Homemade Star Crunch Recipe - The Quicker Kitchen (2024)

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Homemade star crunch cookies are a sweet snack that tastes just like the Little Debbie version. Full of chocolatey, caramel flavor and crunch, you’ll love these rice cereal bars just as much if not more than the store bought kind!

Homemade Star Crunch Recipe - The Quicker Kitchen (1)

We have a serious sweet tooth in this house.

We love sweet snacks and desserts of all kind.

And we are on a first name basis with a Little miss named Debbie.

Yes, I do mean that Little Debbie.

Homemade Star Crunch Recipe - The Quicker Kitchen (2)

We adore the snack cakes and of course Little Debbie ice cream.

And these star crunch cookies.

They are so good, but they can be kind of hard to find so you know I needed to make my own copycat version.

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What are star crunch cookies?

Star Crunch cookies are soft, chewy cookies with chocolate, caramel, and crisped rice cereal.

They are sort of like a Rice Krispie treat, but better in my opinion.

Ingredients

To make these you’ll need:

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  • Marshmallows– Use mini marshmallows to make measuring them easy.
  • Chocolate chips– Either milk or semi sweet.
  • Caramels– Use the soft kind and you’ll want about 1/2 cup of them.
  • Butter– Salted or unsalted. Doesn’t matter.
  • Vanilla– Use real vanilla for best flavor.
  • Rice cereal– Like Rice Krispies or the store brand version.

How to Make

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To make these chewy, crunchy cookies, start by heating the marshmallows, chocolate chips, caramels, butter, and vanilla extract in a large pan over medium low heat until everything is smooth.

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Once everything is smooth, take the pan off the heat and stir in the rice cereal until the cereal is completely coated.

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Then use a cookie scoop and scoop out even portions of the mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

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Gently press down each cookie with a greased spoon or your fingers, that you’ve washed well and then sprayed with cooking spray.

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Let the cookies chill in the fridge for 15 minutes to firm.

Serve and enjoy!

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Storing

Store these in even layers separated by parchment paper in an air tight container on the counter.

They will stay fresh for up to 4 days.

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Tips and Tricks

  • It really helps to spray your spoon well with cooking spray before you stir the marshmallow mixture together. This will help prevent everything from getting stuck to the spoon.
  • Spray your cookie scoop before you scoop each cookie out to make them easy to release.
  • If you are making these in the warmer months, you may want to store them in the fridge to keep the chocolate from melting. Just take them out of the fridge a few minutes prior to eating them so they soften up a bit.

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Other Little Debbie Recipes

Homemade star crunch cookies are a delicious no bake snack or dessert you’ll love make and love eating even more! Put this together for a sweet treat any time.

Looking for other Little Debbie recipes you can make at home? Try these:

If you’ve tried thisSTAR CRUNCH COOKIES, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me onPINTEREST,FACEBOOK, andINSTAGRAMto see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!

Homemade Star Crunch Recipe - The Quicker Kitchen (13)

Star Crunch Cookies

Homemade star crunch cookies are a sweet snack that tastes just like the Little Debbie version. Full of chocolatey, caramel flavor and crunch, you'll love these rice cereal bars just as much if not more than the store bought kind!

4 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Chill Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 15 cookies

Calories: 154kcal

Author: Meaghan - The Quicker Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 3 cups mini marshmallows
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 15 soft caramels about ½ cup caramels or about 100g
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups rice krispies cereal

Instructions

  • In a large pan, heat marshmallows, chocolate chips, caramels, butter and vanilla extract until smooth

  • Remove from heat; stir in rice krispies until completely coated

  • Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop even amounts of rice krispie mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet; then using a greased spoon or fingers gently press down to flatten into a cookie shape

  • Chill cookies in the fridge for at least 15 minutes to allow them to firm

Notes

  • It really helps to spray your spoon well with cooking spray before you stir the marshmallow mixture together. This will help prevent everything from getting stuck to the spoon.
  • Spray your cookie scoop before you scoop each cookie out to make them easy to release.
  • If you are making these in the warmer months, you may want to store them in the fridge to keep the chocolate from melting. Just take them out of the fridge a few minutes prior to eating them so they soften up a bit.

Nutrition

Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 72mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 407IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg

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If you enjoyed this...

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Homemade Star Crunch Recipe - The Quicker Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is in the middle of a Star Crunch? ›

According to Little Debbie, a Star Crunch is “A soft, chewy cookie topped with caramel and crispy rice and coated with fudge.”

How long do Star Crunch last? ›

Shelf Life 60 days; FOA: Freeze for up to 6 mos.

Does Star Crunch have chocolate? ›

MILK, CREAM, SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, CHOCO COATED CRISPS (SUGAR, COCONUT OIL, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, NATURAL COCOA, CRISP RICE (RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE), BUTTER FAT, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR), WATER, SKIM MILK, SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK, PEANUT OIL (REFINED), WHEY, POWDERED SUGAR (SUGAR, ...

What did Star Crunch used to be called? ›

Did you know Star Crunch® Cosmic® Cookies were introduced as Moon Crunch Snacks in celebration of the 1969 moon landing? These treats were renamed in 1972, but their origins will always be out of this world!

Does Star Crunch have rice in it? ›

A classic that can't be easily imitated, these soft, chewy cookies are topped with out-of-this-world caramel and crispy rice, then eclipsed by a coating of fudge. You will fall for these delicious stars in no time!

Who owns Little Debbie snacks? ›

Little Debbie Vending and Fieldstone Bakery brands were developed by McKee Foods Corporation, a leader in the baking industry for nearly 60 years, best known for the Little Debbie brand snack cakes, with over 1 billion dollars in annual sales.

Can you eat Star Crunch after expiration date? ›

Consuming cereals after the 'Best if Used By' date does not pose a food safety risk. "If you eat a cereal after this date, it simply may not taste as good." Many cereals are like canned foods, which generally stay safe to eat but may lose their texture and color as the months and years pass.

What year did Star Crunch come out? ›

Little Debbie introduced its Moon Crunch snack cakes in 1969 in celebration of the 1969 moon landing. Their name was changed to Star Crunch Cosmic Cookies, as they are known today, in 1972. READ MORE: Who is Little Debbie and why is she an iconic Southern brand?

Do little debbies go bad? ›

Little Debbie snacks tend to maintain their quality up until the expiration date provided. However, it's not uncommon for snacks to remain good for weeks or even months past this date if stored properly, although quality, particularly flavor and texture, may decline.

Who makes Star Crunch ice cream? ›

(WHNT) — Two of Little Debbie's most iconic snack cakes are getting reimagined as a special, frozen treat. The company, in partnership with Hudsonville Ice Cream, will release two of its most famous treats, Star Crunch and Unicorn Cakes, as ice cream.

Are Star Crunches peanut free? ›

Allergens and safety warnings

Allergy Information: Contains wheat, milk, soy, egg. May contain peanuts, tree nuts.

Who makes Little Debbie ice cream? ›

Little Debbie's ice cream. Owned by McKee Foods, Little Debbie is America's No.

How many calories in a Star Crunch? ›

Little Debbie Star Crunch (1 each) contains 22.1g total carbs, 21.4g net carbs, 6.1g fat, 1.1g protein, and 144 calories.

When was Star Crunch made? ›

Little Debbie introduced its Moon Crunch snack cakes in 1969 in celebration of the 1969 moon landing. Their name was changed to Star Crunch Cosmic Cookies, as they are known today, in 1972.

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