Sunflower Butter Crispy Treats

My family loves a good treat bar: granola bars, blondies, fruit bars, peanut butter bars, and all the bars! They’re portable and don’t require plates, utensils, and napkins. 

Sunflower Butter Crispy Treats are made with crispy rice cereal, marshmallows, sunflower butter (I think it tastes just like peanut butter!), and butter. They are peanut-free and nut-free, making them perfect for lunchboxes and school parties.

They are a riff on Rice Krispies Treats, a no-bake crispy treat of my childhood. These have the nostalgic chewy, crispy texture and taste of the original snack, but with a nutty flavor of sunflower butter woven throughout. The crispy rice cereal makes them light like little clouds. 

These no-bake ooey-gooey, crunchy bars are quick and easy to make. They are my go-to “nap snacks”—treats that I can make start to finish during my kids’ naptime. It’s made in one pot and then dumped into a lined baking pan that doubles as a serving tray.

What is Sunflower Butter?

Sunflower butter is made with ground sunflower seeds. It tastes like peanut butter, but it’s low on the allergen ladder—most schools that prohibit peanut butter or nuts will allow sunflower butter. Always check with your school! 

You can often find sunflower butter alongside peanut butter and other nut butters at most grocery stores. My local Target carries it.

Scaling Up for a Party

This recipe is scalable with an easy-to-remember ratio. For every cup of cereal, I use about three ounces of marshmallows and one tablespoon of unsalted butter. If you’re adding flavorings, like sunflower butter, use about two tablespoons per cup of cereal. 

Tips and Tricks for the Best Crispy Treats

These treats come together easily and quickly. Here are some tips for the best Sunflower Butter Crispy Treats: 

• Work fast! As soon as the butter, sunflower butter, and marshmallows are melted and the cereal is added, work quickly to combine everything together. The marshmallows will start to get stringy and sticky, becoming harder to mix. 
• I keep scraps of parchment paper left after trimming them for irregular-sized pans. These are great for lining your square pan to help lift out the treats. You can also use two rectangular strips the width of the pan. My secret to keeping them in place? Bag clips!
• The mixture may be hard to flatten into the pan with a rubber spatula. One trick that works for me: Lightly moisten your hands with water (just a little! not dripping wet!) and lightly press down. The water prevents it from sticking to your hands. It’s an easy way to get an even flat surface. The mixture will feel a little hot so work quickly and carefully. 
• Fill the pot covered with dried-on marshmallows with hot water. It will melt the marshmallows, making clean-up easier. Promise!
• The bars should cool for about an hour. They will firm up and become chewier. Stick them in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes if it’s difficult to get a clean cut.

Ingredient Swaps

Gluten free? Chocolate-lover? Try these ingredient swaps for more tasty ways to mix up your crispy treats.

• Want to use peanut butter? Go for it! If your peanut butter is salted, cut back on the added salt. About 1/4 teaspoon of salt will suffice.
• Make it vegan by using equal amounts of Earth Balance vegan butter and vegan marshmallows instead of the regular butter and marshmallows.
• Gluten-free? Use gluten-free crispy rice cereal. I like One Degree Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps.
• Use chocolate-flavored crispy rice cereal for a chocolate-y version. 
• For a sweeter version, add a tablespoon of honey or brown rice syrup. It won’t change the consistency of the treats. 

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container on your kitchen counter for up to one day. Longer may be okay, but I prefer to refrigerate it after a day since it has butter that hasn’t been fully brought up to If refrigerated, it’ll be good for up to five days. Let refrigerated crispy treats sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before digging in. The cold makes them rock solid.

More Nut-Free Treats

• Nut-Free “Peanut Butter” Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Kettle Corn
• Blondies
• Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
• Brown Sugar Snickerdoodle Cookies