Yummy recipe for Chocolate Caramel Rice Krispie Squares that takes an old time favorite treat to a whole new level.
Rice Krispie squares with peanut butter, a gooey caramel layer, topped with chocolate!My inspiration for this recipe came from a recipe from Hugs & Cookies blog who makes a ton of crazy delicious sweets. I made these squares in a 9x9 pan but simply double the recipe for a 9x13 pan. They will fly off the plate fast!
As a kid there were two homemade treats my brothers and sisters and I loved, Rice Krispie Squares and Puffed Wheat Squares! Both are easy to prepare, don't cost a lot to make, and kids devour them!
Chocolate Caramel Rice Krispie Squares
Rice Krispie squares with peanut butter, a gooey caramel layer, topped with chocolate!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoon butter
- 2 cups mini marshmallows or about 20 large
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 7 ounces caramels ½ bag
- 1 tablespoon water
- ¾ cup peanut butter divided
- 8 ounces milk chocolate
Instructions
- Butter a 9 x 9 inch pan.
- In large bowl melt butter in microwave just until melted. Add marshmallows, stir to coat marshmallows with the melted butter. Continue to cook in microwave until melted, stir occasionally. This should only take a couple of minutes.
- Remove from microwave and stir in vanilla.
- Combine together with Rice Krispies.
- Pour into buttered pan and press mixture firmly with buttered hands.
- Place in refrigerator to chill.
- In saucepan add caramels and water. Cook on low heat, stirring constantly until caramels are melted. Do not burn the mixture!
- Remove from heat, stir in ½ cup peanut butter.
- Pour over Rice Krispies, and spread evenly.
- Place back into refrigerator to firm up a bit.
- In saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate.
- Once chocolate is melted remove from heat and stir in ¼ cup peanut butter. Combine well.
- Pour chocolate over caramel layer spreading to edges in even layer.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour or until chocolate is firm.
- Cut into squares. (cuts best if allowed to sit at room temperature for at least ½ hour).
Notes
Bars are best eaten at room temperature or only slightly chilled. If caramel is too hard let warm to room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 247kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 5gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 140mgPotassium: 155mgFiber: 2gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 505IUVitamin C: 4.5mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 2.8mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Naomi
All of your ingredients have specific weights/volumes except the marshmallows. Those come in different size bags, so could you please specify exactly how many cups of marshmallows (or the weight)? Thanks.
Laureen King
Good point Naomi, marshmallows would be about 20 large or 2 heaping cups of mini marshmallows.
Anonymous
I wish you would have a "print recipe" icon. this looks so good and a different version of rice krispie bars. will have to hand write it, I guess. just kidding, of course. thanks.
Laureen King
Thanks, I wish I had one too, I can't seem to find one that works for blogspot.
Chantal
Just Copy and Paste into a word document then print that 🙂
Laureen King
Chantal, there is a print button under the photo beside the recipe
luebandit
Just copy and paste it and put it in an email to yourself. Easy.
Aimee
There is a print icon! I just did it...
Anonymous
I was so happy to see this because I thought it did not have peanut butter; but when I am writing the recipe down, I see that it does call for p. butter. I have an 8 yr. old grandson that is allergic to nuts so cannot eat p. butter. wonder if this would work okay omitting the p. butter/ what do you think...
Laureen King
That is too bad, I know dealing with allergies in kids is a struggle, my son is allergic to tree nuts. I think the recipe would still be great eliminating the peanut butter. Just make sure you take out of the refrigerator to warm up a bit before serving or carmel will be too hard.
Kristi
what if you add a little milk to the caramel while melting it?
Laureen King
Yes you could also use milk to the caramels while melting.
Melissa
If you have an allergy to peanuts maybe try something like coconut shredded instead.. get that consistency without the allergic reaction..?
Judy
I wonder if using wow butter would work as well.
Laureen King
Hey Judy, not sure what wow butter is?
Tom
Wowbutter is a peanut butter substitute made with soy. My brother's allergic to peanuts and it's one of the substitutes we use at home. It's got pretty much the same consistency as peanut butter and is nearly identical taste-wise.
Laureen King
Thanks Tom
Theresa Davis
I am burnt out on peanut butter. I think I have seen almond butter before. May try to find that and try this.
Laureen King
Theresa, let me know how it turns out with almond butter if you try it.
Dina
yummy variation of the rice krispie treat!
Laureen King
thanks Dina 🙂
Anonymous
Milk chocolate? is that chocolate chips? If so can i use the semi sweet ones?
Laureen King
You can you any type of chocolate, chocolate chips work fine. I like really good chocolate so I used Belgian chocolate. (sold in large bars at Walmart).
Anonymous
Made these this weekend but the caramel was hard as a rock! Cooked the caramel too long you think?
Laureen King
You shouldn't cook the caramel, just heat until melted. Also take out of refrigerator 30 minutes before eating to soften caramel layer.
Anonymous
Carmel layer and choc with pb did not turn out well.
Laureen King
What happened? With both layers it is important not to cook it, just heat on low until melted.
Danielle
They look perfect! Yum!!
Laureen King
Thank you so much Danielle!
J dallaway
They do look very good HOWEVER with a grandson with PEANUT allergy I wonder if there is a substitution that is possible?
Laureen King
I would eliminate the peanut butter and just make a regular rice krispie square followed by the caramel and chocolate layer.
Dave
What did you drizzle on them for the photographs? Thanks!
Laureen King
Hi Dave, I drizzled with store bought caramel sauce.
Kat
This looks awesome. will try it for sure.
Amanda
If someone is allerfic to peanutbutter and leaves it out, will it turn out???
Laureen King
Should be fine without the peanut butter
Mary
Can you tell me the measurements for a 9x13 pan? Maybe 1 1/2 recioe?
Laureen King
Mary, I would just double the recipe. The squares will just be a bit thicker.
TPann
For children with allergies, can you omit the peanut butter
TPann
That's okay, lol should have kept reading comments below......
Wendy
Hi the squares look amazing, however do you think using Nestlé caramel condensed milk would be a good alternative as it's quite thick in the tin. Already made caramel in a tin good eh?
Laureen King
Hi Wendy, I'm not sure if it would be too runny or not. You'll have to give it a try and let me know if it works!
Robin
Oh my goodness lol. I made these yesterday minus the peanut butter. Wow!! They were/are delicious!! I doubled the recipe and placed in a 9x13 pan. One bag of marshmallows to 8 cups of cereal was just a titch too dry (although still awesome). Next time I would just cut back the rice jrispies by one cup. (I'm talking about this in the 9x13 pan still). I omitted peanut butter completely. No issue at all. I did however add a wee bit of smuckers salted caramel topping to the caramels heating on the stovetop. It added a nice consistency to it. Prob around a 1/4 cup. My caramel layer was perfect. I mixed milk choc and dark chocolate (melted) to cut the sweetness 50-50 and that also turned out perfect. Chilled each layer as directed. Then I left at room temp once all layers set up. Didn't take long. Keeping on counter. Won't be long before the entire pan is consumed lol. Thanks for such a great treat. Love it! And so did my family 🙂
Laureen King
Terrific Robin, I like how you tweaked the recipe!
Karen
Do you think I could freeze these?
Laureen King
Yes Karen they should freeze well in airtight container.
tina wenger
i love rice krispie bars & this will be awesome so am going to try it. thanks for sharing it
Laureen King
Rice krispie squares are the best, any kind, so I hope you enjoy this recipe Tina.
Lena
Try a peanut butter substitute that uses sunflower seeds instead. Cant remember what its called but we have it here in Australia.
Laureen King
Thanks for the tip Lena.