Nutella rice krispie treats are quick to prepare and impossible to resist. No bake crunchy rice cereal bars, with chocolate and Nutella? Your favorite childhood snack bars just got WAY better!
Why you’ll love these Nutella rice krispie treats
Just 6 ingredients. You may already have the ingredients in your kitchen pantry.
Easy to make at home. Simply combine everything in a bowl, spread into a pan, and press down firmly. There’s no oven required.
No marshmallows. Unlike many other Nutella krispie treat recipes, this one is made without marshmallows or marshmallow fluff. The recipe can also be gluten free, dairy free, and vegan.
Crowd friendly & fun to eat. I recently made the recipe for a neighborhood summer block party, and they received rave reviews from guests of all ages. Take a tray of these chocolatey Nutella squares to your next party or event, and watch how fast the entire plate is gone!
You may also like Homemade Bounty Bars
Step by step recipe video
Key ingredients
Nutella – Use any store bought or homemade chocolate hazelnut spread. I like to whip up my own vegan Nutella, because it’s easy to make and less expensive than the jarred kind, with fewer ingredients and less sugar.
Rice krispies cereal – This can be a crisped rice cereal or another small shape cereal, including classic Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, Nature’s Path organic gluten free Crispy Rice Cereal, or your favorite keto cereal.
Cocoa powder – The recipe calls for a fourth cup of unsweetened cocoa powder or chocolate protein powder for a high protein version.
Sweetener – A sticky sweetener holds the bars together. Try honey, agave, pure maple syrup, or a sugar free alternative.
Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract compliments the chocolate and hazelnut flavors.
Salt – The salt is not needed for texture or structure, but it makes a big difference in taste. I highly recommend not leaving it out.
Chocolate chips (optional) – If you are a chocoholic who believes there’s no such thing as too much chocolate, dip each bar in melted chocolate chips. You won’t regret it.
How to make Nutella krispie treats
- Line the bottom of an eight inch square baking pan with wax or parchment paper. Or use a smaller pan for thicker krispie squares. Set this pan aside.
- Stir the crisp rice cereal, cocoa powder or protein powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Then stir in the chocolate hazelnut spread, agave or honey (or other liquid sweetener), and pure vanilla extract until well mixed. Make sure to coat all the krispies.
- Transfer the mixture to your prepared pan, and use a second sheet of parchment paper to press down very firmly. (See the recipe video for a visual.) Really press it down!
- Refrigerate or freeze until chilled.
- Meanwhile, make the optional chocolate topping by melting the chocolate chips either in the microwave or using the double boiler method on the stove top. Stir a teaspoon of coconut oil into the melted chocolate sauce if you want a smoother consistency.
- Pour the chocolate over the Nutella bars and spread out evenly with a spatula or spoon. (If you prefer, you can also slice and then dip the bottom of each chocolate hazelnut bar individually into melted chocolate.)
- Refrigerate the pan just until sauce is no longer wet. Slice into bars or squares and serve.
- Store any leftovers covered in a cool, dry place on the counter for up to two days. Or refrigerate in a covered container for up to a month. Or freeze in an airtight container for up to three months. They are really good straight from the freezer!
Katie’s favorite variations of the recipe
- Use chocolate peanut butter instead of Nutella.
- Stir a handful of freeze dried strawberries in with the krispies.
- Add mini chocolate chips or white chocolate chips, chopped pecans, or chocolate sprinkles on top of the melted chocolate before it sets.
- Stir half a cup of finely chopped caramels or pitted dates into the batter.
- Sprinkle crushed Oreo cookies, pretzels, or flaky sea salt over everything.
- Turn them into healthy Nutella protein krispie treats by substituting the cocoa powder for an equal amount of chocolate protein powder.
Nutella Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 3 cups crisp rice cereal (85g) (or any low carb or gluten free small shape cereal)
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract (10g)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup Nutella or Homemade Nutella (160g)
- 1/2 cup honey or agave (120g)
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder (20g) or chocolate protein powder
- 3 oz chocolate chips (optional for topping)
Instructions
- 1. Stir rice krispie cereal, cocoa or protein powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Then mix in the Nutella, sweetener, and vanilla until well mixed.
- 2. Transfer to an 8 inch square pan lined with parchment paper. (Or use a smaller pan for thicker bars.) Use a second sheet of parchment to press down very firmly.
- 3. Refrigerate or freeze the Nutella rice krispie treats until chilled.
- 4. Make the optional chocolate coating by carefully melting the chocolate chips in the microwave or on the stove top. Stir in a teaspoon of coconut oil if you want a smoother sauce.
- 5. Pour chocolate over the bars and use a spatula or spoon to spread it out evenly. Refrigerate about ten minutes to set the chocolate, then slice into bars or squares.
- 6. Store leftovers covered on the counter for two days, or in the refrigerator or freezer for longer term storage.
Video
Notes
More ways to use Nutella
First Post!!!
These look delectable! ha and yes I know people allergic to chocolate 🙁 so sad! I haven’t been able to put nutella in my house recently because I usually eat the whole thing in one sitting…oops 🙂
I actually went years not being a big fan of chocolate but I have since seen the error in my ways!
These look delicious! Definitely bookmarking them for later!
Did you hear about the 5 TONS of Nutella that was stolen in Germany? How crazy is that?
Five tons? WOW. Well, whoever stole it, I don’t blame them! Nutella is that good. 😀
I wish more people hated chocolate. More for me.
I don’t think my grandmother likes chocolate…but I’m not sure we’re related. 😉 Just kidding. But not about the not liking chocolate part.
Mmmm, these look tasty! I’m in Dallas, Texas, right now, and I think I might find and kidnap you and make you my kitchen slave! ;D
I positively adore Nutella, but unfortunately anything with white and processed sugars makes me sick. Sometime, I have to make yours! You’ve saved my Nutella life!
Awesome. What are you doing in Dallas? 🙂
Well, my father is a professional musician, so my whole family (all nine of us) live in a travel trailer and go with him all over the US. These past couple months have been Texas months. So now we’re in Dallas for about a week, or two.
It’s such a beautiful state! 😀
I know a few people allergic to chocolate and a couple of relatives who don’t like it. That’s okay, though- more for me! ;D
The Rice Krispies look amazing! I can’t wait to try them.
I didn’t like chocolate as a kid–the only way I could tolerate it was if it had tons of peanut butter, and even then I’d still choose sour candies if given a choice. While I’ve come around to appreciate chocolate as an adult, I still don’t LOVE it like you, and I still can’t handle dark or bittersweet chocolate. Before going vegan, I couldn’t even do semi-sweet, but I’ve started liking that since I have limited options.
I really hate coffee and beer, too, and the common thread in all three is bitter taste. Maybe bitter flavors are just too strong for me?
You might be a “supertaster”. Evidently that is a common problem. Also, don’t like a lot of vegetables.
I LOVE it!! What a great recipe and I love to use healthy Nutella too!!
as always: yummy recipe! I want to munch some now;) I was a bit sad to see your posts are getting shorter these days – you must be preoccupied with sth. else?! I know it’s weird, I just like to read more about the person behind the blog.. but keep going! I am a huge fan of your healthy desserts ( I did make your snickerdoodle blondies a few days ago and can’t wait to try the pb secret cookies, the pb protein bar and everything related to chocolate!!! 🙂 )
I just know a lot of people get bored by long, rambly posts and just don’t want to hear that much from me! I often have to cut out chunks of things I’ve written, to keep it more concise ;).
yeah ok.. after all it’s about the recipes, not your daily routine:) but did you mention to write (again) a post about what you eat a day or have I read sth. wrong? just asking:)
Yes, I probably will at some point :).
Actually, I love listening to bloggers’ “rambly” posts. They make me feel like I get to know them better as a person, and the more someone talks the more their true personality shines through! 🙂 So ramble away Katie!!
Ditto! I care about Katie just as much as I care about her chocolate fancies! =)
Haha ok I will try to strike a better balance. Ironically, my next post was actually going to be more personal even before I read this :).
Yes I love reading more too! It adds something special..Anyone who just wants to see a recipe can skip reading and scroll 🙂
What a beautiful and heart warming story.
Makes me want to….
eat.
Chocolate.
But then again, what doesn’t?
Is it wrong if I make these for breakfast??
-Gabrielle
Yes, very wrong :).
I have a recipe very similar to this that I make pretty much all the time — they’re SO good, Katie!
My mother craved chocolate while she was pregnant with me. I’m not sure how much she ate, but I would get severely ill if I consumed any bit of chocolate when I was young. This made me hate chocolate. I still am not a big fan of it, but I do enjoy a little chocolate flavor now and then.
Those look delicious! Much better than the marshmallow rice crispy squares.
My friend is allergic to chocolate but, because of that, it tastes awful to her and makes her sick so she doesn’t mind not eating it at all!
I DO know someone who doesn’t like chocolate! It really is sad, isn’t it? I remember the first time I learned this about her. I made Irish Car Bomb cupcakes for St Patty’s Day and she took a bite (to be polite) and CRINGED! Sad. Sad. Sad. But you’re right. More for us! 🙂
Oh.my.goodness. I just discovered nutella last year and I really feel like I met my true love, haha. it is so good! these look amazing.
I used to hate chocolate! I know…sooo weird. It grew on me just in the last 5 years or so 🙂 I got a lot of flack for that