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Vegan WFPB, Whole food plant-based peanut butter crispy rice treats, healthy rice crispy treats, dairy free, no refined sugar, oil-free

Who says crispy rice treats have to be loaded with marshmallows, butter, and refined sugar? These Healthy Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats are a wholesome, plant-based twist on the nostalgic favorite.

With just a few simple ingredients—crunchy brown rice cereal, natural peanut butter, and a touch of maple syrup—you can whip up a sweet snack that’s chewy, satisfying, and completely guilt-free.

Perfect for lunchbox treats, after-school snacks, or a quick bite with your afternoon coffee, these bars are proof that dessert can be both delicious and nourishing.

Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats bring back childhood nostalgia

These Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats are the perfect balance of childhood nostalgia and whole food plant-based goodness. Chewy, crunchy, and just the right amount of sweet, they’ll quickly become a family favorite.

They’re proof that you don’t need marshmallows or refined sugar to enjoy a treat that’s every bit as satisfying as the original.

Why You’ll Love These Treats

🌱 Whole food plant-based – no butter, no marshmallows, no refined sugar.

🥜 Protein-packed – peanut butter adds staying power and richness.

🍯 Naturally sweetened – maple syrup or date syrup gives the perfect touch of sweetness.

🥣 6 simple ingredients – ready in under 20 minutes, no baking required!

Other whole food plant-based recipes you might like:

vegan, whole food plant-based, easy, healthy, oil-free

Print Recipe

Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats

Anyone who’s ever packed or unpacked a lunchbox before knows that rice treats have always been akin to gold bars. You could barter for anything with those sweet, ethereal cereal snacks, or eat like royalty should you chose to hoard them. This version will convince anyone to take the latter approach. Crunchy peanut butter makes them both irresistibly delicious and much more satisfying than the original inspiration, sneaking in a small bonus of plant protein and healthy fats without even trying. You’ll never miss the marshmallows with the woodsy depth of maple syrup bringing everything together, and I promise, neither will your kids.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Servings: squares

Calories: 159kcal

Author: Kim Murphy

Ingredients

3/4 cup natural crunchy peanut butter
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons tahini
1/4 teaspoon salt optional
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 cups crispy brown rice cereal

Instructions

Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper; set aside.
In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat combine the peanut butter, maple syrup, tahini, and salt. Mix until smooth.
Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture begins to bubble. Stir continuously for 1 minute longer, then turn off the heat.
Working quickly, add the vanilla and rice cereal, stirring thoroughly to incorporate. Transfer the mixture to your prepared pan, using your spatula to firmly press it into an even layer, smoothing out the top.
Place pan in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes to cool. Use a sharp knife to cut the bars into squares or rectangles.

Notes

Serving suggestion: Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap or place in zip-top baggies for easy grab-and-go snacks that hold up beautifully at room temperature.

If you’re feeling more festive, cut the bars into smaller, bite-sized squares and stack them on a tray alongside fresh berries and almond butter, chocolate sauce, or date caramel for dipping.

Notes: Customize your creations by adding a handful of mini chocolate chips, crushed freeze-dried fruit, or chopped peanuts after mixing in the cereal for a fun twist. Just be sure to let the base mixture cool for a minute if using chocolate chips so they don’t melt.

To make this recipe nut-free, swap the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter, pumpkin seed butter, or soynut butter.

To make these low-fat, swap out the peanut butter for reconstituted PB2 powder. You can mix in a couple tablespoons of chopped peanuts to make it crunchy.

These keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Freeze for longer storage of up to 3 months.

Nutrition

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8 Comments

Name: Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cup natural crunchy peanut butter; 1/3 cup maple syrup; 2 tablespoons tahini; 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional); 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 4 cups crispy brown rice cereal

Bev on September 24, 2025 at 2:18 pm

Hello! If I wanted to swap out the PB for PB2 how would I do that??? Would it be 3/4 powder & ? Amt of water? Please advise… also is there a substitute for tahini? Thanks much!!
- Andrea Djafri on October 3, 2025 at 9:01 am
  
  You can swap out the peanut butter for reconstituted PB2 powder.You can start with 3/4 and add liquid to see if you get the right amount to moisten the cereal. You can use extra peanut butter if you don’t want to use tahini.
Ro on September 25, 2025 at 10:00 am

I would also like to know the role of tahini in this dish and any appropriate substitutes.
Thanks
- Andrea Djafri on October 3, 2025 at 8:59 am
  
  The tahini is for moisture and flavor. You can add more peanut butter if you don’t want to use tahini.
Laurie on September 25, 2025 at 3:48 pm

Sounds yummy. I, too, would like to know how to swap the peanut butter for PB powder. Thanks.
- Andrea Djafri on October 3, 2025 at 8:52 am
  
  To make these low-fat, swap out the peanut butter for reconstituted PB2 powder.
Cathy on September 30, 2025 at 10:38 am

The taste is very yummy but not sure if some liquid is missing from recipe or what. I used exactly what recipe called for and after 10 minutes on stovetop, the peanut butter mixture was still so thick that I don’t see how it ever could have started to bubble. It was like a thick dough. I mixed it into crispy rice cereal as best I could mainly just trying to smash cereal into peanut butter so lots of it did not stick together and we have to eat it with a spoon. Anyone else have this problem?
- Andrea Djafri on October 3, 2025 at 8:38 am
  
  I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe you had a measurement off. If it was that thick I would have added some more maple syrup or water to thin it out.