This fun treat takes a regular Rice Krispie square no-bake treat to the next level. With chewy dried apple pieces and little flavor bombs of mini cinnamon toast crunch cereal, these treats are bursting with flavor and texture. Cinnamon toast crunch Rice Krispie treats are as easy to make as the traditional version and fun for kids to enjoy in their school lunches. Perfect for all cinnamon lovers, these treats bring a delightful twist to a classic favorite, making them an irresistible addition to any snack time or dessert table. Enjoy the delicious combination of apple and cinnamon in every bite!
While cruising the grocery store cereal aisle, I spotted another fun kids’ cereal that had been made into mini pellet-sized breakfast fun. I am speaking, of course, of cinnamon toast crunch cereal. With its crunchy texture miniaturized, it’s the perfect addition to easy regular Rice Krispie treats. My biggest concern was whether the cereal would still offer that crunch that Rice Krispies treats are known for. I was pleasantly surprised that it does, in fact, hold up in the classic Rice Krispie treats.
I went further into the fall treat realm, inspired by the cinnamon flavor of a baked apple pie with the addition of dried apple pieces. Believe it or not, they were harder to source; I could only find them in our local Bulk Barn. Chopped up into small pieces, the dried apple rings offer a chewiness that adds another textural component to this easy recipe. I debated making this recipe even more delicious by drizzling melted chocolate on top and cutting it into cinnamon toast crunch bars, but the idea of more sugar held me back. If you want to be adventurous, try it—I am sure it will be delicious.
If you like fun food with more Rice Krispie variations, try our tangy, sour Rice Krispie treats. They are perfect for Halloween.
Why You Will Love These Apple Cinnamon Toast Crunch Marshmallow Treats.
Simple and Quick: This delicious treat recipe is incredibly easy to make. With just a few main ingredients and 10-15 minutes to prepare, these cereal bars are perfect for busy schedules or spontaneous cravings.
Delicious Flavor Combination: The blend of chewy dried apple pieces and mini cinnamon toast crunch cereal adds a delightful twist to the classic rice krispie treats, offering a unique and irresistible flavor profile.
Kid-Friendly and Fun: These treats are tasty and fun to make with kids, making them an excellent choice for lunchbox snacks or after-school treats that both children and adults will enjoy.
Let’s Get Start Making This Great Recipe For Crispy Cereal Squares.
Butter is your friend when making a good rice krispie treat. We all remember that commercial where the woman pretends to struggle to make Rice Krispie treats by tossing flour in her face. It’s laughable since no flour is in the recipe. But the commercial left out the truth that when you’re inexperienced in making rice krispie treats, you can run into trouble with the melted marshmallows. Marshmallows are essentially sugar and gelatin, and when warmed, sugar cools, it sticks to everything. That’s why butter is your friend.
We are using it generously to make the marshmallows easy to remove from the pan and to keep the tool you use to press them into the pan mess-free. I also go further by buttering the large mixing bowl we make the mixture in. We are going to butter the big bowl that we microwave the marshmallows in. You can do this easily with clean hands or use a clean paper towel to smear a good amount on all surfaces.
Once we’ve buttered the mixing bowl, we can start by chopping up the dried apple. I bought apple rings, but if you find chips, they will work as well. Simply make sure the apple pieces are noticeable. The apple rings are stickier on the inside, so when mixing them into the Rice Krispies, you will want to ensure they get distributed well.
Next, measure the fun little pelleted cinnamon toast crunch cereal. We used three cups of this delicious cereal in this recipe. It was enough to keep the bars textural while adding just enough of the irresistible flavor of cinnamon toast crunch cereal to the no-bake treat.
Now, you can measure the classic Rice Krispies. Again, it’s three cups, but you may want to add one more. Wait until you’ve mixed the mixture to see if that’s necessary. If you put more in now, it will make working with this gooey marshmallow mixture more difficult.
Add the entire bag (400 Grams in Canada – Conversion for those in other areas) of regular-sized marshmallows with two tablespoons more butter in a large microwave bowl that’s been buttered. Melt in the microwave for a minute and check if they are puffed and gooey. If not, give the mixture another minute. Watch through your microwave window to be sure it doesn’t grow so much that it overflows from your bowl. When the marshmallows are puffed and soft, they are ready to mix into the rice krispies and other ingredients.
Dump the marshmallows in and mix well. If the mixture looks very sticky and white, add one more cup of Rice Krispies. Now, you can dump the whole mixture into your prepared pan (9×13″). Press the mixture flat and level in the baking dish using a flat utensil, like a buttered spatula or lifter.
If you put the pan covered in the fridge, the marshmallow will harden up faster, making cutting easier. However, if your family’s fridge can’t take anymore, simply cover the whole dish with plastic wrap and leave for a couple of hours. Rice Krispie squares don’t need refrigeration and can stay out of the fridge.
Once they’ve set, simply use a clean, sharp knife to cut them apart to your preferred size. These treats, with their cinnamon sugar flavor and hint of apple, make great back-to-school lunchtime snacks or enjoy them with a glass of milk for an after-school treat.
Even adults enjoy the new flavor of these Rice Krispie squares. Best of all, the whole process can be completed in 10-15 minutes! Simply store the cut squares in an airtight container, and they will last for up to four days. Beyond that, the cereal will become soggy.
Ingredients:
Dried Apple Rings: Chopped into noticeable pieces, these add a delightful fruity flavor and chewy texture to the treats. Ensure even distribution to enhance every bite with a bit of apple.
Mini Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal: These fun little pellets add a delicious cinnamon flavor and a textural contrast to the rice krispie treats, making them more exciting and flavorful.
Rice Krispie Cereal: This is the classic base of the recipe, providing a light and crispy texture. Be cautious with the amount to maintain the right consistency.
Large Marshmallows: When melted, the leading binding agent in the recipe creates a sticky, gooey mixture that holds all the ingredients together.
Butter: Used generously to prevent sticking and make handling the marshmallow mixture easier. Butter the mixing bowls, microwave bowl, and utensil to press the mixture to keep everything mess-free and ensure a smooth process.
Substitutions And Add-Ins For This Apple Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rice Krispie Treat.
Dried Apple Rings: If you can’t find dried apple or wish to shake it up, try adding dried apricot or pear. Both choices would work well with the cinnamon flavor.
Mini Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal: This mini pelleted cereal can be replaced with other mini cereals, like fruity pebbles, for another fun twist. Each cereal, though, can soak up milk, which means you will need to play with amounts to keep the right texture in your squares.
Rice Krispie Cereal: *NONE*
Marshmallows: *NONE*
Butter: You can use cooking spray in the baking dish instead of butter. If you wish, margarine makes a close second to butter in Rice Krispie treats. The butter is mainly to keep things from sticking, but it also offers a hint of buttery flavor. So, when using a margarine, try to use one that closely mimics that real butter flavor. If you just want to focus on the non-stick aspect, coconut oil will work, too. However, it will impart a slight flavor of coconut to the bars.
Expert Tips, Serving, And Storing Suggestions For The Apple Cinnamon Rice Krispie Squares.
Proper Buttering: Generously butter all your tools and bowls, including the mixing bowl, microwave-safe bowl, spatula, and baking dish. Doing so will prevent the sticky marshmallow mixture from adhering to surfaces, making the mixing and pressing process much smoother. Pressing the mixture into the pan with a buttered spatula will also give your bars a neat and level finish.
Uniform Distribution: Chop your dried apple pieces evenly and ensure they are well distributed throughout the mixture. Each bite should contain a good balance of apple, cinnamon cereal, and Rice Krispies. Mixing thoroughly but gently will help achieve even distribution without crushing the rice krispies or cereal too much.
Controlled Melting: Heat the marshmallows and butter briefly in the microwave. Paying close attention to the melting marshmallow will prevent burning and ensure a smooth, even consistency. Watching the marshmallows will also help avoid any mess from overflowing. Once melted, immediately mix in the dry ingredients before the marshmallow mixture cools and becomes difficult to work with.
Serve these no-bake Rice Krispie treats by cutting them into squares of your preferred size. They’re perfect for lunchboxes or after-school snacks. Enjoy them with a glass of milk for a delightful treat, or pack them in an airtight container for up to four days to keep them fresh and crispy. Thanks to their irresistible cinnamon and apple flavor combination, these treats are sure to be a hit with both kids and adults.
Place these no-bake rice krispie treats in an airtight container to keep them fresh and maintain their crispy texture. They can be stored at room temperature for up to four days. Avoid refrigeration, making the treats too hard, and altering their texture. Freezing is not recommended.
Try making these delicious no-bake Rice Krispie treats with dried apple pieces and mini cinnamon toast crunch cereal for a fun and flavorful twist on a classic favorite. Share your creations with us in the comments below or tag us on social media—we’d love to see how they turn out! Happy snacking!
Apple Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Large Microwaveable Bowl
- knife
- Cutting board
- Spatula
- Tablespoon
- Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
- 6+1 Cup Rice Krispie Cereal
- 3 Cup Mini Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal
- 1 Cup Dried Apple Cut Into Small Pieces
- 2+ Tbsp Butter + To Grease Dishes
- 16 Oz Bag Of Regular Large Marshmallow 400 Grams
Instructions
- Grease the baking dish with butter.2+ Tbsp Butter
- Grease the mixing and microwaveable bowls with butter.2+ Tbsp Butter
- Grease the back of spatula with butter.2+ Tbsp Butter
- Using knife and cutting board cut up the dried apple and measure one cup. Add to greased mixing bowl.1 Cup Dried Apple
- Measure and add the mini cinnamon toast crunch cereal to the dried apple in mixing bowl.3 Cup Mini Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal
- Add six cups of rice krispies to the mixing bowl.6+1 Cup Rice Krispie Cereal
- Add the entire bag of marshmallows to the microwaveable bowl.16 Oz Bag Of Regular Large Marshmallow
- Add two tablespoons butter to the marshmallows.2+ Tbsp Butter
- Microwave on high for one minute.
- Check marshmallows for puffing and melting.
- If not puffed up and still looking small microwave for another half minute. Check again.
- When marshmallows are puffed up and looking jiggly dump into the cereal in the mixing bowl.
- Stir together using the wooden spoon. Be sure to distribute the apple pieces throughout.
- If the mixture appears too sticky add the extra cup of rice krispies and mix in well.
- Dump the bowl into the prepared pan.
- Using the back of a flat spatula that's been buttered press flat into the baking dish.
- Cover and let set on the counter for two hours before cutting.
- Or cover and set in fridge to cut in half hour.