balls have candy eyeballs on them.

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Let’s get going!

The first step in making these delicious treats is to wash your hands.

Seriously… don’t be gross! You might want to tie back your hair as well.

And then put on a cute apron to get you in the mood! I am a bit domestically challenged, and I believe whole heartedly that a cute apron always helps.

Here are a couple of options if you don’t already have one.

It’s also a good idea to make sure nobody you are going to be sharing this with has a peanut allergy. (I made this mistake and should have known better) If that is the case, this recipe can be made with Wow Butter, Sun Butter, or another peanut butter alternative.

Now let’s assemble these treats!

Ingredients

This picture shows the ingredients for peanut butter rice crispie balls before the chocolate chips. It has peanut butter, sea salt, honey, vanilla extract and rice krispies
  • Peanut butter- I used a store brand of creamy peanut butter for this recipe. Any kind of nut butter should work. If you use a natural peanut butter that is only peanuts, you may need to add a bit more liquid sweetner to get the consistancy right.
  • Honey- Honey is my preferred flavor in these Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls, but you can use any liquid sweetner. Other options include maple syrup, brown rice syrup, Karo Syrup, or Agave.
  • Vanilla Extract- I like the flavor of pure vanilla extract, but you can use imitation as well.
  • Sea Salt- If your peanut butter is already salty, you might want to omit this. I enjoy the salty kick of these treats, so I add a little extra.
  • Chocolate Chips- Semi- sweet chocolate pairs perfectly with the salty, peanut buttery goodness. You can use milk chocolate, white chocolate, or omit this ingredient all together. I think the semi-sweet drizzle on top is what makes this so good.

Instructions

This shows a bowl with peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and salt to make peanut butter rice krispie balls.
This shows a mixing bowl of peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and salt mixed together to make peanut butter rice krispie balls.

In a bowl combine peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and salt and mix until combined.

Rice krispies have been dumped on top of the peanut butter mixture in the bowl.
Rice krispies have been mixed together and are ready to form the balls.

Next, pour in the Rice Krispie cereal and mix. Start with two cups, but you can add more if the mixture seems too runny. You don’t want to put too much and dry it out. It won’t stick together well if it’s too dry.

A cookie scoop filled with peanut butter rice krispie dough.
A tray covered in wax paper with peanut butter rice krispie balls spaced four across and five down.

Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop out even amounts of dough and then form them into balls with your hands. You can shape these however you would like, but balls are easy to make uniform and a great size for eating.

It might be fun to shape ghosts or pumpkins out of the Rice Krispy mixture for Halloween and trees or ornaments for Christmas. Really… your options are endless. That is the beauty of this dessert.

Put the formed balls or shapes in the refrigerator while you melt the chocolate. If you want to stop here and omit the chocolate, they are still a tasty treat… but not as good as they are after you add the chocolate!

A bowl of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
This is a bowl of melted chocolate chips.

Next you will want to melt the chocolate. I find the microwave to be the easiest method. Start by putting the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Put the bowl in for 30 seconds, stir, and then put it back in for incriments of 15 seconds until the chocolate is melted.

You can also use a double boiler if you are hard core like that. I am not hard core.

A piping bag in a cup for easy filling.
Piping bag filled with melted chocolate.

Tips for filling a piping bag:

I love piping bags! I always use them for decorating cookies at Christmas time, but I also use them for making life easier while frosting cupcakes, adding whipped cream to things, and drizzling chocolate on Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls.

The easiest way to fill a piping bag is to get a glass, put the piping bag into the glass, and fold the bag over the edges. (See image above) This keeps the bag open for you to easily fill it with a spoon.

You also have a handy bag holding device when it is not in use. You can thank me later!

If you don’t have access to piping bags, don’t you fret! You can use a ziplock bag and just cut off the corner. It’s a little more difficult to work with, but it gets the job done. For this recipe, you can even just drizzle it on with a spoon… but the piping bags will make you feel more legit!

Peanut butter rice krispie balls with a drizzle of chocolate on a wax paper tray.

Drizze the melted chocolate over the peanut butter rice krispie balls. Then put them into the refrigerator until you are ready to eat them. It takes about an hour for the chocolate to get hard enough to not smear all over you. Although, chocolate fingers are quite yummy!

Questions and Substituions

Are these gluten free?

This can be a great gluten free option as long as the crispy rice cereal you choose is gluten free. Unfortunately, Kellogs Rice Krispies are not labeled as gluten free, but several other brands are. You can use

Is this recipe vegan?

This recipe includes honey as it is written, so it would not be a vegan friendly recipe. You can easily substitue maple syrup or another liquid sweetner in place of the honey. You will also want to use Natures Path Crispy Rice Cereal, which is a vegan friendly alternative to Kellogs Rice Krispies. If you choose to top it in chocolate, you can go with a vegan option like Enjoy Life Morsels.

Can I use a different cereal?

I don’t see why you can’t try this with other cereals. I think Cocoa Pebbles would be delicious in this recipe. I have also heard of people making this with corn flakes, but I have not yet tried it. If you try this recipe with a different cereal, let me know how it turns out.

Pin it for later

Pinable image. Peanut butter rice krispie balls on a plate. www.messyjoyfuljourney.com

Fun option

I think candy eyeballs make everything more fun, so I made a little family out of these peanut butter balls.

Pinable image of a family of rice krispie balls with eyeballs stuck on with chocolate. Text reads "Peanut butter rice krispie  balls. Eyeballs make everything more fun!" www.messyjoyfuljourney.com

Looking for another easy treat to take to dinner with friends? Try these Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini-muffins!

This is simple pumpkin chocolate chip mini-muffins served with a bowl of Cool whip.

Find Recipe Here——>>> Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini-Muffins

Now here is the printable recipe you were looking for!

This picture shows peanut butter rice krispie balls on a plate topped with a chocolate drizzle.

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls

Carrie
These Peanut Butter Rice Krispie balls are the perfect combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and a crispy, fun texture. It makes a small batch with ingredients I usually have in my pantry. It can be whipped up quickly with very little effort.
5 from 9 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Chill 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 5 people

Equipment

  • 1 bowl
  • 1 medium bowl for melting chocolate chips
  • 1 pastry bag
  • 1 medium cookie scoop

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • 2 cups Rice Krispie Cereal may need a bit more depending on consistency
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • line a cookie sheet with wax paper and set aside
  • In a medium bowl mix together peanut butter, honey, vanilla and salt until combined and smooth
  • Fold in Rice Krispie Cereal
  • Form into balls using a medium cookie scoop and shape with your hands
  • Melt chocolate chips and and melted chocolate put into a pastry bag. Cut off the tip.
  • Once the Peanut Butter Rice krispie balls have chilled, drizzle chocolate on top using a pastry bag.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve (at least 1 hour)

Video

Notes

Any nut butter can be used.
Any liquid sweetener can be used (maple syrup, brown rice syrup, Karo syrup, Agave, etc.), but you may need to adjust the amount based on how runny the peanut butter mixture is. 
If they come out too runny, add more Rice Krispies, a little bit at a time. 
Keyword chocolate peanut butter, peanut butter rice krispie treat no karo syrup, rice krispie treat

If you tried this recipe, please leave a review and let us know what you thought! Follow @messyjoyfuljourney on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube!

30 Comments

  1. There’s no better combination than chocolate and peanut butter! Will definitely be making some of these and pinning to my recipe board.

      • Kevin Foodie Reply

        5 stars
        Awesome recipe. It’s a very easuly and simple snacks. Love the use of peanut butter not just for flavor, but also for addeded protein.

  2. This looks delicious! Who doesn’t love chocolate and peanut butter, especially with some sea salt mixed into it!

  3. 5 stars
    I absolutely love peanut butter and chocolate – these look amazing. I really like your description and recipe pictures, too. Can’t wait to try them!

  4. 5 stars
    I love how simple and easy this recipe is. Not only that, but I also love how versatile it is. I can see changing it up for different holidays. Decorate the rice Krispie balls for Halloween, thanksgiving (turkey decorations), Christmas, or even birthdays. Love it!

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  6. I’ve been trying to find a simple but tasty rice krispie recipe for a few weeks now so I’m so pleased to have found this one! I cannot wait to make these!

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