Try This Dreamy Gooey Star Crunch Recipe for Sweet Delights

Chocolate and caramel lovers stumble upon star crunch as the ultimate sweet indulgence that melts hearts instantly.

This nostalgic treat brings back childhood memories with its crispy rice cereal and delectable chocolate coating.

Every bite promises a delightful crunch that dances between soft and crisp textures.

Homemade star crunch beats store-bought versions by miles, offering fresh and irresistible flavors.

The simple ingredients come together effortlessly, creating a dessert that looks impressive yet requires minimal effort.

Crafting these delectable clusters takes just minutes, making them perfect for sudden sugar cravings.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30-60 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Calories: 300 kcal

Servings: 12

What Goes Into Homemade Star Crunch Bars

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy foundation and helps ingredients meld smoothly.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Creates luscious, silky texture and adds natural sweetness.
• Caramel Bits: Delivers deep, golden caramel flavor and soft consistency.
• Chocolate Chips: Introduces rich chocolatey depth and glossy finish.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile with warm, aromatic undertone.

• Crispy Rice Cereal: Delivers signature crackly texture and light, airy crunch. Select fresh, crisp cereal for maximum crispiness.

• Parchment Paper: Ensures easy release and prevents sticking during cooling process. Choose high-quality, non-stick variety for best results.

Kitchen Tools for Star Crunch Simplicity

• Large Saucepan: Essential for melting caramel, chocolate, and mixing ingredients smoothly.
• Baking Sheet: Needed for forming and cooling the star crunch treats.
• Parchment Paper or Wax Paper: Prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
• Cookie Scoop or Spoon: Perfect for portioning and shaping the treats uniformly.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Great for stirring and folding ingredients gently.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient measurements.

How to Mix and Form Star Crunch Snacks

• Heat Caramel Base

Warm butter in a large pan over medium heat. Blend sweetened condensed milk and caramel bits, stirring constantly until everything melts into a silky smooth mixture.

• Incorporate Chocolate Goodness

Remove pan from heat. Stir chocolate chips until they dissolve completely, creating a rich chocolatey blend. Mix in vanilla for extra flavor depth.

• Fold Crispy Elements

Gently combine crispy rice cereal with the caramel-chocolate mixture, ensuring every piece gets fully coated with deliciousness.

• Shape Delightful Treats

Use a cookie scoop to drop mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Softly press each mound into a flat, round shape mimicking the classic Star Crunch profile.

• Let Treats Set

Allow treats to cool and firm up at room temperature for about an hour. For faster results, pop them in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes until they’re solid.

• Enjoy Your Creation

Once set, dive into your homemade Star Crunch or store for later snacking pleasure.

Ways to Make Star Crunch Even Better

• Gently crush some rice cereal before mixing for an extra crispy and textured Star Crunch.
• Perfect for hot summer days when you don't want to turn on the oven, these treats require zero baking.
• Use gluten-free rice cereal to make this recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Let children help with mixing or forming the shapes, making it a fun family activity that creates delicious memories.

Serve Homemade Star Crunch at Any Event

• Party Platter Perfection: Arrange homemade Star Crunch treats on a decorative platter with mini chocolate drizzles and colorful sprinkles for a festive dessert table.
• Snack Time Companions: Pair these treats with cold milk, vanilla milkshake, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful sweet combination that enhances the chocolate-caramel flavor.
• Gifting Galore: Package Star Crunch in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbons, creating adorable homemade gifts for birthdays, bake sales, or holiday treat exchanges. Wrap individually for easy sharing.
• Movie Night Munchies: Create a fun dessert platter with Star Crunch, popcorn, and other bite-sized sweets for the ultimate movie watching experience. Stack treats in playful arrangements to make snacking more exciting.

Storage Tips to Keep Star Crunch Tasting Right

• Keep star crunch treats in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days, ensuring maximum freshness and preventing moisture from softening the crispy texture.
• Stack treats between wax paper layers inside sealed containers to maintain their shape and prevent sticking, extending their enjoyment window up to one week.
• Wrap individual star crunch treats in plastic wrap, then place inside freezer-safe bags for convenient long-term storage lasting up to one month, perfect for make-ahead snacking.
• Always let frozen treats thaw naturally at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to restore their original delightful crunch and prevent condensation.

Gooey Star Crunch Recipe

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4.7 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Indulgent Star Crunch cookies blend crispy rice cereal with gooey caramel and smooth chocolate for an irresistible Southern treat. Sweet nostalgia meets simple ingredients, offering you a delightful bite of childhood comfort.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 cups (100 g) crispy rice cereal (e.g., Rice Krispies)
• 1 cup (175 g) milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup (250 g) caramel bits (or unwrapped soft caramels)
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (120 ml) sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cup (1 stick / 115 g) unsalted butter
• ½ cup (120 ml) light corn syrup (or honey)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Prepare Workspace: Cover baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring smooth surface for candy creation.
2. Create Caramel Foundation: Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat, incorporating sweetened condensed milk and caramel bits. Stir consistently until mixture transforms into silky, uniform consistency.
3. Chocolate Integration: Remove saucepan from heat source. Blend chocolate chips into warm mixture until completely dissolved, creating glossy chocolate-caramel base. Introduce vanilla extract, stirring thoroughly to distribute flavor evenly.
4. Cereal Incorporation: Delicately fold crispy rice cereal into chocolate-caramel mixture, ensuring comprehensive coating of each cereal piece with luxurious mixture.
5. Shape and Form: Utilize cookie scoop to deposit precise mounds onto prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten each cluster, mimicking classic Star Crunch profile with uniform roundness.
6. Cooling and Solidification: Allow treats to stabilize at ambient temperature for approximately 60 minutes. Alternatively, accelerate setting process by placing in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes until candies achieve desired firmness.
7. Serve and Enjoy: Once completely set, transfer Star Crunch to serving platter, ready for immediate consumption or convenient storage.

Notes

• Use non-stick parchment paper or lightly grease the baking sheet to ensure easy removal of Star Crunch treats.
• Remove saucepan from heat before adding chocolate chips to prevent scorching and achieve smooth, glossy texture.
• Stir continuously while melting caramel to avoid burning and create a uniform, silky mixture.
• Chill treats in refrigerator for faster setting and firmer consistency, perfect for warm kitchen environments.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30-60 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: None
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 180
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg