Description
Star Crunch delights chocolate and caramel lovers with a nostalgic no-bake treat straight from childhood memories. Crisp rice cereal, gooey caramel, and rich chocolate create a perfect snack you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 4 cups (100 g) crispy rice cereal
- 1 cup (175 g) milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup (200 g) caramel bits
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
Wet Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 ml) light corn syrup
- ½ cup (120 ml) sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup (1 stick / 115 g) unsalted butter
Flavoring:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare a saucepan and melt butter over medium heat, creating a golden base for the caramel foundation.
- Gradually introduce granulated sugar and light corn syrup, stirring continuously until the mixture reaches a gentle bubbling point and the sugar dissolves completely.
- Reduce the heat to low and incorporate caramel bits and sweetened condensed milk, transforming the mixture into a silky, rich caramel cream through persistent stirring.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and infuse the caramel with vanilla extract, enhancing its aromatic complexity.
- Introduce milk chocolate chips into the warm caramel, allowing them to melt seamlessly and create a uniform, glossy chocolate-caramel mixture.
- Gently fold crispy rice cereal into the chocolate-caramel blend, ensuring each grain receives an even coating of the decadent mixture.
- Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and use a spoon to deposit rounded portions of the mixture, creating uniform discs that mirror the classic Star Crunch shape.
- Delicately flatten each portion with light pressure, sculpting the treats into recognizable round forms.
- Allow the star crunch to solidify at room temperature, giving them time to set and develop their signature texture, or expedite the process by placing them in the refrigerator.
- Transfer the completed treats to an airtight container, where they can be preserved at room temperature and enjoyed within a week of preparation.
Notes
- Customize Texture by adjusting the amount of crispy rice cereal to make treats crunchier or chewier according to personal preference.
- Melt chocolate chips slowly and gently to prevent scorching, using a double boiler or microwave in short 15-second intervals while stirring consistently.
- Create gluten-free version by selecting gluten-free crispy rice cereal and ensuring all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Add extra flavor variations by incorporating different extracts like almond or using dark chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate for a richer taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-60 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg