As a child, who didn’t love to sink their teeth into a Little Debbie Star Crunch? As an adult, it’s still one of my favorite treats so I decided to experiment and come up with a copycat star crunch recipe.
What You’ll Need
Pair these easy-to-find ingredients with just a minimum amount of time and you’ll have a surprisingly decadent dessert to serve (or just snack on, on your own). A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Sweetened condensed milk – Condensed milk adds to the creaminess of this star crunch. Regular milk adds too much moisture to the mixture.
- Espresso powder – This ingredient brings a depth of flavor to the cookies and helps to bring out the chocolate flavor. It is optional.
- Salted butter
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Soft caramels
- Mini marshmallows
- Crisp rice cereal
- Vanilla extract
5S Philosophy 👩🍳
- Salt – If you like a salty/sweet combination try sprinkling these with coarse Kosher salt or pink Himalayan salt just before placing in the fridge.
- Seasonings – Make your star crunches seasonal by adding spices like pumpkin, nutmeg, or cinnamon.
- Sauces – Experiment with adding a dollop of peanut butter (or your preferred alternative) to the chocolate mixture. Or, try melting it and drizzling it over top. For an extra sweet star crunch, try spooning a small amount of maple syrup over the cookie or adding just a bit to the chocolate mixture.
- Swaps – Try folding in some of your favorite nuts to add even more texture. Crushed peanuts, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, or cashews will all work well.
- Senses – Copycat Star Crunch treats are chewy and crisp, with gooey caramel and rich chocolate coating every bite. The scent of cocoa and toasted rice fills the air, while the texture delivers a satisfying crunch followed by a melt-in-your-mouth sweetness.
Copycat Star Crunch Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon espresso powder , optional
- 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
- 20 soft caramels
- 5 ½ cups mini marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 cups puffed rice cereal
Instructions
- In a large pot, stir together the ½ cup salted butter, ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, and ½ teaspoon espresso powder. Whisk in the 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk until combined.
- When mixed well, stir in the 20 soft caramels until completely melted and smooth. Add in the 5 ½ cups mini marshmallows and mix unit melted and smooth.
- Remove from the heat and quickly stir in the 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Fold in the 5 cups puffed rice cereal and fold until the cereal is evenly coated with the mixture.
- Line 2 baking pans with parchment paper and use a large cookie scoop to scoop out the cookies onto the parchment and gently press down into a flatter shape.
- Place in the refrigerator and allow to set for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Serve immediately or place in an airtight container for up to three days.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings!
Nutrition
Storage and Freezing
You can serve star crunch cookies immediately or store them in an airtight container for up to three days.
While freezing these cookies could affect the consistency of the rice cereal, they can be safely frozen. Wrap each cookie individually in plastic wrap then place in the freezer for up to 2 months.
More Cookie Recipes
We love cookies! Here are more favorite cookie recipes.
These were delicious, but I had the same problem as a previous commenter that they were SO sticky. I used Kraft caramel bits. Maybe I should try with the individually wrapped caramels. Either way, thanks for the recipe; they are delicious!
I have made these 3 times. They are delicious, but very sticky. The first time I used Werthers caramels and they were so sticky I could not get them off the parchment paper. The next 2 times I used Kraft caramel bits and they were less sticky, but still had a little trouble getting them to release easily. Any suggestions? What could I be doing wrong?
These star crunches really remind me of my childhood! I have to admit though, I like these a lot better than the original 😉 Great recipe!
These are so wonderful – my friends absolutely loved this! Thanks for the recipe!
Such a fabulous treat. We can’t wait to make them this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
Wow – this is a fantastic dessert! Chocolate, rice crispy cereal, marshmallows – everything we love all in one package!
These star crunch bars are amazing! So nostalgic. Thank you for the recipe.
These were always my favorite snack as a kid, and I love this homemade version so much! It’s even better than the original but it still has all that nostalgia that’s almost as delicious!