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Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Crispy Rice Bars

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Today I have a dessert for you folks who love peanut butter and chocolate together. If you’re one of those and also a lover of rice crispy treats, well, this recipe for gluten-free Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Crispy Rice Bars will really, really make you happy!

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Truffle Crispy Rice Bars

Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Crispy Rice Bars (Photo reprinted with permission from Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle by Kyra Bussanich (Ten Speed Press, © 2013). Photo Credit: Leela Cyd.)

If you’re a Food Network fan, chances are you are familiar with Kyra Bussanich. Perhaps you don’t recognize her by name. Maybe you just know her as the lady who won Cupcake Wars. With her gluten-free cupcakes! And not once, not twice, but three times!

Those were all major scores for not only Kyra and her amazing treats, but also for gluten-free goodness—and gluten-free awareness—let me tell you! Admittedly,  I never watch the Food Network or any cooking shows, but even I’d heard of Kyra Bussanich and seen her on the interwebs prior to her cookbook coming out.

Kyra Bussanich Cupcake Wars Sweet Cravings

Reprinted with permission from Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle by Kyra Bussanich (Ten Speed Press, © 2013). Photo Credit: Leela Cyd.

If her gluten-free recipes could win out over traditional (i.e., gluten-full) recipes again and again, they have to be ones you’d like to make in your own home, right? Of course, if you’re in the Portland Oregon area, you can stop by Kyra’s Bake Shop (formerly known as Crave Bake Shop) in Lake Oswego to sample some of Kyra’s own wares.

If not, no worries, because she’s sharing her recipes in her new cookbook, Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle, so you all can make them. And a cookbook called Sweet Cravings with such winning recipes is most definitely a perfect one to feature in Suite of Sweets for Sweethearts.

Suite of Sweets for Sweethearts on Gluten Free Easily

The first dozen pages of Kyra’s book tell her story and introduce you to the ingredients she uses in her recipes. She packs a lot of info, including some very helpful hints and tips in those pages. Her personal story is interesting because before going gluten free for health reasons, she only baked for enjoyment.

Once she went gluten free, her frustration at creating delicious baked goods inspired her to graduate from Le Cordon Bleu’s patisserie and baking program, work as a pastry chef, and ultimately open her own gluten-free bakery, and, well, of course, become a “three-peat” winner of Cupcake Wars.

After that brief intro section of her cookbook, Kyra gets to her recipes, which are divided into seven categories: Muffins and Scones; Buckles, Cobblers, and Crisps; Quick Breads and Coffee Cakes; Cookies, Brownies, and Bar Treats; Puddings, Cakes, and Other Pastries; Award-Winning Cupcakes (you knew there had to be a section sharing her amazing cupcake recipes right?); and Tarts, Pies, and Puffs. The recipes are further categorized as Easy, Intermediate, and Advanced.

The recipe for Kyra’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Crispy Rice Bars, which you’ll find at the bottom of this post, is classified as “Easy.” But these are impressive treats with their trifecta of rice crispy bar base, peanut butter filling, and ganache topping!

Sweet Cravings by Kyra Bussanich

Reprinted with permission from Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle by Kyra Bussanich (Ten Speed Press, © 2013). Photo Credit: Leela Cyd.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Crispy Rice Bars Recipe

Yield: 18 bars

Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Crispy Rice Bars

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Truffle Crispy Rice Bars. Peanut butter and chocolate meet rice krispy treats for a trifecta of goodness. [featured on GlutenFreeEasily.com]

Peanut butter and chocolate meet rice krispy treats for a trifecta of goodness from Kyra Bussanich.

Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Inactive Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 12 minutes

Ingredients

Crispy Rice Layer

  • 1/4 cup / 57 g butter
  • 1 (10-ounce) bag / 283 g jumbo marshmallows
  • 2 teaspoons / 10 g gluten-free vanilla extract (I use my homemade vanilla extract)
  • 8 cups / 283 g gluten-free crispy rice cereal (such as Erewhon)

Peanut Butter Layer

Chocolate Layer

  • 2 cups / 352 g gluten-free dark chocolate

Instructions

  1. Spray an 8 by 11-inch baking pan with gluten-free cooking spray and set aside.
  2. To make the crispy rice layer, melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter browns, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the marshmallows and vanilla and stir continuously until the marshmallows are melted. Remove from heat and stir in the cereal. Pour entire contents into the baking pan. Wet or grease your hands and pat down the cereal so it is level and compact. Freeze for 15 minutes to cool and set.
  3. Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, combine all the ingredients for the peanut butter layer and blend on low speed. Remove the crispy rice layer from the freezer and spread the peanut butter filling evenly over it. Freeze until firm to the touch, 30 to 60 minutes.
  4. In a microwave-safe bowl, or over a double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter for the chocolate layer and stir together until smooth. If using the microwave, heat at 30-second intervals, stirring well in between each interval. Working quickly, spread the chocolate evenly over the peanut butter layer. If the peanut butter is cold, the chocolate will set quickly.
  5. Freeze the pan again, 15 to 30 minutes, as it will be much easier to cut if the peanut butter layer is firm. Cut into bars and serve cold or at room temperature.

Notes

Reprinted with permission from Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle by Kyra Bussanich (Ten Speed Press, © 2013).

Photo Credit: Leela Cyd.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

© Kyra Bussanich
Cuisine: American / Category: Desserts
All excerpts from Sweet Cravings are reprinted with permission from Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle by Kyra Bussanich (Ten Speed Press, © 2013). Photo Credit: Leela Cyd.

Other Gluten-Free Peanut Butter and Chocolate Desserts on gfe

~ Chocolate Coconut Hazelnut Cookies

~ Cookie S’mores

~ Flourless Chocolate Cookies

~ Flourless Peanut Butter Nutella Sandwich Cookies

~ Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Cake

~ Sneaky Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins

Now for the Giveaway of Sweet Cravings …

UPDATE:  This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks to all who entered. If you didn’t win, you can still purchase Kyra’s cookbook, Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle on Amazon.

Full disclosure:  This giveaway was jointly sponsored by Ten Speed Press and gfe, but opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

Originally published February 18, 2014; updated March 3, 2024.

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Comments

  3. Stephanie Hood says

    I love portland oregon and will have to stop by her shop next time I go.

    I already ‘liked’ gfe on facebook and that’s what led me to this post.

    Reply

  7. insiya says

    Kyra was awesome on Cupcake Wars. Definitely addicted to Australia’s Masterchef & Junior Masterchef! Addicted to chocolate, peanut butter & my latest biggest addiction: Cookie Butter!!!

    Reply

  9. Rochelle says

    I don’t watch cupcake wars on a regular so I’ve missed Kyra….I would love to have this book…sweets are my down fall!

    Reply

  17. Erin says

    I watched Kyra on Cupcake Wars (wasn’t she on there twice?) She does such amazing work. And who can’t resist the chocolate and peanut butter combo??

    Reply

  22. Beverley Cribb says

    I love Pranut Butter and Chocolate, what a blissful combination. I am madly searching and cooking recipes for my daughter who is G/F. I am finding some joy but must admit it is a challenge .

    Reply

  25. Magic and Mayhem says

    I can’t make these as my daughters are vegetarian (marshmallows have gelatin from hooves and such), but the cookbook sounds wonderful!

    Reply

  27. sandra says

    Kyra was terrific on cupcake wars…she is a great poster child for gluten free. and best of all she got America’s attention, good looks, personality, brains & gluten free too… WOW….
    Would love to have her Sweet Cravings cookbook…..
    thanks

    Reply

  28. Abbie says

    I think this recipe looks amazing! I am obsessed with peanut butter & chocolate and I do love a good episode of cupcake wars 😉 my husband is gluten free, so this dessert cookbook looks like it would be PERFECT for our family! I am always baking, slightly obsessed!

    Reply

  31. Tracy C says

    I missed Kyra-I rarely gain access to the remote or have time to enjoy a cooking show. These treats sound delightful!

    Reply

  32. Tessa says

    I liked both! GFE has become such a big help since I’ve gone GF& I cannot wait to visit Kyra’s shop next time I’m in Oregon!

    Reply

  33. Keri says

    My family has recently gone GF due to my husband and daughters recent Celiac diagnosis. GFE has been a god-send!!! My family LOVES peanut butter and rice crispy treats so I can’t wait to try this recipe!!!

    Reply

  34. Audrey J says

    Looks delicious. I will use this for the next potluck meal I go to. Wouldn’t be able to have them in the house I would eat them in one sitting!

    Reply

  38. Jen says

    Wow! Well, I’ve never seen the show (that I recall), but I LOVE chocolate and peanut butter, and adding rice crisps to the mix makes it sound that much better! I may have to try these soon. Thanks for posting!

    Reply

  40. Tori says

    I saw Kyra win once. I was excited that GF won hurrah. I do like her FB page as well as GFE.
    Peanut butter, and chocolate always a winner.

    Reply

  45. KARAN says

    I hope to try some recipes soon. I wished she had a bakery here in Maryland, Id be there all the time. My birthday just past and we couldn’t even find a bakery to make a gluten free cake. Thank you!!

    Reply

  46. Heather says

    This book looks amazing!! I love chocolate/peanut butter anything & would love to try making my own crispy rice bars & other “seductive desserts” 🙂

    Reply

  51. BJMarley says

    No, I don’t have cable, so I don’t get to watch food shows. No I haven’t made gluten-free rice crispy bars. No, I haven’t been to her store. However, I would love to do all of those things.

    Reply

  54. LM says

    Thank you again to all who offered a chance to win a copy of “Sweet Cravings” I have watched Kyra on Cupcake Wars and am so excited that I won this book. I am looking forward to baking the amazing recipes.

    Reply

    • Shirley says

      Congrats again, LM! It’s terrific that you got to enjoy seeing Kyra display her talents on Cupcake Wars and now get to enjoy her book, and especially enjoy her amazing recipes as you say! 🙂

      Shirley

      Reply

  55. sandraq guetthoff says

    Hi Shirley. Today Feb. 25th I received your e-mail that I won Sweet Cravings Cookbook by Kyra. I hope its not to late as I was in the hospital for a couple of days…I’m the most unlucky person but I guess my angel sent you a mental message that I needed some great news… I’m so excited…… Since I’m now home recouping this will be wonderful to relax with a yummy cookbook…. again thanks so much….
    How do I send you my home address?
    god bless & many thanks…

    Reply

    • Shirley says

      Hi Sandra–Congrats, dear, but I’m so sorry to hear that you have been so ill. 🙁 Sending lots of good thoughts and prayers your way! Please reply to that same email with your mailing address and I’ll see that your copy gets sent out to you right away. 🙂

      Healing hugs to you!
      Shirley

      Reply

  57. Stephanie Hood says

    Woohoo! Perfect timing! My husband and I are just finishing rehabbing our new (to us) home with a bright, open, bigger and totally new kitchen. Time to get baking! Thank you very much.

    Reply

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