Rice Krispie treats get jazzed up with creamy peanut butter, a layer of smooth dark chocolate, and a sprinkling of flaky salt, for the ultimate marriage of chocolate and peanut butter!
In This Post
My family has a favorite quote from The New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast. It’s become our mantra for how to lead life.
“One day your hair dryer is working just fine. The next day it’s sending out sparks to beat the band.”
Basically, things are going just swell. Swimmingly even. And then in the blink of an eye…everything changes.
That’s what happened to the food blogging community when we learned this past week of the passing of a much respected member, Chocolate Chocolate and More’s Joan Hayes.
In celebration of her life, and somehow symbolically coinciding with National Chocolate Day, food bloggers are joining together to toast Joan and her influence the only way we can. With recipes from near, far, and everywhere in between. With recipes featuring chocolate. It’s what Joan’s wishes would have been and what we’re here to fulfill.
I never had the opportunity to meet Joan in person, but SO MANY bloggers did. 2.5 million Facebook followers did, too. (So if you haven’t, you should follow her too.)
However I did know her online (because that’s what us bloggers do) and benefitted tremendously from her giving nature and knowledge. It’s simply amazing how one’s circle of friends can expand to the virtual world once you’ve become ingratiated in it.
I think Joan’s death has especially hit home because of her age. Joan was just 49 years old. So close to me. Sadly she left three children and a family she treasured. I can’t imagine.
She died in her sleep from a massive heart attack after complaining of an upset stomach. It’s one of the hidden signs we should all keep a more watchful eye on. The symptoms are so mundane. Why would you? Because you should.
Keep Joan’s Legacy Alive
To keep Joan’s legacy alive, please consider visiting Chocolate Chocolate and More to discover amazing baking recipes, and more.
Her blog will continue. Bloggers have committed to creating new recipes to share on her blog and unlike traditional professions, Joan’s passion and hard, Hard, HARD work will continue (with your clicks) to generate revenue for her children as long as this crazy thing called blogging and the internet keep on trucking.
Sadly I didn’t get the chance to feature Joan in one of my blogger Q&A’s. But thankfully, Lisa’s interview shared in just this past August 2015, Joan divulges her future hopes and desires.
Lisa: Where do you see you and your blog 5 years from now?
Joan: My site will still be sharing great recipes for sweets. Baking isn’t something you can just give up. I’ll have more travel posts but always connecting with the food. I’ll publish a cookbook with my favorite chocolate recipes, of course it’ll be a best seller!
Joan, here’s to your hopes and dreams living on. Your recipes will inspire others forever more.
About the Recipe
This is a basic rice krispie treat amped up to monster peanut buttery chocolate proportions. I used creamy peanut butter but you could use chunky if you like the bite, and of course, peanut chunks on top of the melted chocolate wouldn’t hurt much at all.
Depending on how thick you like your krispie treats, you can make this is in a 9 X 13 dish, or if you like them thick like me, a 9 X 9 or 8 X 8 baking pan will make them thick and rich and question whether you can fit them in your wide open mouth at all.
Using a small ramekin, I packed my krispies down so they were compact and thick. If you prefer your krispie treats a little looser, chewy, and easy on the bicuspids, simply use your fingers to pat down and pack.
I used semi-sweet chocolate melted in the microwave to top these treats. Feel free to use milk chocolate, dark chocolate or even white chocolate if you like.
Depending on the holiday, you can certainly tailor the toppers of this chocolate laced dessert to fit the occasion. Use candy corn, Christmas sprinkles or Valentine’s hearts to personalize these chocolate loving treats.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Salted Chocolate Peanut Butter Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 5 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
- 10 ounces plus 1 cup marshmallows
- 5 cups puffed rice krispie cereal
- 1 12- ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Super flaky salt falkes
Instructions
- Prepare a 9 X9 or 9 X 13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray topped with layers of parchment paper that hang over the sides.
- Pour the krispie cereal into a large bowl for mixing.
- Melt the butter in a large, high sided fry pan or sauce pan over low heat and stir in the peanut butter until combined. Add the marshmallows and stir until they've melted into the peanut butter mixture. Remove from the heat and pour over the krispie cereal. Grease your hands with butter or non-stick spray and mix the krispie mix with a spoon and/or your hands until totally incorporated. Press into the baking dish until it's flat. If you like a compact krispie treat, use a flat bottomed bowl to press the mixture tight. If you like it looser, keep it loose with your fingers. Set aside to cool.
- Pour the chocolate chips into a glass dish and microwave for 30 seconds then stir. Repeat 3 to 4 times, stirring after each time you heat until the chocolate has melted and is smooth.
- Spread the layer of melted chocolate over the top of the cooled krispies. Sprinkle with flaky salt or other seasonal toppings. Cool or chill until firm. Slice slice into bars. Go crazy with chocolate.
Chocolate, Chocolate and More…Peanut Butter
In the theme of my addition of peanut butter to chocolate, I searched Joan’s site for the same combo and discovered a bounty of PB & C goodness. Here are a few that stood out to me, and will surely stand the test of time.
Dark Chocolate Butterfinger Cupcakes
Food for Thought
Please consider visiting Joan’s blog, Chocolate, Chocolate and More and making a donation for the future of her three daughters. Thank you!
As always, thank you for reading and for supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. All opinions are always my own.
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Rony Ahmed +
This one is awesome. want to taste it soon
Quinn
these were great! (but i still had to put the marshmallows+PB mixture in the microwave to melt the marshmallows)
Becky
I made these right away and they are fantastic! For a while, I was the best Mom ever! Thanks so much for sharing!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
Such a wonderful tribute to Joan, and what an amazing community to be part of! I know she would love these krispie treats – that salted chocolate topping is a must for any chocoholic! :)
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
Heidi, what a thoughtful and beautiful post. . I never had the chance to meet Joan but from the reaction and love from the blogging community, you know she was special .. kind, real and a warm and giving soul. Thank you for sharing that interview . . will definitely check it out.
Laura (Blogging Over Thyme)
Such a lovely tribute Heidi! I had the opportunity to meet Joan last year at Click Retreat, and she was so generous with her knowledge. I’m so sad for her family, but know they will appreciate all the support and love being sent their way!
It’s amazing the outpouring of love being sent her way. So proud of this community.
Bella B
YUMMY! Salted chocolate and rice krispies! Sound delicious!
xoxoBella | http://xoxobella.com
Liren
Heidi, your words and your recipe are such a lovely way to remember Joan, whose legacy will continue to touch us all. I can only hope that she is looking down with smiles at all the chocolate and all the love.
I wish I’d had the opportunity to have met her in person. I’m so glad others have such wonderful memories of her.
You can bet she’s showering us with chocolate chips in each of our dreams. XO
Rebecca {foodie with family}
This is a beautiful tribute to Joan, Heidi. I’m still shocked that she isn’t here with us. I’m so, so, so glad that so many people have stepped up to keep her legacy going. I know she would’ve been so happy over that. xo
Katrina
I love how easy these are to make! So delicious!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
A perfect treat and tribute to Joan.
XO and your round-up of her recipes was so special too.
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
Like you, I never had the opportunity to meet Joan, but I’m positive with her love for chocolate that she would be on cloud 9 with all of the chocolate love today. What a fun way to celebrate and remember her.
Maybe we’ll have to create our own get together to learn from others first hand. XOXO
Mary Younkin
I have loved reading all the posts dedicated to Joan today. She would’ve loved to be remembered with so much chocolate. We have an amazing food blogging community, don’t we?
We sure do. For all the talk of blogging and online life being impersonal, this is just one more example of the tightness blogging creates.
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
Reading all these posts this morning has me feeling so thankful for such a great community!! While I don’t comment here often (SORRY!!) I just want you to know I love your blog, love you, and love this post :) These krispie treats are amazing and I can’t wait to make them soon!
Oh Aimee, I think we all know how crazy busy we all are and that the absence of comments doesn’t mean we don’t all know what and where we each are in our lives and on our blogs. XO
Maria
My thoughts and prayers are with Joan’s family. I know she would love these treats! xoxo
Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate to take away our sadness.
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
What a beautiful post, Heidi. In the wake of all this sadness, I’m truly amazed and thankful for the loving and supportive blogging community that we are all apart of. Joan will be dearly missed. Sending hugs and of course, lots of chocolate. XO
I couldn’t agree more Liz. It’s thrilling in a way to see how we can all rally and support one another in need. XOXO
Tori
What a great way to amp up a classic krispie treat! These look delish!