Spray an 8-inch square pan with oil and press a piece of parchment paper into the bottom of the pan. The oil will hold the parchment in place, so it won't wiggle around later. Since this recipe moves quickly, it's also a good idea to add the cereal to a large mixing bowl, so it's ready to go later.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the honey to a boil. As soon as it's bubbling, set a timer for 1 minute and let it boil until the timer goes off. Turn down the heat if the honey starts to bubble towards the top of the pan.
When the timer goes off, remove the honey from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and salt. As soon as the mixture is smooth, pour it over the cereal in the large mixing bowl. Stir well, until the cereal is well coated. It will start to thicken up as it cools, and will be very sticky.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, and press HARD to pack the cereal into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the fridge or freezer, so the bars can cool completely. When they are totally cool, they are ready to slice and serve, unless you'd like to add the chocolate topping below.
For a chocolate topped bar, melt a 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips in the microwave, or over a double-boiler. When the chocolate is melted, spread it over the top of the bars and place the pan in the freezer briefly, just until the chocolate is hardened. Then the bars are ready to slice and serve.
Leftover rice crispy treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, but they will become slightly softer over time. For the crispiest results, I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
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Notes
Nutrition information is for 1 of 16 bars, without the optional topping. This information is automatically calculated, and is just an estimate not a guarantee.You can use almond butter or sunflower butter instead of peanut butter, if you'd like a different option.For a vegan recipe, replace the honey with maple syrup.