These Caramel Rice Krispie Treats are soft, chewy, and loaded with rich caramel flavor! A quick, no‑bake dessert that elevates classic cereal treats with minimal effort!

A Classic Favorite with a Caramel Twist!

If you love classic Rice Krispie Treats , wait until you try them with caramel! These Caramel Rice Krispie Treats take everything you love about the original – crispy cereal, gooey marshmallow, buttery flavor – and adds rich, melt‑in‑your‑mouth caramel for a dessert that’s soft, chewy, and completely irresistible.

This is the kind of no‑bake treat that disappears fast. They’re easy enough for a casual weeknight sweet fix, but special enough for parties, potlucks, bake sales, or holiday trays!

Rice Krispie Treats

Why this Recipe Works

Gentle Heat Protects Texture – The result is a soft, pliable mixture that sets beautifully.

Light Pressing Keeps the Bars Tender – Gently pressing the mixture into the pan prevents the cereal from compacting, so the treats cool into chewy bars instead of dense bricks.

The Cereal-to-Goo Ratio is Just Right – I love how this recipe calls for just the right amount to give structure and crunch without overpowering the caramel mixture. Each piece stays light, crisp, and well-coated.

Overhead view of caramel rice krispie treats on parchment paper

Ingredients You’ll Need

1 (11 oz) bag Kraft Caramels (Unwrapped) – The star ingredient that adds deep, buttery caramel flavor and creates that signature gooey chew when melted into the mixture.

1 cup Butter – Adds richness and helps the caramels and marshmallows melt smoothly while keeping the treats soft instead of dry.

7 1/2 cups Mini Marshmallows – Acts as the binding agent, giving the treats their classic marshmallow sweetness and chewy texture. Mini-marshmallows melt quickly and evenly.

7 cups Rice Krispies Cereal – Provides the light, crispy crunch that balances the rich caramel and marshmallow mixture so the treats aren’t overly dense.

Close‑up of chewy caramel rice krispie treats showing crunchy cereal and caramel

How to Make the Best Caramel Rice Krispie Treats

Spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray and set aside.

Unwrap 1 (11 oz) bag of Kraft caramels and set 10 aside.

Melt the remaining caramels in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth and melted.

In the meantime, melt 1 cup butter in a large pot over medium heat. Remove from the heat once melted. Stir in the melted caramel and 5 1/2 cups mini marshmallows. Stir until almost combined.

Mix in 7 cups Rice Krispies cereal. Fold in remaining 2 cups mini marshmallows once everything is well combined.

Gently press evenly into prepared pan.

Melted remaining 10 caramels in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth and melted.

Drizzle all over the top.

Let cool and cut.

Melt Everything Low and Slow – High heat overcooks the sugars and leads to hard, stiff treats instead of soft chewy bars.

Use Fresh Marshmallows – Fresh marshmallows melt more smoothly and create better stretch and chew. Stale marshmallows won’t melt evenly, which can make the treats dry or lumpy.

Line the Pan for Easy Removal – Use parchment paper or wax paper so the bars lift out cleanly and slice neatly without sticking or tearing.