Just three easy (and customizable) ingredients are needed to make this childhood snack with the ultimate, healthy makeover! These healthy three ingredient rice crispy treats have no butter, marshmallows or oil are full of flavor! Naturally gluten-free and vegan, they are the perfect no-bake snack ready in just 5 minutes!
College cafeteria snack baskets.
The 3 or 4 infamous baskets located near the exit of all dining halls on campus with intentions for students to pick one or two before they leave on their way out.
While some campuses might be lucky to have things like trail mix, pretzels or even fruit cups, we were not blessed with this goodness.
Basket 1- Apples.
Basket 2- Apples.
Basket 3- Apples AND the odd banana.
Basket 4- Generic, bulk bought rice crispy treats which literally gave you a sugar rush with one bite.
I’m not even kidding you.
I remember thinking we’d struck gold when on the way out, we’d be presented with apples, apples, apples and rice crispy treats. Thinking we were smart and cheating the system, my friends and I grabbed 3 or 4 rice crispy treats and left those apples for Snow White. Later in the day, we’d be back in our dorm rooms and be hit by the snack monster but no fear- We had these rice crispy treats to gorge on. However, after one bite, they were tossed in the trash. It was like eating pure sugar mixed with marshmallows and more sugar.
For all future students that are faced with a lack of options in your snack baskets at the cafeteria- Fear no more. Your no-bake brother is here with a delicious recipe which can be made in your dorm room kitchen and WON’T leave you with a toothache.
Working with Kohl’s this season on their #makeyourmove campaign has forced me to take a step back from some of my more ‘complicated’ or ‘time consuming’ recipes. Having experienced the ‘college life’ for six months, I know that making healthy snacks is low on the priority list. I mean, come on. We need to sleep in, plan our weekend activities and which classes we can skip without the professor realising.
Kidding…sort of.
Let’s talk these rice crispy treats. So they happened by accident when I went to make my four ingredient rice crispy treats but didn’t have the shredded coconut. I clearly wasn’t going to let this hold me back because shredded coconut can jump in a lake- It was totally not necessary. These healthy rice crispy treats are THE snack to have on hand which literally take 5 minutes to whip up.
They are a much healthier alternative to traditional rice crispy treats as they have no marshmallows, butter or oil but are so satisfying. Naturally gluten-free and vegan, they are the perfect allergen-friendly snack which can be shared with your buddies or better yet, hidden for yourself.
Make these healthy 3 Ingredient rice crispy treats and when you’re on your way out from the dining hall, pick an apple. Snow White has already been fooled once.
Fool her once. I won’t let you fool her twice.
- 2 cups gluten-free crispy rice cereal
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (can sub for almond/cashew)
- 1/2 cup sticky sweetener of choice- I've used brown rice syrup (best), honey and maple syrup (least sticky)
- Line a baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add your crispy rice cereal and set aside.
- Stovetop or in the microwave, melt your nut butter with your sticky sweetener and then pour the mixture into the crispy rice cereal and mix well. If you used brown rice syrup, this should be perfect. If you used honey or maple, you may need to add a dash more to make them stick together.
- Pour mixture into the lined baking tray and press firmly into place. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Rice crispy treats can be kept at room temperature- They can also be refrigerated or frozen too
No Bake Cookies and Cream Protein Bars
Healthy One Minute Blueberry Muffin
This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Kohl’s.
Cheers, hugs and handshakes for supporting companies and brands which allow me to do what I’m passionate about every day and make The Big Man’s World possible.
What was the untouched item in your cafeteria/school lunch hall?
What is the most sickly sweet snack you’ve ever eaten? Nutella straight from the jar. So good. Then so bad.
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Omggg YUM! Rice Krispies were one of my favourite snacks back in the day and at the time, I didn’t find them sickly sweet at all- I guess that says plenty about my sweet tolerance back in the day ha! I personally find meringues and macaroons far too sweet for my liking- a few bites is more than enough!
Oh yes- Meringues can be SOO dangerous- Maybe their melt in your mouth texture!
Yeah, these things are great, right?
SO GOOD! Now I really want a meringue! 🙂
Straight up candy was always just too sweet for me. Wouldn’t want to get diabetes in one bite – Arman to the rescue again 🙂
Thanks so much, Michele!
Whole Foods has these baskets as well. Last week when we queued at the Whole Foods checkout right in front of said baskets I suggest to make rice crispie bars for us back home. I guess I don’t need to tax my brain but just make these 🙂
Whilst I like sweet treats I am not in for the too sweet ones. That’s why I don’t like most sugar candy I assume!
But nutella straight from the jar is a must! Why bother with any bread?
Right? Or even the sweetened peanut butter!
As Amen’s personal recipe tester, I can tell you that these treats are FRIGGIN AWESOME. Make them or you’re silly.
#sabotagingcamel
Oh em geeeeeeee. I was literally JUST talking about rice krispy treats yesterday. Clearly this is a sign that I must make these STAT.
YES! Do it! 😀 Thanks Ashley!
yay to my favorite childhood treat having only 3 ingredients and taking 5 minutes to make!
Right? Thanks!
I think PB rice krispies taste waaay better than the original ones. These look so pretty and tasty!
We always had bananas in our dining hall and I would stuff them in my bag like crazy. Then I’d make my friends grab some too.
LOL. I need to send you a photo of my window sill right now….there are bananas hanging out there waiting to turn brown 😀
These looks awesome. I make a similar version with almond butter and brown rice syrup and call them nice krispy treats. 🙂 They’re awesome with the Chocolate Koala Crisp cereal too if you like chocolate. 🙂
I love making these cocoa style too- So good! 🙂
I used to make rice krispy treats using cocoa pebbles. So good! I should try it again with cocoa pebbles and your recipe – I would love the combo of the peanut butter and the chocolate.
YES! I have a cocoa twist coming up soon, it’s my favorite over this 😀
Easy and quick recipes is what I need as a busy mom, thanks for sharing these treats. They look as yum as all your recipes 🙂
Thanks so much, Petro 🙂
I love rice krispy treats and there’s this company who makes amazing ones called The Crispery. I ate one once and have been dying for more. I love alllll the marshmallows in mine, but your version looks delish!
oh what? I need to google that now…..
Healthy rice krispy treats?!? YAY!! I would probably go the honey-route – it sounds so dang delicious in my head. haha 😀
Haha it does, right? Cheers Kate!
Yum, these look so good and simple!
Right? Thanks so much, Emily!
Does drinking honey straight from the honey bear count as the most sickly sweet snack I’ve ever eaten? Because I used to do that on the regular when I was a little kid… And oddly enough, I never suffered any consequences. I don’t think my current self would be able to marathon through something like that though. Eep.
Right? With age, we lose our talents haha!
Dear Arman, these are the perfect snack and one I can feel good about giving all my boys. You won’t believe this, but my oven has been broken for two weeks now. A new one is ordered but it had to be custom because of the placement our cherry cabinets. So this is the perfect snack and my kids will rejoice since I refuse to buy bulk package snacks. They’ve been eating like, baby carrots and apples. Trust me they will be thrilled. Me too. thanks for a great recipe.
Oh no!!!!! Wow, this is good timing then- Let’s hope it’s sorted soon 🙂
I love making rice crispy treats like this – I make my own with the brown rice crispies, PB and maple syrup and they’re delicious. But I add sprinkles because I’m colorful and like the TEENY sugar rush 🙂
YES! I have a fun twist coming up next week 🙂
I started making my rice crispy treats with PB and will never go back to any other way. Haven’t tried them without the marshmallows though, and even the vegan ones are sorta sketch. Well done.
Cheers pimp!
Caramel Pie is straight up the most sickly sweet thing I’ve ever eaten. I used to love it, but now it makes me want to gag.
And where were you when I was in college and needed no bake snacks??
Haha I’m sorry!
rice crispy has always been my favorite..the one with marshmallows 😛 love the idea of this with just pb and honey for me.
It’s so good!
I feel like ‘sickly sweet’ doesn’t exist for me. I’m the sort of person that can eat buttercream frosting straight up – my sweet tooth knows no bounds.
Oh wow. Props. Don’t you eat straight splenda too 😉
I sometimes overdo maple syrup on my pancakes…the pancake becomes a soaked up sponge and there still is a pool of syrup around them. Delicious if you want to crash in an hour 🙂
Mmm that sounds delicious!
We didn’t have any catered halls at uni… then again I think I am the cook I am today because I had to make so many random meals from a variety of bits and bobs in our kitchen! But yeah rice krispie squares were definitely one of my snacks. In fact when we were growing up, one of the most popular tray bakes were krispies mixed with melted mars bars… cooled in a tray and then melted chocolate (a lot!) poured on top and then set. Oh boy a party wasn’t a party without those bad boys!
Oh wow…That sounds incredible!!!!
I used to eat these years ago, and loved them! But I like your version better; much healthier.
Thanks so much, Joanne!
The most sticky sweet snack I’ve ever eaten was…hmmm, maybe candied caramel apples, although I love those things. Sweet meets crisp and refreshing. I will get me one of those this fall, although these look significantly easier and fantastic.
Too bad we weren’t in school together. You would have kept me fed and happy.
Oh man. We need to try one of those caramel apples!!!!
I’d have to say, I think Snow White learned her lesson once 😉 but those rice krispy treats look great! I love the addition of the peanut butter or the cashew butter–it’ll make them taste even better!
SOOOOO good! 😀
Brittle is the stickiest (but crunchiest) thing I may have ever eaten. That junk doesn’t come out of my teeth!! Blech. I love nut butter and rice crispies. And..sugar.
Hahaha and how about croissants 😉
I just love your no bake recipes, Arman! These bars look so incredibly delicious! 🙂
Thanks so much, Sina!
But these are still pretty sugary, there’s the equivalent of about 2/3 of a cup of sugar in this recipe if you use brown rice syrup. That’s basically the same or a little more than regular rice crispy treats (I compared the sugars, in grams, in the nutrition facts for both recipes). Brown rice sugar, honey, etc. are all still sugar to our body. It seems like most people don’t understand that. Only reason to use them instead of table sugar is for different consistency or taste, not health. Subbing out the butter with peanut butter IS healthier, though. Subbing out saturated fat for healthier nut fats is always a good thing. That’s a good idea for rice crispies, think I’ll have to try it!
That’s true but had we included marshmallows, syrup and usually glucose syrup too, it would have been a sugar bomb! I love the peanut butter taste too 🙂
I made these with sunbutter since I’m allergic to peanuts. Also reduced the brown rice syrup a little. It was plenty sweet. I really liked them. Thinking about trying it with my chocolate soy butter next.
Oh that would be delicious with soy nut butter- It has such a distinct taste yum 🙂
Hi,
How long can these be stored?
Hi there-
In the fridge, they can be stored for up to 2 weeks. In the freezer, 2 months or so. 🙂
What size pan should you use?
Hi Katie! You can use any size pan you wish- These can be made as thick or thin as you enjoy! 🙂
Can you use agave nectar instead of honey or brown rice syrup? I am almost out 🙂
Hi there! I think it will work, but from experience, you’d probably need to add a little bit more 🙂
Hey there! May I share this recipe on my health site?
Hi Mackenzie, can you please shoot me an email at armanthebigmansworld@gmail.com with your request? Cheers!
I like your post but would appreciate you take out the part about getting diabetes with one bite. Onset of Type 1 (your body makes no insulin) has nothing to do with food. It can’t be prevented. Type 2 ( your body is resistant to insulin) is not always because of poor diet. As a mom of a Type 1 diabetic for 8 years, misconception and lack of knowledge is a daily fight.
Hi Jenny- Absolutely. I sincerely apologise for such a thoughtless comment within my post. I’m so sorry to hear about your child suffering- Coming from a family where many are affected too, I should have been more cautious.
I have these in my fridge at all times. I do add 1tbsp of vanilla extract, and when I make these squares I always double the recipe. These are so good!
😀 thanks so much, Michelle! A double batch? I like your style!
Thanks for the recipe. I added Chiang seed to mine to up the nutritional value.
🙂 Such a good idea, Sarai!
How many rice krispy treats did this recipe make? I think I’m making them for a school fundraiser. Thanks.
Hi Ashely! I usually make 6-8 large pieces 🙂
I added a little cinnamon just for fun and it tastes like pure heaven! Just a little tip…
Thanks, Alex 🙂
Hi there I had a question. I made these this evening with organic peanut butter and honey (couldn’t find brown rice syrup today) and left them in the fridge for over an hour. At first they cut beautifully and tasted amazing, but after about 10 mins they wouldn’t hold together at all. Any suggestions on what I could do to salvage these??
Hi Surabhi! With honey, it’s less sticky than brown rice syrup, so you are best to add a little more honey to them to keep them together 🙂
OMG! I’ve been waiting for a healthy version since I went vegan 6 years ago!!!! Awesome, I went straight to the pantry and made them with quinoa crispies, peanut butter and date syrup…delish!
😀 YUM!!!
Thank you so much for posting this recipe! I added a few roasted unsalted peanuts to the mixture and even a small square is enough to satisfy a craving for something sweet, while being guilt-free at the same time. It’s so much better than granola bars, which tend to be heavy and dry.
That sounds fabulous! 🙂