This is the easiest copycat Star Crunch cookies recipe! These delicious no-bake cookies are soft, chewy, and taste like the real childhood treat from Little Debbie!
You might also like our Hostess cupcake COOKIES, our Samoas Rice Krispies treats, or our scotcheroos recipe.
Star crunch cookies are a classic treat that have been around for decades. I love finding ways to recreate our favorite treats and desserts at home (like our copycat Hostess cupcakes, It's It ice cream sandwiches, and Auntie Anne's pretzels) and these were a lot of fun to make for my family.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- No oven required. These cookies come together on the stovetop without any baking.
- Nostalgic flavor. Chocolate, caramel, and crispy rice cereal recreate the chewy, crunchy combination of the classic snack.
- Simple ingredients. You'll find everything you need in the baking aisle of your grocery store.
- Great for sharing. This recipe makes about 20 large cookies, so there's plenty to enjoy or share with friends.
- Easy to make ahead. The cookies firm up as they cool and can be stored in an airtight container.
What Others Are Saying
Last year my (then) 6 year old made and entered these into our little village fair! She won the 1st place ribbon!!!! We just finished making them again for this years fair!---Kristi
Easy, tasty, a crowd pleaser!---Diana
Absolutely delicious and turned out perfect!! Novice baker and they are great!---Melanie on Pinterest
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Tips and Tricks
- Melt everything slowly. Keep the heat on low and stir continually to prevent the chocolate and caramel from scorching. Caramel bits take the longest to melt.
- Mash the caramel bits. Use the back of a wooden spoon to gently mash softened caramel bits against the side of the pan. This helps them melt more quickly.
- Use a large saucepan. You'll need room to stir in the marshmallows and cereal without spilling the mixture.
- Work while the mixture is warm. The mixture is easier to scoop and shape before it cools and becomes firm.
- Flatten with a lightly greased cup. If the mixture sticks to your measuring cup, lightly spray the bottom with nonstick cooking spray.
- Let the cookies set completely. The cookies will be soft and sticky at first but become easier to handle as they cool. If the bottoms remain sticky after the tops have set, turn them over and let them air-dry for about 15 minutes.
- Add a finishing touch. A tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top is optional but delicious with the chocolate and caramel.
Ingredients
- Butter: you’ll need 1 stick of room-temperature salted or unsalted butter.
- Kraft caramel bits: you can also use individually wrapped soft caramels, but I like the bits because they are always in stock and located right next to the chocolate chips in the baking aisle. You'll need the entire 11-ounce bag.
- Chocolate chips: I like using milk chocolate chips, but you can use semi-sweet chocolate chips if you prefer. One regular-sized bag (11 ounces) is enough for this recipe.
- Milk
- Marshmallows: a 10-ounce bag of mini marshmallows or 10 ounces of jumbo marshmallows. Mini marshmallows melt faster so that's what I generally use for recipes.
- Rice Krispies cereal: you’ll need about 6 cups of crisp rice cereal.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Copycat Star Crunch Cookies
Step 1: Heat butter, caramel bits, chocolate chips, and milk in a large pot or saucepan on low-medium heat. The key is heating these ingredients low and slow. Stir continually with a wooden spoon as the mixture begins to melt. The caramel bits take the longest to melt. You can mash them as they begin to soften, with the back of the spoon, to speed it up a bit. It will take about 5 minutes to melt everything.
Step 2: Add marshmallows and continue to stir until melted and the mixture is smooth.
Step 3: Remove the pan from heat and stir in cereal. Stir until the cereal is evenly coated.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (or place parchment paper onto your work surface).
Step 4: Scoop ¼ cup of cookie mixture onto the parchment paper. You can do this with a measuring cup or medium cookie scoop (it will take 2 scoops if using a cookie scoop), or use a large cookie scoop.
Step 5: Gently press each cookie down with the back of a plastic cup to flatten it into a disc. Cool for 5 minutes, then use your fingers to smooth the edges and form the cookies into perfectly round shapes. (It won't be as sticky on your fingers after they've had a chance to sit for a few minutes.) If you want to take them up a notch, add flaky sea salt to the tops (optional).
Top Tip
The tops of the cookies will set as they cool. If the bottoms of the cookies are sticky, simply turn them over and expose the bottoms to the air for 15 minutes or so. Allowing the cookies to set up completely will make them easier to pick up and store.
Star Crunch Cookies FAQs
Star Crunch cookies are a nostalgic treat made by Little Debbie. They are a chewy cookie made from crispy rice cereal and caramel, coated in chocolate.
You can store the cookies at room temperature in a container or in the refrigerator.
You can use individually wrapped soft caramels, but I like using Kraft caramel bits because they are always in stock and located right next to the chocolate chips in the baking aisle. You'll need the entire 11-ounce bag.
Yes, you can make smaller cookies by scooping smaller portions of the mixture. You'll get more cookies, but the finished yield will depend on the size of each portion.
Yes, semi-sweet chocolate chips are a good alternative to milk chocolate chips. The finished cookies will have a slightly less-sweet, more pronounced chocolate flavor.
No, this recipe is completely no-bake. The chocolate, caramel, butter, and marshmallows are melted together on the stovetop before the cereal is stirred in and the cookies are shaped.
If you enjoyed this recipe, don't miss my growing collection of Copycat Recipes! From famous restaurant dishes and luxury hotel cookies to bakery favorites and nostalgic grocery store treats, there's something for everyone.
More Copycat Recipes To Make
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Copycat Star Crunch Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter (1 stick)
- 2 cups Kraft caramel bits (11 ounce bag)
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips (11 ounce bag)
- ¼ cup milk
- 5 ½ cups mini marshmallows (10 ounce bag)
- 6 cups rice krispies cereal (crispy rice cereal)
Instructions
- Heat butter, caramel bits, chocolate chips, and milk on the stovetop in a large saucepan or stock pan on LOW heat.
- Mash caramel bits as they heat with the back of the wooden spoon to speed up the melting process. Continually stir until smooth and creamy. This will take about 5 minutes. Go low and slow to prevent burning.
- Add marshmallows to chocolate mixture and stir until melted and smooth. Remove mixture from heat.
- Stir in Krispy cereal. Stir until evenly coated.
- Cover a cookie sheet or work surface with parchment paper. Add ¼ cup scoops of cookie mixture onto parchment paper (can also use 2 scoops using a cookie scoop for each cookie).Press down with a plastic measuring cup or cup to flatten cookies (you can spray the back of the cup with nonstick spray to prevent the cookie mixture from sticking to it).Let cookies cool for 5 minutes, then use your hands to press edges smooth and round.
Craig Vicens says
These are a little piece of culinary heaven.
So easy to make and it comes out great
Macayla says
This is a super yummy recipe, I will be making these again. Thank you!