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Peanut Butter Rice Bubble Slice

This Peanut Butter Rice Bubble Slice Recipe is made with only 5 ingredients! Easy slice recipes are my favorite when I need to whip up a quick snack!

Made without marshmallows, these peanut butter squares with rice krispies are soft, chewy, and created in one pot!

Close up image of the peanut butter squares sliced and stacked on top of each other ready to serve

⭐ What Are Peanut Butter Squares?

An easy slice recipe that tastes like a soft peanut butter caramel fudge infused with Rice Krispies that add texture and crunch.

This recipe is nothing like regular Rice Krispie treats, it just uses the Rice Krispies cereal which is also known as rice bubbles.

They’re sweet, soft, and crispy. Unlike Rice Krispie treats, these peanut butter squares are made with no marshmallows and without chocolate.

🍯 Made Without Marshmallows

The cooking process of creating a soft caramel on the stove in a pot is what makes these squares stick together.

I guess you could refer to these peanut butter squares as a Rice Krispie treats variation! 

As no marshmallows are used in this recipe, like my Easy Rice Bubble Slice, it’s perfect for those of you who wish to make variations of peanut butter Rice Krispies treats without marshmallows.

You’ll find this recipe a lot faster and easier to make compared to regular peanut butter Rice Krispie treats.

A bite taken out of one squares to show the soft and crunchy texture

What are more things to make with Rice Krispies without marshmallows? Try my Almond Butter Crispy Chocolate Bars and this delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Crisp Bark.

For more peanut butter and chocolate goodness, these are my favorite Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Coconut Cookies and No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies

🥜 Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • Made without marshmallows or chocolate. 
  • Chewy and gooey.
  • Soft caramel consistency. 
  • No-Bake slice. 
  • Only 5-ingredients. 
  • One pot. 

📋 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

The individual ingredients displayed to show you what you need to make this recipe

Unsalted butter: You can also try using salted butter for a slight salted caramel twist! 

Coconut sugar: Coconut sugar provides a rich and deeper flavor compared to regular golden or white sugar. I have made these peanut butter squares using golden granulated sugar but it wasn’t as flavourful or as rich as using the coconut sugar. 

Peanut butter: I love to use crunchy peanut butter in this recipe as it also adds crunchy bits of peanut butter throughout the mixture. You can also use smooth peanut butter. 

Honey: Use runny honey for this recipe. I have not tested these peanut butter squares with Rice Krispies using raw solid honey that is more crystallized.

Rice Krispie cereal: Also known as rice bubbles in Australia, this is a puffed rice cereal that you can find in any supermarket. 

🥣 Step By Step Instructions (with photos)

There is a full and detailed recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step one: In a medium-sized pot, add butter, sugar, and honey. Place over low heat and allow ingredients to gently and slowly melt. Make sure it doesn’t bubble whilst it’s melting. 

Process shot of melting the ingredients in the pot until smooth

Step two: Bring to a boil and once boiling rapidly, boil for 1 minute, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon or spatula to avoid burning on the base of the pan. Turn the heat off after 1 minute. 

Step three: Add in Rice Krispies and stir them through until well combined. 

Process image showing the mixture boiling then stirring through the rice krispies

Step four: Pour mixture into lined pan, be careful it’s hot! Spread it out evenly. Carefully transfer the pan to your refrigerator to chill for 1-2 hours or until completely set and firm. Once set, remove from the pan and onto a cutting board. Take a sharp knife and cut into squares or desired sizes. Serve and enjoy! 

Process image showing the mixture poured into the baking pan ready to set in the refrigerator.

💭 Expert 💭Recipe Tips

  • When first melting the ingredients together, do not allow the mixture to bubble, keep it on low heat and let it gently melt. 
  • When you’re ready to bring the mixture to a boil, only boil it for 1 minute, any longer and the final squares will be a hard/firm caramel texture instead of soft and chewy. 
  • Be careful when pouring the hot mixture into your baking pan as it just finished boiling, it will be very hot to handle. 
  • To make it easier to transfer to the refrigerator to set, place your baking pan with the mixture inside on a flat baking sheet and carry it to your fridge to avoid potentially burning your hands. 
The refrigerated and set peanut butter squares sliced and ready to enjoy

⏲️ Storage Instructions

  • Store these peanut butter squares with Rice Krispies in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 1 week. Storing them in the refrigerator will keep them firm but still soft and chewy. If you prefer them even more on the softer side, store your peanut butter squares in an airtight container, in a dry and dark pantry, for up to 1 week. 
  • If it’s during the spring and summer months and your home is warm and humid, you might like to store your Rice Krispie peanut butter squares in the refrigerator and not in the pantry as they can begin to melt if the room temperature is too hot. 
Zoomed out image of the peanut butter squares with rice krispies on a serving stand

💬 Recipe FAQ’s

Are these peanut butter Rice Krispie squares the same as Rice Krispie treats?

No, these squares are different from regular peanut butter Rice Krispie treats because this recipe is made without marshmallows. The consistency of these Rice Krispie peanut butter squares is like a soft and chewy caramel fudge. 

How do peanut butter Rice Krispie squares stick together without marshmallows?

Creating a sticky caramel mixture on the stove is what sticks together these peanut butter Rice Krispie squares without using marshmallows. 

Why are my peanut butter Rice Krispie squares so hard?

Boiling the mixture for longer than the required 1 minute will make these squares hard. You’re essentially making a caramel when you boil the mixture and the longer it boils, the harder the caramel will turn out after it’s been refrigerated.

To achieve soft and chewy textured peanut butter Rice Krispie squares, only boil the mixture for 1 minute. 

How do I soften my hard peanut butter Rice Krispie squares?

You can warm them back up in the microwave or a low oven until the squares soften. Another tip is to not store them in the refrigerator as the cold will make them even harder, instead, store them in your pantry. 

🥄 Related Recipes

No-Bake Peanut Butter Squares With Rice Krispies Featured Image

Peanut Butter Squares With Rice Krispies

Samantha Pickthall
No-Bake Peanut Butter Squares With Rice Krispies made with 5-ingredients and without marshmallows. They're soft, chewy and created in one pot. 
4.67 from 3 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Course Dessert, Slice, Snack
Servings 20 squares
Calories 164 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 250 g unsalted butter
  • 1 cup coconut sugar
  • 6 Tbsp crunchy or smooth peanut butter, I use crunchy peanut butter
  • 3 Tbsp runny honey
  • 2 cups Rice Krispies Cereal, or rice bubbles cereal

Instructions
 

  • Line a square 9 x 9 inch (22cm x 22cm) baking pan with parchment/baking paper. Set aside.
  • In a medium sized pot, add butter, sugar, and honey.
  • Place over low heat and allow ingredients to gently and slowly melt, mixing occasionally. Make sure it doesn’t bubble whilst it’s melting.
  • Once the butter and peanut butter are completely melted and the mixture is smooth, increase heat to high.
  • Bring to a boil and once boiling rapidly, boil for 1 minute, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon or spatula to avoid burning on the base of the pan. Turn the heat off after 1 minute. NOTE: 1 minute is all this mixture needs, if it boils for longer, the harder the final texture will be. You want a soft caramel consistency and not a hard caramel.
  • Add in Rice Krispies and stir them through until well combined.
  • Pour mixture into lined pan, be careful it’s hot! Spread it out evenly.
  • Carefully transfer the pan to your refrigerator to chill for 1-2 hours or until completely set and firm. NOTE: your pan will be hot to handle, I like to place it on a flat baking sheet and carry it to the refrigerator to avoid handling the hot pan.
  • Once set, remove from the pan and onto a cutting board. Take a sharp knife and cut into squares or desired sizes.
  • If the slice is too firm to cut, leave it to sit at room temperature for 15min time blocks until you can slice into it. The longer it boils on the stove, the firmer it is to cut into, similar to a caramel fudge.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

When first melting the ingredients together, do not allow the mixture to bubble, keep it on low heat and let it gently melt.
When you’re ready to bring the mixture to a boil, only boil it for 1 minute, any longer and the final squares will be a hard/firm caramel texture instead of soft and chewy.
Be careful when pouring the hot mixture into your baking pan as it just finished boiling, it will be very hot to handle.
To make it easier to transfer to the refrigerator to set, place your baking pan with the mixture inside on a flat baking sheet and carry it to your fridge to avoid potentially burning your hands.
Store your peanut butter squares with Rice Krispies in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 1 week. Storing them in the refrigerator will keep them firm but still soft and chewy. If you prefer them even more on the softer side, store your peanut butter squares in an airtight container, in a dry and dark pantry, for up to 1 week.
They can begin to melt when stored in the pantry during the hot summer months, store them in the fridge instead.

Nutrition

Calories: 164kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 55mgPotassium: 44mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 499IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 1mg
Keyword caramel, fudge, peanut butter, rice krispies
Tried this recipe? Let us know how it was!

This recipe was originally published in May of 2017. It was republished with new information in June of 2022.

5 Comments

    1. Hi Sarah, I’ve never used Nuttelex or any other dairy free product in this recipe, so I cannot guarantee 100% that it will work. I assume the Nuttelex will work, as the butter melts down in this recipe and then it’s boiled, so if it’s similar in texture compared to regular butter, I would say there is a good chance that it will work. Hope this helps! Best to give it a go and see how it turns out 🙂

    1. Hahaha this made me laugh Karly! Of course!! They will be arriving on your door step asap!! 😉 They’re so irresistible! All of my batch are already gone Hope you make yourself some, you won’t regret it! xx

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