These Rice Krispie treats are like no other—made with salted butter, brown sugar, spiced apple cider, dried apples, and toasted marshmallows (plus the classic cereal, of course). They’re extra-gooey, a little toasty, and perfectly sweet, with real apple flavor and a cinnamon-cider caramel swirl. You’re going to love these—fun to make at any age, and the fall treat for Halloween and Thanksgiving snacking.

I’m deep into fall baking this season, and clearly still on my apple kick. I love pumpkin too (promise a sweet pumpkin recipe is coming next week!), but apples are my favorite. I don’t usually go for marshmallow desserts, but I make an exception for a really good Rice Krispies treat—especially in October.

Every year growing up, my mom would make a couple of batches for school parties. One year we even made a giant pumpkin-shaped Rice Krispie “cake” for my cousin’s birthday. It was so fun—and yes, there was a lot of orange food coloring. Different times!

Point is, I love an occasional fall Rice Krispie, and these are so special. The cider-brown-sugar caramel and chewy dried apples bring cozy autumn flavor, and toasting the marshmallows adds that perfect, lightly smoky depth. Best part? They’re incredibly easy. Mix, press, set—then try not to eat the whole pan!

Here are the Ingredients

• salted butter
• dark brown sugar – preferably organic, I swear it makes a difference!
• apple cider – I like to use a cinnamon-spiced/no sugar-added cider
• mini marshmallows – these melt evenly
• brown rice krispies cereal
• dried apple chips/slices – ideally no added sugar and Granny Smith!
• regular marshmallows

Kitchen Tools Needed 

Ideally, a large pot, something nice and big that you can mix everything together in. And a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Plus a good spatula for stirring.

The steps

Step 1: Make the brown-sugar cider caramel

Use salted butter, dark brown sugar, and apple cider (not vinegar). Add everything to your largest pot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in a pinch of flaky sea salt (I always do).

Step 2: Melt in marshmallows, then add cereal + apples

Stir the mini marshmallows into the hot caramel until fully melted and glossy. Fold in the Rice Krispies and the dried apple pieces (I use a 3-oz bag of dried Granny Smiths). It won’t look fancy, but it smells amazing.

Step 3: Toast extra marshmallows

Spread marshmallows on a baking sheet and broil until golden and toasty. Do not walk away—broilers go from white to black in seconds. Gently fold the toasted marshmallows into the cereal mixture; streaks are fine—no need to fully mix.

Step 4: Press and set

Press the mixture into a parchment-lined pan (lightly butter your spatula or hands to prevent sticking). Let it set for at least 30 minutes, then cut into bars. They’ll be extra gooey and a bit messy—that’s the charm.

Looking for easy party desserts? Here are a few ideas: 

Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Crinkle Top Brownies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Blondies

Homemade Vegan Peanut Butter Twix Bars

Caramel Butter Cake with Fudgy Chocolate Frosting

Retro-Style Chocolate Sheet Cake

Lastly, if you make these Salted Caramel Apple Rice Krispie Treats, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

It’s one of my favorite months of the year, and I’m so excited to share the 30 Recipes to Cook in September! This collection pulls together the most popular recipes you all love this time of year, along with a handful of my personal favorites too. After almost 13 years of creating recipes, there are just so many September gems to choose from!

Think of this as a cozy mix of everything September brings — early autumn drinks, game-day appetizers, family-favorite dinners, my famous fall salads, fun back-to-school-inspired recipes, and of course, plenty of apple treats. We’ve got something delicious to make every single day of the month (plus a few extras because I just couldn’t narrow it down).

Happy September! These next few months — September through December — are always my favorite. Each one has its own unique kind of magic that feels so special. Somehow, I find myself falling in love with this time of year more and more.

I’ve been so excited to put this list together. I truly LOVE the recipes below. This list combines your most-cooked, most-baked, and most-loved recipes with my personal top picks. I know you’ll find plenty to make (and remake!) all month long.

My most popular September recipes of all time:

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole, Crockpot Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo, Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad, Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper, and my Thai Peanut Chicken Ramen (this is THE MOST popular recipe on the website – period).

Plus, the desserts too, the well-loved Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze and Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze, as well as the Chewy Brown Sugar Maple Cookies. And then of course, the  Cream Cheese Swirled Pumpkin Bread.

I like to think I really know how to do fall right! Over the next few months, I’ll be pulling in so many of these reader-favorite recipes while also sharing plenty of new ones. I don’t ever want to forget about the classics that we all love, but I’m equally excited to bring fresh inspiration to your kitchens this season.

When it comes to cooking in September, I focus on what feels most cozy and seasonal: big fall salads, hearty crockpot meals, maybe a chili or two, and I’m already craving fresh-baked beer bread. The air has turned chilly here in the mountains, and it has me reaching for all the fall flavors. And of course — apples! You all know I can’t resist them. I’m making a fresh batch of apple butter today, and I have so many new apple recipes coming your way.

So, let’s dive in! Here are the 30 Best Recipes to Cook in September.

Here are my favorite 30+ recipes to cook in September!

drinks and appetizers

Fig Dark and Stormy

Salted Honey Butter Jalapeño Cheddar Rolls

Honey Whipped Feta with Garlic Herb Roasted Olives

Everything Ranch Cheese and Pretzel Snack Mix

Pull Apart Parmesan Sage Butter Brioche Rolls

Baked Sweet Potato Parmesan Tater Tots

cozy dinners and salads

Apple Cider Smothered Chicken

Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Dumplings

Harvest Brie and Cheddar Apple Kale Salad

Crockpot Creamy French Onion Chicken and Orzo

Garlic Butter Chicken Meatball Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Creamy Butternut Squash Butter Chicken

Cider Braised Chicken with Caramelized Onions

Crockpot Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole

Slow Cooker Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo

Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad

4 Cheese Roasted Garlic Alfredo Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper

Butternut Squash Pasta Carbonara with Rosemary Bacon

Sheet Pan Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken and Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Garlic Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats

Roasted Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad

Slow Cooker French Wine and Mustard Chicken

Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins

Creamy Butternut Squash Alla Vodka Pasta

French Onion and Apple Grilled Cheese

30 Minute Thai Peanut Chicken Ramen

Fall Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Kale Salad

30 Minute Butter Chicken Meatballs

Pumpkin Beer Broccoli Cheddar Soup

autumn sweets

Cinnamon Crunch Swirled Banana Bread

Pumpkin Spice Pecan Latte

Glazed Honeycrisp Apple Fritter Cake

Toasted Marshmallow Caramel Rice Krispie Treats

Baked Cinnamon Crunch Apple Cider Doughnuts

Cinnamon Spiced Sugar Cookies with Browned Butter Frosting

Cinnamon Apple Puffed Pancake

Pumpkin Coffee Cake Muffins with Cinnamon Honey Butter

Cream Cheese Swirled Pumpkin Bread with Salted Maple Butter

Cinnamon Spiced Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze

Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze

Salted Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookie Snickers Bars

Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze

Chewy Brown Sugar Maple Cookies

Chai Latte Cupcakes with Caramel Brulée Frosting

Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Maple Icing

Cinnamon Sugar Swirled Apple Butter Bread

Fluffy Pumpkin Butter Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Apple Cider Doughnut Cookies

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Lastly, if you make any of these 30 Recipes to Cook in September, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love hearing from you and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!