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M&M Rice Krispie Treats take the classic no bake treat to a whole new level, chewy cereal bars topped with creamy peanut butter frosting and a rainbow of M&M candies, and Maddie and Lizzie think they hung the moon. I whipped up the first pan for a last minute class party and they were the first thing gone. If you love our funfetti earthquake cake, these colorful treats bring the same festive vibe in handheld bar form.
They come together on the stovetop in minutes with no oven required, and that peanut butter frosting takes them right over the top.
M&M Rice Krispie Treats Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 10 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 1 hour
- 🍽️ Serving: 15 bars
- ⚡ Calories: 421kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Chewy, sweet, and peanut buttery with crunchy candy coated chocolate
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, a no bake treat like our puppy chow
Quick Answer
Melt butter and mini marshmallows in a large pot, then stir in Rice Krispies cereal until coated. Press the mixture into a parchment lined 9×13 pan and chill. Whip up a peanut butter frosting with butter, powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla, spread it over the cooled bars, then press in M&M candies. Slice into bars and serve.
Jump to:
- M&M Rice Krispie Treats Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make M&M Rice Krispie Treats
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- M&M Rice Krispie Treats FAQs
- Other Recommended No Bake Dessert Recipes
- M&M Rice Krispie Treats
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- No oven required. Everything happens on the stovetop and in the fridge, so these come together fast and stay cool, perfect for hot days and last minute treats.
- The peanut butter frosting is the secret. A creamy peanut butter frosting layered over the chewy bars adds richness and a salty sweet flavor that takes a basic krispie treat to a whole new level.
- M&Ms add color and crunch. Pressing candy coated chocolates into the frosting gives every bar a fun, festive look and a little chocolate crunch in every bite.
- Fresh marshmallows keep them soft. Using fresh mini marshmallows and not overheating them keeps the bars chewy and soft instead of hard and crunchy.
- Easy to make your own. Swap the candy colors for any holiday or occasion, so the same recipe works for birthdays, game day, or a random afternoon treat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They are a fast, no bake treat that comes together on the stovetop in minutes.
- The peanut butter frosting and colorful M&Ms make them a guaranteed kid pleaser.
- They are a festive party favorite, right alongside our funfetti earthquake cake.
Key Ingredients
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make these fun, colorful treats.
- Rice Krispies cereal: The crisp base that gives these bars their signature chewy crunch.
- Mini marshmallows: Melted with butter, they bind the cereal together. Fresh marshmallows keep the bars soft.
- M&M candies: Pressed into the frosting for color, crunch, and pops of chocolate.
- Peanut butter: The base of the creamy frosting that sets these apart from a plain krispie treat.
- Powdered sugar and cream: Whip with the peanut butter and butter into a smooth, spreadable frosting.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
These are so easy to customize, here are a few ideas.
- Use holiday colored M&Ms to match any occasion, from red and green to pastel.
- Swap the peanut butter frosting for melted chocolate drizzle if you want a nut free option.
- Stir some mini M&Ms right into the cereal mixture for candy in every bite.
- Add a sprinkle of flaky salt over the top, the way we finish our puppy chow.
How to Make M&M Rice Krispie Treats
- Melt the butter in a large pot over medium low heat, then add the mini marshmallows and stir constantly until melted and smooth.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the Rice Krispies cereal until every piece is coated.
- Press the mixture firmly and evenly into a parchment lined 9×13 pan, then cover and chill for about an hour.
- Make the frosting by beating the peanut butter and butter until smooth, then add the powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla and whip until fluffy.
- Spread the peanut butter frosting evenly over the chilled rice krispie base.
- Press the M&M candies into the frosting in any pattern you like, then slice into bars and serve.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use fresh marshmallows so the treats stay soft and chewy instead of hard.
- Melt over low heat and stir constantly so the marshmallows do not scorch or seize.
- Grease your hands or a spatula to press the sticky mixture evenly into the pan without it sticking.
- Do not press too hard, or the bars can turn dense. Press just firmly enough to hold together.
- Chill before frosting so the base is firm and the frosting spreads cleanly.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
These M&M rice krispie treats are a party in bar form. Cut them into squares and pile them on a platter for a birthday, game day, or class party, and watch them disappear in minutes.
They are perfect alongside a cold glass of milk, and they travel well for picnics and potlucks. Set them out next to our funfetti earthquake cake and a bowl of puppy chow for a fun, kid friendly dessert table.
Want to make them ahead? You can make these a day or two in advance and store them covered at room temperature. Add the M&Ms close to serving so the colors stay bright and crisp.
M&M Rice Krispie Treats FAQs
Hard treats usually come from overheating the marshmallows or using stale ones. Melt them low and slow with the butter, and use fresh mini marshmallows for soft, chewy bars.
Yes. They keep well covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. For the brightest look, press the M&Ms into the frosting close to when you plan to serve them.
No, but it really sets them apart. If you need a nut free version, skip the frosting and drizzle melted chocolate over the top, then add the M&Ms.
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Avoid the fridge, which can dry them out and make the bars firm instead of chewy.
You can freeze the unfrosted base wrapped well for up to a month. Thaw, then add the peanut butter frosting and M&Ms fresh before serving for the best texture.
Regular milk chocolate M&Ms are classic, but you can use any variety. Holiday colored, mini, or peanut M&Ms all work great depending on the look and crunch you want.
Made these M&M rice krispie treats? I would love to see your candy colors, leave a comment and a star rating below and tell me what occasion you made them for!
For the caramel lovers, these dulce de leche rice krispie treats are the gooey next step.
M&M Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
Rice Krispies Treats:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
Peanut Butter Frosting:
- 1/2 cup cream peanut butter
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 & 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 18 ounce bag M&M's (family size)
Instructions
- Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper or wax paper, and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Add in the marshmallows and let them melt, stirring constantly. As soon as you have melted marshmallows, remove pot from the heat and add the rice cereal. Mix and mix until all the cereal is coated.
- Spread the mix into the prepared baking dish. For easy spreading, spray a spatula with non-stick spray or your fingers.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Make the frosting by mixing the peanut butter and butter together in a medium-sized bowl with an electric hand mixer until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar a little at a time until mixed in, it will be thick.
- Add the heavy cream and vanilla, mix it in until combined, then whip on medium-high speed for 2 minutes.
- Spread the frosting over the krispy treats. Use the parchment to help remove it from the pan.
- Press in the M&M candies in any pattern you wish. Cut into bars and serve.
Notes
- This makes a large batch, but you can easily double it to feed more or halve the recipe as needed.
- Tons of custom options, see my tips above on that.
- Great for a make-ahead dessert.
- This freezes well, see my tips above on how to store.
- Use any candy you use, but I suggest sticking to chocolate candies.
- Add any pattern on top of the treats however you wish.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
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Made these today as an egg free dessert option…that peanut butter frosting along with some mini Reese cups, made them fantastic! Thanks for sharing this quick, easy and delicious recipe!
My kids will love this! Pinned. Hugs! Lou Lou Girls
oh what a great idea! I love the rainbow effect too. I will have to try this for the grands and, of course, taste test lol.
Ooh these look yummy!
I would be honored to have you share with us at Inspire Us Tuesdays. (http://twolittlecavaliers.com/2014/09/inspire-us-tuesdays-happy-fall.html)
These would be so great for a bake sale! Unfortunately, I have the menu set for my bake sale this weekend, but I’m pinning it for next time.
“this is AWESOME! ” I am shouting the words our youngest grandson would say if saw this giant sized treat! Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite things blog hop. xo
Yum looks awesome
These look like fun. Thanks for sharing them on Foodie Friday
These look amazing! I know my daughter would totally love these. May have to make this for her birthday.
I love the rainbow of m&m’s on the Monster Rice Krispie Treats. So colorful. They look yummy too!