Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Peanut butter and chocolate... two of may all time, absolute favorite ingredients.  Mix them together and they actually become even better as one!!  What's not to love about the simple Reese's Peanut Butter Cup??  I happen to carry a couple in my pockets when I ski... just in case of emergency.  The energy boost alone makes them a perfect pick me up, but adding in the fact that they are a perfect flavor combo (in my opinion!) makes them just that much better. 

My love of peanut butter developed before I actually have memories.  I can't remember a time without it.  Then one day when I was in Jr. High I complained to my Mom about what she was making me for lunch.  Big mistake!  I soon realized that may not have been one of my best moves when she replied that I could now make my own lunches.  Hence, I had peanut butter and apricot jelly sandwiches for a solid year! 

When I was in college, a friend of mine and I would frequently stop at little restaurant on the wharf in Tiburon, CA... Sam's.  Roy always ordered a full meal, dinner or lunch of some real substance as we enjoyed the afternoon sunshine watching the boats sail by, but I always ordered the Peanut Butter Pie.  For some 20 years I have attempted to recreate Sam's recipe, but to no avail.  I'm still on the search for the perfect recipe - just the right texture, the optimum combo of chocolate and peanut butter, the perfect mouth feel.  (Feel free to post any links if you have one!!)

Bringing us closer to the present, Michelle, of the Brown Eyed Baker, posted this Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treat a few weeks ago.  Just her pictures made me swoon!  Add in her descriptive, mouth watering narrative and you have a must do recipe. 

These Rice Krispie Treats are so good that we have made them not only once, but twice, most recently for dessert on our recent trip with a few friends to the desert.  When one's 14 year old son takes a bite and the eyes go wide, accompanied by a "Wow... these are awesome!" comment one knows she has a hit!  Follow this up by a horde of kids and adults all scrambling for the largest piece accompanied by smiles of pleasure, and we know that the hit wasn't luck, it's that good.

Freeze the Peanut Butter Cups slightly for easier chopping!

Just for demonstration... directions have you mixing the peanut butter cups in a bowl with the peanut butter.  This shot shows how well the correct amount covers the top of the treats!

On our first attempt we didn't realize quite how many Reese's Peanut Butter Cups it would take to cover the top of the treats.  Not a big deal though, as we simply made the treats and covered them with a combo of the peanut butter and chocolate melted together (mostly because I didn't read Michelle's directions closely stating to add them separately!). The few pieces of the peanut butter cups were tossed in for an extra flavor boots and a touch of texture.  A drizzle of bittersweet chocolate gave the Krispies some eye appeal, and they were gone in 24 hours!  Our second version combined regular Rice Krispies with chocolate puffed rice and used half of a Costco Sized bag of peanut butter cups.  The peanut butter was warmed until it was thin, gently stirred with the peanut butter cups and spread over the top of the Krispies.  Melted chocolate topped the peanut butter mixture and we had a treat that melted in your mouth!

Heaven in a bar!!!

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

adapted from the Brown Eyed Baker

6 cups Rice Krispies (or 3 cups Rice Krispies and 3 cups Chocolate Puffed Rice)
1 bag (10.5-oz) miniature marshmallows
¼ cup (2 ounces) unsalted butter
2 cups creamy peanut butter
3 - 4 cups miniature peanut butter cups (about 40), quartered
1½ cups chocolate, chopped

Prepare a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.

Measure the cereal into a large mixing bowl and set aside. Melt the marshmallows and butter together in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the cereal and stirring well to evenly coat the cereal. Pour into the prepared pan and use a small buttered piece of waxed paper, plastic wrap, small zip lock bag, or the back of a spoon sprayed with cooking spray to press evenly into pan.

In a small sauce pan melt the peanut butter over medium heat until thin.  Pour over the quartered peanut butter cups, stirring gently to combine.  Then pour over the treats.  Use the back of a spoon to gently spread the peanut butter mixture evenly across the top of the krispies.

Melt the chopped chocolate (either in the microwave or over the stove) stirring frequently.  Drizzle the melted chocolate across the top of the peanut butter mixture and place the pan in the refrigerator to set before cutting and serving.  Store in an airtight container.

Alternatively:

Make stir cereal and marshmallow mixture as directed above and press into pan.  Melt peanut butter and chocolate together, stirring frequently until melted.  Pour over the Krispies, spreading to cover.  Place in refrigerator to set, then drizzle with more melted chocolate.

Peanut Butter