Caramel Apple Rice Krispie Treats

Fall is the perfect time to enjoy these Caramel Apple Rice Krispie Treats loaded with dried apples and soft chewy caramel bits. These gooey marshmallow cereal treats are easier to make than caramel apples and taste just as good!

Indulge in your craving for caramel apples without a lot of effort. You can make an entire pan of these Caramel Apple Treats in about 20 minutes.  

These treats are really packed with caramel apple flavor. They are loaded with bits of dried apple rings and freeze-dried apple crumbs so you taste apples in every bite like with our Cinnamon Apple Rice Krispie Treats, but they are also speckled with soft chewy caramel bits. 

They are an easy no-bake treat that you can enjoy as an afternoon snack, share with friends and family, or sell at a bake sale or fall craft show. 

Just look at all those apple pieces and caramel bits. 

How can you resist the urge to sink your teeth into one of these gooey marshmallow cereal treats?

Let's make some caramel apple rice crispy treats!  

Ingredients:

dried apple rings -

• Apple rings are dried apples that have a soft texture and delicious apple flavor. 
• You can find apple rings in most grocery stores and health food stores.
• Chop these soft, dried, apple slices into small pieces. These pieces will add fresh apple flavor and chewy texture to the treats. 
• Do not use apple chips instead. Those are hard and crunchy. You want nice soft apples. 

freeze-dried apples -

• Freeze-dried apples are also made from real apples but they are dried until they puff up and become crispy yet airy. 
• 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.
• You can skip this ingredient, but they will add a huge boost of apple flavor to your cereal treats. 

Caramel Bits -

• These small balls of caramel made by Kraft are nice and soft and they aren't too sticky, so they are easy to mix into the cereal treats.
• You can use Kraft caramel squares, but they are firmer and you'll have to unwrap and cut them all into small pieces. 
• Werthers makes soft caramel chews (the size of Tootsie Rolls) and those would work well in this recipe, but once again, you will need to unwrap and cut them into small pieces. 

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.
• We recommend using Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows.
• Generic store-brand marshmallows are stickier, so if you use them you may need to add a bit more cereal. 

You can find some of these items from Amazon. We earn a small commission for sales at no extra cost to you when you use the links below. 

Stovetop Method:

• Grease a large mixing bowl with butter, or spray it with cooking spray, then pour in the 4 cups Rice Krispies Cereal.
• Set aside a heaping tablespoon of chopped apple rings and caramel bits to sprinkle over the top of the treats. 
• Then, add the remaining chopped apple rings, caramel bits, and freeze-dried apple crumbs to the bowl of cereal.
• 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. 
• Pour the melted marshmallows over the cereal and apples and toss to coat.
• Spread the mixture into your prepared pan.
• Sprinkle the reserved apples and caramel over the treats and press them down ensuring they stick.
• Allow the treats to cool at room temperature for at least one hour. 
• Remove the treats from the pan and cut them into squares or rectangles.

Microwave Method:

• 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.
• Follow the instructions in the Stovetop Method to create your caramel apple Rice Krispie treats. 

NOTES:

It is very important that you do not overheat your marshmallows. If they get too hot, your cereal treats will be hard. 

Also, don't compact the cereal into the pan. You want the cereal mixture to be gently pressed into the pan, otherwise, your treats will be hard. 

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.

Printable Recipe

Caramel Apple Rice Krispie Treats

Beth Klosterboer

Marshmallow cereal treats loaded with crushed freeze-dried apples, chopped dried apple rings, and soft caramel bits.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16

Calories 174 kcal

Equipment

• 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan
• large mixing bowl
• medium-large saucepan

Ingredients

  

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

Instructions

 

• Grease an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan and a large mixing bowl with butter or baking spray.
• Pour the Rice Krispies Cereal into the mixing bowl.
• Reserve a heaping tablespoon of the chopped apple rings and caramel bits then toss the remaining chopped apple rings, caramel bits, and freeze-dried apple crumbs into the bowl of cereal.
• 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 75% melted.
• Then, remove the pan from the heat, and continue to stir, smashing the marshmallows, until they have all melted. This will keep your marshmallows from overheating which makes hard cereal treats.
• Pour the melted marshmallows over the caramel, apples, and cereal and toss to coat.
• Spread the mixture into your prepared pan.
• Allow the treats to cool at room temperature for at least 1 hour.
• Remove the treats from the pan and cut them into squares or rectangles.

Notes

Melting butter and marshmallows in the microwave:

• 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.
• Then, follow the recipe above. 

Storing your treats:

• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days. 

Keyword apple, caramel, caramel apple, marshmallows, rice krispie treats

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 3-5 days.

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.

You might also like these other Rice Krispie Treat recipes that are perfect for fall...

Rice Krispie Treat Apples

Apple Jacks Cereal Treats

Cinnamon Apple Rice Krispie Treats