With layers of color and irresistibly chewy texture, these Peeps Treats are going to be your new favorite Easter dessert! Kids will love them, and let’s be honest—even adults can’t pass up these festive Rice Krispie treats.
Peeps are one of these holiday treats that’s best enjoyed in small doses. (Well, kids might be able to eat a whole package in one sitting. But once you’ve reached adulthood, they’re a little much.)
So what do you do when you have a bunch of packages of Peeps sitting in the pantry?
You make a batch of Peeps Treats, of course!
Peeps Treats are exactly what they sound like—Rice Krispie treats made with an array of colorful Peeps instead of the usual white marshmallows. You’ll get all the crispy, chewy, deliciousness of the original, but with pastel layers of yellow, blue, purple, and pink.
Peeps Treats
Make a batch of these Peeps Treats and serve them alongside my No-Bake Birds Nest Cookies, Fruit Dip, and Easter Bunny Butt Cake for a fun and festive dessert table. You can never have too many desserts for holidays!
Why You’ll Love It
Ingredients and Substitutions
Visit the printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.
- Rice Krispies – The classic! I recommend using the Rice Krispies brand because some other varieties of crispy rice cereal have a different shape and texture.
- Peeps – I used 4 different colors; the bunnies and the chicks both work.
- Butter – The butter can be salted or unsalted.
Variations
- For bolder colors, you can add gel food coloring that matches the colors of the Peeps you’re using; add the color before adding the Rice Krispies.
- You can make swirled Peeps Treats by preparing all of the colors at the same time, then gently pressing handfuls of the cereal mixture into the pan, alternating the different colors.
- If you have flavored Peeps, you can use those in this recipe too.
Tip
You’ll need to remove all the eyes from the Peeps before starting the recipe. I know it sounds strange, but if you skip this step, you’ll have little dots in your Rice Krispie treats—not a big deal, but if you’re making them for a party, you want them perfect!
How to Make
- Prep – Grease or line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment or wax paper.
- Melt the butter and Peeps (Stovetop) – Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and stir in one color of Peeps until the marshmallow melts.
- Melt the butter and Peeps (Microwave) – In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 color of Peeps. Microwave 45 seconds, then stir and microwave in 10 second increments until the marshmallow has melted and the mixture is smooth when stirred.
- Add the cereal – Quickly stir 1 1/2 cups of Rice Krispies into the marshmallow and butter mixture.
- Transfer to the pan – Scoop the Rice Krispie mixture into the prepared pan, pressing it gently into an even layer.
- Repeat – Repeat this process with the remaining colors.
- Finish – Use a butter wrapper to gently press on the top for even treats. Allow the Peeps Treats to set for 1 hour, then cut them into squares and serve.
Tips
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Don’t heat the Peeps over high heat. If the sugar on the outside of the Peeps gets too hot, it will turn into hard candy when it cools—which means your Peeps Treats will be hard instead of chewy.
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Press the Rice Krispie mixture into the pan lightly. You want to use enough pressure to get the layers to hold together, but not so much that you smash the cereal.
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For perfect Peeps Treats, remove them from the pan by lifting the parchment or wax paper. Place them on a cutting board, then use a large chef’s knife coated with nonstick spray to make firm, swift cuts. If you happen to have a pizza rocker, that works especially well here.
Shortcut
It’s best if you wash the pan or bowl between each color to keep the previous batch from tinting the next. If you don’t have time for that, start with the lightest color first and then work your way up to the darkest.
What to do with Leftovers: You can crumble up these Peeps Treats and use them as a topping for ice cream sundaes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Peeps are basically sugar-coated marshmallows, so they’re made with sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, and food coloring, along with a few other ingredients for freshness and flavor.
You need fresh Peeps for this recipe. If the Peeps have been sitting around unwrapped for a while, they’ll dry out and they won’t melt smoothly.
Pressing the treats into the pan with the butter wrapper is my secret tip for keeping my hands clean, but if you have to touch the cereal mixture directly at any point, spray your fingers or hands with nonstick spray first. You can also coat your spatula, spoon, and anything else that will come into contact with the sticky Rice Krispie mixture with cooking spray to keep it from sticking.
How to Store
Don’t refrigerate these Peeps treats! Keep them in an airtight container for a few days; they don’t last quite as long as traditional rice krispie treats.
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More Easter Ideas
Peeps Treats
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Krispies divided
- 12 ounces Peeps (40 chicks, eyes removed – we used four 3 ounce packages)
- 8 tablespoons butter salted or unsalted, divided
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions:
- Grease or line a 9×9” baking pan with parchment or wax paper. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, melt butter 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and stir in one color of Peeps until smooth.
- Remove from heat and quickly stir in 1 1⁄2 cups Rice Krispies.
- Pour into prepared pan.
- Repeat with remaining colors.
- Use butter wrapper to gently press for even treats. Allow to set 1 hour. Cut in squares to serve.
Microwave Instructions:
- Grease or line a 9×9” baking pan with parchment or wax paper. Set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl, add 2 tablespoons butter and 1 color of Peeps. Microwave 45 seconds. Stir and continue in 10 second increments until smooth.
- Fold in Rice Krispies. Drop or gently press into prepared pan.
- Repeat with each color using a clean bowl and spatula.
- Use butter wrapper to gently press for even treats. Allow to set 1 hour. Cut in squares to serve.
Julie’s Tips
- Don’t heat the Peeps over high heat. If the sugar on the outside of the Peeps gets too hot, it will turn into hard candy when it cools—which means your Peeps Treats will be hard instead of chewy.
- Press the Rice Krispie mixture into the pan lightly. You want to use enough pressure to get the layers to hold together, but not so much that you smash the cereal.
- For perfect Peeps Treats, remove them from the pan by lifting the parchment or wax paper. Place them on a cutting board, then use a large chef’s knife coated with nonstick spray to make firm, swift cuts. If you happen to have a pizza rocker, that works especially well here.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
These are so adorable and so easy to make! We loved them, such a fun spin on the traditional rice krispie treats.
Thank you so much for your kind words and review!
Have a wonderful week,
Julie