Chocolate Peanut Butter Crispy Bites
Chewy, crunchy, chocolate-dipped peanut butter bites with whole grain oats and crispy rice cereal—no baking required!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon warm water
- ½ cup crispy rice cereal, like Rice Krispies
- ½ cup chocolate chips, semi-sweet or dark
- Coarse sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Make the base mixture: In a medium bowl, stir together the peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add dry ingredients: Stir in the oats, cocoa powder, and warm water until fully incorporated. Then mix in the crispy rice cereal. The batter will become thicker, less sticky, and more pliable—manageable for rolling into balls.
- Form the bites: Scoop out small clumps of the mixture with your fingers and press them together before rolling into balls gently between your palms. Aim for about 15 equal bites. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet or plate.
- Melt the chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and silky.
- Coat top halves with chocolate & salt: Spoon melted chocolate over the top half of each bite (you can also dip, but it gets a bit messier). Immediately sprinkle a light pinch of coarse sea salt on the wet chocolate side before it sets.
- Chill to set chocolate: Refrigerate the bites for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate is firm.
Notes
Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months. If frozen, let them sit at room temp for a few minutes before enjoying for best texture.
Nut-free swap: Substitute sunflower seed butter for peanut butter to make these school-friendly and allergy-safe.
Flavor boosts: Add a dash of cinnamon or espresso powder to the cocoa mixture for extra depth. A few mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts folded into the batter can also add texture and flavor.
Pump up the protein: Swap the cocoa powder with chocolate protein powder for an extra boost.
Vegan & gluten-free tips: These are naturally vegan if you use dairy-free chocolate chips. If you need these to be gluten-free, be sure to choose both oats and crispy rice cereal that are labeled gluten-free. Kellogg’s Rice Krispies (U.S. version) are not gluten-free because they contain malt flavoring from barley. Look for brands like Barbara’s Organic Brown Rice Crisps, One Degree Organic Foods Brown Rice Crisps, or Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice. And always check labels because formulations can sometimes change.
Make into bars: Press the mixture into a parchment-lined 8 x 8 pan, top with melted chocolate and sea salt, chill in the fridge until firm and slice into squares.
Nutrition Information per serving
Serving Size: 1 biteCalories: 70Carbohydrates: 8gProtein: 2gTotal Fat: 3.5g— Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g— Saturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 20mgFiber: 1gTotal Sugar: 4g— Natural Sugar: 0g— Added Sugar: 4g
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.