Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats (With M&Ms)

I LOVE rice krispie treats!  You know, the homemade ones… NOT the store-bought kind!  Homemade rice krispie treats are a hit for SO MANY reasons!  They are delicious… YES!  But they are also super quick & easy to make. (I once made them in the 5 minutes before heading out to a church dinner while my family was waiting in the car! Lol!).  One more thing that makes me such a fan, is that there are so many variations & ideas for rice krispie treats beyond the original… like these delicious peanut butter rice krispie treats!

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The other day, my husband and boys were getting ready to go out for a horse ride, and my husband asked me to pack them a lunch. Now, the funny thing is that if I have to pack boring sandwiches, it feels like a job. UGH! However, I decided to make my boys a treat, and suddenly, packing those lunches became fun!!

So, I decided to make my boys trail mix peanut butter rice krispie treats! You see, when my boys were little & they would build a fort in the house, I would always give them trail mix for their “adventure”! Now, I have a special treat for their horse-riding adventures!

I started throwing different things into the mix to make it more trail-mix-like! So, in the end, I added peanut butter, chopped pretzels & M&Ms, & they were a hit!  I think I could have gotten away with a few more add-ins, but maybe next time?

I hope you enjoy making these peanut butter rice krispie treats with M&Ms & pretzels, a.k.a. trail mix bars for your little adventurers!

Peanut Butter & M&M Rice Krispy Treats
Print Recipe

Peanut Butter-M&M Rice Krispie Bars

A fun variation on a popular favorite!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Course: Dessert

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 bag mini marshmallows, 10 oz bag + 1 cup more to add in with the cereal
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup pretzels, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup M & Ms
  • 6 cups rice krispie cereal

Instructions

  • Start by spraying a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray, and then place parchment paper along the width of the pan for easy removal of the bars if you wish.
  • Melt butter, marshmallows, & peanut butter together in a large pot on medium-low heat. If your marshmallow mixture gets too hot, it will cause your treats to become too hard!
  • Once the marshmallow mixture is completely melted, remove from heat & add the salt & vanilla to the mix.
  • Gently begin mixing the cereal in.
  • Once the cereal is mostly coated, add the pretzels & M & Ms to the mix.
  • Quickly mix several times (the heat may cause the M & Ms to melt a little, so don't over-stir) & then transfer to your prepared pan.
  • Gently pat the mixture into the pan, do not pack it, with a wet hand or the back of a spatula.
  • Add a few extra M & Ms to the top of the bars if you wish, and gently pat in.
  • Allow to completely cool before cutting the bars.

Notes

After cutting your rice krispie treats, store them in an air-tight container with wax paper between the bars to prevent sticking. These can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 week (although I doubt they'll last that long!).

If you are like me & you love recipes that allow you to mix & match ingredients, be sure to check out my cowboy cookie recipe!  These cookies are delicious, and you’ll love playing around with the different add-ins!

Do you & your bunch love Rice Krispy Treats?  Do you have a variation that you just love?  Share with us in the comments! 

 

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