Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats are an amazing twist on a classic treat. America’s favorite crisp rice dessert is coated in marshmallows and swirls of salted caramel.
Sometimes the simplest recipes can be the most satisfying. It doesn’t take a ton of spectacular ingredients to create the most incredible dessert. This is exactly how I feel about homemade rice Krispie treats. They are one of the easiest things to make, and yet somehow are one of the best dessert snacks out there. How do you make something so simple even better? Send a cascade of salted caramel throughout them! My Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats are rich, gooey, and will blow your mind away at how great they are!
WHAT ARE SALTED CARAMEL RICE KRISPIE TREATS?
I had a craving for rice Krispie treats the other afternoon, and I was getting ready to whip a batch of them together. While I was looking at my recipe card I thought, ‘how could I make an adult version of these?’ My husband Kale, and I, love anything with salted caramel. Put it on anything sweet and we’ll make it disappear! That’s when I decided to customize a batch of rice Krispie treats just for us, and BOOM! This mind-blowing recipe was born. Traditional Rice Krispie cereal mixed with melted marshmallows, butter, sea salt, and melted caramels. They are so good!
INGREDIENTS FOR SALTED CARAMEL RICE KRISPIE TREATS
- Caramels
- Butter
- Rice Krispie cereal
- Sea salt
- Marshmallows
HOW TO MAKE SALTED CARAMEL RICE KRISPIE TREATS
Unwrap all of the caramels. Set aside 10 of the caramels to use for later. Place remaining caramels in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt in 30 second increments; stirring well after each until melted. Set aside.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Once melted, remove pot from heat. Stir in 5 1/2 cups mini marshmallows and the melted caramel. Stir until mostly combined. (It won’t be fully combined/smooth and that is okay.)
Stir in the Rice Krispie cereal and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. Once it’s almost fully mixed add in the remaining mini marshmallows. Fold until combined then pour into prepared pan. Spread out evenly while gently pressing down to fit into the pan.
Melt the remaining 10 caramels in a microwave-safe bowl then drizzle all over the Rice Krispie treats in pan. Sprinkle another 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt evenly over the top (optional.) Let the treats cool. Gently lift treats out of pan with the sides of the parchment paper. Cut into squares and serve!
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ADD THE SEA SALT?
This is a great recipe to practice tasting while you cook. Remember you can always add more salt, but you can’t subtract it. My advice is to always start small! Add less than you think you might need at the beginning. I promise this is the best way to go about this recipe. Add bit by bit and taste along the way until you find your right amount of sea salt. You want to reach that perfect salty/sweet balance that works for you.
WHICH CARAMELS SHOULD I USE?
You want to find a pre-wrapped soft and chewy caramel. Don’t use a hard caramel for this recipe! It won’t melt to the right consistency and will create more of a toffee rather than a soft caramel to swirl throughout and on top. You can use Werther’s Originals, but again make sure they are the soft caramels! Also, try not to eat all the caramels as you’re unwrapping them. 😉
HOW MANY SERVINGS DOES THIS RECIPE MAKE?
One pan of these rice Krispie treats makes either 12 squares, or 24 small rectangles depending on how large you cut them. This recipe does make the traditional rice Krispie treat richer in taste, so cutting them into 24 small rectangles will give you a smaller portion and ensures there is more for later!
ENJOY THIS RECIPE? HERE ARE A FEW MORE OF MY FAVORITE TREATS!
Easy Fudge Ripple Ice Cream – This amazing ice cream recipe comes together with only 3 simple and easy ingredients.
The Best Rice Krispie Treats – The ultimate after school snack with crispy rice cereal, butter, and soft chewy marshmallows.
No-Bake Cheesecake – Keep your oven off! All you need is a freezer to make this indulgent, creamy dessert fit for a five star restaurant.
The Best No Bake Cookies – Oats, peanut butter, and cocoa all come together for this no bake cookie that is ready to enjoy in just minutes!
Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 2 bags (4.5 ounces, each) Werther's soft caramels, divided (OR 1 bag (11 ounces) Kraft caramels)
- 1 cup salted butter
- 7 ½ cups mini marshmallows, divided
- 7 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Unwrap all of the caramels. Set aside 10 of the caramels to use for later. Place remaining caramels in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt in 30 second increments; stirring well after each until melted. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Once melted, remove pot from heat. Stir in 5 1/2 cups mini marshmallows and the melted caramel. Stir until mostly combined. (It won't be fully combined/smooth and that is okay.)
- Stir in the Rice Krispie cereal and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. Once it's almost fully mixed add in the remaining mini marshmallows. Fold until combined then pour into prepared pan. Spread out evenly while gently pressing down to fit into the pan.
- Melt the remaining 10 caramels in a microwave-safe bowl then drizzle all over the Rice Krispie treats in pan. Sprinkle another 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt evenly over the top (optional.) Let the treats cool. Gently lift treats out of pan with the sides of the parchment paper. Cut into squares and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
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Recipe slightly adapted from: 5 Boys Baker
