Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats
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Learn how to make my family’s recent obsession, chocolate rice crispy treats, using my no-bake recipe. They’re made with 3 simple ingredients and yield crispy and gooey bars. No marshmallows and no peanut butter.
Chocolate rice krispies without marshmallows or peanut butter
I’ve always loved rice crispy treats, and I might be in the minority here, but the chocolate version was always my favorite.
For this recipe, I wanted to combine the nostalgic flavors of my star crunch cookie recipe with the crispy texture of classic rice krispie treats. Instead of marshmallows, I use almond butter and maple syrup to bind everything together. Here’s why I love them:
- Actually crispy. They’re crispy, chewy, and gooey all at once- never soggy, I promise.
- 3 wholesome ingredients. Nut butter, chocolate rice cereal, and maple syrup are all you need.
- Perfect for feeding a crowd. I make these for parties because they’re easy to scale up and always disappear first.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“It’s in the refrigerator now! Just cleaning the bowl, I am not sure I want to share! Yummy!!” – Dottie
Table of Contents
Key ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need, along with my kitchen notes. Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Chocolate Rice Krispies. The most crucial ingredient for this recipe! Any cocoa rice crisps work, but I recommend choosing a good-quality brand, as I’ve found they stay crispy longer than cheaper ones. Look for gluten-free crispy rice cereal if needed.
- Almond butter. I love the almond butter flavor, but you can use any nut butter. I tried it with peanut butter but found it a little overpowering.
- Maple syrup. It adds some extra sweetness and also binds the bars together. If you prefer honey or agave, use that instead.
How to make chocolate rice krispie treats
Step 1- Prep. Line a baking dish with parchment paper. In a large bowl, melt the nut butter and maple syrup until smooth.
Step 2- Combine. Add the cereal to the bowl and stir to combine.
Step 3- Shape. Pour the batter into the pan and press into an even layer.
Step 4- Slice. Chill until firm, then slice into bars.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Don’t pack the mixture down too firmly. I recommend gently pressing it into the pan with a greased spatula. If you compact it too much, the treats can become hard instead of chewy.
- Grease the parchment paper. A little cooking spray is all you need to keep the mixture from sticking. The same goes for your spatula–trust me.
- Use a sharp knife. I like to run my knife under hot water and wipe it dry between cuts for neat, even squares.
- Make them in advance. Because they stay fresh for a week, you can make them a few days before your party, pack them in a lunchbox, or meal prep.
Frequently asked questions
When I can’t find chocolate-flavored crispy rice cereal, I’ll use classic Rice Krispies but add 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder. If the mixture is a little dry, add an extra tablespoon of maple syrup.
Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups chocolate rice krispies cereal 60g
- 1/2 cup almond butter 125g
- 1/2 cup maple syrup 120mL
Instructions
- Line an 8 x 8-inch baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add your crispy rice cereal and set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl or stovetop, melt your almond butter and maple syrup together.
- Pour the mixture into the crispy rice cereal and mix well.
- Pour mixture into the lined baking tray and press firmly into place. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
Notes
Nutrition
More no-bake desserts
- Almond Roca
- Peanut brittle
- Cookie dough bites
- No bake oatmeal cookies
- Or any of these no-bake desserts
Originally published December 2015
The recipe doesn’t state what size pan to use which would be helpful. I used a 6.5″x9.5″. I added an extra cup of cocoa krispies as the way the recipe is written, there was just too much “liquid” leftover which would produce a very sticky bar. I used almond butter, but I’m more partial to peanut butter. I felt the cocoa krispies aren’t adding enough chocolate flavor. It’s too bad as I’m serving them to guests tomorrow.
Hi Lyndy- apologies for the oversight about the pan size, I’ll update it now. The mixture shouldn’t require extra cereal unless the brand used? Or perhaps it’s the brand of almond butter which thinned out the maple/almond butter mixture. I’d love to troubleshoot for you because these bars are a fan favorite and I’d love for you to get them right 🙂
This I made long time even before this recipe. Its soooo good! Crispy.
I was allowed ALL the sugary cereal. I was the kind of friend everyone was happy to visit for their sugar fix. And I never got the hype because I was never deprived maybe.
My all time favorites were Kellogs Coco Pops because you got to drink cocoa after eating the cereal 😀
Hahahaha I’m jealous! OH yes!!!! They are the best!
My dad gave us free range for pretty much anything, which looking back, was not the best. And maybe contributed to my ginormous sweet tooth. Example: my favorite snack was a croissant stuffed with mint chocolate chip ice cream. Ew? …nope. Still YUM.
Oh WHAT. That actually sounds incredible!
It’s in the refrigerator now! Just cleaning the bowl I am not sure I want to share! Yummy!!
Love Rice Krispy Treats!
They are too good!
Lolol. I was only allowed to have sugary cereals once in a blue moon, and I started out with Lucky Charms, until I realized that the actual cereal outside of the marshmallows is pretty much worthless, which is when I switched over to Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Best. Forever.
I actually really enjoyed the cereal you ate at Meg’s…well the peanut butter one. 🙂
Dear Arman, these sound irresistible! What a great snack option…I haven’t made rice krispy treats in ages. You have inspired me with this simple 3-ingredient batch. Take care my friend, Catherine
Thanks so much, Catherine!
We had the good stuff: Fruity Pebbles, Apple Jacks, COOKIE CRISP. That one was my favorite. These treats sound completely delish.
I think I saw a cereal by Hershey’s the other day….not even kidding.
We did not have good cereal. I never really bought it for my kids either until recently. Don’t judge me, my oldest son is a junk food junkie and I have given up…I buy it for him. Thankfully my other two aren’t even interested in the “good” cereal…they eat much more nutritiously. These look yummy and I know they would happily get eaten here! When my kids were little, we used to make rice krispie castles for their birthday cakes (they don’t like cake either). I know, weird.
Hahaha no that’s awesome- My sister and I used to sneak in a box or two and treat it like contraband!
RICE CRISPY CASTLES? Oh my.
In my household, we did not eat any sugary cereals. My mom always bought the boring cereals, and cooked either oatmeal or Cream of Rice and added raisins.
Oh wow- I only tried oatmeal for the first time in university!
Our mums sound very similar. Mine was conscious of eating mostly organic and nutritious food for a long time of me growing up so you definitely didn’t find sugary cereals in our house regularly. I had that one friend who had both a grandma serving us all the sugary treats + “Käsebrötchen” (look it up on Google!) AND a Playstation. Needless to say I quite enjoyed visiting her ;).
OMG. I need that in my life right now!
These bars don’t set up as there is no ingredient to “set” them even when chilled. Nothing in this recipe will solidify. It just makes crumbles.
Hi BW- that isn’t correct. It uses almond butter and maple syrup which are melted together first, which sticks to the crispy cereal beautifully. Did you not do that step first?
I wasn’t allowed all the sugary cereals when I was a kid either. I got my fix at friends’ houses or I just added white sugar to the regular bland cereals. It worked like a charm.
DUDE. Best idea ever adding white sugar to normal cereal!
You mean your mum didn’t keep a box of Frosted Sugar Cinnamon Cocoa Bombs in the house? How dare she? Guess you’ll just have to make up for it by downing these treats instead. Delicious!
I know, right? How dare she!
We were definitely not the fun cereal house. I got to pick a “snack cereal” occasionally and it was usually peanut butter cap’n crunch 🙂
Haha I think your kids are fortunate to have you as a mum with your breakfasts 🙂