May 17, 2017, Updated Feb 15, 2023
Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Peanut Butter and Chocolate
Here’s why you’re going to love them:
These may be the most addictive rice krispie treats you’ve ever had, with the sweetness of the classic marshmallow base offset by the toasty flavor of caramel, a hint of salt, and bittersweet chocolate. Peanut butter makes for a super-chewy base. So many textures in these treats. The gooey layer of salted caramel can easily be bought from the store, making this recipe super quick and easy.
What Salted Caramel to Use for Rice Krispie Treats
I happened to have a jar of bakery-made salted caramel sauce in my freezer, which I pulled out for these, but I do have a recipe for homemade (which is delicious and fun to make). But you have choices:
If you’d like to go from scratch, use my classic salted caramel sauce recipe here. For an easy salted caramel (but one that requires keeping an eye on the stove), use my 1-ingredient dulce de leche. For the absolute quickest and easiest option, use storebought caramel sauce (I like the Bonne Maman caramel) with a pinch of salt. Storebought dulce de leche is perfect, too, and is cheaper.
How to make salted caramel Rice Krispie Treats
You’re gonna need to use your muscles to stir the rice cereal into the cooling marshmallow mixture. It’s actually the best workout my triceps have seen in a long time. The key to getting a good caramel layer without the melted chocolate mixing in is to pop the squares in the freezer until firm before coating. To get a smoother chocolate layer than what you see here, pour melted chocolate over the chilled filling, tilting the pan to get it into all the corners. Don’t touch it with a spatula to smooth it out. Let stand at room temperature without disturbing until chocolate is hardened. Lift bars out of dish by the parchment overhang. Run a sharp knife under hot water and towel dry between cuts to make clean slices and slice into 16 equal bars.
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