Apple Cinnamon Rice Krispie Treats With Cinnamon Toast Crunch

These apple cinnamon Rice Krispie treats combine classic crispy rice cereal with Cinnamon Toast Crunch Minis, chewy dried apple pieces, melted marshmallows, and butter. They are an easy no-bake cereal bar with plenty of crunch from the two cereals and little chewy pieces of apple throughout.

This apple cinnamon Rice Krispie treats recipe is made in the microwave rather than on the stovetop. Once the marshmallows are melted, everything is mixed together, pressed into a 9-by-13-inch pan, and left to set before cutting.

Quick Answer

Apple cinnamon Rice Krispie treats are no-bake marshmallow cereal bars made with Rice Krispies, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Minis, and chopped dried apple. The combination gives the squares a crispy, chewy texture with cinnamon flavor throughout and noticeable pieces of apple.

I came up with these after spotting Cinnamon Toast Crunch Minis in the cereal aisle. My first question was whether those little cinnamon cereal pieces would hold onto their crunch once mixed into warm marshmallow. They did. Adding chopped dried apple rings gave the bars the apple-and-cinnamon combination I wanted while adding another texture without introducing the moisture of fresh apple.

Dried apple rings were actually one of the harder ingredients for me to find locally. I found mine at Bulk Barn. They work particularly well here because the inside remains slightly chewy, giving these cereal squares a noticeably different texture from the crisp cereal.

Why You’ll Love These Apple Cinnamon Rice Krispie Treats

No-Bake Method: The marshmallows melt in the microwave, so there is no saucepan or oven required.

Two Cereal Textures: Rice Krispies keep the bars light and crispy while the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Minis provide a firmer cinnamon-sugar crunch.

Chewy Apple Pieces: Dried apple adds actual apple flavor and a chewy texture without adding the moisture that fresh fruit would.

Large Batch: A 9-by-13-inch pan makes about 24 snack-size squares.

Quick Active Prep: The cereal bars take only about 8–15 minutes to assemble before they are left to set.

How To Make Apple Cinnamon Rice Krispie Treats

Start by buttering the 9-by-13-inch baking dish, the large mixing bowl, the microwave-safe bowl, and the back of the spatula you will use for pressing the bars. The melted marshmallow mixture becomes sticky very quickly, so preparing everything before you start makes the recipe much easier to handle.

Chop the dried apple rings into small but noticeable pieces. The pieces do not need to be tiny. You want enough apple in each piece that you can still see and taste it after the bars are cut.

Add the chopped dried apple and 3 cups of Cinnamon Toast Crunch Minis to the prepared mixing bowl.

Measure in 6 cups of Rice Krispies. Keep up to 1 additional cup nearby, but don’t add it yet. The extra cereal is there only in case the finished marshmallow mixture needs it.

Place one 400 g bag of marshmallows and 2 tablespoons of butter in the buttered microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave on high for one minute. Check the marshmallows. They should look puffed, very soft, and beginning to collapse when stirred.

If they are not ready, continue microwaving in 30-second intervals, checking after each one. Marshmallows expand considerably as they heat, so use a bowl with plenty of extra room.

Pour the melted marshmallow and butter mixture over the cereals and dried apple. Stir promptly, folding everything together until the cereals are evenly coated and the apple pieces are distributed throughout.

Look at the mixture before adding more cereal. If it still appears excessively white and marshmallow-heavy, mix in some or all of the reserved cup of Rice Krispies.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

Use the buttered back of a flat spatula to spread it into an even layer. Press only enough to bring the mixture together. Packing cereal treats very tightly can compress the cereal and give the finished bars a firmer, denser texture.

Cover the pan and leave it at room temperature for about two hours before cutting.

If you need them to set faster, cover the pan and refrigerate it for about 30 minutes. The refrigerator is useful for setting the pan, but the finished squares should be stored at room temperature.

Once set, cut the slab into approximately 24 squares with a clean, sharp knife. For another flavored cereal-bar variation, try my Halloween Rice Krispie Treats, made with Tang and taro layers.

Ingredients:

These apple cinnamon cereal bars use five main ingredients, with butter also used for greasing the bowls and pan.

Rice Krispies Cereal: Start with 6 cups and reserve up to 1 additional cup. Plain crispy rice cereal gives these bars their light texture and balances the denser Cinnamon Toast Crunch Minis.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Minis: Three cups add cinnamon-sugar flavor and a second, firmer cereal texture. The mini size distributes especially well through the bars.

Dried Apple Rings: Chop one cup into small pieces. Dried apple rings have a chewy texture that contrasts with the cereal without releasing the moisture that fresh apple would.

Marshmallows: Use one 400 g bag of regular marshmallows. They form the sticky base that binds the cereals and apple pieces together.

Butter: Two tablespoons are melted with the marshmallows. Additional butter is used for the bowls, baking dish, and spatula to make the sticky mixture easier to handle.

Substitutions And Add-Ins For Apple Cinnamon Rice Krispie Treats

This recipe doesn’t need many substitutions because the dried apple and cinnamon cereal are what give the bars their apple-cinnamon identity.

Dried Apple Rings: Dried apple chips can be used when rings aren’t available. Chop or break them into small pieces. The final texture may be slightly crunchier because dried chips are usually less chewy than apple rings.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Minis: Regular Cinnamon Toast Crunch is the closest substitute. Break the larger cereal pieces into smaller pieces before measuring so they distribute more evenly through the bars.

Rice Krispies Cereal: Another plain crispy rice cereal can replace the brand-name cereal. Keep the extra cup reserved until you see how sticky your mixture is.

Marshmallows: Mini marshmallows can be substituted by weight. Because they are smaller, check them carefully while microwaving because they may soften more quickly than the regular-sized marshmallows.

Butter: Margarine can work in place of butter if needed, although the flavor will be slightly different. Butter or margarine can also be used to grease the dishes and utensils.

I would not use fresh diced apple in these cereal treats. Fresh apple releases moisture, which works against the crisp texture and room-temperature storage that make this type of marshmallow cereal bar work well. If you have fresh apples to use instead, my Apple Crisp Cookies use diced cinnamon apples with a buttery oat crumble. For another warm apple-and-cinnamon treat, these Air Fryer Apple Cinnamon Rolls use fresh apples wrapped in a quick no-yeast buttermilk biscuit dough.

Expert Tips, Serving And Storing Suggestions

Tip #1: Prepare Everything First: Have the pan greased, apples chopped, and cereals measured before melting the marshmallows. Once the warm marshmallow mixture begins cooling, it becomes considerably harder to mix and spread.

Tip #2: Use A Large Microwave Bowl: Marshmallows expand dramatically as they heat. A bowl that looks oversized before heating gives the mixture room to puff without overflowing.

Tip #3: Add The Last Cup Of Rice Krispies Only If Needed: Start with 6 cups. The reserved cereal lets you adjust a mixture that looks unusually marshmallow-heavy without accidentally making the bars too dry.

Tip #4: Press Gently: Spread the cereal mixture evenly across the pan, but don’t mash it down firmly. Light pressing holds the bars together while leaving room for the cereal texture.

Serving

Cut the pan into about 24 squares for lunchboxes, after-school snacks, fall gatherings, or a casual dessert tray.

The cinnamon and apple combination also makes these a natural fall treat without needing pumpkin, caramel, or additional spices.

For another cereal-bar variation, try my Halloween Rice Krispie Treats.

Storage

Store the cut apple cinnamon Rice Krispie treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days.

Keeping air away from the bars matters because the cereal gradually loses its crisp texture as it sits.

The refrigerator can be used briefly to help the original pan set, but I don’t recommend refrigerating the finished bars for everyday storage. Cold marshmallow cereal bars become much firmer.

I also don’t recommend freezing this particular version because the dried apple and two different cereals can change texture after freezing and thawing.

What makes these apple cinnamon Rice Krispie treats work is the contrast between the three main textures: light Rice Krispies, crunchy Cinnamon Toast Crunch Minis, and chewy dried apple pieces.

If you make them, were dried apple rings easy to find where you live, or did you end up using dried apple chips instead?

Meet Amber

I’m the home cook and recipe creator behind A Cents For Cookery. I learned to cook growing up off-grid in Northern Ontario, where meals were made on a woodstove and preserving, baking, and making ingredients stretch were part of everyday life. Here I share practical family recipes, homemade baking, vintage-inspired cooking, and the kitchen knowledge I’ve picked up over the years to help you make the most of the food you have.

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