Peanut Butter Coconut Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats (can be gluten-free)

These are dangerous. I only made half the recipe but they were gone in less than a day. I just couldn’t stand it, knowing that they were sitting in the fridge, waiting to be eaten. 

This recipe comes from then queen of whole wheat baking, Miryam. There’s no whole wheat in these but Miryam knows her candy. If I haven’t mentioned it, this Bailey’s fudge and these peanut butter chocolate krispie bars are my favorite candy recipes ever. And yeah, the rice krispie bars count as candy. 


I’m not a coconut fan so I changed the 3/4 cup of coconut butter to only two tablespoons. If you want more coconut, go check out the original. There’s also directions there on how to make your own coconut butter. Although we both inhaled these, next time I might try it with more coconut. Something about the coconut made me go out of control with these!


Maybe I just couldn’t deal with that gooey topping.


Ingredients:

Bottom layer: 
1/4 cup (50 grams) unrefined or brown sugar (I used coconut sugar)
1/2 cup (160 grams) honey
1/2 cup (~128 grams) natural or commercial peanut butter 
2 1/4 cups (60 grams) brown rice cereal or normal Rice Krispies
1/4 cup (35 grams) flax seed meal (I left this out)
1/2 cup (35 grams) rolled or old-fashioned oats
1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder 

Middle layer:
2 tablespoons coconut butter (the kind that’s just ground up coconut, not coconut oil)
3/4 cup (~192 grams) natural or commercial peanut butter

Top layer:
1 1 /2 cup (270 grams) dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips if you want the squares covered completely, or you can just melt 1/4 cup (25 grams) of chocolate and drizzle it over the top

Gluten-free version: these are gluten-free if you use gluten-free oats and brown rice cereal. :)

Directions:

In a medium sauce pan over low heat, combine the sugar, honey and peanut butter. Heat for about two minutes and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and add cereal, flax seed meal (if using), oats, and dark cocoa powder. Press into an 8″ x 8″ baking pan lined with parchment paper.

Mix together the peanut butter and coconut butter and spread over the cereal mixture. Place in the fridge for about an hour or until it’s set. 

Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl, taking out every 30 seconds to stir. Spread over the peanut butter layer and then store in the fridge. The peanut butter layer will get really gooey if left at room temperature.

German bakers: I’ve found Rice Krispies at Edeka and Metro for decent prices. Has anyone ever seen brown rice cereal? And coconut butter is ridiculously expensive here. Go to the original recipe to see how to make your own!

Source: peanut butter, coconut and dark chocolate crispy bars
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34 comments on "Peanut Butter Coconut Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats (can be gluten-free)" — Add one!

  • Megan says
    August 24, 2012 @ 1:23 am · Permalink to this comment

    I'm so glad I discovered your blog! What amazing recipes :-)

    Reply
  • Erin says
    May 31, 2012 @ 10:01 pm · Permalink to this comment

    eeyoke – Unfortunately I live in Germany so I'm not familiar with where to get it in the US but I did some googling and supposedly they have it at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. I found it on Amazon, but it's insanely expensive (http://www.amazon.com/Artisana-Organic-Raw-Coconut-Butter/dp/B000WV153I). I can't think of anything else that'd work as a sub. You could melt some chocolate chips and mix it with the peanut butter… that'd be delicious and it would definitely fit!

    Reply
  • eeyoke says
    May 31, 2012 @ 9:22 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Where on earth do you find coconut butter? I'd get the recipe to make my own, only I have a 2-yr-old and a 3-mo-old, and it's hard enough to find the time to make one thing…

    If we don't have coconut butter, is there something else we could substitute?

    Reply
  • Erin says
    May 25, 2012 @ 4:33 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Sasha – Thanks! I hope you enjoy them if you get a chance to make them. :)

    Reply
  • The Procrastobaker says
    May 24, 2012 @ 12:49 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Ah these look so so good, and achievable for me in my new studenty pad! Saving these for a lazy day bake for sure :)

    Reply
  • Erin says
    May 20, 2012 @ 8:36 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Nora – Hehe. I always feel so proud when I post something that you can actually make. This is supposed to be a whole grain baking blog and here I am posting gluten-free stuff half the time. Or a third. I'm happy you approve of these bars. :D

    Reply
  • Nora @ Natural Noshing says
    May 20, 2012 @ 2:37 am · Permalink to this comment

    *Had me at… ooopsi!

    Reply
  • Nora @ Natural Noshing says
    May 20, 2012 @ 2:36 am · Permalink to this comment

    Whoa whoa whoa – these look incredible! You can me at peanut butter…oh and coconut…and that's right, chocolate too! INCREDIBLE!

    Reply
  • Erin says
    May 18, 2012 @ 9:37 am · Permalink to this comment

    Monica – Thanks! And thanks for pinning. :)

    Chung-Ah – Haha, I guess so. They're definitely addictive.

    Loula – I'm going to go look today before calling around. :) And yeah, I like Jesus driving into the sky day too. WAY better than Ascension Day. I had never even heard of these holidays (and I mean their English names) until I came to Germany! But I've been enjoying the loads of free days that we've had since April. Thanks again for your help. :)

    MyFudo – I hope you do! And isn't it terrible? Some baked goods just taunt you. Not nice.

    Reply
  • MyFudo™ says
    May 18, 2012 @ 8:30 am · Permalink to this comment

    I love coconut. Can't wait to try this. I can relate with you when you say you can't stand knowing these treats are sitting somewhere in the kitchen and you are not doing anything about it. Yummy! I must try this out!

    Reply
  • Anonymous says
    May 17, 2012 @ 8:46 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Youre very welcome! :) Calling the Imker sounds like a great backup plan, but I have heard of other people getting their honey from a store, so it should be possible especially in Berlin. ;)
    Hahaha, you really made me laugh there with Jesus driving to the sky. It sounds like a google translation. lol I hope you had a wonderful holiday, too!
    Loula

    Reply
  • Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
    May 17, 2012 @ 4:25 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Oh my goodness, this is rice krispie treats on crack!

    Reply
  • Monica @ TheYummyLife says
    May 17, 2012 @ 4:21 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Anything that is dripping with peanut butter and chocolate gets my attention. These look amazing. Pinned it!

    Reply
  • Erin says
    May 17, 2012 @ 3:58 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Loula – I'll try Biocompany. Thanks a bunch. :)

    And thank you so much for the correct name for raw honey! Unbehandelter seems to be the right term. I've spent way too many hours trying to figure it out. I'll go check out the local Reformhaus and if I have to, call the Imker and order some. Thanks again and have a nice "Jesus driving to the sky day." :)

    Reply
  • Anonymous says
    May 17, 2012 @ 7:56 am · Permalink to this comment

    Hey again, well I know that Alnatura has rice cereal, but I think it is not brown rice and it is sweetened with honey (see here: http://www.alnatura.de/de/produkt/39900). But you can definitely get the Wertz stuff at your Bioladen (I see you're in Berlin, so maybe Biocompany is near you). About the honey, Im not sure, but you could try "unbehandelter Honig" or "kaltgeschleudert". I presume you're only going to find those in the "Reformhaus" or at the local beekeeper's. Good luck finding it! :)
    Best
    Loula

    Reply
  • Erin says
    May 16, 2012 @ 10:26 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Loula – Your comment just popped it. Didn't mean to miss it! Thank you so much for letting me know about the brown rice cereal. I will definitely check it out! I've checked at Alnatura and such places but maybe I just didn't know what I was looking for. I was probably looking for something like "Brauner Reis Cereal." And since you seem to be in the know, do you know if raw honey in German is reine Honig? I've been looking everywhere and online and "roh Honig" doesn't seem to exist. I hope you like the bars. :)

    Reply
  • Erin says
    May 16, 2012 @ 10:15 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Katie – What a nice thing to say. Thank you!

    Georgia – Jazzed up! I like that. :)

    Angie – Thanks a bunch! And droolworthy is another good way to put it. They're SO addicting.

    Reply
  • Anonymous says
    May 16, 2012 @ 9:56 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Hey there,

    these sound so great! Ive written down the recipe and plan on making them soon. YUM! :)
    You can find brown rice cereal (or at least what I think it is: unsweetened puffed rice made from whole rice) at the "Reformhaus" or the organic food store ("Bioladen"). Werz Naturkost makes them. Here's a link to their page: http://www.vollwertcenter.de/indexgluten.php?sid=8MCC-P0G3-4fb405c85db09&land;=&clicked;_cat=2

    HTH!
    Loula

    Reply
  • Angie's Recipes says
    May 16, 2012 @ 7:42 pm · Permalink to this comment

    o my these look droolworthy, both recipe and the photography!

    Reply
  • Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking says
    May 16, 2012 @ 4:11 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Whoa, these are definitely delicious looking, jazzed up Rice Krispie treats! They look incredible!

    Reply
  • Katie says
    May 16, 2012 @ 3:39 pm · Permalink to this comment

    My goodness…that's the most beautiful rice krispie treat I've ever seen!

    Reply
  • Erin says
    May 16, 2012 @ 1:53 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Batlic Maid – Thanks! I hope you're able to make them one day. :)

    Katrina – Haha, thanks. :)

    Heidi – Wow, that's an excellent idea! I made lots of coconut butter and now have tons leftover. I should try it. Thanks for the idea. :)

    Becca – You're awesome because you say "gosh darn it." I say gosh darn it too and people always laugh at me and ask if I'm Amish. Congratulations on graduating! I hope you have a nice summer break before you do whatever it is you want to do.

    I found this for you: Homemade coconut butter

    You could buy it but I think it' really, really expensive.

    Honey – Thank you so much! I wouldn't call this healthy exactly but it's WAAAY healthier than normal rice krispie treats. :)

    Sara – Thanks! I liked the stripes too because I wanted more peanut butter / coconut goo and less chocolate. Thanks for stopping by. :)

    Reply
  • Sara says
    May 16, 2012 @ 8:26 am · Permalink to this comment

    These look wonderful! Love the stripes on top, so cute! :)

    Reply
  • Honey says
    May 16, 2012 @ 6:34 am · Permalink to this comment

    oh my this looks delicious and so healthy too.. can't believe sometimes how certain things look decadent and can actually be good for you. Love your blog. :)

    Reply
  • Becca says
    May 16, 2012 @ 5:47 am · Permalink to this comment

    Holy Yum! This looks really good. Gosh, it's a good thing I'm graduating this weekend and I'll be out of school soon. There are so many recipes that I have flagged and haven't had time to make. Gosh darn it, why are there only 24 hours in the day?

    These look awesome. And what exactly is coconut butter. You say that its ground up coconuts, but could you explain that a little more, please?

    Reply
  • Heidi @ Food Doodles says
    May 16, 2012 @ 5:27 am · Permalink to this comment

    Yum! Love the coconut butter and peanut butter layer. That even sounds like an amazing combo just for putting on toast or on apple slices!

    Reply
  • Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
    May 15, 2012 @ 11:14 pm · Permalink to this comment

    I want to swim in that top layer!

    Reply
  • Baltic Maid says
    May 15, 2012 @ 10:42 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Once again, your recipe made it onto my to-try list. They look so delicious!!! I wish I could grab one from the screen right now…

    Reply
  • Erin says
    May 15, 2012 @ 9:14 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Amy – Whoops, sorry! I can't wait to see your version. I'm sure it'll be amazing. :)

    Reply
  • Erin says
    May 15, 2012 @ 9:13 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Miryam – Wow, masterpieces? Thanks. :D But it's funny because my husband and I both agreed that yours looked way better.

    I've been baking a lot with oat flour too! I have oatmeal raisin cookies and a cinnamon coffee cake coming that are made with oat flour and I can't believe they're so good. I mean, who would have thought ground up oats can do such wonderful things?

    And I think I always use whole spelt in your recipes and it's always fine. The only time it's problematic is if you're making something yeasty like bread.

    And haha, yeah. They are dangerous. My husband also couldn't just eat 1 or 2 and he's the one with self-control. It was terrible. A massacre of rice krispie treats!

    Reply
  • eatgood4life.blogspot.com says
    May 15, 2012 @ 9:05 pm · Permalink to this comment

    OMG, these look unreal. Lately you have been making master pieces as sweet treats :-). Thanks so much for your positive remarks and linking to my blog :-)

    Lately I have been thinking about the whole wheat baking thing. On purpose I bought more oat, barley and spelt flour to change things up a bit..too much whole wheat on everything. I used to bake with the other flours more often before but for some reason since I have a huge jar in my kitchen counter with whole wheat pastry flour, it makes things easier while baking :-)

    Your bars look awesome. I am thinking of making them again soon but they are very dangerous for me because I have to eat at least 2 or 3 each time I touch them!!

    Reply
  • amy @ fearless homemaker says
    May 15, 2012 @ 8:36 pm · Permalink to this comment

    oh, yum! i love rice krispie treats + actually just made a batch myself, that i plan to put on my blog on thursday. great minds think alike. i love your version!

    Reply
  • Erin says
    May 15, 2012 @ 7:49 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Caroline – You're quick! I don't even think it was a full minute before I posted and here you are. :) And coconut sugar doesn't really taste like coconut so it's not too important here. So unrefiend or brown sugar would work fine too. I hope you can try them! :D

    Reply
  • Caroline @ chocolate & carrots says
    May 15, 2012 @ 7:46 pm · Permalink to this comment

    Mmmm, these look great! I've never used coconut sugar before. I'll have to give it a go!

    Reply

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