I am firm believer that there is nothing better than homemade Rice Krispies treats… the store-bought version just don’t do the original justice.
Besides being easy to make, tasting delicious and giving your jaw a good workout, they are also amazingly easy to customize for nearly any holiday. Or as our friend Buddy Valastro at Carlo’s Bakery does, mold them into fun shapes and life-size sculptures.
Peeps Rice Krispie Treats
The easiest and most festive treat for Easter- Peep Rice Krispie Treats. You only need 5 ingredients and less than 30 minutes- a great Easter dessert or way to use up all those Peeps the Easter bunny left.
What better way to take a fun Easter recipe to the next level than to use the iconic marshmallow Peeps! They come in different colors to make this dessert even more fun and festive.
Since I lack the ability or the time to make Peep shapes, and I had no Easter cookie cutters on hand, I just topped this famed no-bake dessert with the iconic Easter classic and called it a day.
Peep Rice Krispie Treats Ingredients
- Butter – Usually when baking or cooking, I opt to use unsalted butter so that I control the amount of salt that goes into the recipe. However, you can use salted butter for this recipe.
- Mini marshmallows – Use fresh marshmallows for the best results. Older marshmallows tend to dry out and will not give you a gooey treat. Check out my marshmallow conversion guide for help on figuring out amounts for different sized marshmallows.
- Rice cereal – Although the classic treat is called rice krispie treats, you don’t necessarily have to use the brand name. The store brand should work just as well.
- Candy melting wafers: Make sure to choose some fun Easter colors, usually pastels. You can also just use white chocolate and make different colors with food coloring, although you might need to add a little shortening or butter for the right consistency. Up to you!
- Easter sprinkles -A great way to make these Easter rice krispies even more fun is to add some festive sprinkles! You can buy them anywhere this time of year.
- Peeps – You can’t have Peeps rice krispie treats without the iconic Peeps marshmallow! All the flavor of regular marshmallows, just with a fun twist. This Easter candy will be used for topping your cereal bars, not actually melting. The color of the peeps don’t matter.
How to Make Peeps Rice Krispie Treats
- Prepare pan and bowl. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Grease a large mixing bowl and rubber spatula, including a portion of the handle with cooking spray so that the treats don’t stick to them. Lining the dish with parchment paper allows the bars to be lifted completely out of the pan and makes for easier cutting.
- Melt butter and marshmallows. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add in half the marshmallows and stir to coat them with the butter. As the marshmallows begin to soften and get melty, add the other half in. High heat can result in treats that are hard, so when melting the butter and marshmallows, low heat is best.
- Combine with cereal. Remove the marshmallow mixture from the heat and pour it over the rice krispie cereal. Fold in with the buttered spatula just until all the cereal has been coated. Be sure not to overmix.
- Add to pan. Pour cereal mixture into your pan. Using buttered fingertips or a piece of parchment paper so that the crispy treats don’t stick to them, lightly press the cereal mixture into an even layer, making sure it goes all the way into the corners. Let the bars set up for at least 30 minutes.
- Decorate. Lift the krispie treats out of the pan using the parchment paper. Using a marshmallow peep as a guide, cut squares to desired size. Drizzle the tops with melted chocolate and festive sprinkles. While the chocolate is still soft, place a peep on the tops of each of the rice krispie treats. As the chocolate sets, it will adhere to the rice krispie treat.
Tips and Variations
- This recipe can be easily doubled. If you’re feeding a crowd for Easter or just want to use up your leftover Peeps, making a double batch (32 bars) would use lots.
- Bars can be cut larger to show more of the candy drizzle color and sprinkles. The size recommended by the recipe will yield as many as possible in a 9”x13” pan and still have room to top with the peep.
- I like to cut the bars first and then do the decorating. Doing it this way allows the candy drizzle to decorate the sides as well as the top.
- For easy piping of the melted candy, I used a sandwich bag with the corner snipped off to drizzle and decorate. I find this creates a nice thickness when drizzling and gives more control than just letting it drip off a spoon or fork. However, the reader could certainly decorate that way.
- If you aren’t a fan of Peeps, try topping these Easter rice krispie treats with another Easter candy like jelly beans or Cadbury Eggs. The end results will taste different but look just as pretty.
- Try adding a popsicle stick into one end of the peeps treats to turn them into fun little “pops!” No one says you have to eat these like regular rice krispie treats.
- Use cookie cutters to make fun shapes like Easter eggs.
Storage
These treats are best eaten within 3 days of making them. Place them in an airtight container or storage bag at room temperature.
I’m also a total weirdo who really likes mine warm and gooey, so feel free to give them a quick spin in the microwave to loosen then up.
Rice Krispie Treats do not freeze well.
More Easter treats you will love:
- Easter Bunny Cupcakes
- Cadbury Egg Cupcakes
- Watercolor Easter Cookies
- Easter Fudge
- Peeps Popcorn Balls
- Carrot Cake Cupcakes
- Easter Peeps Cake
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Peep Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
The easiest and most festive treat for Easter- Peep Rice Krispie Treats! You only need 5 ingredients and less than 30 minutes!
Servings:
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 16 ounces mini marshmallows
- 7 cups rice krispie cereal
- Candy melting wafers in desired color
- Easter sprinkles
- 16 peeps marshmallow candy
Instructions
- Line a 9”x13” pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Grease a large mixing bowl and rubber spatula, including a portion of the handle. Add rice krispie cereal to the mixing bowl. Set aside.
- In a large, non-stick saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
- Add in half of the marshmallows and stir to coat them with the butter. As the marshmallows begin to soften and get melty, add the other half of the marshmallows.
- Continue heating over low heat, stirring frequently, until the marshmallows are almost completely melted.
- Remove from the heat and pour the marshmallow mixture over the rice krispie cereal.
- Fold in with the buttered spatula just until all the cereal has been coated, trying hard not to overmix or break up the cereal.
- Transfer the cereal mixture into the prepared pan.
- Using buttered fingertips or a piece of parchment paper, lightly press the cereal mixture into an even layer, making sure that the mixture goes all the way into the corners. Let the bars set for at least 30 minutes.
- Lift the krispie treats out of the pan by using the parchment paper as a sling.
- Using a marshmallow peep as a guide, cut squares to fit your peeps. Remove the peep to decorate.
- Place them on a wire rack or piece of parchment paper, leaving a little space between each bar. Drizzle with melted chocolate over each bars and top with sprinkles while still tacky. Top with a peep and allow to set.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings section!
Nutrition
Calories: 211 kcal, Carbohydrates: 42 g, Protein: 2 g, Fat: 5 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 11 mg, Sodium: 126 mg, Potassium: 18 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 25 g, Vitamin A: 946 IU, Vitamin C: 8 mg, Calcium: 3 mg, Iron: 4 mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
So easy to make and so cute too!
This was such a fun and festive treat that does not disappoint! The best way to enjoy Peeps; easily, a new favorite Easter recipe!
Well this is the cutest thing I have seen all daY! I am definitely making these for Easter, thank you so much for sharing the recipe 🙂
The kids the making these Easter treats with me! They’re easy, fun to decorate, and taste delish!