Apple Cinnamon Rice Krispie Treats

When the crispy cool air of fall rolls in and the leaves turn vibrant colors it's time to make a batch of these Apple Cinnamon Rice Krispie Treats. They are easy to make and are bursting with the warm flavors of apple pie.

It's that time of year when we crave comfort food with warm cozy flavors like apple cinnamon. 

So it's the perfect season to indulge in some crispy, chewy, marshmallow cereal treats speckled with apples and sprinkled with cinnamon. 

These treats are really packed with apple flavor. They are loaded with bits of dried apple rings and freeze-dried apple crumbs so you taste apples in every bite. 

They'd be a perfect no-bake dessert to serve for Thanksgiving. 

Apples

Look at all those apples poking out of the rice crispy bars. 

The bits you are seeing are pieces of dried apple rings. 

What are apple rings?

• Apple rings are dehydrated apples that have a soft texture and delicious apple flavor. 
• You can find apple rings in most grocery stores and health food stores. 

What are freeze-dried apples?

• Freeze-dried apples are also made from real apples but they are dried until they become crunchy. 
• Their texture is airy and crispy but not too hard. 
• They are typically rehydrated before eating and are often added to packaged oatmeal and cereal. 
• These apples will add another wonderful layer of apple flavor to your treats. 
• It's best to use freeze-dried apples that have had the apple peel removed for this recipe. 

Can I use Apple Chips instead?

• You can, but I'd really recommend using the freeze-dried apples.
• Apple chips are apple slices that have been fried or baked. 
• They have a nice apple flavor but it's not quite as pronounced as the freeze-dried apples. 
• Also, the freeze-dried apple crumbs blend right into the treats and you do not notice their texture, but apple chips will add more crunch to your treats. 

Ingredients:

apple rings - Chop these soft, dried, apple slices into small pieces. These pieces will add fresh apple flavor and chewy texture to the treats. 

freeze-dried apples - These apples are crunchy, not soft, and need to be crushed into fine crumbs to be added to these treats. You can skip this ingredient, but they will add a huge boost of apple flavor to your cereal treats. 

cinnamon - Ground cinnamon will add undertones of warm spice. 

Rice Krispie Cereal - You can use any brand of crisp rice cereal but we recommend using Kellogg's Rice Krispie Treats. They taste great and maintain their crunchy texture when blended with melted butter and marshmallows. 

Butter - We recommend using European-style salted butter when making any of our Rice Krispie Treats. The higher butterfat content than American-style butter adds richness and flavor. 

Marshmallows - Always use the freshest marshmallows you can to make your treats soft and chewy. Mini marshmallows will melt slightly more quickly than regular marshmallows but both will work fine. 

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Stovetop Method:

• Grease a large mixing bowl with butter, or spray it with cooking spray, then pour in the 4 cups Rice Krispies Cereal.
• Toss in the chopped apple rings and freeze-dried apple crumbs.
• Set aside.
• Grease an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan. 
• Begin to melt 4 tablespoons of salted butter in a medium-large saucepan set over low heat.
  • Note about butter - European-style salted butter will really enhance the flavor of your treats. See our Best Rice Krispie Treats recipe and taste testing to see why this makes such a big difference. 
• Add 10 ounces of marshmallows to the pan.
  • You can use either mini or traditional marshmallows. I prefer the mini marshmallows, as they melt really quickly.
• Stir the marshmallows occasionally until about ¾'s of them are melted.
• Then remove the pan from the heat, and continue to stir, smashing the marshmallows, until they have all melted.
  • This process keeps your marshmallows from getting too hot. Overheated marshmallows create hard cereal treats. 
• Stir in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
• Pour the melted marshmallows over the cereal and apples and toss to coat.
• Spread the mixture into your prepared pan.
• Allow the treats to cool at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. 
• Remove the treats from the pan and cut them into squares or rectangles.

Microwave Method:

• Toss the cereal, chopped apple rings, and freeze-dried apple crumbs together in a large, well-greased mixing bowl. 
• Combine the butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl.
• Heat on high power for 1 minute then remove and stir until the melted butter blends with the marshmallows.
• Keep stirring until the marshmallows melt.
• If needed, reheat for 15-second increments, stirring after each until the marshmallows are fully melted.
• Stir in the cinnamon.
• Pour over the rice crispy cereal and stir to combine.
• Spread the mixture into a well-buttered 8-inch pan.
• Give the cereal treats time to cool before cutting.

How to store your cereal treats?

• Place them in an airtight container and leave them at room temperature for up to 7 days.
• If you store them in a zip-top bag they will stay fresh for about a week. 

Can I freeze them?

Yes, you can!

• If you want to freeze the treats, wrap them really well in non-stick tin foil or wax paper, then place them in a large zip-top bag, and place them in the freezer for up to three months.
• To thaw the treats, pull them out of the freezer and let them sit at room temperature in the packaging for at least an hour before opening the bag.

We are sharing some of the very best Rice Krispie Treat recipes here on our site and also have lots of tips and tricks to save you time and money when making your own treats at home. Be sure to check out our Rice Krispie Treat FAQ to read them all.

Be sure to watch the video to see how easy these treats are to make. 

Recipe

Apple Cinnamon Rice Krispie Treats

Beth Klosterboer

Rice Krispie Treats loaded with cinnamon, bits of dried apple rings, and freeze-dried apple crumbs.

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16

Calories 102 kcal

Equipment

• 8-inch or 9-inch square pan

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup chopped apple rings
• 1- ounce freeze-dried apples, crushed into a fine powder
• 4 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
• 4 tablespoons salted butter
• 10 ounces marshmallows
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

 

• Grease an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan.
• Grease a large mixing bowl with butter, or spray it with cooking spray, then pour in the Rice Krispies Cereal.
• Toss in the chopped apple rings and freeze-dried apple crumbs then set aside.
• Begin to melt the salted butter in a medium-large saucepan set over low heat.
• Add the marshmallows to the pan.
• Stir the marshmallows occasionally until about ¾'s of them are melted.
• Then remove the pan from the heat, and continue to stir, smashing the marshmallows, until they have all melted.
• Stir in the cinnamon.
• Pour the melted marshmallows over the cereal and apples and toss to coat.
• Spread the mixture into your prepared pan.
• Allow the treats to cool at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
• Remove the treats from the pan and cut them into squares or rectangles.

Notes

• Microwave Method:
• Toss the cereal, chopped apple rings, and freeze-dried apple crumbs together in a large, well-greased mixing bowl.
• Combine the butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl.
• Heat on high power for 1 minute then remove and stir until the melted butter blends with the marshmallows.
• Keep stirring until the marshmallows melt.
• If needed, reheat for 15-second increments, stirring after each until the marshmallows are fully melted.
• Stir in the cinnamon.
• Pour over the cereal apple mixture and stir to combine.
• Spread the mixture into the pan.
• Give the cereal treats time to cool before cutting.

Keyword apple, rice krispie treats

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