These vegan rice crispy treats are a simple no bake dessert made with 3 ingredients. No dairy and no refined sugar, they take 5 minutes to make.
The Best Vegan Rice Crispy Treats
If you love rice crispy treats, you are in for a treat. This vegan version is one you’ll add to your dessert rotation every week.
Traditional crispy treats use marshmallows and butter, but not these! Don’t fret though- they taste every bit as delicious as you’d expect.
And you’ll love that they are naturally vegan and gluten free. There are no animal products or dairy used.
By the way, the texture is incredible: Crispy, soft, dense, and perfectly delicious.
They need just 3 ingredients to make and literally take 5 minutes to prep. Compared to other desserts, they are healthy too, with no refined sugar.
Oh, and if you want to try some other healthier desserts with 3 ingredients, you’ll enjoy oatmeal bars and no bake cookies.
Ingredients needed
You’ll notice and short and simple list of ingredients to make these bars. They are easy to find and if you’ve made any of my vegan desserts before, you probably have everything in your pantry. Here is what you’ll need:
- Crispy rice cereal. Any crispy rice based cereal works, including rice crispies and brown rice crispies.
- Peanut butter. Smooth and creamy with no added sugar.
- Maple syrup. Adds sweetness and help bind the mixture.
How to make vegan rice crispy treats
This recipe is truly one of the easiest that you’ll ever make and follow a simple 3-step process. The hard part is waiting for them to firm up but honestly, it will be worth it.
Ready to whip some up?
Step 1- Melt the peanut butter and maple syrup
Start by adding the peanut butter and maple syrup in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30-40 seconds, until warm. Whisk them together until smooth.
Step 2- Combine ingredients
Next, add the rice cereal and mix well, until fully combined. Transfer the mixture into a lined square pan and press down on top until uniform and smooth.
Step 3- Chill and set
Now, refrigerate the treats for at least an hour to firm up. Once firm, use a sharp knife and slice into bars.
Tips to make the best recipe
- If you notice the mixture to be a little too sticky/wet, you can add more crispy rice cereal. Sometimes, the peanut butter and syrup mix can be a little too creamy.
- Line your pan before adding the mixture in so you’ll enjoy an easy removal.
- If you don’t own a microwave, you can heat the peanut butter and syrup together in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Dietary swaps and substitutions
The beauty of these crispy treats is just how easy they are to customize to other diets out there. Here are some suggestions:
- Make them gluten free. Use gluten free rice crispy cereal.
- Swap out the peanut butter. Use another nut or seed butter, including almond butter, cashew butter, tahini, or sunflower seed butter.
- Cut the carbs. Try making keto rice crispy treats instead.
- Cut the sugar. Replace the maple syrup with sugar free maple syrup.
- Use another sweetener. Not a fan of maple syrup? Try using agave nectar or brown rice syrup instead.
Storage info
Wondering what’s the best way to store rice crispy treats? Here are best practices for storage:
- Up to one week: Rice Crispy Treats can keep at room temperature, covered.
- One week or more: They are best kept refrigerated, as they will maintain a firm texture, and last for up to 4 weeks.
- Up to 6 months: Place the treats in a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
More vegan dessert recipes to try
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the Kellogg’s version of crispy treats contains butter, marshmallows, and gelatin, which are not suitable for a vegan diet.
This recipe uses a combination of peanut butter and maple syrup, which both add sweetness and help hold the treats together.
Yes, there is no dairy in rice crispies cereal.
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Vegan Rice Crispy Treats | 3 Ingredients and NO marshmallows
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice crispy cereal
- 1/2 cup peanut butter can sub for almond/cashew
- 1/2 cup maple syrup can sub for agave nectar or brown rice syrup
Instructions
- Line an 8 x 8-inch baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
- Add your peanut butter and maple syrup to a microwave safe bowl and melt your nut butter with your syrup.
- Add the rice cereal to the peanut butter and syrup mixture and mix until combined.
- Pour mixture into the lined baking tray and press firmly into place. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Slice into bars and enjoy.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Omggg YUM! Rice Krispies were one of my favourite snacks back in the day and at the time, I didn’t find them sickly sweet at all- I guess that says plenty about my sweet tolerance back in the day ha! I personally find meringues and macaroons far too sweet for my liking- a few bites is more than enough!
Oh yes- Meringues can be SOO dangerous- Maybe their melt in your mouth texture!
Yeah, these things are great, right?
SO GOOD! Now I really want a meringue! 🙂
Straight up candy was always just too sweet for me. Wouldn’t want to get diabetes in one bite – Arman to the rescue again 🙂
Thanks so much, Michele!
Whole Foods has these baskets as well. Last week when we queued at the Whole Foods checkout right in front of said baskets I suggest to make rice crispie bars for us back home. I guess I don’t need to tax my brain but just make these 🙂
Whilst I like sweet treats I am not in for the too sweet ones. That’s why I don’t like most sugar candy I assume!
But nutella straight from the jar is a must! Why bother with any bread?
Right? Or even the sweetened peanut butter!
As Amen’s personal recipe tester, I can tell you that these treats are FRIGGIN AWESOME. Make them or you’re silly.
#sabotagingcamel
Oh em geeeeeeee. I was literally JUST talking about rice krispy treats yesterday. Clearly this is a sign that I must make these STAT.
YES! Do it! 😀 Thanks Ashley!
yay to my favorite childhood treat having only 3 ingredients and taking 5 minutes to make!
Right? Thanks!
I think PB rice krispies taste waaay better than the original ones. These look so pretty and tasty!
We always had bananas in our dining hall and I would stuff them in my bag like crazy. Then I’d make my friends grab some too.
LOL. I need to send you a photo of my window sill right now….there are bananas hanging out there waiting to turn brown 😀
These looks awesome. I make a similar version with almond butter and brown rice syrup and call them nice krispy treats. 🙂 They’re awesome with the Chocolate Koala Crisp cereal too if you like chocolate. 🙂
I love making these cocoa style too- So good! 🙂
I used to make rice krispy treats using cocoa pebbles. So good! I should try it again with cocoa pebbles and your recipe – I would love the combo of the peanut butter and the chocolate.
YES! I have a cocoa twist coming up soon, it’s my favorite over this 😀
Easy and quick recipes is what I need as a busy mom, thanks for sharing these treats. They look as yum as all your recipes 🙂
Thanks so much, Petro 🙂
I love rice krispy treats and there’s this company who makes amazing ones called The Crispery. I ate one once and have been dying for more. I love alllll the marshmallows in mine, but your version looks delish!
oh what? I need to google that now…..
Healthy rice krispy treats?!? YAY!! I would probably go the honey-route – it sounds so dang delicious in my head. haha 😀
Haha it does, right? Cheers Kate!
Yum, these look so good and simple!
Right? Thanks so much, Emily!
Does drinking honey straight from the honey bear count as the most sickly sweet snack I’ve ever eaten? Because I used to do that on the regular when I was a little kid… And oddly enough, I never suffered any consequences. I don’t think my current self would be able to marathon through something like that though. Eep.
Right? With age, we lose our talents haha!
Dear Arman, these are the perfect snack and one I can feel good about giving all my boys. You won’t believe this, but my oven has been broken for two weeks now. A new one is ordered but it had to be custom because of the placement our cherry cabinets. So this is the perfect snack and my kids will rejoice since I refuse to buy bulk package snacks. They’ve been eating like, baby carrots and apples. Trust me they will be thrilled. Me too. thanks for a great recipe.
Oh no!!!!! Wow, this is good timing then- Let’s hope it’s sorted soon 🙂