If you loved Little Debbie Star Crunch Cookies as a kid, you are going to be amazed at how delicious this homemade copycat version is!
Crispy rice cereal is coated in a gooey, chocolatey caramel to make these star crunch cookies, and the recipe couldn’t be any easier.
I really enjoy trying to remake treats that I enjoyed as a child, and this recipe for Star Crunch Cookies is one of the best I’ve made yet!
A mixture of cocoa powder, condensed milk, marshmallows, and caramel gives these cookies the most amazing soft and creamy texture, while Rice Krispies add the perfect amount of crunch.
If you like Rice Krispie Treats or Scotcheroos, you’ll definitely love these homemade Star Crunch! They are so much better than the pre-packaged boxed cookies, and make the perfect lunchbox addition or after-school snack.
You should also try some of my other no-bake treats, like sweet and salty Chex Mix Marshmallow Treats and super simple Lucky Charms Treats.
Why You’ll Love These Star Crunch Cookies
- A Simple Recipe –This no-bake cookie recipe is made in one pot on the stove with just a handful of ingredients! You’ll love how quick and easy it is to make these star crunch cookies.
- Traditional Flavors – Caramel, chocolate, and rice krispie cereal will remind you of the Star Crunch cookies that you remember, but they are…
- Even Better than the Original! Here’s a photo of my homemade Star Crunch cookies next to the Little Debbie ones. Homemade Star Crunch Cookies have even more crunch and are extra chocolatey, creamy, and tasty.
Ingredients In Homemade Star Crunch Cookies
Here’s what you need to make these delicious no-bake treats:
- Butter and Cocoa Powder: Salted butter works best for this recipe. We’ll melt the butter with unsweetened cocoa powder to fully bloom the cocoa for the most chocolaty flavor.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This makes our star crunch cookies creamy and perfectly sweet.
- Soft Caramels: Werther’s are my favorite soft caramels. They melt down smoothly for the best ooey gooey texture.
- Mini Marshmallows: Along with the caramels and other ingredients, these will melt down to give the cookies a texture that is identical to the store-bought version.
- Vanilla Extract: A good quality vanilla extract makes everything taste delicious!
- Rice Krispies: Any brand of crisp rice cereal can be used.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Star Crunch Cookies
- Melt Butter: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter, then whisk in the unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Add Sweetened Condensed Milk: Continue whisking until the milk is fully combined and the mixture is smooth.
- Melt Caramels: Add the soft caramel candy to the pan and continue cooking, whisking often until the caramel is completely melted.
- Add Marshmallows: Remove the pan from the heat and immediately add in vanilla extract and mini marshmallows. Fold with a spatula until the marshmallows are fully melted.
- Add Cereal: The last addition should be the rice krispies!
- Fold: Fold the Rice Krispie cereal into the chocolate caramel mixture gently, until all the cereal is coated.
- Make the Star Crunch Cookies. Use a large cookie scoop to portion the mixture onto two cookie sheets that you’ve lined with parchment paper. Then spray the back of a spoon with cooking spray and use it to flatten and shape the cookies into circles.
- Chill: To set the cookies, refrigerate them for 1-2 hours until they can easily be removed from the parchment paper.
Tip!
Non-stick cooking spray will be your friend! Spray the cookie scoop before portioning the cookies, and spray your hands or any utensils you’ll use to shape the cookies to keep sticking to a minimum.
Recipe Tips
- Keep Stirring! While creating the chocolate mixture, it’s important not to walk away from the stove. Continue to stir as the ingredients melt to avoid burning or sticking.
- Turn off the Heat. Before adding the vanilla, marshmallows, and cereal, the pan should be off of the stove. The marshmallows will melt into the mixture using the residual heat from the previous steps.
- Chill to Set. Your star crunch cookies need to harden in the fridge for at least an hour so that they will cool and be easy to pick up.
- Adjust The Size: These cookies are just about the same size as the store-bought Star Crunch. Feel free to make them a little bit smaller if you’d like. Mini star crunch cookies are just as fun!
Storing Tips
Once set, you can store your homemade star crunch cookies at room temperature, in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Variations to Try
This no-bake cookie recipe is pretty forgiving. Once you have the basic recipe down, feel free to experiment with mix-ins or other flavors.
Salted – Add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt to the cookies before chilling them.
Extra chocolate – Stir in some miniature chocolate chips with the rice krispies. You could also melt chocolate and add a drizzle to the cookies at the very end.
Peanut Butter Star Crunch: Stir in a dollop of peanut butter or other nut butter to the mixture, or drizzle it over the top of the cookies.
Toppings: Try adding chopped nuts, rainbow sprinkles, coconut shreds, or caramel chips!
Can I Make This Recipe in the Microwave?
While it is possible to melt the butter, caramel, and marshmallows using the microwave, I find that I have much better control over the process when I use a saucepan on the stove.
I recommend following the instructions here, and using the stovetop if at all possible.
If you decide to use the microwave to melt the ingredients, please do so carefully. I recommend setting the microwave to half power, and checking on the mixture very often to avoid burning.
How Do I Double the Batch?
Simply double all of the ingredients! Be sure to use a large enough saucepan so that everything will fit, and be careful to stir well and often to avoid burning.
What Can I Use Instead of Wherther’s Caramels?
Kraft Caramels are the closest replacement that you could try in this recipe. I’ve seen other recipes use caramel baking chips, but I don’t believe that you’d get the same gooey texture from those.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
Classic Italian Butter Cookies
Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
Copycat Swig Cookies
Butterscotch Haystacks
These homemade Star Crunch Cookies are so much more wholesome and delicious than the original, but still have the perfect creamy, gooey, and crunchy texture! Please pin this recipe so more people can try this amazing copycat recipe.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Star Crunch Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup (1 stick) (113 g) salted butter
- ½ cup (50 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 14 ounces (400 g) canned sweetened condensed milk
- 1 4.51 ounce bag (130 g) Werther’s Soft Caramel Candy
- 1 10 ounce bag (285 g) mini marshmallows
- 1 ½ teaspoons (7.5 ml) pure vanilla extract
- 5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- Cooking Spray
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk the butter and cocoa powder over medium-low heat until the butter is completely melted and smooth. Whisk often to keep from burning.
- Then, whisk in sweetened condensed milk until fully combined.
- Add in the soft caramel candy and continue whisking until the caramel is completely melted.
- Remove from heat and immediately add in the vanilla extract and mini marshmallows. Fold until the marshmallows are completely melted.
- Lastly, fold in the Rice Krispie cereal until the cereal is completely coated in the mixture.
- Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper.
- Coat a large cookie scoop with non-stick spray and use it to scoop out individual cookies onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Spray the back of a spoon with non-stick spray and use it to flatten and shape the cookies into a circle.
- Refrigerate the cookies for 1-2 hours or until they are set and can easily be removed from the parchment paper.
Notes:
- Kraft soft caramels are a good alternative to Wherther’s if you can’t find them.
- Non-stick cooking spray will be your friend! Spray the cookie scoop before portioning the cookies, and spray your hands or any utensils you’ll use to shape the cookies to keep sticking to a minimum.
- Keep Stirring! While creating the chocolate mixture, it’s important not to walk away from the stove. Continue to stir as the ingredients melt to avoid burning or sticking.
- Adjust The Size: These cookies are just about the same size as the store-bought Star Crunch. Feel free to make them a little bit smaller if you’d like. Mini star crunch cookies are just as fun!
- Storing: Once set, you can store your homemade star crunch cookies at room temperature, in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Rita says
I live in Tn. I left them in frig over night and they are still tacky to touch on top and it was very hard getting them off the parchment paper to wrap them. I followed recipe exactly. They taste great. If I make them again, I will spray parchment paper with baking spray to make it easier to remove. I individually wrapped them in plastic wrap and will check on them in a few days to see if they get firmer
Little Sunny Kitchen says
Hi Rita – thank you so much for the detailed feedback and tips! I think the humidity must be playing a part in the cookies staying sticky. They will probably do best if you keep them refrigerated.