We all know and love the classic crispy rice bar. Take it up a notch by adding natural peanut butter and fair-trade chocolate for these chocolate peanut butter crispy rice treats. The result? A portable treat that you can take to picnics by the water, camping under the stars, or your next backyard barbecue.

Serves 12
Total time: 15 minutes
Gluten-Free, Vegan

 Ingredients

• 2 Endangered Species Chocolate Bars, finely chopped
• 5 cups rice crisp cereal
• 1 cup natural creamy peanut butter
• ¾ cup agave syrup
• 2 tablespoons plant-based butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• ¼ cup crushed salted peanuts

 Directions

1. Line an 8” square pan with parchment paper.
2. Put rice crisp cereal in a large mixing bowl.
3. Melt butter in pan over low heat. Add agave to the pan and stir together until combined. Add peanut butter. Stir to combine.
4. Let this mixture cook on low for three to four minutes, stirring frequently. It should start to thicken slightly but still be a liquid when you take it off the heat. Take pan off heat. Add vanilla extract. Stir to combine. 
5. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the rice crisp cereal. Stir to combine. Pour mixture into parchment-lined pan. Press mixture down firmly to be sure it all sticks together.
6. Let set in the fridge for one hour. Chop roasted and salted peanuts. Set aside.  
7. Melt chocolate in microwave in 20 second increments. Stir well between each increment. Stop microwaving when there is still a bit of solid chocolate remaining.
8. Pour the chocolate over the top of the rice crispy treats. Spread out evenly with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Sprinkle chopped nuts on top while chocolate is liquid.
9. Let set in fridge. Once chocolate is firm cut into 12 squares and serve.