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Ooey Gooey Salted Caramel Rice Krispies Treats are made with butter, marshmallows, Rice Krispies cereal, and salted caramel. This is the best caramel rice krispies treats recipe!
One of my go-to quick and easy dessert bar recipes has to be super easy brown butter Rice Krispies Treats. Every time we go to the lake as a family, I whip up a batch of rice krispies treats and it has become a staple.
I wanted to create a more decadent version of the classic Rice Krispies treat by adding salted caramel sauce, and the results were mind blowing!
Imagine everything you love about classic Rice Krispies treats…soft, chewy, marshmallowy goodness…taken up a notch with silky caramel and a touch of sea salt. These Salted Caramel Rice Krispies Treats are rich, gooey, and completely addictive.
The best part? You don’t need to bake a thing. With just a few simple ingredients and one pan, you will have a crowd-pleasing dessert that disappears fast.
Why do I love these Caramel Rice Krispies Treats?
- They are super easy, no-bake, and made with only 4-5 ingredients. You can’t beat that!
- The salted caramel sauce adds richness and depth of flavor to a classic dessert bar.
- An ooey gooey bar just became even more gooey…in all the best ways.
I love that I can make these caramel rice krispie treats at any time because I keep all of these baking ingredients in my pantry (minus the butter, of course!) We love that is a quick, easy, no-bake dessert.
Caramel Rice Krispies Treats Ingredients:
- Butter — for extra salty-sweet flavor, use salted butter.
- Marshmallows — use mini marshmallows in this recipe.
- Rice Krispies — use any type of crisp rice cereal like Rice Krispies.
- Caramel Sauce — I suggest using a thicker caramel sauce like you find at Trader Joe’s. For a thicker caramel sauce, you can also use caramel dip.
- Sea Salt Flakes — I love to use Maldon Sea Salt Flakes.
These Rice Krispies Treats with Caramel take less than 10 minutes to make and you just have to wait for them to cool and they are ready to eat!
How to make Caramel Rice Krispies Treats:
- Start by melting butter in a large saucepan until melted. Stir in marshmallows and allow to melt over medium-low heat. Stir often. Add the caramel sauce.
- Remove from heat and pour in Rice Krispies cereal. Stir to coat together.
- Pour into a parchment paper lined baking pan or greased baking pan. If you want a thicker Rice Krispies treat, use a 9 x 9 pan. My favorite is this USA 9 x 9 pan.
- Sprinkle with sea salt flakes, if so desired. Let set up until cool. May drizzle with extra caramel sauce. Cut into squares.
Rice Krispies Treats Tips:
Don’t overheat marshmallows… it helps to keep them soft
Lightly grease your hands/spatula when pressing
Use flaky sea salt, not table salt
Slightly under-press the bars, which create softer bars
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why are my Rice Krispies treats hard instead of soft?
This usually happens when the marshmallows are overheated or the mixture is pressed too firmly into the pan. Melt marshmallows over low heat and stir just until smooth. When transferring to the pan, gently press the mixture packing it down too tightly will make the treats dense and hard.
Can I use store-bought caramel or should I make homemade caramel?
Both work! Store-bought caramel is quick and convenient, while homemade caramel gives a richer, deeper flavor. If using store-bought, choose a thick caramel sauce so it doesn’t make the treats soggy. If making it from scratch, use my homemade caramel sauce recipe.
What kind of marshmallows work best?
Mini marshmallows melt more evenly and quickly, making them the best option. You can use large marshmallows, but they may take longer to melt and require more stirring.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes! These are perfect for making ahead. Prepare them up to 1–2 days in advance and store in an airtight container at room temperature for the best texture.
If you love caramel desserts, check out some of my favorite caramel desserts on Modern Honey.
Popular Caramel Dessert Recipes:
- Salted Caramel Blondies
- Salted Caramel Cookies
- Caramel Filled Snickerdoodles
- Homemade Caramel Sauce
- Salted Caramel Skillet Cookie
- Caramel Apple Bark
Baking Tools:
- USA 9 x 9 Baking Pan
- Parchment Paper Sheets
- Large Stock Pot
Desserts using Rice Krispies Cereal:
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Salted Caramel Rice Krispies Treats
Equipment
- 9 inch square cake pan
- mixing bowl set
- measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- 10 ounce bag Mini Marshmallows (6 cups)
- 5 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
- 1/2 cup Caramel Sauce * (divided)
- Sea Salt Flakes
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium-low heat. Add butter and allow to melt. Stir in marshmallows and allow to melt. Stir often. Stir in 1/4 cup of caramel sauce.
- Remove from heat and pour in Rice Krispies cereal. Stir to coat together.
- Pour into a parchment paper lined or greased 9 x 9 baking pan. Press into the pan with your fingers.
- Sprinkle with sea salt, if so desired. Drizzle the remaining 1/4 of caramel sauce all over the top.
- Let set up and cool. Cut into squares.
Notes
- Butter — for extra salty-sweet flavor, use salted butter.
- Marshmallows — use mini marshmallows in this recipe.
- Rice Krispies — use any type of crisp rice cereal like Rice Krispies.
- Caramel Sauce — I suggest using a thicker caramel sauce like you find at Trader Joe’s. For a thicker caramel sauce, you can also use caramel dip.
- Sea Salt Flakes — I love to use Maldon sea salt flakes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
THE BEST rice krispies!!!
I will never make rice krispies another way! So easy and so good.
Amazing! I used Ghirardelli’s Carmel Sauce, and oh my goodness! It’s awesome!!!
Bonus **I drizzled Carmel sauce on the parchment paper after I laid it down before I added the Rice Krispies to the pan! Added perk on the bottom layer! ((And Himalayan Sea Salt!!!!))
💕
Oh my goodness don’t these look great. I’m doing a Dessert Table for The Bee Keeper Association my 2 sons belong to. They raise Bees for their Farmland and Almond Orchard’s This will be perfect for this occasion, they look so delicious.