These cinnamon toast crunch bars are a delicious treat made with crunchy cinnamon sugar cereal coated in a gooey marshmallow mixture.
These bars are a fun twist on the classic rice krispie treats! Serve these as a snack, dessert, or fun treat!
These bars feature the irresistible flavor of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, packed into a portable and easy-to-eat form.
Perfect for on-the-go snacking or as a quick treat, these bars offer a delightful combination of sweet cinnamon taste and crunchy texture.
Whether enjoyed as a breakfast bar or an afternoon pick-me-up, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Bars are sure to satisfy your cravings.
If you like making cereal treats, check out my fruity pebbles treats, chocolate rice krispie treats, and easy scotcharoos.
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Why this recipe works
- Texture- these bars have a crispy and chewy texture from the cinnamon and sugar coated cereal and gooey marshmallow mixture.
- Cinnamon flavor- if you are a cinnamon lover, you are going to love these treats! They are made with cinnamon loaded cereal which is the main ingredient in this recipe.
- Ease- these bars couldn’t get any easier to make! They use super simple ingredients you can find in any grocery store!
- Time- you will need 10-15 minutes to prep these and another hour or so to allow it to set in the fridge, and you get the most delicious and decadent treats.
- No bake- this treats recipe is a no-bake recipe! So there is no need to turn on the oven for this one!
Ingredients
Before you start to make this recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the cooking process will go smoothly and easily.
Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal- you can find this cereal in most grocery stores in the cereal aisle. You can use your favorite cinnamon cereal for this.
Marshmallows- you can use your favorite brand of marshmallows for this recipe. You can use either normal-sized marshmallows or mini marshmallows.
Butter- use unsalted butter for this recipe. Only butter will work for this recipe, no margarine, and no coconut oil. Margarine has a weird taste and can ruin the flavor of this delicious baked good.
Vanilla extract– Vanilla extract Is an essential ingredient in baking and adds a delicious flavor to these bars.
Salt– We used kosher salt for this recipe. Salt doesn’t give them a salty taste, it helps to enhance the flavor.
Instructions
Prepare a parchment paper-lined 9 by 9 inch pan with softened butter.
Into a saucepan, add the butter and melt it over medium-low heat. Then add the marshmallows, mixing constantly until the marshmallows melt.
Add the kosher salt and vanilla extract, and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined. Turn off the heat and remove the pot from the heat.
Pour the cereal into the pot and quickly stir it using a wooden spatula until the cereal is evenly coated with the marshmallow mixture. If desired, add 1 cup of mini marshmallows to the mixture and stir.
Transfer the mixture to a parchment paper-lined and greased 9 by 9 baking pan and gently press it down using your damp hands or a spoon.
Let the mixture set for at least one hour. This step helps it set and makes it easy to cut into bars.
Expert Tips
- Avoid packing the mixture into the pan too tightly. We like an airy and crispy texture instead of a dense texture.
- Be patient and let the treats rest in the fridge and set so they will be easy to cut. If you will try to slice them when they are warm, they will fall apart and leave you with a sticky mess.
- Grease the pan with butter or cooking spray! I cannot stress this enough, but this step is extremely important to prevent the bars from sticking to the sides of the pan.
- Line your pan with parchment paper so it will be easier to release the bars from the pan! This step is crucial and will prevent a mess.
- Dampen your fingers before you start to press the mixture into the pan. Also, make sure that you clean your hands thoroughly, to make this process smooth and easy!
- Melt the marshmallow mixture until it's just melted and immediately remove it from the heat. This will prevent your treats from getting hard.
Faq's
Yes! Simply skip the added salt! If you are using unsalted butter, we like adding a pinch or so of salt to balance the flavors.
Our favorite way to cut these bars and cakes is by dipping a long knife into hot water, once the knife warms up, wipe off the excess water, and slice the bars. Dip and wipe the knife between every slice.
The ingredients of cinnamon toast crunch bars are super simple, they are made with cinnamon toast crunch cereal, butter, marshmallows, vanilla extract, and kosher salt to balance out the sweetness.
Technically yes, but the bars will not have the same texture and they might turn too sweet since sugar is added to the marshmallow fluff.
Storing
Store these bars at room temperature. Cover them with plastic wrap or foil to prevent them from drying out.
Freezing
To freeze bars, you will need to wrap the bars in plastic wrap or foil and seal them in an airtight container or in an airtight resealable bag. You can freeze them for up to 2 months.
Substitutions
Marshmallows- we used large marshmallows for this recipe, but you can use mini marshmallows as well.
Gluten-free- if you are gluten-free, you can still make these bars by using a gluten-free cereal. This can be an off-brand one of your favorite gluten-free cereal!
Dairy-free- to make these bars dairy-free, swap the butter with vegan butter and ensure that you are using dairy-free marshmallows.
Variations
Cereal- you can make this recipe with your favorite cereal or cereal mix! You can add rice Krispies or any of your favorite cereals to this mixture!
Add-ins- we love adding fresh mini marshmallows to the mixture for an extra chewy texture!
Brown butter- make this recipe with brown butter instead or melt the butter with the marshmallows. This will add a deliciously rich and nutty flavor that compliments any flavor.
Chocolate- add white chocolate to these bars. You can drizzle the finished bars with melted white chocolate or add mini chocolate chips to the mixture.
Equipment
More cinnamon desserts
Cinnamon Bundt Cake- This cinnamon bundt cake is moist, buttery, and has a tender crumb, is made with a cinnamon swirl and topped with cream cheese frosting.
Homemade cinnamon rolls- These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft, gooey, incredibly light, and fluffy. They are filled with a cinnamon filling and are topped with cream cheese glaze.
Cinnamon roll cheesecake- This cinnamon roll cheesecake is made with a cinnamon crust, creamy cinnamon swirled cheesecake, and topped with cream cheese glaze.
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If you liked this recipe
📖 Recipe
Best Cinnamon Toast Crunch Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup Butter
- 20 oz Marshmallows
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 7 ½ cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
Instructions
- Prepare a parchment paper-lined 9 by 9 inch pan with softened butter.
- Into a saucepan, add the butter and melt it over medium-low heat. Then add the marshmallows, mixing constantly until the marshmallows melt.
- Add the kosher salt and vanilla extract, and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined. Turn off the heat and remove the pot from the heat.
- Pour the cereal into the pot and quickly stir it using a wooden spatula until the cereal is evenly coated with the marshmallow mixture. If desired, add 1 cup of mini marshmallows to the mixture and stir.
- Transfer the mixture to a parchment paper-lined and greased 9 by 9 baking pan and gently press it down using your damp hands or a spoon.
- Let the mixture set for at least one hour. This step helps it set and makes it easy to cut into bars.
Notes
- Avoid packing the mixture into the pan too tightly. We like an airy and crispy texture instead of a dense texture.
- Be patient and let the treats rest in the fridge and set so they will be easy to cut. If you will try to slice them when they are warm, they will fall apart and leave you with a sticky mess.
- Grease the pan with butter or cooking spray! I cannot stress this enough, but this step is extremely important to prevent the bars from sticking to the sides of the pan.
- Line your pan with parchment paper so it will be easier to release the bars from the pan! This step is crucial and will prevent a mess.
- Dampen your fingers before you start to press the mixture into the pan. Also, make sure that you clean your hands thoroughly, to make this process smooth and easy!
- Melt the marshmallow mixture until it's just melted and immediately remove it from the heat. This will prevent your treats from getting hard.
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